What are we listening to? (audiobooks) - Page 91

Catlady · 09-28-2015, 06:26 PM

I listened to two books with dual past and present timelines. In both, a woman uncovers family secrets from World War II: Mrs. Sinclair's Suitcase, by Louise Walters, narrated by Anna Bentinck and Karen Cass; and Sarah's Key, by Tatiana de Rosnay, narrated by Polly Stone.

Also in both novels, it's the past story that is a lot more interesting than the one set in the present.

WT Sharpe · 09-29-2015, 11:46 AM

I just read 14 by Peter Clines; an Audible audiobook expertly read by Ray Porter. This was a very interesting sci-fi/thriller/mystery. Discovering the surprising answer to the mystery of what was behind the locked door of Apartment 14 and, indeed, discovering the purpose behind the entire mysterious apartment building as a whole was a most enjoyable trek. The author's characters are well-defined and interesting in their own right, but the mystery and the speculation in ideas residing on the fringe of possibility are what hooked me and wouldn't let me go.

CRussel · 09-29-2015, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

I just read 14 by Peter Clines; an Audible audiobook expertly read by Ray Porter. This was a very interesting sci-fi/thriller/mystery. Discovering the surprising answer to the mystery of what was behind the locked door of Apartment 14 and, indeed, discovering the purpose behind the entire mysterious apartment building as a whole was a most enjoyable trek. The author's characters are well-defined and interesting in their own right, but the mystery and the speculation in ideas residing on the fringe of possibility are what hooked me and wouldn't let me go.

I'm in the middle of reading it in eBook format, and I admit, enjoying it immensely. I might just pick up the Audible version at some point so I have a different form to re-read it, if I decide it's worth that. But I agree completely about the overall fun of reading it (though I haven't gotten to the purpose, yet, I have a suspicion!)

pwalker8 · 10-04-2015, 09:35 AM

Finished off Ready Player One. I had forgotten that Wil Wheaton was actually mentioned in the book. Very, very good. King Kelson's Bride is next on the list. That is the last unlistened to Katherine Kurtz Deryni book for me.

CRussel · 10-04-2015, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRussel

Just finished re-reading H.M.S. Surprise, #3 in the Patrick O'Brian Aubrey/Maturin series. This was a re-listen to the superb Patrick Tull narration, and I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Next up, probably Circling the Sun, written by Paula McLain, and narrated by Katharine McEwan. This is a fictionalized novel about Beryl Markham, the remarkable aviator from Kenya. I've read West with the Night (and listened to the definitive narration of it by Donada Peters, aka Wanda McCaddon), I've read a couple of biographies of her, and I'm really looking forward to this book from Paula McLain, though I can't say the reader is my favourite.

Still reading Circling the Sun, but taking a break to start a really long book for the trip I'm on. Reading Tai-Pan, by James Clavell, and read by Gildart Jackson. This is a 32 hour book, so perfect for a long trip with lots of highway miles.

Tarana · 10-04-2015, 10:52 PM

I FINALLY finished Outlander by Diane Galbaldon. It was a good read, but what was panned (to me) as fantasy is simply a historical romance with a fantasy aspect (modern woman sent back in time). It IS a good story. I wanted to read it before watching the DVD I received as a gift. I think I'll do a Terry Pratchett book before starting The Martian.

Geralt · 10-05-2015, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

I just read 14 by Peter Clines; an Audible audiobook expertly read by Ray Porter. This was a very interesting sci-fi/thriller/mystery. Discovering the surprising answer to the mystery of what was behind the locked door of Apartment 14 and, indeed, discovering the purpose behind the entire mysterious apartment building as a whole was a most enjoyable trek. The author's characters are well-defined and interesting in their own right, but the mystery and the speculation in ideas residing on the fringe of possibility are what hooked me and wouldn't let me go.

I've listened to both of his books this year. First The Fold, then 14, even though The Fold is his newly published.
If you liked 14, you will love The Fold. It's written much better, the pacing is improved. It's not a direct sequel, but it's set in the same world and it deals with the same themes.
I loved both of them, but The Fold is better written book.

Catlady · 10-05-2015, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tarana

I FINALLY finished Outlander by Diane Galbaldon. It was a good read, but what was panned (to me) as fantasy is simply a historical romance with a fantasy aspect (modern woman sent back in time). It IS a good story. I wanted to read it before watching the DVD I received as a gift. I think I'll do a Terry Pratchett book before starting The Martian.

Re Outlander--does it work as a standalone, without a lot of loose ends, or do you feel like you've got to read the rest of the series? I keep thinking about it, but with each book being so excessively long, I don't know if I want to make a lifelong commitment!

issybird · 10-05-2015, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catlady

Re Outlander--does it work as a standalone, without a lot of loose ends, or do you feel like you've got to read the rest of the series? I keep thinking about it, but with each book being so excessively long, I don't know if I want to make a lifelong commitment!

I'd say to commit to the first two books. (That is, if the first doesn't make you tear your hair out at the mistakes. If that happens, it happens early, so you won't waste much time deciding against it.) The quality starts to nosedive with the third book, to plumb the depths by the fifth, but the story in the first two is reasonably self-contained and it would be easy enough to walk away.

Some day I'll try listening, at least to the first, because Davina Porter is held to be wonderful reading this series.

CRussel · 10-05-2015, 12:33 PM

Davina Porter is an excellent reader for this series, and IMO you can read the first one and not feel compelled to read the next. As issybird says, the quality after the first two is a good deal less compelling. I think I lost if after the 5th. Not sure why I made it that far.

badgoodDeb · 10-05-2015, 01:33 PM

Because the history itself is so much fun! Although I enjoy them in print, where I can read as fast as I want, including skimming when they get randy. They are quite long for listening, I should think. But I've *read* all of them (8 so far) and can't wait for another one to be published. As an e-book you don't notice the length, and so aren't afraid of them.

CRussel · 10-05-2015, 02:27 PM

Now, see, Deb, that's the opposite of how I feel. I love long books for audio books, but less so for eBooks. However, there are parts of these that I do like to just skim past. (I really don't need to listen to what are essentially rape sequences, thank you very much.) I set my Audible app for 60 second jumps and just jump past whatever it is.

Catlady · 10-05-2015, 05:53 PM

Oh dear. I'm more inclined to pass on Outlander now! Thanks, all!

badgoodDeb · 10-05-2015, 06:07 PM

They aren't rape scenes. They are the same "Love" scenes that every modern romance book feels compelled to have.* If you have read any modern romance book, you have seen this sort of scene. The woman is in favor of them; she is not protesting.
Since I am not in a relationship, they aren't particularly helpful to me, so I skip over them.

* However, there *is* a subplot about a man who is attracted to another man. 2nd man is held prisoner and 'agrees' to cooperate so the woman he loves can go free. THAT is a rape scene, tis true.

I'm not saying I particularly LIKE this kind of sexual scene, but they really aren't rape scenes. My 83 year old strongly Christian mother is reading the books too. She dislikes this much sex, but couldn't recall ANY rapes, when she heard this accusation about the books.

CRussel · 10-05-2015, 06:17 PM

Well, we can claim they're not rape scenes, but if a college male behaved that way to a college female, it would be considered rape. We are now in the era of positive or affirmative consent. (And my personal opinion is that we should have been there a LONG time ago.)

That being said, given the era being written about, that's certainly NOT the required consent of the time. However, I'm still reading this book with my modern day male's brain attached, and I don't find it titillating or even acceptable, so I skip over it completely.

10-05-2015, 06:07 PM	#1364
badgoodDeb Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,553 Karma: 64462893 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Harrisburg outskirts Device: Palms, K1-4s, iPads, iPhones, KV, KO1	They aren't rape scenes. They are the same "Love" scenes that every modern romance book feels compelled to have.* If you have read any modern romance book, you have seen this sort of scene. The woman is in favor of them; she is not protesting. Since I am not in a relationship, they aren't particularly helpful to me, so I skip over them. * However, there is a subplot about a man who is attracted to another man. 2nd man is held prisoner and 'agrees' to cooperate so the woman he loves can go free. THAT is a rape scene, tis true. I'm not saying I particularly LIKE this kind of sexual scene, but they really aren't rape scenes. My 83 year old strongly Christian mother is reading the books too. She dislikes this much sex, but couldn't recall ANY rapes, when she heard this accusation about the books. Last edited by badgoodDeb; 10-05-2015 at 06:09 PM.

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09-28-2015, 06:26 PM	#1351
Catlady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,419 Karma: 52613881 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, AGPTek Bluetooth Clip	I listened to two books with dual past and present timelines. In both, a woman uncovers family secrets from World War II: Mrs. Sinclair's Suitcase, by Louise Walters, narrated by Anna Bentinck and Karen Cass; and Sarah's Key, by Tatiana de Rosnay, narrated by Polly Stone. Also in both novels, it's the past story that is a lot more interesting than the one set in the present.

09-29-2015, 11:46 AM	#1352
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.	I just read 14 by Peter Clines; an Audible audiobook expertly read by Ray Porter. This was a very interesting sci-fi/thriller/mystery. Discovering the surprising answer to the mystery of what was behind the locked door of Apartment 14 and, indeed, discovering the purpose behind the entire mysterious apartment building as a whole was a most enjoyable trek. The author's characters are well-defined and interesting in their own right, but the mystery and the speculation in ideas residing on the fringe of possibility are what hooked me and wouldn't let me go.

10-04-2015, 09:35 AM	#1354
pwalker8 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,196 Karma: 70314280 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Device: iPad Pro, iPad mini, Kobo Aura, Amazon paperwhite, Sony PRS-T2	Finished off Ready Player One. I had forgotten that Wil Wheaton was actually mentioned in the book. Very, very good. King Kelson's Bride is next on the list. That is the last unlistened to Katherine Kurtz Deryni book for me.

10-04-2015, 10:52 PM	#1356
Tarana Wizard Posts: 4,040 Karma: 38840460 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Minneapolis Device: PWSE, Voyage, K3, HDX, KBasic 7 & 8, Nook Glo3, Echos, Nanos	I FINALLY finished Outlander by Diane Galbaldon. It was a good read, but what was panned (to me) as fantasy is simply a historical romance with a fantasy aspect (modern woman sent back in time). It IS a good story. I wanted to read it before watching the DVD I received as a gift. I think I'll do a Terry Pratchett book before starting The Martian.

10-05-2015, 12:33 PM	#1360
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	Davina Porter is an excellent reader for this series, and IMO you can read the first one and not feel compelled to read the next. As issybird says, the quality after the first two is a good deal less compelling. I think I lost if after the 5th. Not sure why I made it that far.

10-05-2015, 01:33 PM	#1361
badgoodDeb Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,553 Karma: 64462893 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Harrisburg outskirts Device: Palms, K1-4s, iPads, iPhones, KV, KO1	Because the history itself is so much fun! Although I enjoy them in print, where I can read as fast as I want, including skimming when they get randy. They are quite long for listening, I should think. But I've read all of them (8 so far) and can't wait for another one to be published. As an e-book you don't notice the length, and so aren't afraid of them.

10-05-2015, 02:27 PM	#1362
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	Now, see, Deb, that's the opposite of how I feel. I love long books for audio books, but less so for eBooks. However, there are parts of these that I do like to just skim past. (I really don't need to listen to what are essentially rape sequences, thank you very much.) I set my Audible app for 60 second jumps and just jump past whatever it is.

10-05-2015, 05:53 PM	#1363
Catlady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,419 Karma: 52613881 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, AGPTek Bluetooth Clip	Oh dear. I'm more inclined to pass on Outlander now! Thanks, all!

10-05-2015, 06:17 PM	#1365
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	Well, we can claim they're not rape scenes, but if a college male behaved that way to a college female, it would be considered rape. We are now in the era of positive or affirmative consent. (And my personal opinion is that we should have been there a LONG time ago.) That being said, given the era being written about, that's certainly NOT the required consent of the time. However, I'm still reading this book with my modern day male's brain attached, and I don't find it titillating or even acceptable, so I skip over it completely.