Audiobooks discussion
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June 2013
Grumpus wrote: "Outlander fans, good news!The TV network STARZ, has officially issued a series order to time travel romance ‘Outlander,’ based on the popular Diana Gabaldon books of the same name.
According to ..."
I read the first book. It was a couples book for the wife and I. We didn't go past that. It was fine but it moved a little slow and at the time we were coming up on book2 of the All Souls Trilogy (Shadow of Night). It was a natural comparison and we like the Deborah Harkness trilogy better. Outlander was more kissy kissy and less kicky the assy.
Even so I am looking forward to trying on the Starz series.
David wrote: "Bill... If you and your wife run out of Harry Dresden, you might give my DeChance Chronicles a shot...while Donovan and Harry aren't the same, they are similar enough I think fans would cross over...."Thanks for the recommendation. I look forward to sitting down and sharing a cold one with Donovan one day. It will be a bit though; look at my shelf called "To Read"; there are 17 books on it, and I don't think I have updated it for all my recent activity.
One on that shelf is Monster International that has been recommended to Dresden Fans. There is a whole thread about what series is like Dresden in the Dresden Group.
David wrote: "I should mention that the eBook of Heart of a Dragon is currently discounted to .99 so - with Whispersync for Voice you can get the whole package for less than $3.00"Wow. Sounds like a great deal. My "To Read" shelf just got heavier.
Edit: David, the book description at Amazon says:
"The fate of the city rests on his success, and on the rare talent of a boy who walks in two worlds, and dreams of dragons."
One of my favorite books was about a boy that walked in two worlds - old traveling Jack. Does this have a feel anything like The Talisman?
Anyway - looking forward to this.
Forney_bill wrote: "Grumpus wrote: "Outlander fans, good news!The TV network STARZ, has officially issued a series order to time travel romance ‘Outlander,’ based on the popular Diana Gabaldon books of the same name..."
the outlander tooks tend to get more historical as they progress - while there is still the romance between Jamie and Claire - other characters are introduced and various time periods in history - the second one is fairly political
OK - I am flipping back to nonfiction with a read of "Arguably" by Christopher Hitchens. This is a collection of essays and book critiques - many published in the Atlantic Monthly - many available online. This is the last book before he died and he was aware he was dying when some of the essays were written. There are 107 essays and I have heard the first dozen. Of those, his take on Kennedy and Camelot was probably the most interesting. Although his essay on John Brown was interesting as well.I have actually seen Hitchens along with others on a panel. I was not overly impressed compared to the other panelist but that might have been for his unabashed support of the Iraq War as well as the impressiveness of those other panelist. Also, he chained smoked the whole time. But so far, I am enjoying what he has to say.
I really enjoyed Arguably. I didn't expect to, but he hooked me in and didn't let go.
David wrote: "I had the same experience with Bloody Jack. I started it, and never got past the part in the city...just could not quite get into it."Well like I said once Jacky gets on the high seas it really takes off IMO. I know a lot of people who love it too so I am not making this up! hahaha
Heidi (Seriously. Trust me.) wrote: "David wrote: "I had the same experience with Bloody Jack. I started it, and never got past the part in the city...just could not quite get into it."Well like I said once Jacky gets on the high ..."
I'm glad to know this ahead of trying to listen to it. I've had it on my TBR list for some time but just never got to it. Now I think that's a good thing because I might have moved on to something else before it could get good.
I finished Over My Dead Body from the Nero Wolf series. I'm really liking this series and find them very easy listening. When other books bog down or hit a bad patch I find myself going over to Audible to put the next available Nero Wolf in the cart. I like the narrator, not because his overall voice is so great, but because it sounds so right for the period. It reminds me of the sound of the voice-over narrators in those old-timey newsreels from that era. And Nero Wolf is such a character while Archie Goodwin can be such a hoot!I've started Vampire empire: Greyfriar, which was a finalist for the Audies and is narrated by James Marsters. I made it through the first chapter and found Marsters' narration exceptional, but it got very scary by the end of even the first chapter and this big sissy is going to have to take it a chapter at a time.
Now I'm starting the next book in the Gabriel DuPre series, The Tumbler. These books are easy-listening too, and I love the characters and the humor.
Forney_bill wrote: "OK - I am flipping back to nonfiction with a read of "Arguably" by Christopher Hitchens. This is a collection of essays and book critiques - many published in the Atlantic Monthly - many available..."I have that as an ebook to read, as well as his autobiography Hitch-22: A Memoir. Even where I disagree with him, he makes his points well. I had no idea really who he was when he passed away, but now I get why all those folks said how much they'd miss him.
Just a quick reminder...SYNC is GIVING AWAY 2 Free Audiobook Downloads Each Week from May 30 - August 15, 2013
Each week from May 30 - August 15, 2013, SYNC will offer two free audiobook downloads, one bestselling YA book and one required reading classics. The books are professionally narrated and are only free for one week. This summers books include Jane Eyre, Franenstein, The Prince and the Paulper, Sherlock Homes, Sold and Enchanted.. http://www.audiobooksync.com/
Shawn: in future that kind of posting belongs in the Promotions area not here -- thanks.
John wrote: "Forney_bill wrote: "OK - I am flipping back to nonfiction with a read of "Arguably" by Christopher Hitchens. This is a collection of essays and book critiques - many published in the Atlantic Mont..."I will be interested to hear what you have to say. Also, will be curious to your reaction to December 10th when you finish that.
Sorry, but December 10 has been pushed back indefinitely.
Heidi (Seriously. Trust me.) wrote: "Hahahaha MissSusie spoke for me! I am remembering back and remember that Jacky was really a downer until she gets onto the seas - she is hilarious! I have stuck with the series the entire time an..."Alright, you and MissSusie have convinced me. I'll try to get back to it soon. Thanks!
Jessica wrote: "Heidi (Seriously. Trust me.) wrote: "Hahahaha MissSusie spoke for me! I am remembering back and remember that Jacky was really a downer until she gets onto the seas - she is hilarious! I have stu..."*crosses fingers*
Jessica wrote: "Heidi (Seriously. Trust me.) wrote: "Hahahaha MissSusie spoke for me! I am remembering back and remember that Jacky was really a downer until she gets onto the seas - she is hilarious! I have stu..."I hope you enjoy it as much as I do....Oh and Heidi, Katherine Kellgren said she is recording the next book to come out in August!
I second the raves for Bloody Jack. It's a wonderful series and not depressing at all. The narration is terrific, too. As much as I liked Book 1, I liked the second one even better.IMO, Jacky is one of the best, most lovable heroines of the century.
I've got the third book downloaded and looking forward to listening to it on an upcoming road trip.
I finished The Tumbler by Peter Bowen, eleventh in the Gabriel DuPre series. I love these books, even though they keep ending weirdly. They never seem to wrap up in a conventional way, often leaving the reader either to connect the dots or having to think about what was presented in order to sort it into its correct order. And Benetsee is still one of the most unique characters in literature!
I'm adding Bloody Jack to my list. I'm always on the hunt for a lighter series to throw into the mix, and I can get them all through the library. Yea! Thanks, partners in audiobook crime!
The Choosing is now available as an Audiobook!! http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_1?...You can even get it for free if you have never used Audible before!
I've finished The Big Rock Candy Mountain by Wallace Stegner and thoroughly enjoyed it. I find Stegner's prose to be absolutely stellar and as a child of the West during the early 20th century he is able to capture the drive of Bo Mason, the main character, as he looks for the metaphoric Big Rock Candy Mountain. This is not pleasant listening but it has moments of tenderness and humor along with the despair of poverty that Stegner so poignantly portrays. It's best summed up in Stegner's own words: it's the story of American pioneers who were just to late to the dance. I think if you like Steinbeck you would also like Stegner.Now I'm on to something different, Silence by Thomas Perry. It's a fairly well done thriller so it's keeping me intrigued.
Fran wrote: "I've finished The Big Rock Candy Mountain by Wallace Stegner and thoroughly enjoyed it. I find Stegner's prose to be absolutely stellar and as a child of the West during the early 20th century he ..."TBRCM is on my wish list, and Angle of Repose by Stegner is in my TBR virtual pile. I love Steinbeck, so I'm excited for these!
John wrote: "Forney_bill wrote: "OK - I am flipping back to nonfiction with a read of "Arguably" by Christopher Hitchens. This is a collection of essays and book critiques - many published in the Atlantic Mont..."John, I had been reading Christopher Hitchen's essays for years in the magazine "Vanity Fair." Like you, even when I didn't agree with him he always impressed me with his arguments and his eloquent writing style. Plus, he had a devilish sense of humor. He was very candid about his illness after he made it public and his essays and articles in the last few months before his death were poignant but without a drop of self-pity. I'm one of the those who really miss him.
No, I haven't, John. It's on my (back) list. I read part of it when "Vanity Fair" published a section from it.
Finished another Nero Wolf, Black Orchids, which is actually two novellas put together as one book. I liked both of them for the same reasons as I liked the others--Nero and Archie. These are fun and such easy listening, a bit addictive too. I'm going to try to move on to something else for a little while... until the withdrawal pains become too severe that is.
You have to do that, Jeanie, as the otherwise the stories start bleeding into each other.
Fran and Kristie, many compare Ivan Doig and Wallace Stegner. I have read both and yet I prefer the former. I get less depressed reading Doig, but I have been considering trying Crossing to Safety, having read The Big Rock Candy Mountain and Angle of Repose. Have either of you read this?
John wrote: "You have to do that, Jeanie, as the otherwise the stories start bleeding into each other."Bleeding? Apt word choice for murder mysteries! ;D
Carolyn F. wrote: "I'm listening to the Wool Omnibus"I loved the narrator for the omnibus. You've reminded me to see if the prequel omnibus has been released yet.
Chrissie wrote: "Fran and Kristie, many compare Ivan Doig and Wallace Stegner. I have read both and yet I prefer the former. I get less depressed reading Doig, but I have been considering trying Crossing to Safety,..."I've read Crossing to Safety and it stands up against all the rest of the author's novels. Some may say Stegner's other works stand up to Crossing to Safety. His ability to build characters and relationships is not unlike Graham Greene's The End of the Affair. I'm going to try Ivan Doig. Summer vacation is about to start so I'm going to start clearing my queues!
Fran wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Fran and Kristie, many compare Ivan Doig and Wallace Stegner. I have read both and yet I prefer the former. I get less depressed reading Doig, but I have been considering trying Cr..."OK, I loved Ivan Doig, so now I'm excited to dig into Stegner. Doig will be great summer reading for you, Fran. Just finished English Creek very recently, and it was really enjoyable.
I know I'm in the minority, but I disliked Graham Greene's The End of the Affair...it was very, very well written, but way too depressing with no breaks in that emotion for the reader. I could listen to Colin Firth read me anything, though.
Fran, I might then give Crossing to Safety a try. Maybe my mood was wrong at the last try. You must read Doig! I read Graham Greene ages ago and it is a total blank.....
I have just started A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty, written and narrated by Joshilyn Jackson. I'm in love with her voice (especially her charming Southern accent!) and the story already has me hooked.
J. wrote: "Carolyn F. wrote: "I'm listening to the Wool Omnibus"I loved the narrator for the omnibus. You've reminded me to see if the prequel omnibus has been released yet."
I read that one in eformat. Loved it. Who's the narrator?
Kristie wrote: "Fran wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Fran and Kristie, many compare Ivan Doig and Wallace Stegner. I have read both and yet I prefer the former. I get less depressed reading Doig, but I have been consider..."Kristie and Chrissie,
I've just upped my wish lists on Amazon and Audible for Doig! Thank you both. I definitely understand why The End of the Affair is not for everyone, but Colin Firth was outstanding and deserved the Audie. If I had read the book I don't think I would have come away with how Firth pulled me in as a confidant to the affair. It really was a superb narration. Audible has a very short A-list of famous actors reading older works. Makes for interesting listening! I want to listen to Samuel L. Jackson read A Rage in Harlem. Here's the link for the A-list. http://www.audible.com/search?advsear...
Thank you!!! I had no idea this list existed, and have just put far too many in my wishlist ;-)
Samuel L Jackson was a treat in A Rage in Harlem. He made the book a really fun ride. And I agree Colin Firth is fantastic.
I finished up The Prince of Midnight yesterday and now listening to The Tempest - it was one of the YA Sync downloads this year, and one of the few WS plays I haven't read/listened to - I was that weird person who took a Shakespeare class in college, even though I wasn't an English major...
Dee: I never read a word of Shakespeare until I was nearly 40, needing a Literature (as opposed to English) credit for a second degree.
we did Shakespeare in high school in Australia from grades 10-12 - so I did MacBeth, Othello and Midsummer's in those years (IIRC); then my shakespeare one in college...I actually took the college one because I tested out of a year of freshman comp, but I needed 2 Eng/lit classes for graduation - so I did Shakespeare and a creative writing; and then threw a couple of others i - i'm only like 3 classes shy of an english major
Oh, you're Australian? Oz is in my too-far-away-but-maybe TBV list (To be visited).
Jennifer, I too really did like A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty, with excellent narration! The dialogs were just perfect. What came out of their mouths felt totally genuine.
Kristie wrote: "Samuel L Jackson was a treat in A Rage in Harlem. He made the book a really fun ride. And I agree Colin Firth is fantastic."Oh good!
Jennifer wrote: "Oh, you're Australian? Oz is in my too-far-away-but-maybe TBV list (To be visited)."I grew up there I'm a MD-DC-ite now
J. wrote: "Carolyn F. wrote: "I'm listening to the Wool Omnibus"I loved the narrator for the omnibus. You've reminded me to see if the prequel omnibus has been released yet."
I didn't know there was a prequel omnibus J. I'll have to find it too after I'm done with this audiobook.
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Thanks Jennifer. We are starting a walking program. She has her book and I have mine.