Audiobooks discussion

This is it - we've reached the end!

Partway through a terrific collection: . I put this one aside near the end, so plan to complete it this month: .

Was hoping to finish The Correspondent today, but looks like I'm not going to make it and will be starting December with that.

I also need to finish The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club.

Halfway through The Tainted Cup. Narration is good, but story is challenging to follow - fantasy plus mystery.

John wrote: "This is it - we've reached the end!

Partway through a terrific collection: . I put this one aside near the end, so plan to complete ..."

Ah yes, I've listened to the Alan Bennett collection several years ago, thanks for reminding me, about time to listen to this again!

I just finished Boy's Life. This was a beautiful book and a rare five star review for me. I'm not one for getting choked up, but the author gave me a couple of emotional gut punches. The story telling is excellent and well paced.

I'm still working my way through Blue Horizon by Wilbur Smith. In addition to being great historical fiction with larger than life characters and lots of page turning adventure - the narration by Sean Barrett is fabulous.

Scott S. wrote: "I just finished Boy's Life. This was a beautiful book and a rare five star review for me. I'm not one for getting choked up, but the author gave me a couple of emotional gut punches..."

That's such an amazing book! Glad you enjoyed it.

Scott S. wrote: "I just finished Boy's Life. This was a beautiful book and a rare five star review for me. I'm not one for getting choked up, but the author gave me a couple of emotional gut punches..."

I really loved that book too. I am reading another book by the same author, Robert McCammon, The Listener.

Originally published in 2018 (March), we’re lucky to have a full-cast dramatic narration 577 minute, released this June (6/5/2025). And when I say full cast, I am not kidding: Narrated by Jessica Threet as Sara Burns and Gabriel Michael as Pestilence; additional performances by Barbara Pinolini, Gregory Linington, JW Rone, Gail Shalan, Matthew Bassett, Peter Holdway, Wyn Delano, Mark Harrietha, Bradley Foster Smith, Donald Guzzi, Drew Kopas, Laura C. Harris, Terence Aselford, Eric Messner, Richard Rohan, Jameson Hunt, Jonathon Church, Andrew Arceus, Jule Harrison, Mary Oliver, Julie-Ann Elliott, Karen Novack, Kenneth Charles, Christopher Williams, Holly Adams, Mort Shelby, Megan Hastie, Vanessa Thurlow, Jeri J. Marshall, Chris Stinson, Elizabeth Jernigan, Emlyn McFarland, Steve Wannall, Lily Beacon, and Nora Sofyan. https://www.graphicaudio.net/the-four...

I just finished it (Pestilence by Laura Thalassa). The book is a dark romance (violence, sex), but it kind of is implied, no? Given that the title and the MMC is Pestilence, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Highly recommend.

Yes, indeed almost at year’s end.

Completed The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens | read by Zach Villa | 3*

I never did Emily Organ's series featuring reporter Penny Green. However, I'm listening to the second one in the spinoff series featuring her and widow Emma Langley (a secondary character in one of Penny's stories it seems). A bit of a red flag that when I went to listen recently my first thought was "Three more hours to go still ..."

I finished up a couple of audiobooks recently: Pick a Color by Souvankham Thammavongsa was fairly short. It's about a nail salon, mostly the owner who used to be a boxer. There are important aspects of her background that are left unexplained, and that annoyed me a little.

I also finished up The Midwife's Revolt by Jodi Daynard. I enjoyed this one enough that I'm going to start the second book in the series right away - Our Own Country I bought both books during a sale in 2017, so it's about time I get to these.

by Alan Furst | read by George Guidall

One of my favorite voices.

Yes, Guidall is the grandfather of audiobooks, I have enjoyed him since the 1980's.

Guidall was awesome reading Tony Hillerman's series featuring Navajo cop Jim Chee.

George Guidall narrates many books by authors I like, but . . . . he's just not my favorite. I know I'm in the minority here. Perhaps my problem is that I don't like the fact that the cast of characters in my head have the same voice. Jim Chee, Gabriel Allon, Walt Longmire and more. Guidall's voice is very distinctive.

There was an interview, I think on the Audible site, where Guidall explained that he randomly read a Western audiobook early on and after that he was sort of typecast. Tony Hillerman specifically told Craig Johnson to "ask for George" to read the Longmire books. Of course Guidall has done many other types of books as well.

When I was new to audiobooks (1980's on cassette), I got one of Hillerman's books read by the author. It was so flat! I learned that most authors aren't also great narrators. The same book was wonderful read by Guidall.

I finished Somebody I Used to Know and was less than thrilled. I bought it from Audible Daily Deals 10 years ago and kept putting it off. I was hoping I'd say, "Why didn't I read this sooner?" Instead I'm saying, "Why did I even buy this?"

I'l be starting Forget-Me-Not Library today.

Finally reviewed The Storm.

- my review of The Storm

I'm hoping to finish The Correspondent today and I'm about 2/3 through The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club. I'm enjoying them both, but looking forward to moving on and wrapping up a couple of challenges I'm working on.

great day for reading...had 5 1/2 hours of driving today so finished Ink Witch and Silver Elite

finished The Amalfi Curse, a lovely multi-narrator story.

well, the book cover did not fooled me into a sense of fun, lighthearted reading. I just finished Definitely Better Now, a book about recovery, grief, and finding yourself.

Working on Mr. Flood's Last Resort, featuring an outstanding writer, Jess Kidd, teamed up with an awesome narrator, Aoife Mcmahon.

John wrote: "Working on Mr. Flood's Last Resort, featuring an outstanding writer, Jess Kidd, teamed up with an awesome narrator, Aoife Mcmahon."

i have Kidd's newest on my TBR - Murder at Gulls Nest

Started The Perfect Hosts by, Heather Gudenkauf narrated by, Brittany Pressley & Xe Sands

just finished Sorcery of Thorns. fun!

starting Wild Reverence and Blood of Hercules

Dee wrote: "John wrote: "Working on Mr. Flood's Last Resort, featuring an outstanding writer, Jess Kidd, teamed up with an awesome narrator, Aoife Mcmahon."

i have Kidd's newest on my TBR - [b..."

I'm listening to this Kidd book because I loved that one!

I loved Kidd's Things in Jars and Himself even more than "Mr. Flood's Last Resort." I can't wait to read the new one.

I just finished Barbara Metzger's Regency romance "Miss Lockharte's Letters" and was disappointed. It was on my TBR stack for a long time, too, and Pippa Rathborne narrated. Drat.

Now listening to Jeremy Robinson's "Human After All" sci-fi with R.C. Bray doing the reading.

(Sorry I couldn't link to the last two. Chrome has decided it doesn't like Goodreads anymore.)

Jan Mc wrote: "I loved Kidd's Things in Jars and Himself even more than "Mr. Flood's Last Resort." I can't wait to read the new one.

I just finished Barbara Metzger's Regency roma..."

Murder at Gulls Nest is the first of a three-book mystery contract for Kidd. A nun just out of the convent after 30 years, three murders, Kidd as author ... praise be the publisher signed for two sequels!

Generally, as a group, we dislike audio books narrated by the author, but recently I've listened to some excellent ones. They include

Sister in Law: Shocking True Stories of Fighting for Justice in a Legal System Designed by Men by Harriet Wistrich

The Peepshow by Kate Summerscale

4321 by Paul Auster

All the Way to the River by Elizabeth Gilbert

The first two books were longlisted for the 2025 Women's Prize for Non-Fiction.

I finished the Jeff Shaara Civil War Western Front series with The Fateful Lightning: A Novel of the Civil War. I haven't read a Jeff Shaara historical fiction that I didn't love, he pulls a reader into the story with the thoughts of the characters, from Generals to Infantrymen and Nurses. Of course nobody knew what those true life people thought so that part is the fiction, otherwise it is very well researched historically. 5*

I completed the Goodreads challenge with the Choice Awards nominee We Fell Apart by E. Lockhart. It is a stand-alone but also part of a trilogy, book 3 in the same "We Were Liars" series. 4*

I'm now finishing The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. This is my first book by her and I now want to read Demon Copperhead. I am really enjoying this one, narrated by Dean Robertson, she does a great job.

John wrote: “Murder at Gulls Nest is the first of a three-book mystery contract for Kidd. A nun just out of the convent after 30 years, three murders, Kidd as author ... praise be the publisher signed for two sequels”

I’ve had the ebook on hold for like 2 months but surprise surprise the audio was available when I randomly checked

Doug wrote: "I'm now finishing The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. This is my first book by her and I now want to read Demon Copperhead. I am really enjoying this one, narrated by Dean Robertson, she does a great job."

That was my first Barbara Kingsolver novel as well. I am now a huge fan! However, I didn't really enjoy Demon Copperhead that much, but if you liked David Copperfield you will probably like it. My favorite BK novel was probably Prodigal Summer but she has so many great novels, you really can't go wrong (except for the afore mentioned Demon Copperhead) but that's just my opinion.

Donna wrote: "That was my first Barbara Kingsolver novel as well. I am now a huge fan! However, I didn't really enjoy Demon Copperhead that much, but if you liked David Copperfield you will probably like it. My favorite BK novel was probably Prodigal Summer but she has so many great novels, you really can't go wrong (except for the afore mentioned Demon Copperhead) but that's just my opinion."

Thanks. My library has a bunch of her books I see, and most of them are popular and a bit older and checked in, so now my wish list has several more...

Her books can be quite different from each other, and vary a lot in length. The first book I read by her was The Bean Trees, is a coming of age story. The Poisonwood Bible is one of her most ambitious.

Her books always touch on social issues, some more obviously than others. She was questioned about why she did that and she said something about how she was writing about life and these issues are part of it.

I listened to Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson this month, and it was not as good as the other. It started strong, and it ended strong. The middle was a hot mess, and unfortunately that was hundreds of pages! I'm still glad I read it, and I am still going to finish the series, but I am going to wait a while.

Audible just had a big sale, and I had maybe ten things in my cart. Then between my kids and I, we had three performances this weekend, and I directed a concert last night, and with all the chaos, I forgot to actually check out. Ugh. I'm so sick. All of those books were $5 and less and most were less than $3, and they were all on my wish list.

I'm listening to Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner. It's a memoir about her life while her mother was dying. I lost my mom a few years ago to a different disease, but there are many parallels. It's a very good book, but I am going to listen to something light for a while before I go back to it. I WAS going to listen to one of the Audible books that I THOUGHT I bought. Geez - I am so smart! :/

The Things We Leave Unfinished, by Rebecca Yarros was an excellent audio book!

Misty wrote: "Audible just had a big sale, and I had maybe ten things in my cart. Then between my kids and I, we had three performances this weekend, and I directed a concert last night, and with all the chaos, I forgot to actually check out. ..."

I feel for you Misty. I almost missed the sale myself. Audible will have another sale again. They seem to be in always on sale mode these days...

Misty wrote: "Audible just had a big sale, and I had maybe ten things in my cart...."

As Pamela said, Misty, Audible has a lot of sales and you will have more chances to load up. Sounds like you are having a busy and productive holiday season, which is great!

I'm currently listening to a historical mystery (What Darkness Brings) by C.S. Harris and a sci-fi (Human After All) by Jeremy Robinson, so I'm well-rounded. I'll find a fun Christmas-themed cozy or something next.

I love the Sebastian St. Cyr series, though I can never keep the titles straight because they all start with Who, What, Why, When, etc.

Yea - hopefully at least some of them will go back on sale. Oh well - that's what happens when you have too many pots in the fire!

I finished Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner today. It is a really beautiful memoir, but it is so sad. I would recommend it for sure. I was substitute teaching today, and I was finishing it up when the kids were at specials, and I was bawling in the classroom. I had to try and quickly pull it together before I picked up the kids. LOL.

Misty wrote: "I listened to Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson this month, and it was not as good as the other. It started strong, and it ended strong. The middle was a hot mess, and..."

Ouch! That was a great sale. Sorry you missed it.

Finished and enjoyed It Should Have Been You

My review, www.goodreads.com/review/show/8109041041

Just received an email from Queens Public Library that the audiobook service Boundless by Baker & Taylor is going out of business and their selection is now available (in Queens anyway) through Overdrive/Libby. I wondered why they suddenly added a whole lot of older titles to the offerings yesterday. If you are lucky enough to belong to a library system that used Boundless you may be impacted also. I have been going through and marking books that I want to check out that have no holds or very short wait times, I am certain that over time this situation will change (back to 6 months plus wait lists for many titles), but since they were just added they are checked in.

I am reading the second installment of the Blackthorn & Grim trilogy by Juliet Marillier, Tower of Thorns. I have read many other books by this author and none were duds, this historical fiction/fantasy series is standing up just as well.

completed a couple romance books I Could Be Yours, The Catch, Falling Like Leaves after a cluster of mythological fantasy books Blood of Hercules, Sorcery of Thorns. Now I'm taking on a new genre by reading the classic The Russia House by master author John le Carré.

Audiophile Archives wrote: "completed a couple romance books I Could Be Yours, The Catch, Falling Like Leaves after a cluster of mythological fantasy books Blood of Hercules, Sorcery of Thorns."

I did not care for Blood of Hercules by Jasmine Mas, I won't be continuing that series. How was Sorcery of Thorns? That one has been on my radar for a while but I have not moved it up to the top of the list yet. Did you like it?

The Second Chance Year is predictable but charming. On New Year's Eve, Sadie realizes it has been a terrible year, she lost her job, her apartment, and her boyfriend. Through a magical intervention, she gets a chance to relive the year and "fix" everything. Surprise - all her efforts end up as bad or worse, but she learns who she really is and what she really wants. The narration was excellent.

Doug wrote: "Audiophile Archives wrote: "completed a couple romance books I Could Be Yours, The Catch, Falling Like Leaves after a cluster of mythological fantasy books Blood of Hercules, Sorcery of Thorns."

I..."

The Blood of Hercules series is certainly not for everyone, Doug. Sorcery is more YA than Blood (less lusty) but that makes for a better storyline. thrilling in parts, cute and spunky FMC. The sorcery is fun. Check it out and I hope you share your thoughts.

starting ...intriguing. "...hubris will make fools of us all."

I finished Sunlight. It wasn't great literature, but good for distraction.

I started The Raven Scholar today.