Audiobooks discussion

Continuing with well-presented, decent author narrated Pax: War and Peace in Rome's Golden Age.

Liked The House on Vesper Sands, so Hoopla'ed its recent sequel The Naming of the Birds. First hour was a long, grim prologue, but once the story started I felt I was getting what I expected.

Speaking of Hoopla ... truly impulsive borrow of The Three Strings proving not bad, good story with narration that took a little getting used to.

I took John's advice (thanks!) and started The House on Vesper Sands by Paraic O'Donnell. So far, so good; it's a bit creepy, but I'm becoming invested.

Tomorrow, I will start listening to historical fiction The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon for a group read, and I hope to find out what readers are raving about.

I started Dog on It yesterday. This is a reread for me. I don't remember anything about it since I read it at least 10 years ago.

I just finished Never Flinch today, so I'll be starting the month with My Sister's Grave.

Janice wrote: "I started Dog on It yesterday. This is a reread for me. I don't remember anything about it since I read it at least 10 years ago."

A wonderful series, I swear Jim Frangione was a dog in another life!

A couple of weeks ago, I had to drive 250 miles each way in my husband's car because mine was in the shop. He doesn't have a USB port, and I couldn't stand the idea of driving so many hours without a book. Then I remembered that the library still has books on CD and the car does have a CD player. So I got out In the Woods and Cahokia Jazz, both of which I finished at home after digging out a CD player. But I was reminded why I never liked CDs for audiobooks and went pretty much straight from cassettes to digital. It's always been a pain that you can't keep your place when you take the disc from home to car and vice versa, you have to remember the track. And you can't easily go back just 30 seconds or so if you miss something, at least not on the ordinary players I've had. Also the audiobooks from the library of course had been used by other patrons and multiple discs had skips, stutters, and distortions.

Both books were very good and the narration, including many characters, was excellent.

I never got into CDs at all. I ripped those audiobooks to mp3 format instead (for a one-time personal use).

I used CDs for a while. They are definitely not as good as streaming/downloading audios, especially the ones from the library. I'm glad they were at least good books.

Robin P wrote: "Janice wrote: "I started Dog on It yesterday. This is a reread for me. I don't remember anything about it since I read it at least 10 years ago."

A wonderful series, I swear Jim Fra..."

I'm not going to wait another 10 years to read book 2 in the series.

I'm starting The Roaring Days of Zora Lily today.

Sadly finished the last book in the Murderbot series I really enjoyed them!

Now back to a thriller Break Me Down by Anna Downes Narrated by Aimee Horne; Airlie Dodds; Alan Chu; Angela Tran; Anna Downes; Elisa Colla; Jeremy Waters; Lyanna Kea; Remy Hii; Taylor Owens; Yael Stone

I didn't want to start a new book yesterday, because I was waiting for The Hallmarked Man to download today. So I went back to the previous book and relistened to the last chapter, which ends on an emotional cliffhanger. Although I have been listening to almost everything on 1.25 speed lately, I will put it back to 1.0 for the 30+ hours of the book. Like many people, I am unhappy with the way the author uses her fame and money, but I am addicted to the Cormoran Strike series.

30 hours? I'd break that into two, or more likely three, discrete listens, with other stuff between.

The books are all pretty long, John. I stopped listening after book 4, which was 22h 31m. The next book is 31h 51m and I feel like that is such a huge commitment when I have so many other books to read, so I keep putting it off. I own all of them except the newest, The Hallmarked Man, so I'd like to listen to them at some point, but in order to listen to the rest of the series (4 books) it would be just 5 minutes shy of 130 hours.

I mentioned one time that I hadn't listened to the remaining books because they are so long and some audio listeners were pretty upset with me about it because they felt like a longer audiobook is more bang for your buck and completely worth it due to quality over quantity. I still think it's a lot of time to put aside.

I started book 2 in the Cerulean Chronicles Somewhere Beyond the Sea yesterday and what a treat to return to Marsyas Island with Arthur, Linus and their 7 magically adorable wards/children!

John wrote: "30 hours? I'd break that into two, or more likely three, discrete listens, with other stuff between."

Oh no, I'll be unable to stop. I have no complaints about that!

Audiophile Audrey wrote: "I started book 2 in the Cerulean Chronicles Somewhere Beyond the Sea yesterday and what a treat to return to Marsyas Island with Arthur, Linus and their 7 magically adorable wards/..."

Loved...5 stars (the first time a book's acknowledgment earned a star by its own merit).

Starting Is She Really Going Out with Him?. My 3rd by Sophie Cousens but my first one narrated by Kerry Gilbert...who gives me Ella-Rae Smith vibes.

Sloughed through. Grateful for the short 368-pages. Onto the fantasy of Vicious.

Robin P wrote: "John wrote: "30 hours? I'd break that into two, or more likely three, discrete listens, with other stuff between."

Oh no, I'll be unable to stop. I have no complaints about that!"
Likewise! Most of this series of listened to multiple times...
I love long books the are really good and have a great narrator. So also fond memories of Stephen Fry doing Sherlock Holmes, 72 hours of bliss!

And me thinking all those years I wouldn't like Sherlock Holmes stories...ha ha.

Robin P wrote: "I didn't want to start a new book yesterday, because I was waiting for The Hallmarked Man to download today. So I went back to the previous book and relistened to the last chapter,..."

I'm very much looking forward to The Hallmarked Man. I've listened to the whole series. I strongly feel that the book just before, The Running Grave, is the best! (FYI: the kindle version is $2.99 right now) I strongly recommend the audio book.

Long audio books are no problem for me. I love them. However, I have been resisting a 54 hour audio book which a friend highly recommended, Truman. The advantage to a long book is that I don't need to think about the next book for a long time! Plus, I get more hours for a credit.

Bear in mind that I have attention span issues. Right now, I have two ebooks and four audiobooks in progress.

John wrote: "Bear in mind that I have attention span issues. Right now, I have two ebooks and four audiobooks in progress."

That makes sense. I also have attention span issues - except for reading or listening to a good book. With nonfiction I wouldn't be able to sustain a long book all at once. With print books, I have been known to skim parts of a book if it is becoming predictable - or of course to abandon it altogether if it's not grabbing me.

In general, audiobooks acutally help me focus on tasks like housework and driving, where just doing the thing would be so boring that my mind would wander even more. My husband finds simple chores like washing dishes meditative, but my view is that life is too short to spend time on something that doesn't occupy my brain.

I also like long audiobooks and agree I don't have to think about what I'm going to have to listen to next. One of my favorites is The Count of Monte Cristo. For the long listens I have contemplated ironing the sheets just to keep listening. It's never happened but it has crossed my mind.

September started with listening to Horse by Geraldine Brooks. It's excellent and I have about 1 1/2 hrs. left.

I just finished The Last Carolina Girl, by Meagan Church. An excellent book with really excellent narration from Susan Bennett. The characters were complex and well developed and the story line was easy to follow but so powerful! The main character, Leah is also the narrator of the story which is told from her POV. She is so relatable and realistically portrayed, I felt so much empathy for her in a situation which was far beyond her control. Perfect for fans of Where the Crawdads Sing and Necessary Lies. This was my first book by this author, but certainly won't be the last! I highly recommend this audiobook if you enjoy this genre! This one is both heartbreaking & uplifting at the same time.

This series is pure entertainment! Just finished Wildlife, Warrants, & Weapons: Camper and Criminals Cozy Mystery Series, Book 19.

Starting Something to Look Forward To: Fictions by Fannie Flagg

Started up this week: Hotshot: A Life on Fire by River Selby. This is the third book on hotshot firefighters I've read this year. Started to get burned out. 😏 (pun intended) So it's slow going...

Finished Five Dead Herrings - cute lite mystery - in audible plus catalog

Having the super-long The Hallmarked Man is working out great. Between my husband and me, I spent 4-5 hours waiting around for medical appointments, tests, etc. the last few days, and I really didn't mind since I had my trusty iPod and earbuds.

I do have an urge to shake the main characters (view spoiler)[ because the will they/won't they plot with Strike and Robin is turning into a typical romance drama where things are a mess because the characters just won't talk to each other honestly (hide spoiler)].

That's a lot of waiting, Robin. A good book definitely makes that time pass easier. Glad it's working out for you.

I am on vacation and will be driving home starting tomorrow. We will be listening to All the Colors of the Dark while we travel. We hope to finish it over the two days we will be on the road.

Yesterday, I finished a murder mystery set in 1917 Washington, DC: The Three Strings. Exceeded my modest expectations regarding both plot and narration. My biggest quibble was the romance angle forefront near the end. (Hoopla)

Kristie wrote: "The books are all pretty long, John. I stopped listening after book 4, which was 22h 31m. The next book is 31h 51m and I feel like that is such a huge commitment when I have so many other books to ..."

I've been holding off reading Book 5 for that very reason. The books are way too long . Troubled Blood is 31 hours.

I figure it's my buck, and I'll decide what gives me a good bang for my buck,

I agree about length, I gave up on most of Brandon Sanderson for that reason (and a lot of fantasy authors!) For whatever reason, the Strike series is an exception for me.

I finished listening to The Quiet Librarian and enjoyed it well enough. It was a departure from Eskens' previous books because of location. Every now and then I had a problem with the narrator, Ilvana Muratovic, a Bosnian theater actress. I'm going to give her some slack since the novel is set in both Bosnia and Minneapolis. Close to a 4* listen.

I've just restarted Eclipse by Richard North Patterson narrated by Peter Francis James (quite the religious name). I only know the narrator as an actor - great voice. It's a second go round with this book. The first try ended with me wondering what I was listening to because apparently I just wasn't listening.

I agree, Janice. It's difficult to make time for a book that long if I also want to keep up with my book club reads. I have a couple of face-to-face book clubs in addition to my online groups, so I don't typically have 30+ hours to dedicate to a book.

Robin, I think it's great that you love the books and have been able to keep up with it. I really enjoyed the ones I read too.

I finished up Soldiers and Kings: Survival and Hope in the World of Human Smuggling - not sure if it was recommended here or where I read about it - not bad - lots of interesting stuff, not a huge fan of read by the author, but he is a cultural anthropologist, so its based on his experience living with and interviewing folks

If dark academia is your jam, this is a great book one so far. I'm only halfway through Immortal Consequences: The Souls of Blackwood Academy, Book 1 and in the land in between, the ether, such immortal adventures six overachieving students undergo to compete in a dangerous race to graduate.

Just finished Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan. I love anything narrated by her and this was such an interesting look into the world of audiobooks. Highly recommend.

I finished All the Colors of the Dark while driving the other day. I didn't love it as much as many other readers did, but I was glad I had the audio to move it along.

I'm now going back to My Sister's Grave. I was only a couple chapters in when I put it aside and it's been a while since I listened to it, so I'll probably just start over.

Utterly addicted to the complicated loves from the childhood life-altering violent event of Patch, Saint, Misty, and Grace of Chris Whitaker, All The Colors of the Dark's All the Colors of the Dark. Grateful this is told in a singular narrative voice rather than a full-cast production. It will be interesting to learn who will be cast in the lead roles in the movie.

I've finished Eclipse and on a second try am thoroughly glad I finished it. It's a legal/political international thriller. Excellently narrated by Peter Francis James. The author's note at the end explains about the research he did in Nigeria in order to write the book.

Now I'm going to listen to The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd. As a feminist reimagining of the New Testament it sounds very modern to me since it's set in the 1st century. Hmm.

Finished the new Fannie Flagg Something to Look Forward To: Fictions as much as I have loved her other books this one didn't grab me as much, the stories were short some being only 5 minutes and I think I would have enjoyed an actual long form story much more.

Now starting The Lies They Told by, Ellen Marie Wiseman narrated by, Elisabeth Rodgers

I finished The Roaring Days of Zora Lily and didn't enjoy it all that much. I will start The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea tomorrow.

Fran wrote: "Now I'm going to listen to The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd. As a feminist reimagining of the New Testament it sounds very modern to me since it's set in the 1st century. Hmm...."

I had mixed feelings about this one, Fran, although the writing is great. I hope you enjoy it!

I finished up Hotshot: A Life on Fire by River Selby. It was slow starting, but early in this week I had some long listening sessions. I think I'm done with these type of memoirs for a while, three in one year is enough. LOL

I started up There Are No Children Here by Alex Kotlowitz. I've had the print book for a very long time and recently discovered an audio version at my public library. I'm nearly 40% through from just one day...I got pulled into the story of these kids...but the environment, the Chicago projects it's just devastating. I don't know, but really hope things are improved since the late 1980s.

The Country Guesthouse was a very touching and bittersweet tale.

Finished and enjoyed Ambush at Central Park: When the IRA Came to New York

My Review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/7886317547

The Door-to-Door Bookstore was well-narrated, but I seem to have gotten tired of books where curmudgeons, loners, and shut-ins get to know each other and form a community, helped along by a precocious kid and a quirky pet. I guess I am becoming a curmudgeon!

Starting Anarchy and Old Dogs, in the mystery series set in 1975 Laos. The whole series was on sale cheaply recently and I really like the unusual setting and presence of local folklore and myth in the books.

One-third into One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This

So glad I read this...it was much needed during this time.