What are we listening to? (audiobooks) - Page 79

CRussel · 03-05-2015, 02:00 PM

In the days when I had long commutes to work, I used to love long books. The longer the better, assuming it was a good book and a good reader. Now I don't really get all that much time to read, so long books are less important. But I still love a good long book that is well read.

issybird · 03-05-2015, 04:07 PM

When I was a kid, I read and loved several of the Arthur Ransome Swallows and Amazons books, but not the second, Swallowdale, because my library didn't have it. Sometime this past year, I picked up the audio book read by Alison Larkin and was saving it for a special treat. I decided today, yet another cold and gloomy day in this endless winter, was the day.

I lasted all of five minutes. I detested the reader's shrill, old-timey voice and it was obvious it would spoil the book for me. I really should sample books before I hit the buy button.

Now I think I'll wait and see the book club choice for March and make that my next listen. Plenty of time after the poll closes tonight to download it before my morning commute.

Geralt · 03-06-2015, 02:33 AM

Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie. I love Steven Pacey's narration. I listened to First Law series as well by him, and BSC is just as great.

WT Sharpe · 03-10-2015, 09:58 AM

Yesterday I tried listening to the Whispersync audio of Lost Horizon on my android phone while walking only to discover that my Kindle app is apparently too bloated to multitask alongside my pedometer app. So I gave up and listened to an already completed Librivox selection instead.

CRussel · 03-10-2015, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

Yesterday I tried listening to the Whispersync audio of Lost Horizon on my android phone while walking only to discover that my Kindle app is apparently too bloated to multitask alongside my pedometer app. So I gave up and listened to an already completed Librivox selection instead.

How annoying, Tom. Not a problem I've had with my iPhone 5, where I routinely answer email while listening. No pedometer app on it, but that's cause I don't really keep track of my steps.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRussel

Finished reading and listening to Dreaming Spies, the latest in the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series from Laurie R. King, read by Jenny Sterlin. Wonderful. There have been a coupld of duds in this series, but this is definitely NOT a dud. The reading by Ms. Sterlin is well done, and the story was captivating from start to finish. The action starts on a cruise that Russell and Holmes are taking from Mumbai to Japan, and continues to Japan and then finally home to Russell's house in Oxford. I was frequently surprised, but never felt cheated, and only once did I think the author took a bit of a liberty with having these super detectives miss a clue that they should not have. All in all an excellent read/listen, and highly recommended.
Next up, Crown of Renewal, #5 in the Paladin's Legacy series from Elizabeth Moon. The reader is Susan Erickson for this one, and she's not my favourite, but I'll survive.

Finished. I can honestly say this is no better than a 3 out of 5 overall. The reader is pretty bad, and the story is way below her usual standard. One almost gets the feeling that Ms. Moon was just plain tired of the Paks world and cranked out this book to finish the story. And because her publisher offered her lots of money, of course. I look forward to something new and better from her next time.

WT Sharpe · 03-10-2015, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRussel

How annoying, Tom. Not a problem I've had with my iPhone 5, where I routinely answer email while listening. No pedometer app on it, but that's cause I don't really keep track of my steps....

I might just need a bigger/better phone. I have an LG Volt, which for the price is a real bargain, but it's no iPhone or Galaxy S-6. Then again, it simultaneously runs my Librivox app and my pedometer app with no problem. Of course, my Librivox app isn't also continually syncing my listening on the phone with my reading on the Kindle, all while keeping tabs on my shopping history.

melmac · 03-11-2015, 04:18 AM

Recently finished John Sandford Eyes of Prey(Book 3 Lucas Davenport). I enjoyed this more than the 2 previous books in the series I really liked the portions dealing with Lucas damaged psyche and of course the usually hunt for the killer. Before this instalment I had been contemplating dumping the series but now I'm definitely going to continue.

After that I listened to The Shell Collector which I found to be rather disappointing I was expecting the usual excellent Hugh Howey instead I got bad romance. When I was younger I read a lot of mills and booney romances featuring the devastatingly handsome damaged misunderstood man and the feisty stubborn more beautiful than she realises heroine usually misunderstandings hi-jinx and betrayals occur before the standard happily ever afters which is essentially what I got in the Shell Collector. There's nothing really wrong with that it's just not what I expected from Hugh and I hope he moves away from it in his next release.

Haven't decided what is next either Wayward by Blake Crouch or Whispers Under Ground by Ben Aaronovitch.

gabby98 · 03-11-2015, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melmac

Recently finished John Sandford Eyes of Prey(Book 3 Lucas Davenport). I enjoyed this more than the 2 previous books in the series I really liked the portions dealing with Lucas damaged psyche and of course the usually hunt for the killer. Before this instalment I had been contemplating dumping the series but now I'm definitely going to continue.

After that I listened to The Shell Collector which I found to be rather disappointing I was expecting the usual excellent Hugh Howey instead I got bad romance. When I was younger I read a lot of mills and booney romances featuring the devastatingly handsome damaged misunderstood man and the feisty stubborn more beautiful than she realises heroine usually misunderstandings hi-jinx and betrayals occur before the standard happily ever afters which is essentially what I got in the Shell Collector. There's nothing really wrong with that it's just not what I expected from Hugh and I hope he moves away from it in his next release.

Haven't decided what is next either Wayward by Blake Crouch or Whispers Under Ground by Ben Aaronovitch.

I've been wanting to get into the Lucas Davenport books...may have to the them on a To Listen listen instead of To Read

...I do better when listening to mystery type books....others lose my interest

CRussel · 03-11-2015, 11:29 AM

Currently reading Madness in Solidar, the latest Imager book from L.E. Modisett, Jr., read by William Dufris. The reading is well done and familiar - Dufris has been the narrator for all the Imager books.

Catlady · 03-12-2015, 02:01 PM

I've just started listening to The Nightingale, by Kristin Hannah, another new-to-me author. I've been rather disappointed in the thrillers I've been reading lately (I've added several authors to my "never again" list), so I'm trying this for a change of pace because it has a WWII setting.

WT Sharpe · 03-12-2015, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

Yesterday I tried listening to the Whispersync audio of Lost Horizon on my android phone while walking only to discover that my Kindle app is apparently too bloated to multitask alongside my pedometer app. So I gave up and listened to an already completed Librivox selection instead.

Today I downloaded some chapters of the Librivox book I'm currently reading—The American Rivals of Sherlock Holmes—to my phone and found I was having the same problem with the Librivox app that I had with the Amazon Kindle app, so I restarted my phone and was able to run both it and my pedometer app simultaneously. In a day or two, I'll try that with my Kindle app and see if that fixes things, but I really suspect I need a phone with more muscle.

Anyway, today I read from the afore mentioned collection the excellent although thoroughly predictable short-story, "The Infallible Godahl" by Frederick Irving Anderson.

AkiraReader · 03-12-2015, 02:59 PM

GONE GIRL finally queued up for me at the library. Woot, been waiting like 2 weeks for this.

WT Sharpe · 03-14-2015, 01:11 PM

Just finished The American Rivals of Sherlock Holmes, an audiobook comprised of short stories by various authors; each read by a different Librivox volunteer. This one was hit and miss. Those stories that were good were very good, while others feel flat. At least one story ("Found Guilty" by Josiah Flynt Willard and Alfred Hodder) seemed to have no reason whatsoever to live; at least I could see no point to its continued existence. Others, such as "The Infallible Godahl" by Frederick Irving Anderson and "The Affair of Lamson's Cook" by Charles Felton Pidgin and J.M Taylor, were quite enjoyable.

Now it's on to a bit of Whispersyncing as I bounce back and forth between my audio and text versions of this month's MobileRead Book Club selection, West with the Night by Beryl Markham (read by Julie Harris). The good news here is that I've discovered that I CAN listen to the Kindle app on my phone while walking and counting my steps with my pedometer app as long as I first close all other apps and restart the device before my walk. A bit of a hassle, but then again my phone isn't one of those costing 600-plus dollars.

issybird · 03-14-2015, 01:51 PM

I'm listening to Julie Harris, also. I like her as an actress, but I think she's merely OK with this. Aside from having the wrong accent, she veers from slightly flat during narration to hamming it up while reading dialogue. It's sufficiently engaging while I'm in the car, but I'm not really enjoying it. However, I had my issues with the book going into it, which may be affecting my reaction.

Catlady · 03-14-2015, 02:13 PM

I finished The Nightingale, by Kristin Hannah, read by Polly Stone. This one was a winner! The story is about two sisters in Occupied France during WWII; Isabelle, the younger one, rather impetuously becomes part of the Resistance, and Vianne, the older sister, tries to provide for her child while her husband is in the army.

While there's nothing precisely new here if you've ever read any WWII fiction, the story is well-told and quite engrossing, with well-drawn, sympathetic characters facing moral dilemmas and heartbreaking losses. Definitely the best book I've read this year.

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03-05-2015, 02:00 PM	#1171
CRussel (he/him/his) Posts: 12,296 Karma: 80074820 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sunshine Coast, BC Device: Oasis (Gen3),Paperwhite (Gen10), Voyage, Paperwhite(orig), iPad Air M3	In the days when I had long commutes to work, I used to love long books. The longer the better, assuming it was a good book and a good reader. Now I don't really get all that much time to read, so long books are less important. But I still love a good long book that is well read.

03-05-2015, 04:07 PM	#1172
issybird o saeclum infacetum Posts: 21,339 Karma: 234636059 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New England Device: Mini, H2O, Glo HD, Aura One, PW4, PW5	When I was a kid, I read and loved several of the Arthur Ransome Swallows and Amazons books, but not the second, Swallowdale, because my library didn't have it. Sometime this past year, I picked up the audio book read by Alison Larkin and was saving it for a special treat. I decided today, yet another cold and gloomy day in this endless winter, was the day. I lasted all of five minutes. I detested the reader's shrill, old-timey voice and it was obvious it would spoil the book for me. I really should sample books before I hit the buy button. Now I think I'll wait and see the book club choice for March and make that my next listen. Plenty of time after the poll closes tonight to download it before my morning commute.

03-06-2015, 02:33 AM	#1173
Geralt Witcher Posts: 933 Karma: 7321117 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Swamp. Slaying Drowners. Device: Kindle PW2	Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie. I love Steven Pacey's narration. I listened to First Law series as well by him, and BSC is just as great.

03-10-2015, 09:58 AM	#1174
WT Sharpe Bah, humbug! Posts: 39,072 Karma: 157049943 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Chesapeake, VA, USA Device: Kindle Oasis, iPad Pro, & a Samsung Galaxy S9.	Yesterday I tried listening to the Whispersync audio of Lost Horizon on my android phone while walking only to discover that my Kindle app is apparently too bloated to multitask alongside my pedometer app. So I gave up and listened to an already completed Librivox selection instead.

03-11-2015, 04:18 AM	#1177
melmac Wizard Posts: 1,399 Karma: 5573651 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Perth AU Device: Sony PRS650, Sony T3, Kobo Forma	Recently finished John Sandford Eyes of Prey(Book 3 Lucas Davenport). I enjoyed this more than the 2 previous books in the series I really liked the portions dealing with Lucas damaged psyche and of course the usually hunt for the killer. Before this instalment I had been contemplating dumping the series but now I'm definitely going to continue. After that I listened to The Shell Collector which I found to be rather disappointing I was expecting the usual excellent Hugh Howey instead I got bad romance. When I was younger I read a lot of mills and booney romances featuring the devastatingly handsome damaged misunderstood man and the feisty stubborn more beautiful than she realises heroine usually misunderstandings hi-jinx and betrayals occur before the standard happily ever afters which is essentially what I got in the Shell Collector. There's nothing really wrong with that it's just not what I expected from Hugh and I hope he moves away from it in his next release. Haven't decided what is next either Wayward by Blake Crouch or Whispers Under Ground by Ben Aaronovitch.

03-11-2015, 11:29 AM	#1179
CRussel (he/him/his) Posts: 12,296 Karma: 80074820 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sunshine Coast, BC Device: Oasis (Gen3),Paperwhite (Gen10), Voyage, Paperwhite(orig), iPad Air M3	Currently reading Madness in Solidar, the latest Imager book from L.E. Modisett, Jr., read by William Dufris. The reading is well done and familiar - Dufris has been the narrator for all the Imager books.

03-12-2015, 02:01 PM	#1180
Catlady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,419 Karma: 52613881 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, AGPTek Bluetooth Clip	I've just started listening to The Nightingale, by Kristin Hannah, another new-to-me author. I've been rather disappointed in the thrillers I've been reading lately (I've added several authors to my "never again" list), so I'm trying this for a change of pace because it has a WWII setting.

03-12-2015, 02:59 PM	#1182
AkiraReader Connoisseur Posts: 83 Karma: 1873672 Join Date: Feb 2015 Device: Boox, Kindles	GONE GIRL finally queued up for me at the library. Woot, been waiting like 2 weeks for this.

03-14-2015, 01:11 PM	#1183
WT Sharpe Bah, humbug! Posts: 39,072 Karma: 157049943 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Chesapeake, VA, USA Device: Kindle Oasis, iPad Pro, & a Samsung Galaxy S9.	Just finished The American Rivals of Sherlock Holmes, an audiobook comprised of short stories by various authors; each read by a different Librivox volunteer. This one was hit and miss. Those stories that were good were very good, while others feel flat. At least one story ("Found Guilty" by Josiah Flynt Willard and Alfred Hodder) seemed to have no reason whatsoever to live; at least I could see no point to its continued existence. Others, such as "The Infallible Godahl" by Frederick Irving Anderson and "The Affair of Lamson's Cook" by Charles Felton Pidgin and J.M Taylor, were quite enjoyable. Now it's on to a bit of Whispersyncing as I bounce back and forth between my audio and text versions of this month's MobileRead Book Club selection, West with the Night by Beryl Markham (read by Julie Harris). The good news here is that I've discovered that I CAN listen to the Kindle app on my phone while walking and counting my steps with my pedometer app as long as I first close all other apps and restart the device before my walk. A bit of a hassle, but then again my phone isn't one of those costing 600-plus dollars.

03-14-2015, 01:51 PM	#1184
issybird o saeclum infacetum Posts: 21,339 Karma: 234636059 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New England Device: Mini, H2O, Glo HD, Aura One, PW4, PW5	I'm listening to Julie Harris, also. I like her as an actress, but I think she's merely OK with this. Aside from having the wrong accent, she veers from slightly flat during narration to hamming it up while reading dialogue. It's sufficiently engaging while I'm in the car, but I'm not really enjoying it. However, I had my issues with the book going into it, which may be affecting my reaction.

03-14-2015, 02:13 PM	#1185
Catlady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,419 Karma: 52613881 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, AGPTek Bluetooth Clip	I finished The Nightingale, by Kristin Hannah, read by Polly Stone. This one was a winner! The story is about two sisters in Occupied France during WWII; Isabelle, the younger one, rather impetuously becomes part of the Resistance, and Vianne, the older sister, tries to provide for her child while her husband is in the army. While there's nothing precisely new here if you've ever read any WWII fiction, the story is well-told and quite engrossing, with well-drawn, sympathetic characters facing moral dilemmas and heartbreaking losses. Definitely the best book I've read this year.