Vagabond Treehouse (2023) [Beware of Chicken 3 - December 4th] Showing 4,601-4,650 of 5,829

[Tonari no Emily]

Oh no Choko! Glad no one was hurt... Hope everyone stays safe!

[Nirkatze]

Ditto on Emily! Stay safe!

[Nirkatze]

I'm wondering what y'all use for separate audiobook files, like m4b? I just got my Secret Project #2... I also redeemed my Spotify, but I've been thinking it'd be nice to have something for separate files... I've been using just the Books app that comes with the iPod, but it only goes up to 2x speed at 1/4 increments, and horrible organization.

Any recommendations? I really like Hoopla's slider scale speed...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Definitely stay safe... weather is getting rougher as climate change hits a breaking point... weather seems all over the place the last couple years... up, down, up, down... large shifts, lots of thunder/lightning as a result... unexpected weather like snow into May, etc...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Nirkatze wrote: "I'm wondering what y'all use for separate audiobook files, like m4b? I just got my Secret Project #2... I also redeemed my Spotify, but I've been thinking it'd be nice to have something for separat..."

On apple devices, the best player I've found is Greenlit Audiobook Player (I think it's $2-3)... it goes up to 3x, and trims silences... but it's also a battery drainer... I have to recharge a fair bit more often when using it (no joke, like multiple times a day, when I binge alot)... (also, if I pause for more than a few seconds/minutes, I have to hit play twice to play correctly, it either plays super fast or it's fine, but either way it doesn't properly recognize it's been unpaused and the tracker stays locked at the pause point... which can be surprising when you go to pause and it's just rewound a few minutes/hours... if you don't notice, it generally pauses itself at the end of a file/chapter)...

Hoopla & Audible have the most granular speed sliders I've seen... the trouble with finding alternatives is finding ones that speed up the book without screwing with the sound/flow/etc... Audible sucks at playing iTunes files for example (there's a setting option to grab your iTunes library, but it's so bad I wouldn't recommend it... even when I listened at slower speeds and it was tolerable, it had issues with forgetting playback position when paused)...

For Android, everyone swears by Smart Audiobook Player, another $2-3 app... not sure what the speed settings are like... the biggest hurdle to me being a big Android user are the bad headphone jack location on my Motorola, the OTHER issues I have with my Motorola... missing the inline button controls from Apple Earbuds on Android... and getting used to just plunking files into Android file directories vs having a nice iTunes app to sync files for me...

[Narilka]

Choko wrote: "That same storm and a tornado hit us too... Thank goodness no one really hurt, but we were without power all night too.. Had to go to a hotel, because Jack is 91 and I can't have him without heat....."

Yikes! Glad to hear you and your family are safe Choko.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I heard the tornado swept through, nearby... 10 miles outside of town, from me...

And I saw some crazy video of a truck basically driving into a tornado on reddit this morning, from somewhere (and a guy in a nearby car on the phone, telling him to stop / back up)...

EDIT: Looking at the damage, I'm feeling pretty lucky, right now... from everything I've heard over the years, I generally think I live in a "safe spot", since the tornadoes tend to be attracted to the Interstates giving an easy travel route...

[Nirkatze]

Eeks, Tornados... have always been something that makes me glad I do not live in the lower 48. Though my friends in Tornado areas feel the same about the earthquakes we have up here... which we just shrug off.

TY for the audiobook player reviews, Iain! Not sure if I'm ready to commit to a paid app... probably poke around more...

[Tonari no Emily]

I don't get tornados in my area... But we do have to deal with hurricanes. But at least those come with days warning...

[Choko]

We are back home! We have to do some repairs, but we are all well and that's all that matters!:) Thank you guys for the good wishes! Back to reading now - my happy place:)))

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

When reading books at 3x speed, you can easily start to feel like you're reading too many books in a single day...

Here's today:

Got up around 2-3am for some reason (I'm off today, and I usually get up for work at 3am)...

4-6am: finished / relistened to the last 3hrs of Memories of Ice, planned to finish it the day of the storm, and that distracted me, then I fell asleep listening in the dark...

6-10am: listened to A Pretty Deceit (9hr audio), with a bit of pausing...

10am-Noon: listened to Once Upon a Crime (6hrs audio), with barely any pausing...

12-1:30pm: recharged iPod and loaded new audiobooks...

1:30-5:30pm (probably, it's only 4:30 right now): listen to Origin in Death (11hrs audio) with minimal pausing...

If I want, after I finish, I could probably recharge iPod a bit and still listen to most of Hessians and Hellhounds (8hrs audio) before bed...

29-37hrs audio in a single day... which is what tickles me about people online that don't understand how you can read all of Wheel of Time in say, 2 weeks, because the audio is over 550hrs, and that's 23 days listening 24hrs a day :D (I've seen these kinds of comments on reddit & youtube)...

But... 29-37hrs would also only be a single book, if I was reading Wandering Inn, for example... or Sun Eater...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Reading so fast, tho, kinda creates a feeling in me that I need to finish each book before bed (I didn't start that last one I mentioned in the previous post, for that reason)... and it has me staying up later than I should sometimes...

[Choko]

My sleep is totally messed up on the days when I am trying to finish a book... Then I am terrible in the mornings after... But I can't listen as fast as you. 1.8 is the highest I can go and enjoy a read.... Otherwise, I feel like I am just getting the content without the emotional impact, and for me that is the best part of reading... But you and Soo have those brains that are like super processors and I totally envy you for it, in a good way:)))

[Brian]

I wish I could listen that fast as well. I feel like I miss too much if I am at more than 2.5 x speed. And that is depending on narrator too as some are fast readers already.

Soo and Iain are machines!!!

[Julian]

@Nirkatze what OS are you using? Android or IOS? I have no clue what is good on IOS but on Android I highly recommend Listen Audiobook Player. I tried both Listen and Smart Audiobook Player and overall Listen has a more modern feel.

[Nirkatze]

Julian wrote: "@Nirkatze what OS are you using? Android or IOS? I have no clue what is good on IOS but on Android I highly recommend Listen Audiobook Player. I tried both Listen and Smart Audiobook Player and ove..."

I only have an iPod, so iOs. I keep putting off the day I'll be tied to a phone...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I don't really think there's a limit to how fast you can listen... it's just a matter of being ready to go faster... it took me 3 years to get back up to 3x speed, after dropping down to 2x speed in 2020... I think covid affected my ability to go faster for awhile...

I'd listened to dozens/100+ books at 3x speed before, but anytime I went faster than 2-2.2x for awhile, it sounded chipmunky gibberish... then 2.5x... then 2.7x... now I'm back to 3x, and it's fine...

I occasionally miss things, but that's more because I'm doing too much OTHER stuff at the same time, online... I generally rewind, but occasionally I don't know how far I'd have to rewind, and just mention it in a BR thread to get some clarification that I didn't miss anything I didn't figure out on my own from context...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I found our next in-thread Buddy Read: The House Witch... picked up the audiobook for $7.49 after checking out the ebook on KU...

Found it in the GR recommendations on the Wizard Butler page... read the blurb... went to Amazon to check the pricing... went to Audible to see the reviews, and they're pretty high, with direct comparisons to Wizard Butler mentioned...

Sounds great... and there's 3 books in the series...

[Choko]

Awesome!!!

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Started House Witch and enjoying it alot… wanted something on Audible that wouldn’t drain my battery using other audiobook apps…

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Chapter 21 of House Witch: I wasn’t expecting cat POV chapter… it was glorious… like a cat mafia… Fat Tony, Mangy Carl…

[Nirkatze]

House Witch sounds super cute... will add to TBR. ^^

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

It's definitely cozy and delightful...

I finished the first one (17hr audio), and jumped right into the 2nd...

It sounds like the 3 books are a complete story, and the author has started a sequel/spinoff series, set 20 years later, about the kids of the characters in these books, called the Princess of Potential...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I've been devouring these books... so much for having time for other vaguely planned non-BR books...

I'm near the end of the 2nd book already (13hrs), and will probably jump right into the 3rd, to finish out the initial story arc... and be eagerly awaiting the new book in June...

EDIT: Went to Royal Road, to get a better idea of what's been written... looks like Princess of Potential is a semi-sequel, and was finished 7 months ago... Burning Witch is an official sequel, about the House Witch's daughter (also a sequel to Princess of Potential, I think)... Burning Witch is still ongoing...

And Delemhach started a new book called the Peculiar Monk of Oxby, last month...

[Tonari no Emily]

I was gonna start Darkdawn next, but I might listen to House Witch first :D

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I'm really liking it... just pleasant smiles most of the time, with some laugh out loud antics and confluences of events...

On to the 3rd and final entry, already...

[Tonari no Emily]

And once again I must thank you, Iain, for an absolutely delightful read! :D

[Tonari no Emily]

The House Witch ~~ (view spoiler)[ Loved the found family and the bit where Fin realizes he has people that cared for him! The trauma for him was more "told than shown", which maybe would have made the trust between everyone hit harder... But still, loved that! I definitely appreciate the cozy vibes!

I rather liked the little romance... Looks like some reviewers didn't like the author's comedy, but I found it rather humorous... I had some laugh out loud bits :D (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Tonari no Emily wrote: "The House Witch ~~..."

I was a little concerned about the negative reviews, after purchasing, but honestly, I think some popular reviewers just don't appreciate cozies the way the rest of us do...

And, I can let alot slide in a cozy / cozy mystery, as long as the MC isn't Too Stupid To Live... 43hrs total...

I nearly finished all 3 books in 2 days... only have about 1hr left, at 3x speed, on the last 13hr audiobook...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I finished the 3 books... I gave the 3rd book 4 stars, for not being as cozy and happy-go-lucky as the first 2... it was the one that played out the war that had been looming since the first book, so some heartbreak was inevitable... still loved the series, and looking forward to more from the author, making it from Royal Road to Amazon/Audible...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

we aren't spending nearly as much money, being so busy with Buddy Reads, and not having Soo and other mentioning every Audible sale :D

Which is fine, until you have spare time and are looking for something new/different to read :D :D :D

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Tonari no Emily wrote: "The House Witch ~~ Loved the found family..."

I loved everything about this book... the characters, even the knights (since they evolved)... etc etc etc...

BTW... did you remember that Some Desperate Glory comes out this week?... you wanted to read it, back in February... or someone did... and we went and read the Greenhollow books...

EDIT: looks like the plan was May/June (17th?), but it was never requested...

[Nirkatze]

Mmm... I keep adding y'all's recommendations & finds to my TBRs... sadly there's so many formal BRs I want to read that I've not left space for spur-of-the-moment Vagabond reads...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Nirkatze wrote: "Mmm... I keep adding y'all's recommendations & finds to my TBRs... sadly there's so many formal BRs I want to read that I've not left space for spur-of-the-moment Vagabond reads..."

That's definitely the problem... the thing to remember, that people always say, is that BRs will happen again... a number of series have been Buddy Read around her multiple times, as interest surges again, or people were too busy the previous time...

The most important thing is to read the things I want you to BR with me ;)

I've definitely been trying to make windows of time where I'm ahead of the BR schedule... or, if I have to, I just toss aside the BRs sometimes in favor of something that catches my fancy... you can always try and catch up on BRs after, like Choko has been doing post-sickness...

Emily had the right idea, joining me for House Witch...

And I haven't added much to my BR schedule in awhile, other than new releases I was going to read anyway...

[Tonari no Emily]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Tonari no Emily wrote: "The House Witch ~~ Loved the found family..."

I loved everything about this book... the characters, even the knights (since they evolved)... etc etc etc...
..."

Yes! I should be getting the book towards the end of April, but won't have much time until mid-end May or even June to read... But I really want to read it based on the blurb, so I'll request it for 5/17?

[Tonari no Emily]

Timelord Iain wrote: "we aren't spending nearly as much money, being so busy with Buddy Reads, and not having Soo and other mentioning every Audible sale :D

Which is fine, until you have spare time and are looking for ..."

Haha! Yes, just a few books a month is much more manageable than bingeing at a sale...

[Narilka]

With Soo on hiatus, I feel obliged to share...

Audible Series sale https://www.audible.com/ep/stacked-se...

It's a $5, $6, $7 per book sale.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

This is definitely a good sale... lots of stuff I've read before, and 3-4 books available at discount pricing...

[Choko]

Several of the In Death books, I think in the upper 40's, are in the sale!

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Yea, 44-47, I think... I skimmed alot of the genres and it's a really good sale... I've just owned/read most of the stuff I care about, and the stuff I was hoping to see wasn't on there (since it's focusing on well-known stuff, I think)...

[Nirkatze]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Nirkatze wrote: "Mmm... I keep adding y'all's recommendations & finds to my TBRs... sadly there's so many formal BRs I want to read that I've not left space for spur-of-the-moment Vagabond reads......"

Timelord Iain wrote: "The most important thing is to read the things I want you to BR with me ;)..."

LOL One should not argue with the spreadsheet wizard. Not good for lasting health and survival....

I haven't been with the group long enough to internally believe the "all BRs come around again" bit.... and I've had enough BRs where I've jumped in too late... and no one was sticking around to talk to me... >.< so I don't want to leave those too long...

Definitely going to try to squeeze in House Witch though!

[Nirkatze]

Chirp is having a little mini-SFF sale right now too... not a huge selection, but a few things that were on my wishlist...

https://www.chirpbooks.com/audiobook-...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Nirkatze wrote: "Timelord Iain wrote: "Nirkatze wrote: "Mmm... I keep adding y'all's recommendations & finds to my TBRs... sadly there's so many formal BRs I want to read that I've not left space for spur-of-the-mo..."

the key to making BRs happen again is posting in the planning thread in November/December, when planning BRs for next year... gotta be a self-starter, especially when the group gets super active... activity and new members are also key to BRs repeating...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Nirkatze wrote: "Chirp is having a little mini-SFF sale right now too... not a huge selection, but a few things that were on my wishlist...

https://www.chirpbooks.com/audiobook-..."

There seem to be more entries on sale, kinda hidden... if you click a book and go to the book page, you might see more of the series at similar pricing...

I was tempted by Sherlock Holmes vs Cthulhu, but it has pretty low ratings on Chirp AND Goodreads (every first page review on GR is 2-3 stars for not being that great)...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I picked up all the Malazan books on sale on Audible, so I have them there where I can listen without draining my iPod battery so fast, and split by chapter... also picked up the 5th book with a credit...

Been a marathon 1.5 days, listening to House of Chains, and I'm almost done, but I'm going to rewind a bit and relisten to the escalation of the final section, because so much stuff has been converging and happening...

[Tonari no Emily]

I think the only book I'll get from the sale is House of Chains... Trying to be good here lol

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I've relistened to the early books so many times, I doubt this'll be my last time, even as I'm making it to first-time books already and continuing...

[Choko]

It is such a great, rich series! I think I will always want to read it! I already owned all of them, but I would have bought them if I didn't have them... Nirkatze, this is the time to buy Malazan and In Death!

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

What are we going to do, Nirkatze?

I know you like ipods... and I like ipods... and it turns out Apple ended the ipod product line last year, when they cut support/production of the 7th generation, with no plans for future generations...

Only iPods available now are refurbished... and eventually apps won't work anymore... also, eventually, gonna have to move to wireless earpods, or use a USB/Lightning to 3.5mm converter, which weakens the sound quality... so many looming problems...

[Choko]

I have bought a bunch of iPods, so I don't run out of them for a while... But I am worried about the time when the apps stop working...