What are we listening to? (audiobooks)

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by issybird

And there’s revisiting the origins of key characters: Babbington, Bonden, Blaine, Mrs. Broad - and that’s just the Bs I can remember. I get starting with Post Captain as with one thing and another I’ve already gone back to Master and Commander more than once, but later books were one and done. I could even consider starting over with HMS Surprise at that.

Yes, M&C has been re-read more than once, thus starting with Post Captain. There are a bunch of recurring characters who are introduced in PC, not all of whom begin with B , so it seemed a good place to start.

[Catlady]

I just finished listening to The Sewing Girl's Tale: A Story of Crime and Consequences in Revolutionary America by John Wood Sweet, narrated by Gabra Zackman. This is a fascinating true account of the first documented rape trial in the United States, in New York in 1793. After a 17-year-old seamstress is raped by a gentleman acquaintance, she and her stepfather attempt to hold him accountable in a legal system that is stacked in his favor. It's sad and frustrating that women are still facing the same obstacles to being believed.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by Catlady

I just finished listening to The Sewing Girl's Tale: A Story of Crime and Consequences in Revolutionary America by John Wood Sweet, narrated by Gabra Zackman. This is a fascinating true account of the first documented rape trial in the United States, in New York in 1793. After a 17-year-old seamstress is raped by a gentleman acquaintance, she and her stepfather attempt to hold him accountable in a legal system that is stacked in his favor. It's sad and frustrating that women are still facing the same obstacles to being believed.

Thanks for this; it sounds exactly my thing. I’ve reserved the ebook; it’ll be available sooner and the timing’s not as tricky as it is with audiobooks.

[Tarana]

Currently listening to Blood World (Undying Mercenaries #8) by B V Larson. If you like military scifi and first person POV, this is an involving series. Sortof a Scifi beach read - not too complicated, action moves swiftly and a lot of characters to root for. Mark Boyett is a stellar narrator, exactly right for this character. After this book, I'll listen to a few shorts that I picked up on the Audible shorts sale earlier this week.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by issybird

Thanks for this; it sounds exactly my thing. I’ve reserved the ebook; it’ll be available sooner and the timing’s not as tricky as it is with audiobooks.

You're welcome. I was thinking you might be interested in it!

[issybird]

Originally Posted by issybird

A little mournfully, I’m going to treat myself to listening to #20, Blue at the Mizzen, next week and follow it up with the unfinished fragment. I’ve been rationing myself on these for eight years! I hate to see it come to an end. Although I will, I know, circle back around, it won’t be the same.

One more chapter to go in Blue at the Mizzen, read by Simon Vance*. Oh, how I hate to see these books end. I may even listen to something else first.

That said, part of me acknowledges that maybe it’s just as well; the back end of the series** does not have the quality of the earlier books and now that the war is over…. Essentially, I’d rather have O’Brian leave me (as his death occasioned) than to have me leave Aubrey/Maturin because the books had gone the way of all prolonged series. Because that would be just too sad.

Over the 20 books, my ratings have ranged from three stars to five stars, averaging something over four. But rating the series as a whole? Five solid stars, for the quality and the immense enjoyment the books have given me.

*I agree with Charlie; Tull and Vance are both excellent and I suspect most people’s preference reflects which one they tried first.

**For me, the falling off came at the thirteenth book. And I still gave four stars to two subsequent books of the next eight, but #12 was my last five-star rating. The first 12 books averaged a 4.5 rating, but the last eight averaged only 3.25.

[CRussel]

I have to say, issybird, that when I first circled back around for a second reading of this series, I found it equally, if differently, satisfying. I was able to focus on more of the nuance (and there's a lot) of the relationships and the historical context (I finally understood the draining of the Fens and what it meant for real people), and less on the actual plot. This was especially true because my first reading of almost all of these was as audio books. (Books on Tape had the Patrick Tull narration very early on, and distributed new volumes of them as fast as O'Brian could write them. Oh, what a joy that made a long commute!) That first re-read was as DT books, and then eventually as eBooks. And now, finally, another round of the audio books.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by CRussel

I have to say, issybird, that when I first circled back around for a second reading of this series, I found it equally, if differently, satisfying. I was able to focus on more of the nuance (and there's a lot) of the relationships and the historical context (I finally understood the draining of the Fens and what it meant for real people), and less on the actual plot. This was especially true because my first reading of almost all of these was as audio books. (Books on Tape had the Patrick Tull narration very early on, and distributed new volumes of them as fast as O'Brian could write them. Oh, what a joy that made a long commute!) That first re-read was as DT books, and then eventually as eBooks. And now, finally, another round of the audio books.

I’m not ready to circle around yet, in part because I did dip into the first two books at intervals, just for reference or in odd moments or to listen. Master and Commander in particular - I read that first. I started audio with Post Captain and listened to the subsequent books, but of course I had to go back and listen to M&C, too. And then I had to hear Patrick Tull’s take on it.

What I did do was back up my listens with the ebook, which I’d skim in between listens in case I missed something. Especially since my listens were all wet ones and it’s not that I’d zone out so much as I wasn’t entirely focused at times, notably during the battles.

[CRussel]

I may have started a bit too early in the series with this round. I'm finding Post Captain a bit too familiar, if you know what I mean. Plus Jack ashore is NOT a happy place. I may skip and move on to H.M.S. Surprise.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by CRussel

I may have started a bit too early in the series with this round. I'm finding Post Captain a bit too familiar, if you know what I mean. Plus Jack ashore is NOT a happy place. I may skip and move on to H.M.S. Surprise.

Yep. That’s what I meant when I said I dipped into the first two too much to circle back around to them. Surprise suffered a bit from that, but not as much, and in any case, IMO it’s the book where O’Brian really found his sealegs, so to speak, and the great story arc started. The first two, while excellent in themselves, are more laying the groundwork - and yes, it does have a lot to do with Jack’s being ashore.

[spacepope]

Didn’t know this was a thread!!

I am slowly returning to audiobooks now that I found Hoopla and have zero wait times.

I finished “The Woman in the Library” and found it just OK. The reader was excellent through and her imitation of American accents was quite good considering she’s an Australian reader (presumably).

Currently listening to Traitor’s Blade and it’s been fun so far. Also well read by Joe Jameson. It follows a trio of men and I appreciate that he gave each of them a different accent to make it easy to follow along.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by spacepope

I finished “The Woman in the Library” and found it just OK. The reader was excellent through and her imitation of American accents was quite good considering she’s an Australian reader (presumably).

I've had this one on hold for a while and keep letting it pass to the next person in the waiting list. The description of it as "literary" makes me hesitate, even though it otherwise sounds like my type of book.

[Tarana]

Making an effort to listen to more books that have lain in wait since 2012. Finished The Toll Gate by Georgette Heyer. Recommend to those who enjoy Regency novels although the romance takes a back seat to the mystery which is refreshing.

Just started Oath of Swords by David Weber. Fairly violent sword and sorcery. The story is good so far.

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by Tarana

Making an effort to listen to more books that have lain in wait since 2012. Finished The Toll Gate by Georgette Heyer. Recommend to those who enjoy Regency novels although the romance takes a back seat to the mystery which is refreshing.

Toll Gate has always been one of my favourite Georgette Heyer books. Glad you enjoyed it.

Just starting to read the latest Bruno, Chief of Police novel by Martin Walker: To Kill a Troubadour. Narrated, as always, by Robert Ian Mackenzie. Too early to comment on the specific book, but the series as a whole is definitely a favourite.

[DiapDealer]

I've been trying different activities to determine which allow me to focus better on audiobooks, and have had a bit of success. I (fairly) recently finished Neal Stephenson's "Fall; or, Dodge in Hell". The narration was adequate, but the book itself fell monstrously flat for me. That's a first for me with Stephenson. I've always been one to defend his sprawling, huge novels, but not this time. Consult some editors, Steve!

I also listened to a couple of Benjamin Percy novels: "The Wilding" and "The Unfamiliar Garden" (2nd in his Comet Cycle series). While I enjoyed "The Unfamiliar Garden", I didn't much care for Anthony Heald's narration of "The Wilding". I think I prefer Percy's short story collections over his novels.

Currently listening to Wesley Chu's "The Art of Prophesy". The beginning of new series for him. I found Natalie Naudus' various affectations for the different character POVs a bit jarring at first, but have since settled in a bit more.