You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion
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What are you reading and why? Jul-Dec 2014
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Casceil
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Aug 24, 2014 12:34PM
Abridged versions are the pits. I accidentally wound up listening to one of a Tom Clancy book. It made no sense at all.
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It makes you wonder why they even bother with abridged versions - does anyone actually listen to them knowingly?!
It used to be that you could only get audiobooks that were abridged. I read abridged books when I was a kid. My parents used to have a subscription to Reader's Digest Condensed Books. The only one that I remember is The Haunting of Hill House. I have since read the full meal deal.
It used to be that audiobooks were only available as tapes, and they tended to be abridged so that a long book wouldn't require too many boxes of tapes. CD's are wonderful.
I just finished Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I bought that not too long ago Lilisa your review doesn't make me in a rush to read it. I know a couple others who felt same way about it though
I thought Mr. Penumbra started off really well, but ultimately failed to live up to the expectations it created, at least for me. Be sure to notice, though, that the book cover does glow in the dark.
Travis of NNY wrote: "I bought that not too long ago Lilisa your review doesn't make me in a rush to read it. I know a couple others who felt same way about it though"I'm getting the same feeling, though my GR friends seem to be all over the board with their ratings.
I finished To Say Nothing of the Dog. Like the first in the series, is not really a SF book (despite the Nebula/und or Hugo Prize it won). It´s a cozy mystery-comedy with time travel elements on it. The time traveling is just another wheel in the plot.But, like his predecessor it has truly good characters in it: the Professor P. and Cyril are priceless. And they provide for really funny parts.
There is clues along the book that, if you pay attention, they direct you in the right direction to know who, why and how (where too).I gave it 3 * (and a half,but GR wouldn't allow the half part...)
I´m going to submerge myself in Empire of the Sun, I hope I have a chance to finish it before the month´s end
I hope you fare better than I did with Mr. Penumbra Travis. Casceil - will have to check out the glow in the dark, although it's not going to get any more points for that! :-)
Casceil wrote: "I thought Mr. Penumbra started off really well, but ultimately failed to live up to the expectations it created, at least for me. Be sure to notice, though, that the book cover does glow in the dark."Now, there's a reason to buy a book for the cover! ROFL, but it is ugly! I admit that I have had this book on my list for a long time too, but have never been in a hurry to read it. It will definately be a library book for me.
Oh, I forgot why I came here. I listened to a super little book last night called Blizzard: The Storm that Changed America. It is only 144 pages long, but it was fantastic story of a really true event! Everyone east of the Mississippi will be nodding their heads - uh huh and everyone west will be shaking their heads in amazement. It is not a YA story at all, even though it won a Newberry award.
Janice wrote: "I read abridged books when I was a kid. My parents used to have a subscription to Reader's Digest Condensed Books."Funny, we had these too. I used to read them as a kid, but can't remember a single one of them. Now I wouldn't touch them with a stick.
Janice wrote: "I read abridged books when I was a kid. My parents used to have a subscription to Reader's Digest Condensed Books..."My mother used to get these too. I read many of them over and over. I did not understand until many years later that they were abridged, but I was still grateful that I was exposed to so many wonderful stories. Most of my favorites, I read later as I found the full length books. If it gets people to read, I do not think there is anything wrong with abridged stories.
Regarding the Chocolat audio book, I could have been very happy listening to it except for the buddy read. The narrator was great. There was just too much left out of the story!
I am currently listening to The Magician. It is the 2nd book in The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series.
Just finished reading Gone Girl which was fantastic. I'm now at a loss for what to read. In two days I'm starting a buddy read of Rose of Sarajevo so I need to read something shortish but I don't know what! I have a book from NetGalley to review I, Morgana which is pretty short but some of my GR friends didn't rate it very highly so it's not really screaming "Read Me". Other short reads I have are Genesis and The Giver. I might have to use the fruit machine to decide. Or I could start my next chunkster and then have a break for the buddy read and then come back to it. But then which of my three chunksters should I read - The Daylight War, Shift or Mistborn: The Final Empire?! I'm feeling very indecisive right now!
Choices choices Sarah! The buddy read book is quite short, so it wouldn't be a long break from a chunkster if you start one now. Or you could read both books at the same time if I turn out to be a very slow buddy ;-)I'm still reading In the Land of the Long White Cloud. I didn't like it so much in the beginning but it has gotten better. I think it's the kind of light read I was looking for for a while. The writing isn't brilliant and the story is quite simple too, so it's one of those books that you go through quickly and is just entertaining enough to keep you reading.
True I could read two at once so maybe I shouldn't worry about the length and just choose one I really want to read!
Sarah wrote: "Just finished reading Gone Girl which was fantastic. I'm now at a loss for what to read. In two days I'm starting a buddy read of Rose of Sarajevo so I need to read ..."Lexx says out of the two he's read, read The Daylight War
Rusalka wrote: "Lexx says out of the two he's read, read The Daylight War."I would have to agree! This is the one I want to read the most. However, if I read it now, I have so much longer to wait until the next book in the series. I'm trying to eek it out as much as possible. I think I might make it my last read in the current chunkster milestone. I've decided to go with Shift so I can finish another series.
Sarah wrote: "True I could read two at once so maybe I shouldn't worry about the length and just choose one I really want to read!"I usually read at least two and often four books at the same time, plus listen to one audiobook while driving. I often find that if I'm a bit tired of reading one book, I can easily switch to another one for a while and get again back to the first one the next day.
I do too Camilla usually. Just being really indecisive but went with a chunkster and I'll double up with the buddy read when it starts! I do have an audio on the go already as well.
I finished the Emperor of Thorns. Last of the trilogy. I am kind of mourning. Does it happen to you when you get to the end of a series?I am currently reading Touchstone, as an audiobook and my carry-around book.
My main book is The Orenda and I expect to like it a lot from the little I have read so far.
Esther wrote: "I finished the Emperor of Thorns. Last of the trilogy. I am kind of mourning. Does it happen to you when you get to the end of a series?"Sometimes yes, if I've enjoyed the series a lot. But sometimes I'm also relieved when a series that has been prolonged too much has finally come to an end.
Esther wrote: "I finished the Emperor of Thorns. Last of the trilogy. I am kind of mourning. Does it happen to you when you get to the end of a series?"I felt like that when I finished The Riyria Revelations.
Janice wrote: "Esther wrote: "I finished the Emperor of Thorns. Last of the trilogy. I am kind of mourning. Does it happen to you when you get to the end of a series?"I felt like that when I fin..."
Ok, that has just sold 'The Riyria Revelations' to me! :)
Ann wrote: "I am reading The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks It is incredibly interesting. What a story!"I enjoyed that one. Really amazing story.
Lisa wrote: "Ok, that has just sold 'The Riyria Revelations' to me! :)"They've combined the 6 books into 3 omnibus' -
Theft of Swords
Rise of Empire
Heir of Novron
I listened to all three which were narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds. He did a fabulous job!
Lisa wrote: "Janice wrote: "Esther wrote: "I finished the Emperor of Thorns. Last of the trilogy. I am kind of mourning. Does it happen to you when you get to the end of a series?"I felt like ..."
Same here. Then I realised it was already on my to read list. Janice propably sold them twice to me. :)
Esther wrote: "I finished the Emperor of Thorns. Last of the trilogy. I am kind of mourning. Does it happen to you when you get to the end of a series?..."Yes, it happens to me too. I am going to go look at your books now. :) back... I added the first book to my reading list. I see that there are a couple of Kindle noveletts too. Did you read these? They are always a problem for me to get. I haven't found many of them even worth spending my money on, when I did manage to get them.
Ann wrote: "I am reading The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks It is incredibly interesting. What a story!"Amy really liked this one. She talked my ear off about it and I still haven't managed to read it yet.
I feel that with series too. Although most of the series I've been reading recently haven't ended as such but are more to be continued... so instead being left feeling mournful, I'm left feeling frustrated, impatient and eager to read the next installment. Really looked forward to getting started on The Broken Empire series with our buddy read at the end of the month. I have moved the Riyria series to the top of my wishlist!
Cherie wrote: "Esther wrote: "I finished the Emperor of Thorns. Last of the trilogy. I am kind of mourning. Does it happen to you when you get to the end of a series?..."Yes, it happens to me to..."
There was 2 short stories that he made available for everyone last year. They may still be available on his site.
Sarah, this series is, i believe, a Love or hate it series. I must dig my notes on the first series and post them on the buddy read thread...
Lack of sleep has me in a bit of irritable state this week so I'm hoping to break it with The Good Thief's Guide to Amsterdam
Esther wrote: "Same here. Then I realised it was already on my to read list. Janice propably sold them twice to me. :) "Yeah, I've been raving about them since I finished them. I have the books and short stories in the Riyria Chronicles and am looking forward to a reunion with Royce and Hadrian.
Janice wrote: "Esther wrote: "Same here. Then I realised it was already on my to read list. Janice propably sold them twice to me. :) "Yeah, I've been raving about them since I finished them. I have the books ..."
I have just added all the 'Riyria Revelations' books to my wishlist. They sound like really fun reads!
Just finished All Quiet on the Western Front
My first 5 star read of 2014. This is my review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/1033059122
I finished The Wine of Angels for the chunkster challenge and a buddy read. I gave it 4 stars. It was a really enjoyable read and I am looking forward to continuing with this series. If you like mysteries with some history and a touch of the supernatural thrown in then I would recommend checking it out.
I finished listening to The Magician this morning before I went to work. I loved it! I have to wait for the next one to become available now. I started Sarah's Key while I was working this afternoon, but I can't seem to work and listen to it, so I had to stop. I don't care for the narrator too much. She is not as good as the one that did The House I Loved. I need to read my print books tonight.
Dem wrote: "Just finished All Quiet on the Western Front My first 5 star read of 2014. This is my review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/1033059122"
Glad you liked it, Dem! Your first 5 star this year??? I must give 5 stars too easliy.
I hope Travis likes it because that is the one I picked from his list for him to read/listen to.
Sandra wrote: "Debra, I read it and it is a 5 stars for me too. It's a great book! I've read many historical fiction novels set during WWII since it is a very interesting period IMO, but most of them where set..."
I'm very late catching up here, so this book may have been mentioned. I haven't read it, but have A Thread of Grace by Mary Doria Russell on my tbr. It takes place in Italy during the last of WWII. It sounds fascinating!
Janice wrote: "I will start When Bad Things Happen to Good People tonight. One of the women in my rl book club chose it. Her husband is living with ALS. It wouldn't be my choice to read otherwise, but it will be a good way to support her during this challenging time in her life. It may help me understand, too, why my mom is living a life due to her strokes that she would abhor."Have you seen all the awareness and funds being raised by the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge? I thought this article made some good points.
http://www.nooga.com/167614/mountain-...
I so understand about your mom. After my mom's stroke (triggered by chemo), all I could think was how horrified she would have been if she realized what she was doing.
Ann wrote: "I am reading The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks It is incredibly interesting. What a story!"I thought it was fascinating. And I found a connection - my dad is younger than Henrietta, but he grew up near South Boston. His high school played hers in sports, and he also spent time in the tobacco warehouses (that was the main money crop in the area for a long time). I spent a lot of time in the South Boston area when I was young.
Janice wrote: "Yeah, I've been raving about them since I finished them. I have the books and short stories in the Riyria Chronicles and am looking forward to a reunion with Royce and Hadrian."You got me hooked on the first book, but now I'm depressed my library doesn't have the next two in audio form. Hmmm...I see an ILL request in my future - I wonder if they loan out audios.
It's taken forever to catch up here, mainly because I had to click on every book mentioned :) Now I really have to go to bed, so my books will have to wait.
Jmom - my library does ILL for audio books! I bet yours does too. (I hope, I hope) That is how I have been able to listen to the Charles Lennox series books. Only the first two were available on Overdrive, so I asked at the information desk about how to request the others. The lady said that the audio books on Overdrive were separate from the audio books on CD from the library. My heart sank and I was turning to leave and she said "let me see if we can request them through ILL"! It takes awhile to get them, but maybe that just makes each one better! #3 and #4 came from Illinois, #5 came from Oklahoma, and #6 came from Washington. I am waiting for #7 still...
Cherie wrote: "Dem wrote: "Just finished All Quiet on the Western Front My first 5 star read of 2014. This is my review: www.goodreads.com/review/s..."
Lol!! It was worth waiting for Cherie. It's a great pick for Travis..
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You'll love this one...!! A book club & more
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