March 2014 Group Read/Listen

[Lesley]

P.d.r. wrote: "Have just found a nice Kiwi site which adds sounds to stories. Will be having a go with my stories. The stories will be left at this website free to download. There are quite a few there already."

Have you got the url for the site, or the name p.d.r.

[P.D.R.]

Try this one.
http://cdn.booktrack.com/studio/index...

The booktrack man is busy chating about it all on LinkedIn

[Sweetp-1]

We have the booktrack app, kids like it.

[Lesley]

Thanks p.d.r. This looks like fun.

Looking at the apps there are two - Booktrack Bookshelf and Booktrack Reader. Do I need one - which one - or both?

[Lesley]

I've just finished The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway read by Gareth Armstrong. A very interesting novel based on an actual event that took place at the beginning of the war in Sarajevo. Absorbing.

I've picked up what will be my last book for this challenge titled Unleashed by David Rosenfelt read by Gareth Grover. A retired detective privately hired to solve a murder. I've just started this on the way to work today. The reader has a gravelly voice and Brooklyn NY accent which suits the story/characters perfectly. Enjoying it so far.

[Sweetp-1]

Ive listened to the Cellist before, it has really stayed in my mind, so moving. I think also because the war happened relatively recently and I knew so little about it. Did you youtube the Adagio? Its a very haunting piece of music.

[Sweetp-1]

I am partway through What I Saw and How I Lied, so far it's Ok probably need to listen to a bit more

I finished Aleutian Sparrow which was an interesting book. During WWII the Japanese invaded the Aleutian islands and all the citizens (US) were forcibly evacuated to temporary camps and accommodations in Alaska. Conditions were terrible, a shocking number of Aleutians died and they werent allowed to return home for many years. Another piece of war history I knew nothing about and pretty eye opening to think the US did this to their own citizens! The book is actually poetry, in the form of short vignettes from the POV of a teenage girl. Its a format that worked quite well as an audio. Very short and probably not quite the right amount of emotional punch but still a good listen.

[Darkpool]

Woohoo! finally just about to finish Wool, then straight down to the library to pick up Shift

[Sharlene]

I finally finished Life of Pi tonight. it's been months since I started it.... and because it's #EarthHour I'm sitting in candlelight listening to Thirteen Reasons Why

[Lesley]

Sweetp-1 wrote: "Ive listened to the Cellist before, it has really stayed in my mind, so moving. I think also because the war happened relatively recently and I knew so little about it. Did you youtube the Adagio? ..."

No, I didn't even think to do that but I will. I can't get the story out of my mind. It's a very haunting piece of writing. I have a strong suspicion it won't be long before I listen to it again. It would be good to have the adagio play along side.

I just found this about the cellist. He left Sarajevo near the end of the Bosnian war for Northern Ireland and had never played again in Sarajevo until returning for a remembrance concert on 5 April 2012. Here's the vimeo clip of him playing http://vimeo.com/39846516 and here's a news item of his return that's also quite interesting and shows the novel was pretty close to the reality http://www.wqxr.org/#!/story/197875-c...

[Lesley]

Don't forget to be including your audios in your March page numbers. ☺

[Sharlene]

Hey Kathleen did you get around to Clockwork Angel? it's a prequel to The Mortal Instruments which are being made into movies. It seems the popular thing to do with young adult books, especially series!

I finished Thirteen Reasons Why which left me a little blank, listening to how a young man deals with losing a girl who he had a crush on & having to hear the events of what led her to make the decision to end her life. A sad story. It was a good story to listen to because it's based on listening to cassette tapes.

I snuck in a quick classic audible, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. I loved it. The imagination of an elderly gentleman, even though he still has his wife, just seems so alone in his head. a great read.

[Sweetp-1]

Darkpool (protesting GR censorship) wrote: "Woohoo! finally just about to finish Wool, then straight down to the library to pick up Shift"

Sucked into the Silo I see ;)

[Lesley]

Last read/listen finished for this month is Unleashed by David Rosenfelt reader Gareth Grover. This was an easy to listen to mystery that I quite enjoyed. Might try some of his other titles in the future.

Thanks for an innovative group read Sweetp-1. I have thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Sweetp-1]

Ella's Gran wrote: "Thanks for an innovative group read Sweetp-1. I have thoroughly enjoyed it. "

You listened to lots! Glad you enjoyed. I think it was fun to mix it up a little bit and it was great to see so much participation and chat :)

[Sharlene]

I completed these 3 in March


I'm hoping to get rid of my audible account as it's NZ $20 a month & I Barely use it!

[P.D.R.]

My library doesn't have many audio books. Where is a good place to borrow them from?

Is there an online library or podcast thingie place?

[Sweetp-1]

Pdr there are lots of links and suggestions of places to look for audios on previous page of this thread. Does your library do online ebook/audio borrowing? Is that what you mean by "not many" or do you mean they dont have many available in the library itself on CD etc.
My local library has tapes I think! I use the Northland libraries portal to borrow audios and ebooks.
Otherwise places like audible have subscription services. For podcasts I use the podcast app on my ipod or the iTunes store.

[Sharlene]

Gisborne library subscribe to Overdrive.com which has audiobooks and ebooks. I'm sure there are other libraries that use it. Talk to your librarian :)

[P.D.R.]

Serves me right for not back checking. Will have a look. Thank you everyone.

[Sweetp-1]

The sync YA programme for 2014 should be starting soon. That's a good one because the books dont expire off your overdrive console so you can listen at your leisure.

[P.D.R.]

Er...? The what programme?
Sounds fierce.

[Sweetp-1]

http://www.audiobooksync.com/2014/02/...

Next month they start.

[P.D.R.]

Ah! Thank you.
Just wave a magic wand and get me some time to explore there.

[Sweetp-1]

The SYNC summer programme has started. http://www.audiobooksync.com/free-syn...
Unfortunately WARP is available in the US only but The Time Machine by HG Wells can be downloaded. This is available for a few more days but the copy wont expire from your overdrive console.

[P.D.R.]

Thank you for that. Will chase it up tonight.