Book Nook Cafe discussion
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Audio Books, Podcasts and YouTube ~ 2022
John wrote: "I have not read the book, but my mother has. When I told her that many reviewers said it required some suspension of disbelief she agreed."Suspension of common sense is why I have trouble with fantasy and sci fi as well as some other types of plot driven books. The author presents certain established "facts" and the reader has to either accept them without understanding why something came to be. That is why I am drawn more to character driven novels than plot driven novels. However, whatever type of book gets people reading is perfect as far as I am concerned.
Alias Reader wrote: "madrano wrote: "Rachel, that's what keeps conversation going, imo. I was surprised by how much i liked it. As i recall, Alias read it and her review intrigued me enough to try."Yes. I also enjoye..."
I find that where there is disagreement it makes for a more interesting book discussion. If everyone loves or does not love a book there is not much to generate discussion.
Rachel wrote: "I find that where there is disagreement it makes for a more interesting book discussion. If everyone loves or does not love a book there is not much to generate discussion..."
Very true. However, I read the book back in January of 2020. So I wouldn't be of any use in a discussion of the book. Between my horrid memory and all the books I've read since.... well you know how it goes.
Rachel wrote: "That is why I am drawn more to character driven novels than plot driven novels. However, whatever type of book gets people reading is perfect as far as I am concerned..."I'm the opposite, for the most part, although i do not want cardboard characters.
I am willing to suspend my belief for science fiction but not for what is really the wishful thinking of magic realism. And while i agree with John's mom about a suspension of belief, it was of a sort which asks me to believe children can escape the notice of school districts, allowing a child to just not return. As we read about this happening, it's not at all the same as suspending belief for almost physically impossibilities.
Or so it seems to me. I'm sure there can be a robust debate on what is & is not "possible".
madrano wrote: "Rachel wrote: "That is why I am drawn more to character driven novels than plot driven novels. However, whatever type of book gets people reading is perfect as far as I am concerned..."I'm the op..."
Can you think of a plot driven book that has very dimensional characters? If so, please let me know and I will read it. It is important to keep an open mind. Thanks
Rachel wrote: "Can you think of a plot driven book that has very dimensional characters? If so, please let me know and I will read it. It is important to keep an open mind. Thanks..."My plot driven may be different from yours. Generally i think thrillers, mysteries and books that come in series, would sometimes include dimensional characters, although they might have developed so over the series span. So, here are a few which came to mind that fit the bill for me.
The Huntress--Kate Quinn
Kindred--Octavia E. Butler
To Kill a Mockingbird--Harper Lee
The North Water--Ian McGuire
Quicksand--Nella Larsen
The Name of the Rose--Umberto Eco.
If you've read any of these and feel they aren't what you meant, please let me know, Rachel.
Thanks for your information. I will avail myself of your wisdom later today. I will put at least one of your suggestions on hold at the library.
Rachel, please don't feel you must read any of them. It was a good exercise for me, as well. If you do read one, i'd be pleased to read your opinion.
John, since you are my audiobook expert, I see that Amazon is having its Prime Day Sale. Audible for 3 months free. I always toy with getting this. But then the expense when I can use the library always stops me. I also don't know how much I would use it. I thought I would post it if anyone else is interested and has Amazon Prime.
If you know, is 3 months free a good deal or do you know if this is their usual offer ?
Then it is $15 a month - Yearly $180 plus taxes
Here are the particulars.
Offer available until July 31, 2022 at 11:59PM PT. Offer is valid only for new customers of Audible.com who are Prime members at the time of sign-up. You will receive a 3 month Audible Premium Plus free trial that includes one credit per month as part of the Audible Premium Plus Membership Plan along with unlimited streaming of the Audible Plus Catalog. After 3 months, your membership will continue until cancelled at the then current full price (currently $14.95/mo. + tax) with your designated credit card or another available card on file. Cancel anytime by visiting the Account Details page. Audible reserves the right to modify or cancel the offer at any time. If you violate any of these terms, the offer will be invalid.
It's not a bad trial as Premium Plus has a sizeable inventory of included titles. As far as those credits go, I'd advise using them towards Audible-only books.
Thank, John.If I'm not interested in purchasing a book in a particular month, can I just roll over the credits to a future purchase?
I see the audible plus is around $8 a month with one month free.
I'll have to look through the catalog. I'm very selective when it comes to audiobooks.
I appreciate your help.
John wrote: "Yes, the credits should roll over."Thank, John ! I don't know why Audible sounds so confusing to me. I guess if I had it, navigating it would be more apparent to me.
madrano wrote: "Rachel wrote: "Can you think of a plot driven book that has very dimensional characters? If so, please let me know and I will read it. It is important to keep an open mind. Thanks..."My plot driv..."
I have reserved Quicksand, some of the others don't ring my reading bell. Umberto Eco I have tried to read but have never been successful. I will keep you posted.
Ok. I actually liked Quicksand better than her better known novel, Passing. Name is the only Eco i completed. As i recall there is even a book explaining all the numerous references in the novel. Really?!I went on a search for the book and it may be this one--Naming the Rose: Essays on Eco's 'The Name of the Rose'. It's a compilation of essays edited by M. Thomas Inge. I haven't read it but had it been around when i read the book, i would have used it for frames of references.
madrano wrote: "Ok. I actually liked Quicksand better than her better known novel, Passing. Name is the only Eco i completed. As i recall there is even a book explaining all the numerous references..."The book I got has both novels in it.
Regarding Name- I am not sure at this point that I want to read a fiction that needs a whole other book to explain it. A friend of mine who is an excellent short story writer, loves that book.
As the saying goes- that is why they make different styles.
Yes, it was the movie which filled in some of the bits i didn't get from the Eco book. Now, how sad is that?!? But the idea of reading another book to explain the original? Nope, not gonna do it!Still, i did like so much of Name. It's probably all the Catholic stuff i learned and liked as a kid. Ah, the mysteries!
madrano wrote: "Rachel wrote: "Can you think of a plot driven book that has very dimensional characters? If so, please let me know and I will read it. It is important to keep an open mind. Thanks..."My plot driv..."
I just started Quicksand and it is powerful. Thanks for recommending or I never would have know about it.
Happy to contribute to a good reading weekend, Rachel. It takes some turns!
madrano wrote: "Happy to contribute to a good reading weekend, Rachel. It takes some turns!"I am about 1/3 of the way through it. It is a great book and considering it was written not quite 100 years ago, the writing style is very modern. It must have been tough to be multiracial before it was a "thing".
Yes, i think Larsen presents that story well.
madrano wrote: "Yes, i think Larsen presents that story well."Helga is such an interesting character. She has this push/pull thing going on in regard to her race. She likes the attention she received in Copenhagen for being "exotic" but rebels against living there for the same reason. The novel presents Helga's interior thoughts and those are what drive the novel so I am not sure I would consider this plot driven. To me it is character driven.
Quicksand, Nella Larsen,4 stars
The novel provides a bird's eye view of what it was like for a biracial woman to live in 1920s society both in America and Denmark. Helga Crane felt at home in neither culture. We see her living in the Harlem Renaissance where she hobnobbed with the intelligentsia, artists and thinkers of the day. We see her teaching in a school in the south "Naxos Negroes knew what was expected of them. They had good sense and good taste. They knew enough to stay in their place."
The writing in this short novel is excellent and distressing, to see how Black Americans had synthesized white society's disdain for them is hard to read, today. Yet, I did not find Helga Crane to be a sympathetic character. She was a woman of intelligence and talent who made wrong decisions, almost willfully, at every turn.
Rachel wrote: "madrano wrote: "Ok. I actually liked Quicksand better than her better known novel, Passing. Name is the only Eco i completed. As i recall there is even a book explaining all the num..."I thought Passing by Nella Larsen was excellent. I love the story and the writing.
I've not read Quicksand yet. I'm glad to hear it's a winner.
Rachel wrote: "The novel presents Helga's interior thoughts and those are what drive the novel so I am not sure I would consider this plot driven. To me it is character driven...."I suppose you have a point there. For me, the plot, as it was presented, could almost more be a coming-of-age. So, while that is a sort of plot, it also isn't. At least you liked the book. The turn her life took stunned me.
madrano wrote: "Rachel wrote: "The novel presents Helga's interior thoughts and those are what drive the novel so I am not sure I would consider this plot driven. To me it is character driven...."I suppose you h..."
The turn in her life was SO sad. It seems only when she was trapped could she stay in one place. I may try to read Passing later but needed a break.
I like to do that with authors, too. Unless we are talking mystery series! :-)
----- Illogical: Saying Yes to a Life Without Limits
by Emmanuel Acho; narrated by Emmanuel Acho
What it is: a thought-provoking look at the possibilities that can arise when we set aside conventional wisdom to explore beyond the self-imposed limits of the "logical" path.
Narration: Former NFL linebacker and Emmy-winning broadcaster Emmanuel Acho dishes out advice with a sincere and lively reading.
----- The Trayvon Generation
by Elizabeth Alexander; narrated by Elizabeth Alexander
What it is: a concise exploration of how Black artists reckon with generational trauma and racist violence.
Narration: Poet and Pulitzer Prize finalist Elizabeth Alexander's lyrical reading complements the book's moving tone.
---- The Tsarina's Daughter
by Ellen Alpsten; narrated by Anna Krippa
What it's about: The deaths of her parents and shifts in court politics leave Peter the Great and Catherine I's sheltered daughter Elizabeth penniless and out of favor in her youth, but as an adult she is presented with an opportunity for redress that is as tempting as it is dangerous.
Narration: British actress Anna Krippa returns to narrate this 2nd in the evocative Tsarina series.
----- The Beauty of Dusk: On Vision Lost and Found
by Frank Bruni; narrated by Frank Bruni
What it's about: This moving and reflective memoir chronicles author Frank Bruni's experiences and observations after a stroke destroyed his sight in one eye, put his remaining vision at risk, and encouraged him to rethink his personal and professional priorities.
Narration: Bruni's calm reading reveals his poignant yet hopeful attitude on aging.
----- Left on Tenth: A Second Chance at Life and Love
by Delia Ephron; narrated by Delia Ephron
How it began: Shortly after losing both her husband, Jerry, and her sister, writer Nora Ephron, to cancer, You've Got Mail screenwriter Delia Ephron found a second chance at love with a man from her past -- until her own cancer diagnosis derailed everything.
Narration: Ephron's candid narration captures all the joys and sorrows of a life well lived.
------ The Sacred Bridge
by Anne Hillerman; narrated by DeLanna Studi and Peter MacDonald
What happens: While visiting Lake Powell, Navajo Nation Police Sgt. Jim Chee finds a murdered Navajo artist and agrees to help the local police. Back home in New Mexico, his wife, officer Bernadette Manuelito, goes undercover to find the Mercedes-driving killer of a hitchhiker.
Narration: Cherokee actress DeLanna Studi expertly juggles multiple distinct character voices in this 25th Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito mystery; World War II Navajo code talker Peter MacDonald authentically narrates a glossary of Navajo terms at the end of the book.
----- Easy Beauty
by Chloé Cooper Jones; narrated by Chloé Cooper Jones
What it's about: philosophy professor Chloé Cooper Jones' experiences living with sacral agenesis, a congenital spinal condition that causes her immense physical and emotional pain.
Narration: Jones offers a thought-provoking and life-affirming exploration of societal beauty standards, parenthood, and identity in her AudioFile Earphones Award-winning recording.
------ The Last Confessions of Sylvia P.
by Lee Kravetz; narrated by Maggi-Meg Reed, Karissa Vacker, and Teri Clark Linden
What it is: a lyrical psychological novel about three lives touched by the development, publication, and study of Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar.
Narration: Maggi-Meg Reed, Karissa Vacker, and Teri Clark Linden earned an AudioFile Earphones Award for capturing a trio of complex characters with interwoven lives.
----- Fevered Star
by Rebecca Roanhorse; narrated by Christian Barillas, Darrell Dennis, Cara Gee, Nicole Lewis, and Shaun Taylor-Corbett
The setting: the continent of Meridian, reeling in the aftermath of celestial events that shattered the Holy City of Tova.
Narration: A full cast of Black and Indigenous narrators brings to life this 2nd epic fantasy in the Between Earth and Sky trilogy, which draws inspiration from the many pre-contact Indigenous cultures of the Americas.
------ The Cartographers
by Peng Shepherd; narrated by Emily Woo Zeller, Nancy Wu, Karen Chilton, Ron Butler, Neil Hellegers, Jason Culp, and Brittany Pressley
The premise: Cartographer Nell Young has a strained relationship with her father Daniel, a well-regarded scholar in their shared field, but she is understandably upset after learning her father was found dead at his desk at the New York Public Library.
Narration: In this AudioFile Earphones Award-winning recording, a full cast narrates Peng Shepherd's compelling thriller.
My sister just got Left on Tenth: A Second Chance at Life and is liking it. I cannot recall if hers is the audio or not. I'll keep you posted. Delia Ephron is not an author she's read previously.
I have this one on my TBR list. Due to this list, I think I will go with the audio.----- The Beauty of Dusk: On Vision Lost and Found
by Frank Bruni; narrated by Frank Bruni
What it's about: This moving and reflective memoir chronicles author Frank Bruni's experiences and observations after a stroke destroyed his sight in one eye, put his remaining vision at risk, and encouraged him to rethink his personal and professional priorities.
Narration: Bruni's calm reading reveals his poignant yet hopeful attitude on aging.
The GR comments make the book sound very thoughtful. I hope you like it, Alias.
Alias Reader wrote: "I have this one on my TBR list. Due to this list, I think I will go with the audio.----- The Beauty of Dusk: On Vision Lost and Found
by Frank Bruni; narrated by Frank Bruni
What it's about: Thi..."
Thanks for the recommendation. I am going to see if my library has it.
Thanks again. The Beauty of Dusk is now on my wish list and I added Born Round, which is about his lifelong struggle with his weight. Can you imagine being the food critic of the New York Times with a weight issue?
I didn't know that about him, Rachel. Well, honestly, until the book mentioned above, i didn't even recognize the name. Still, as you note what a position for a food critic. I hope you find the book well written.
Rachel wrote: "Thanks again. The Beauty of Dusk is now on my wish list and I added Born Round, which is about his lifelong struggle with his weight. Can you imagine being the food critic of the New York Times wit..."You're welcome.
I found a lot of new to me podcasts on this list. I follow Gretchen Rubin's podcast and she mentioned this list. Her podcast made the list. Top 23 Motivational Podcasts to Listen to in 2022
https://www.themanual.com/podcast/bes...
It is wonderful that technology has given us so many ways to find joy and meaning in life.
What a variety of motivational podcasts--cleaning, finance, marriages, and on. Thanks for this link. Rachel, i agree. On this front technology has been an outstanding resource.
Rachel wrote: "It is wonderful that technology has given us so many ways to find joy and meaning in life."I totally agree.
Meditation is an important daily ritual for me and I find listening to a short dharma (Buddhist) talk sets the mood for me.
There is a terrific Paul McCarthy podcast on the BBC. It's 10 short episodes each about 6 minutes long. Each
episode is dedicated to a Beatle song. Paul explains how the song came about, and other interesting facts about each song.
The podcast is called, Paul McCartney: Inside the Songs.
You can get it wherever you get your podcasts.
Here is a YouTube sample. I don't know if the whole series is on YouTube.
Paul McCartney - Talks about The Writing/Lyrics Of 10 Of His Songs -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONHER...
Oh, this should be a pleasure for my family. We are fans. Thank you.
You're welcome. I enjoyed it, too.
Alias Reader wrote: "You're welcome. I enjoyed it, too."That sounds great. It is wonderful to learn about the creative process. Plus, he has a very charming manner when I have heard him speak.
Rachel, he was always my fav. Those big brown eyes and that accent.... 💚💙💛
Are you familiar with the BBC App "Sounds? I enjoy their podcasts.I am listening to Staircase the Real Story.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0...
Rachel wrote: "Are you familiar with the BBC App "Sounds? I enjoy their podcasts.I am listening to Staircase the Real Story.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0......"
I subscribe to a bunch of BBC podcasts. I'll see if I see one with that title. Thanks !
'AudioFile' Turns 30"Like most print publications today, AudioFile has expanded beyond paper and offers a free digital newsletter as well as two podcasts— “Behind the Mic,” showcasing recommendations from editors and reviewers and bonus material from narrator interviews; and “Audiobook Break” which allows listening to a book serialized chapter by chapter. In addition, each week, the AudioFile team posts 50 new reviews online via its newsletter and social media accounts. (The best/most interesting/most relevant of these then comprise the print issue.)"
--- Full Article
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/b...
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True. I didn't mind that because the descriptions of nature were so full and powerful. But periodically, once i stopped reading for the day, for instance, i'd think about the reality of the main character, Kya. However, as mentioned elsewhere, i find most romance novels uninteresting, so that this one pleased me is also surprising. It was the nature that did it.