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The First Rule by Robert Crais


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Quickly becoming my favorite protagonist, Joe Pike, tears down a Serbian Mafia to avenge the death of one of his friends. It was fun to learn a little bit about Serbians and their version of organized crime. I have a friend who is Serbian and this gave me a little insight into her personality.

We get a little Elvis Cole another one of my favorite hero/protagonists but this is the first book from Robert Crais where we get to see the very soft side of Joe Pike. There is a scene where Joe holds a 10 month old baby in his arms all night. It looks like Crais might be getting us ready for Joe Pike to retire from killing bad guys and start a family.

This was a straight forward story with very few twists. I enjoyed the story and found the plot compelling. One thing cool about this audio book is the book is narrated by Crais. He does a good job reading his own work.

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The Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I re-read or should I say listened to for the first time. It has been so long since I read the book that I had forgotten many important details. This may be the most important book of the series as far as all the various implications of the Dragon Reborn to break the world.

Same 2 voices narrating this book as the previous books and they are great. The woman's voice can be a little tiring when she does frustration of a woman to her "man". I love all the characters on the good side but one, Nyneve, that woman needs to be slapped or spanked.

It has been great going back to this fantasy series. Listening to these books in close order has given me better details and information than when I first read since I would have to wait a year or two before the next book came out and the details would become foggy.

I am starting the next book in the series very shortly but I am going to listen to a couple of other books to sort of cleanse the palate.

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Hi I just finished the series by Bantock Nickcalled Griffin & Sabine - An Extraordinary CorrespondenceThere are 6 books,

Griffin & Sabine - An Extraordinary Correspondence,
Sabine's Notebook: In Which the Extraordinary Correspondence of Griffin & Sabine Continues,
The Golden Mean: In Which the Extraordinary Correspondence of Griffin & Sabine Concludes,
The Gryphon: In Which the Extraordinary Correspondence of Griffin & Sabine Is Rediscovered,
Alexandria: In Which the Extraordinary Correspondence of Griffin & Sabine Unfolds and
The Morning Star

I love the series, the art is beautiful and the story is very interesting. There has to be more coming because the story has not yet ended. I cannot wait.

Patti wrote: "Hi I just finished the series by Bantock Nickcalled Griffin & Sabine - An Extraordinary CorrespondenceThere are 6 books,

[bookcover:Griffin & Sabine - An Extraordina..."

Sorry none of these are audio books. I posted to the wrong board.

Sorry

Fever Dream by Douglas Preston


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
From the first page to the last I am held in the grip of these two story tellers. Once again revisiting Agent Pendergast I am reminded again of how much I love this series. I think this latest is right up there with the very best of the Pendergast series.

The narration is fantastic (I listened to the book). The plot line is very tricky. At least 3 times I was sure our hero was going to die but the authors decided to keep him around for at least one more book. They left us hanging at the end with Constance Green in a mental hospital and Agent Pendergast on his way to be killed.

That is my only quibble with the book, I hate cliff hangers. Hopefully the next book is on its way to bookstores by Christmas. You could read this book even if you missed the first 9 of the series. There are no references made to previous books, just the recurrence of 4 characters from the series and only Constance Green might seem out of place and hard to figure into the story line to a new reader of the series.

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Patti wrote: "Patti wrote: "Hi I just finished the series by Bantock Nickcalled Griffin & Sabine - An Extraordinary CorrespondenceThere are 6 books,

[bookcover:Griffin & Sabine - ..."

Patti - not a problem to me. I've been wondering if these were any good :)

I just finished Let the Great World Spin which is gorgeously narrated, highly sympathetic, and a great set of intersecting stories. I highly recommend it.

Girl in Hyacinth Blue by Susan Vreeland

This is probably my favorite of Vreeland's books and when paired with Girl with a Pearl Earring makes a great book club discussion.

Why i like this book so much is that it looks at art from a point of view that we normally don't view it - the need to own beautiful things and how it affects our hearts, minds and lives. The book is told in a series of short stories that traces the history of a fictional Vermeer painting from it's current owner back to Vermeer's inspiration for the work. Each owner of the painting has a story to tell that is relevant not only to the painting but also life in that era in the Dutch countryside. Only one of the stories doesn't seem at first to have the painting as the central character, but you soon see that it is a huge part of the story.

Of course this type of storytelling lends itself well to an ensemble cast for an audiobook and this one was very nice. Each snippet of the painting's life has a different narrator and it works well.

One of the fun things about this book is the way it is organized. Most books start in the past and the reader is "caught up" to the present. But this book starts in the now and tells the story backwards. While Vreeland doesn't directly give away pieces of the story that comes next there are times when you feel as if you are filling in the missing pieces of the story that was told just before.

All in all a very fun, light, and interesting listen.



Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin

I LOVED this book. I LOVED listening to Richard Thomas (yes, John-Boy of the Waltons) read this book. He was perfect.

Goodwin's presentation of Lincoln's unusual cabinet was fun to listen to, thought-provoking, and very informative. I've read numerous books about the Civil War and played at studying it some in college and I still learned a ton of stuff listening to her take on things. And I had a great time learning it - Goodwin's style is very personable and people centered.

I highly recommend this to anyone with an interest in American History.

Donna wrote: I LOVED this book."

I read it, rather than listened, but I totally agree with you. I LOVED 'Team o Rivals,' too.

I haven't quite finished with "Worst case" By Patterson and Ledg-something-or-other. (By the way can anyone tell me how co-authoring works?). It's typical Patterson so nothing new there but the reading is excellent beyond words. It is almost a drama, with 3 voice actors and even some sound effects. It is well worth the listen.

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Although I finished this book a month ago, I've been reluctant to post a review. I think it's because I am sorry that this series is over (although I've heard rumors that outlines of future books might exist?? After all, death hasn't stopped any of the Robert Ludlum books from releasing).

The final book of the Millennium trilogy ... taut, gripping suspense with a cast of well-developed characters. And Simon Vance - although always superb as a narrator is at his best - brilliant!

Still Alice by Lisa Genova


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is one of my favorite books so far this year. As many reviews have mentioned, the writing isn't amazing or lyrical, but Lisa Genova's insights of a woman with early onset Alzheimer's is both surprising and revealing. The title character of this novel, Alice Howland is a 49-year old philosophy professor at Harvard. She has 3 grown children and a husband who is also a successful Harvard professor, and she is at the pinnacle of her career. But she has occasional memory lapses and bouts of confusion. She at first attributes it to lack of sleep, multi-tasking, and early symptoms of menopause, but eventually the symptoms become so pervasive that she consults her doctor. The diagnosis is early onset Alzheimer's. The book follows her life as her condition deteriorates. Written from Alice's perspective, the reader experiences the disorientation, confusion and frustration that comes with this disease.

Although I finished this book over a week ago, it is constantly on my mind. I have relatives that are suffering from dementia. Not only has this book provided incredible insight of how terrifying living through this disease must be, but it also has made me consider of my own mortality. I've even pulled out a copy of The Memory Prescription Diet as a summer project. Now if I can only remember to read it...

One comment - the audiobook is narrated by the author. Although I loved this book and couldn't stop listening to it, it would really have benefited from a professional narrator.

Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The subtitle for Vanity Fair is 'A Novel Without a Hero'. Intrigued by this, as I read this book, I kept on searching for the 'hero' of this story. Although there are many characters, all of the morally 'good' characters are so self-sacrificing and spineless that they are hard to like. The dashing and colorful characters are, of course, deceitful and selfish, but very likeable. By the end of the book, I wasn't sure who I wanted to have that perfect ending. Overall, the descriptions and plot are strong, altough Thackeray makes a point of interjecting his sarcastic commentary about life in Victorian England. I found this funny at first, but it got a little tiresome. Definitely a strong Victorian novel, but I still prefer Dickens or Hardy.

I both listened and read this book (Wanda McCaddon as narrator). McCaddon does an excellent job of accents, but I find her voice just a bit grating and would have loved the smooth British accents of Simon Vance or John Lee.

Chestnut King by N.D. Wilson


My rating: 2 of 5 stars
So, here's the plot... Henry is staying with his relatives in Kansas, when their house is transported to a magical world and they must battle an evil witch. OK, Toto, sound familiar?

Well other than getting a general idea of the story, I find myself completely lost while listening to this audiobook. The plot definitely shows promise. In his uncle and aunt's house, Henry discovers a cupboard with 99 doors that lead into other worlds. But, an evil witch, Niniane, must be defeated before she kills Henry and his family. Good overall story and some clever plot twists. So what went wrong? I'm guessing that I had a problem with the narration. This is definitely an example of a narrator overacting a story. There are so many dramatic pauses, that I find myself completely lost as to what is going on. This book has some very high reviews. I might have to revisit this one in print, but the audio version did not work for me.

i promise before the end of the week i will list and review all the audiobooks i have listened to...liked them all!

Julie - i'm glad to hear you liked Still Alice so much. It's on my list of books at All Ears (along with almost 20 others) and a couple times i've almost backed out of it just because of the subject matter. Maybe you should send it to me next so i don't :)

Sandy - looking forward to it :)

Minnie wrote: "By the way can anyone tell me how co-authoring works?. "

Minnie, that's a really great question and from my experience co-authoring can vary greatly. On one extreme is the new author who is writing for the established name and new author writes all the book while old author proofs and lends his name. Several of the old guard - Patterson and McCaffery come to mind for this format.

Another form is the book that is written by ensemble - writer one completes a chapter sends it on to writer 2 who does his bit and then it makes the rounds. This can be really fun to read if done well and just awful if not. I've read some really great sci-fi and satire written this way-and no, i can't remember the titles :( Many text books with multiple authors are written this way - each person writes about their specialty.

Coauthoring can take the form of one person doing the research and the other doing the writing, or one narrating their story and the other writing it up, and so on.

If you're curious about how much input each author had you can sometimes find that info on the publisher's website or sites about the authors or books.

Hope that helps...

A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century by Barbara W. Tuchman

Okay, so i haven't finished it yet... but I'm now 19 hours into 29 hours total!! I should get at least two books credit on my year's list :)

Yes, it's a marathon of Medievial history! But it's sooo much fun! Robin Hood, King Authur, and Chaucer rolled up into one fantastic tale of the history of the latter part of the 14th century. And the amazing part of it is that this is a history book - not a novel!

Tuchman slips all kinds of little gems into her tale - and often does so with a bit of tongue in cheek. Kings, Dukes, Knights, Bards, Villans (did you know that a villian was not a bad guy but an every-day joe? - the name came from villa...) Princesses with outrageout spending habits, Popes and even trade guilds light up the pages with amazing stories of heroics, betrayal, brutal war, revenge, greed, lust and even occasionally, love.

BTW, Nadia May, one of my favorite narrators, does an exceptional job of reading this tome. Regardless of the content, this could be a real snoozer with the wrong narrator but May does a great job making sure each little story is read with the dramatic effect it requires.

10 more hours - it will be interesting to see where things go next!

i have finished and reviewed several audio books lately but the most important of the lot is THE KITCHEN HOUSE by Kathleen Grissom. my review is posted if you want to learn more.

This book was absolutely frickin' hilarious. I think I officially love Christopher Moore. I was listening to this book on my iPod while my preschoolers were napping today and I had to shush myself because I started laughing so hard. Coyote the Trickster has been one of my favorite characters ever since I started reading old fables when I was in college. I have never read any of the tales that Mr. Moore used for this book, who knows, maybe he made them up, but I loved how he intermingled the tales to explain Coyote and the actions he took throughout the book. "Coyote Blue" has a very interesting cast of characters. Sam, our leading man, is an insurance sales man with a past hiding from the law in Santa Barbara, CA. One morning he meets, Caliope, the first woman to steal his heart and who should pop up, but Coyote, who just happens to be Sam's Indian Spirit guide. Coyote, being the trickster that he is, guides Sam in the most round-a-bout way possible getting Sam into all sorts of hilarious trouble along the way. I highly reccomend this book, especially if you are in need of a good laugh and a GREAT story!!!!

Donna wrote: "Sandy - looking forward to it :)" they are all up ...well, i do have a couple more to write...but i have been so busy trying to figure out my next buys!

Donna wrote: "A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century by Barbara W. Tuchman

Okay, so i haven't finished it..."

I FINISHED it!!! All 29 hours. Wow! And I was captivated by the story right to the end. Tuchman did a fantastic job of weaving together the various players and events into a story line that made sense and makes you think.

I will have to see about Tuchman's book about WWI - if it's as well done as this one it will be fantastic!!

On to something a little less weighty for a while though :)

The Colorado Kid by Stephen King - OK, I'll admit it...I only read this one because of the new show "Haven" on the SYFY network. I had never heard of this story before the show started, but after seeing the first show I was intrigued to see what the show was based on. I was surprised to find that it was such a short story, only 4 CD's, but then I was intrigued even more. An entire network show based on this tiny book. So in I dove. The narration was excellent. The reader had a fabulous Maine accent that really added to the storytelling and seriously pulled you in. I love mysteries, so I was trying to sift through every detail as I listened, often skipping back to re-listen to certain parts to make sure I was getting the story right. As the end neared, I wanted to know the answer to the classic question, "Who Dunnit?" Mr. King does not provide you with that answer. He leaves it to your imagination. Talk about curiousity killing the cat. I hate being left hanging, but at the same time I liked it. I have lots of questions that weren't answered and a few that weren't even posed. This would be a great book for a book club. There could definitely be some great discussions about what everyone thought might have happened. The main thing I am wondering now is are they going to answer the question of what happened to the "Colorado Kid" in the show "Haven". Or at least pose their possible solution through the show. I am very interested now to see where they go from here.

Adverbs by Daniel Handler

3 of 5 stars

Adverbs is in theory a series of interconnected stories about love in all it's forms. What it is finally is an interesting writing exercise that never really jells... kinda like fudge that doesn't set up firmly - it's sweet and tastes good but doesn't have the right texture and isn't quite right and you really don't want too much of it.

There are parts of this book that i... well.. loved. There are other parts that i found just plain stupid. The story of half the neighborhood showing up at Joe's place unannounced to tell him he's a great guy is a little hard to swallow. But other stories are cute, or very sad, or even really creepy.

One of the things that i disliked about the book is that frankly I just can't relate to any of the characters and there are very few of them i'd actually want to know. For a book about love there is very little selflessness and genuine compassion. Most of the characters are either excessively wounded or just plain self centered. I realize that conflict makes the plot line, but when it comes to love, even well adjusted couples have times when the world crashes in on them.

There are a couple stories where the plot line veers off the original path to the extent where we are never lead back to the main path. A fitting metaphor since the biggest offender occurs during a story that takes place on a trail...

Do not be fooled into thinking that Lemony Snickett's creator has written another childrens/teen book here. The language is strong and there are some short sexually explicit scenes. Handler is not afraid of homosexual/lesbian relationships and they are sprinkled liberally through the book. While on one hand I'm glad to see him acknowledge the issues of the gay community when it comes to love, I'm not interested in the specifics of anyone's sex life - gay or straight.

I liked the bit of magical realism thrown in - the Snow Queen is probably my favorite character in the book - a woman who runs away from love.

So, the long and short of it is.. I liked some of the story lines, a great deal of his commentary about society (the section on the jury system is a stitch), and how he weaves the stories together. Oliver Wyman does a terrific job narrating. However, I didn't like the characters much, the sometimes meandering lines the stories took, the gutter language, and feeling like a voyeur during "love" scenes.

All in all an interesting, but ultimately less than satisfying listen.

Donna wrote: "Adverbs by Daniel Handler

3 of 5 stars

Adverbs is in theory a series of interconnected stories about love in all it's forms. What it is finall..."

Hi Donna,

I loved your review. Many people have been ambivalent about this book, but were unable to communicate what was lacking. Although your description doesn't paint a completely rosy picture of this book, it intrigued me enough to want to give it a shot - thanks!

Julie

The Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I don't know how much more of Nyneve I can take. She is one of the main protagonist in the book and this book was mostly about her. A total control freak and boring prude. Mr. Jordan assures us this shrew is a drop dead gorgeous babe, but I cannot imagine anyone male or female putting up with her for more than five minutes.

So as the series continues I am enjoying remembering my previous reads and there have been several surprises in the plot that had completely left my memory from my previous reads and details are forming that I had never completely understood from my first read.

Narrators are still great. I am not sure if it is Nyneve's character or the female narrator but her voice is starting to great on my nerves. I am reminded as I listen how many details Mr. Jordan has written and how annoying that part is as well. Each book has so many details about the history and what is happening now in this fantasy world that he had to write 50 books just to get to the end of Rand Al Thor's life.

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Donna wrote: "Adverbs is in theory a series of interconnected stories about love in all it's forms."

Great, thoughtful review, Donna!

Second Nature: A Gardener's Education by Michael Pollan

Michael Pollan is many things to many people. At this point in his career many people either consider him a genius or a reactionary - which i suspect just makes Michael smile. Pollan is, above all else, the classic college professor who, instead of telling his students what they should do and think, discusses in depth both sides of an argument and then says "you decide". The problem is that people don't want to decide - they want to be told.

While Second Nature, Pollan's meandering trip down the garden path, is no where nearly as controversial as The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals even here we still find Pollan dealing with big important issues. The pros and cons of the wilderness ethic that has shaped America's philosophy of how we see the landscape, and the American passion for manicured lawns are two big issues he takes on here.

Michael narrates this recording himself, and because the book is largely a personal narration of his experience in and thoughts about the garden, it works perfectly. Pollan has a pleasing voice and is fun to listen to anyway, so letting him speak in the first person is a treat. And there are little things through out the book that give away much about him. One thing that made me smile was his continual reference to the acreage he gardens as "ours" - indicating that he considered his wife a partner and the land not "his".

Pollan's personal stories about battling bugs, diseases and woodchucks struck home since I too am an avid gardener who with a 20'x25' victory garden produces enough veggies to feed a couple families. It was easy to relate to his stories about growing carrots while i was out thinning my carrots yesterday. But even non-gardeners will find something to enjoy in this book. There is much philosophy to be discussed concerning gardens and our relationships to them and if you broaden the definition of a garden, as Pollan does, then gardens impact all of our lives, not just those of us who enjoy getting our hands dirty.

Pollan has a sly sense of humor too, and there were several times when i found myself laughing out loud at either his antics or his commentary. Some of the topics in the book, such as the sexual connotations of roses were just plain fun.

A very worthwhile and interesting book. I would highly recommend it for anyone who is at all interested in gardening or the natural world (a term you will think of differently after reading this book!).

Jeff at All Ears Audiobooks wrote: "Wanted to write a quick blurb about Mike Carey's "Felix Castor Series"

Book 1 : The Devil You Know

This is a great book for any fans of the paranormal, but still looking for a good mystery. Felix..."

Can't wait for you guys to get 4 and 5 in the store, Read the first three and absolutely loved them! Carey has a really intriguing take on the urban fantasy genre

Thanks for the suggestion quote, Jeff B!

I just finished Now, Discover Your Strengths by Mark Buckingham.

Like many business books, Now, Discover Your Strengths is a book about discovering who you are, what you're naturally best at and how best to apply it in a business or life sense. Interestingly, this book approaches skill and education as secondary to natural gifts, tendencies and talents. The book uses an online personality test called StrengthsFinder (also utilized in other business books) to determine your 5 strongest "themes" of character such as Harmony, Empathy, Activator or Development. The book uses these by way of Dungeons and Dragons-type perks or skills that make each person unique and gifted in combination with other "themes" and skill sets.
Unfortunately, I can't give this book a full score, since these books assume you have purchased the material. Having done this gives you access to the StrengthsFinder online test, but if a reader borrows or rents this book he/she is left merely guessing. Until I find some way to access StrengthsFinder this book is less than half as beneficial as it would like to be.

Wayne wrote: "The Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I don't know how much more of Nyneve I can take. She is one of the main protagonist in the book and this book was mostly about her. A to..."

Wayne, loving it! Talk about nailing it. Nynaeve is one of my least favorite characters. Between pining after Lan, tugging her braid and griping about everything, I can't stand much of her. Chapters in her perspective are trying enough, I can't imagine a whole book from her point of view.

I just finished a great but short inspirational book called A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Future by Michael J. Fox. I loved it and we certainly have plenty more of Fox's books I'll have to try.

As I near college graduation, Michael J. Fox's A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Future proved to be a highly enlightening and timely book for this phase in my life. Laying out several classes and life lessons in the form of a college course catalogue, Michael J. Fox expounds on his life, experiences and lessons learned in the "School of Hard Knocks" and "Life 101". This book was short, sweet and incredibly fast moving, but is one of those rare books that you can return to again and again to receive something different... after, of course, reading it a couple times back to back. This is an inspirational book for all ages and walks of life, requiring time and repetition to fully digest.

Best wishes to you, Fox!

Patti wrote: "I just finished listening to Blue Heaven. I enjoy this book, and will listen to other books from the author."

I now just finished Ringworld It took me a while go get into this audiobook but I liked it by the end.

I read Stray, Rogue and Pride

I will be reading the last one by the end of summer.

Lord of Chaos by Robert Jordan

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Re reading or should I say listening for the first time. I cannot believe how many words Mr. Jordan uses to set up the final scene of this book which just leaves me wanting more but not sure if I want to wade through all the words to get to the one exciting moment in each entire book.

The women in this book are either prudes or morally bankrupt and they are the biggest control freaks that have ever lived. I don't think I would want to marry a woman in this fantasy world or maybe I would just enjoy the women who are not the prudes.

One interesting part of the narration is there is a woman named Mogidien in the book. She is one of the bad guys/girls and for the first 5 books her name was pronounced Mogi-deen but in this one the i and the e are pronounced separately Mo-gi-dien and for a while I was confused who was being referenced by the narrator.

A very disappointing book. The worst so far in the Wheel of Time series. I found it hard to stay awake while listening to this long winded book and I was driving at the time. I think I am going on a little break from this series although I am still tempted to keep going since so little was resolved in this book.

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Julie at All Ears wrote: "If you are looking for a book that you will haunt you for years to come, then try Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go. This book is set in the UK about a futuristic society, with very interesting val..."

I better put this book on my to listen to list.

Wayne, I've read and re-read and listened to this book. Do yourself a favour, if you do listen to it, get an unabridged version. In all honesty, I think it is better to read it. I have to admit though, the book I listened to had a VERY good female reader so it was a pleasure to hear.

I listened to Paul Auster's 'Man in the Dark' on a long drive and found it the perfect book for that situation, coming in at under five hours, yet still rich in diversion and detail, and told in Auster's own mesmerizing voice.

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Shadow of the Wind is a wonderful guilty pleasure that reminds me of the old black and white adventure movies i used to watch as a kid. It is a very visual story that i am so surprised they have not made a movie of yet - it's a perfect film noir piece.

This is not the book to listen to if you are looking for deep thought and great philosophy. But, for sheer entertainment - war, lost love, madmen, beautiful setting and interesting characters - this is a good choice. Shadow of the Wind is the story of a book, the author of the book, and the adventures of a young man who tries to figure out the author's dark and mysterious past. It takes place in Barcelona, Spain during the 1940's and 1950's with the aftermath of the war as a backdrop of the drama.

I read Shadow of the Wind several years ago for a book club and when my current book club selected it I decided to listen to it. Jonathan Davis does a nice job narrating. And it is fun to hear all the lovely names of people and places in Barcelona pronounced correctly. The only complaint i had about the audio production was that the author, Zafon, wrote and preformed an original piano score for it and there were times when the piano came through louder and more insistent than the narration - a bit distracting. However, the piano is only during sections of the story and it isn't enough to spoil the recording.

An entertaining listen.

Damsels in Distress by Joan Hess

Okay, i could be accused of being on a medieval kick with this mystery being set at a Renaissance fair, but in all honesty I would have listened to any of the Claire Malloy mysteries I haven't yet listened to. Joan Hess books are one of my vices. She has two series, the Maggody books and the Claire Malloy series. Both are outrageous and often laugh aloud funny. Friends rave about the Stephanie Plum series, but for my twisted sense of humor I'd rather be with the crew from Arkansas!

This particular installment has Claire dealing with the members of ARSE - an aptly named society devoted to the reenactment of medieval culture. They drag Claire, her teenage daughter Caron, and Caron's best friend, Inez, into helping with the fair. Of course chaos ensues and a body turns up, thus ensuring the mystery to be solved.

Claire's sharp wit, her uneasy relationship with her police officer boyfriend, and the Constant Pronouncements Made By Caron are entertaining. One of the nice things about both series is that Hess gives enough background on the characters that you can jump in anywhere. I've skipped around a lot in both of the series and haven't lost any of the story line because of it.

C.J. Critt does a nice job with the narration. An entertaining mystery.

The Sword of the Lady by S. M. Stirling

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


It was a fun listen until the end when the author tried to explain God and religion. It felt sort of preachy as he tied the Nantucket series of books with this series. Stirling's ideas of God did give me pause for thought which is good but I think most people when they read might find it either offensive or boring.I kind of sensed this might be the last book in this series and if it is Stirling certainly left lots of plot lines hanging.I have enjoyed this series quite a bit and I have recommended it to fantasy and scifi fans.

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Mornings on Horseback by David McCullough

This is my third McCullough book and the first I've listened to. The weighty "John Adams" and the fast paced "1776" make up my other experiences with this popular recorder of American History. Of course I got to know McCullough, like millions of others, through the PBS series American Experience.

Mornings on Horseback is a different book from the other two I read. Instead of concentrating on the entire life of the man, as in John Adams, or on a specific event, as in 1776, Mornings is about the life of young Theodore Roosevelt and the family that shaped him. It was a fascinating glimpse into New York society during that time period. McCullough's meticulous research provides some interesting insights into how the young Roosevelt came to be involved in politics. He also bursts some commonly held myths about Teddy's childhood - all very interesting.

I loved learning about Teddy's family! They were all remarkable people who were as fascinating as he is. So often we hear of "self-made" men, but young Theodore is truly a product of his amazing family.

The audio i listened to was an abridged version, but still I felt like I got to hear enough to get a really good feel for the adventures of young Roosevelt. What I found distracting is that even though Edward Hermann (whom I very much enjoy) is listed as the narrator, a few chapters in a woman picks up the tale. After she reads a few chapters Hermann is heard again. There is nothing in any of the information about the recordings that tells me who this woman is! She reads well though, and while not as accomplished as Hermann she is pleasant to listen to.

A worthwile listen for anyone interested in American History!

Donna wrote: "This is my third McCullough book and the first I've listened to."

You've made me want to read or listen to this (and more McCullough). I have had just the same history with him as you did before 'Mornings,' and really liked '1776' and 'Adams.'

Towards Zeroby Agatha Christie

Towards Zero is, admittedly not my favorite Christie mystery. The characters are not very exciting and the plot not as strong as other Christie stories. However, when my mom sent me a BBC Radio production of it I was intrigued.

Set to play like two one-hour radio shows, this audio set is quite fun. The sound effects and actors voices are great and it's a simple enough plot to keep track of easily with just audio cues.

All in all a very pleasant way to spend a couple hours! I hope she sends me some more of these BBC Radio productions!

Just finished Destiny Disrupted: A History of the World Through Islamic Eyes after seeing it recommended on this list. It really was fascinating. In fact, I think I could learn even more if I listened a second time. Ansary's version of Islamic history is like listening to a really good college lecturer. I enjoyed listening to his Arabic pronunciations--although it took my a bit to figure out that what sound like bog-dot was, in fact, Baghdad. He makes an interesting presentation of a history and culture most of us are horrifically ignorant about and shows how two very different ways of looking at the world (actually more than just two) have led us to where we are now. I found it interesting that Islam developed like many other religions, with people fighting over what is and isn't part of the "true" religion. And for all its foundation as a more egalitarian way of life, Ansary also shows that once a group of people gains power, they'll usually do whatever it takes to keep it. It would be nice to be able to bring all the sides together and try to hash out a way to exist so that everyone can follow whatever calling they feel is right for them--but then again, this is the antithesis of any religious fundamentalism. Something we all would do well to remember.

The Age of Shiva by Manil Suri

before i get to reviewing the book - Josephine Bailey does a fantastic job narrating. She made the main character, Meera, come alive for me.

Suri's books, this one and "The Death of Vishnu" are steeped in the traditions of Hindu and Muslim culture and the life of the middle class in India. They are difficult, and challenging, and can be depressing. Suri writes skillfully enough though that often when I felt like I'd had enough of his character's flaws, I just had to keep listening to find out what happened next.

Told mostly in the first person, in the form of a letter to her son, The Age of Shiva revolves around the life of Meera, the daughter of a publisher, who makes some really awful choices in her life. Propelling her along her way are a series of men - her father, husband, brother-in-law and eventually her son. Each of these men provide her with the means of making bad decisions and instead of standing up for herself and her needs she lets them carry her along.

Suri provides a perfect counter point for Meera in her plucky Muslim neighbor who shows how, just by using her own will power and cleverness, escapes the traps laid by her husband and the Muslim culture in general.

Meera's story begins in the 1940's - a volitile time in Indian history and carries through to the mid-70's. I admit i learned a bit of Indian history along the way - and much more about Indira Gandhi than i knew before. This historical background and the conflicts between Hindu and Muslim cultures contributes a significant part to the story.

While I totally enjoyed much of this story there are some rather disturbing elements to it also. Meera's relationship to her son is anything but healthy - by any culture's standards. I can't help but wonder why Suri felt it necessary to include this aspect of Meera's personality - especially in such extreme detail. While non-appropriate behavior can add to a story line (Fumero's domineering mother in "The Shadow of the Wind" comes to mind) Meera's behavior, in my opinion, doesn't add to the story line.

Regardless of this, I still enjoyed this challenging listen. It's not a light, easy story, but it is interesting and worthwhile.

Hi Donna,

As always, your review has me intrigued! This year I've read 3 different books about India - White Tiger, A Suitable Boy, and A Passage to India. All 3 were excellent and all 3 showed such dramatically different views of the country. I'll have to add this one to my list - it sounds like another good story. Thanks for the review!

Julie

Summer is finally over with schools Northern California starting up this week and next. I've had lots of fun travel this summer, giving me opportunity to listen to some excellent books (but not as much time to write about them!).

Our first trip this summer was in the Boston area so I picked a Newbery winner for our family drive. Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I remember loving this book years (or decades?) ago in elementary school and given that it is set in Boston on the eve of the Revolutionary War, it was a perfect choice for a family road trip from Boston to Cape Cod. The title character, Johnny Tremain, is an apprentice to a mediocre silver smith. Due to an accident while pouring silver on the Sabbath, Johnny's hand is maimed and he is forced to take a more menial job delivering the town newspaper. Through the newspaper Johnny gets swept up with the politics of the time and we see through his eyes many pivotal points that led to the Revolution including the Boston Tea Party (not at all related to our current Tea Party...), Paul Revere's famous ride and the first skirmish at Concord. More than just a chronicle of events, the story gave insight on both the thrill and anguish when a country decides to go to war. Highly recommended.

Pardonable Lies by Jacqueline Winspear

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Two of my favorite genres are historic fiction and mystery, so to discover a series that combines the two, and does it exceptionally well, is always a real find. Jacqueline Winspear has created a winner in her Maisie Dobbs series. Set in England just following World War I, Maisie Dobbs a psychologist/private investigator is given the task of finding Sir Cecil Lawton's son, an RAF pilot who was lost during the war. Maisie's life becomes even more complicated when she picks up 2 related mysteries - finding the facts behind the death of a friend's brother and trying to prove the innocence of a young girl who has been horribly abused. Although the mystery has a solid plot, the setting of the story is incredibly well developed and give the reader a great opportunity to see the trials and hardships of a country recovering from a devastating war. The audio narration is performed by Orlagh Cassidy. She narrates the book superbly, including tackling many European accents and a wide cast of voices.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The title character of this story, Oscar Wao, wants two things in life: 1 - to become the Domincan equivalent of J.R.R. Tolkien and and create an epic fantasy like The Lord of the Rings and 2 - to fall in love and be loved in return. These seem like idealistic but achievable goals, except that Oscar, our unlikely hero, is an obese and total nerd. Also going against him is the family fuku or curse that is to blame for the tragic and bitter lives led by Oscar's family. But in spite of repeated failed romances and hardships such as brutal encounters with Dominican police thugs, Oscar remains hopeful and idealistic, always searching for love.

I enjoyed this book. Not only was it a total eye opener about the recent violent history in the Dominican Republic and all of the brutality and suffering during dictator Trujillo's regime, I found Oscar to be such a heart wrenching hero.

People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I had read this book a few years ago and had enjoyed it, but wasn't overly impressed. However, my bookclub is discussing it this week and I decided to give it a quick listen to refresh my memory. Maybe I was in a different frame of mind because I was listening to it on vacation, or it took reading this book twice for it to sink it, but on this recent listen of this book, I found that I loved this story. The book is about Hannah Heath, a book restorer who is given the coveted task of restoring the famous Sarajevo Haggadah, a treasure that along with the Jews who owned this book, survived many years of oppression and tyranny. As Hannah uncovers various idiosyncrasies of the book - a stain, a hair, a missing artifact - the story is transported to that point in time when an event occurs to explain the tainting of the original text. For me, a historical fiction buff, it was wonderful to see how each story unfolded to tell just one slice of the history of this precious book.

Julie - be sure to add "Death of Vishnu" to your list too if you haven't already read it. It's fantastic!

i haven't read the other two you mentioned, but I very much enjoyed "A Passage to India". I read it years ago and can still vividly remember scenes from it. I seem to recall there is a movie of it too, but I can't imagine it fitting into a mere movie...

Just finished the Christopher Moore Bloodsucking Fiends trilogy. I really enjoy the way he puts in cameos from other characters in his books, it really ties everything together and keeps it very fun.

Also started listening to the Honor Harrington series by David Weber, my favorite sci-fi without "Dune" in the title. The series is humanist feminist sci-fi, following the trials and tribulations of Honor Harrington, a bad ass captain in the Royal Manticoran Navy. Highly recommended.

Getting ready to start book 3 in the Thursday Next series. It is a really fun and clever series, kind of reminds me of the Phantom Tollbooth(my favorite children's book) with its clever wordplay and twisting of literary themes and works.

Another great family vacation with over 25 hours in the car (why are the National Parks so far away??) and some very fun audiobooks.

Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A short book - less than 2 hours - this one had us laughing aloud. Told in the first person, the narrator receives a used riding lawn mower for his birthday at the beginning of the summer. What starts as a way to earn some extra money during vacation quickly snowballs into a hilarious romp with hit men, prize fighters and stock brokers. Very funny and perfect for a road trip!

Back Story by Robert B. Parker

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is my first Spenser mystery that I've listened to and I'll probably be back for more. We listened to this on a road trip and it was almost perfect. Just the right amount of suspense combined with some great sarcasm and wit. And Joe Mantegna as the narrator is perfect - great voices and he has does that East coast Boston accent perfectly. One little gripe is the "he said/she said" that Robert Parker uses so much in his books. My big gripe for this book was the ending. No spoilers here, but what a disappointment. I'll have to try another Spenser mystery on my next road trip.

But since we had some LONG hours in the car, I picked 2 audiobooks that I had already read - the first 2 books in Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games series.

The Hunger Games and Catching Fire. I picked these books because they are young adult titles that both kids and adults could enjoy and because they have such exciting 'I don't mind the long drive' type plots. These books met all or our needs and more. The story is set in a future world where the nation is cruelly ruled by the Capitol. Each year to remind the territories of its power, the Capitol holds the Hunger Games and requires each territory to send 2 child tributes to compete in these games. The Hunger Games are similar to many of our reality TV shows where the whole country watches as people compete to win the prize. Only in these games, contestants are eliminated by dying and the victor of the Hunger Games must kill other children. The plot sounds gruesome but the story is captivating and held us glued to our seats for the entire trip. But the books ended up offering us so much more. As an exercise to prepare for school, all of us decided (actually it was my decision, but we all participated) to write an essay on any topic related to the book. Our discussions were amazing. We compared the evils of this futuristic society with some of the less stellar attributes of our own. We talked about what we would each do to survive if we had to compete in the Hunger Games. Could we kill other children? We discussed heroism and oppression. And even though the essays are done, we continue to talk about the books and speculate about how this trilogy will end. The good news is that the last book Mockingjay is due out this month. Maybe it's time for another road trip.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson.

I can't believe it took me so long to finish this book. Once I restarted this book in the audio format, I just couldn't get enough. Simon Vance, the reader, is an amazing storyteller. I listened while I cooked, while I did laundry, while I drove, while I shopped, well you get the picture. It was such a fascinating mystery. Salander and Blomkvist, the two leading characters, were not your normal run of the mill "detectives" and I loved that it was set in a place that I have never read about before. When I originally started this book, I was reading the paperback. I think I got caught up in trying to pronounce everything instead of letting myself get lost in the story. I love words, what can I say. So switching to the audio version freed my mind to just enjoy the story and to try and figure out the mystery. I can't wait to listen to the next book in the series and to find out what happens to next, but I just realized, I'm not on the waiting list yet. AAAAAGHHHH!!! It could be awhile, but I am sure it will be worth the wait.

Jennifer wrote: "I just realized, I'm not on the waiting list yet. AAAAAGHHHH!!! It could be awhile, but I am sure it will be worth the wait."

I think it will be! I've read all three and loved them.