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Regan wrote: "I'm curious why you dislike the character. Sounds like fun to me -- a little Thomas Crown Affair-ish."

He's arrogant, selfish, his emotional treatment of his wife is appalling as is his attitude to everyone, he is irredeemable in my eyes and, to be blunt, I hope that the start of the book is his eventual end. I am continuing to listen in the hope that Roger gets what I think he deserves.

The writing/narration is good, though I find the foreshadowing a little overt.

Ancestral wrote: "He's arrogant, selfish, his emotional treatment of his wife is appalling as is ..."

Gotcha. So not a fun thief.

Gave up on The Lake of Dreams. Too sentimental for my tastes. I started Empire Falls instead.

Well I finished Bloodstream, as usual with Tess Gerritsen it was a great storey , differnt to her Rizzoli & Isles series but still very enjoyable.

Just started somethimg completely different Night Over Wateran oldie from Ken Follett, enjoying it so far .

I just finished And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. It was entertaining. I started Rules of Civility by Amor Towles, which is okay so far.

Shelly wrote: "Where did you find the audio for The Silence of Trees?"

Shelly - Iambik offers all of Chapter 1 as a sample. So if you are considering it, might want to give a listen to Chapter One to see what you think of both the story and the narration style. It's quite an intimate/quiet delivery, which isn't always a match for everyone. I love that Iambik allows this as it allows listeners to really try out a narration before you purchase. A short clip on Audible or other publisher websites doesn't always give a good idea of if you want to live with a narration for 10 hours, you know? :)

I'm currently listening to Relic and enjoying it. I like how Preston and Child combine archeology with a bit of supernatural.

I am currently listening to A Train in Winter: An Extraordinary Story of Women, Friendship, and Resistance in Occupied France. I am very disappointed with the audio version. The narrator cannot pronounce French words properly! It is really wrecking my appreciation of what maybe is a good book. I must also add that the reader is acquainted with MANY French women. So many that you can scarcely keep track of them all, so do not expect to develop a close relationship with any one of them.

The theme of the book is very interesting - the French Resistance during Nazi Occupation during WW2 and particularly the role women played.

The Blue Bicycle is the first book of an historical fiction series that is extremely enjoyable to read. It not only gives you a picture of the French Resistance but also how it impacted on a few lives. It is much easier to understand if you care for the characters. In the audio book I am listening to now the women mean nothing to me. I have listened to about half of the audio book.

You do nave to read several books of Régine Deforges' series to get a full picture of French life under the Nazis, and I am not sure if all of them have been translated into English. I read them in French. They must be read in order. After reading these books you feel in your bones how it might have been to live during these times.

Another book I might try is The Children Of Freedom. The author is very popular in France, but I have not read him. I am not sure - the book might be just too patriotic. You know - love of nation!

I just know that the reader does not empathize with the women in Moorehead's book. There are over 100 to keep track of.

I'm about an hour into The White Woman on the Green Bicycle - great narrator!

John, I loved that book - but I read it. I could just picture her on that bicycle. It is also an interesting look at assimilation - how some people never even attempt to fit into their new countries. And some do.

Re:A Train in Winter: An Extraordinary Story of Women, Friendship, and Resistance in Occupied France I just have to add this: now the 230 French women have come to Birkenau/Auschwitz and this is terribly gruesome to listen to! Yes, I DO empathize even though I do not know these women. Anybody would find listening to this difficult.

Finished

An Irish Country Doctor

a nice light listen
and because I like Karen White I started

Beachcombers: A Novel

Shirley, what did you think of an Irish Country doctor, I certainly will need something lighter after what I am listening to now. Are you drawn in by the characters? Do you see Ireland when you listen?

The gentlemen's list is up over at Literate Housewife blog


Vote for your 5 favorite male narrators this was just as hard as the ladies to pick only 5!

I have been listening to the Game of Thrones series and presently I am nearly at the end of book 4. It has taken me so long that my 2012 Book challenge has plummeted. Enjoying the series and going to persevere to the end.

Susie wrote: "The gentlemen's list is up over at Literate Housewife blog


Vote for your 5 favorite male narrators this was just as hard ..."

Given that part of the point of the list is to respond to the Hollywood celebrity heavy "A List" that Audible did, I'm surprised at the number of Hollywood stars on the gents list: Bronson Pinchot, James Marsters, Matthew Macfayden, Stacy Keach. I'm not criticizing their talents since I haven't heard any of their books, just noting the disjoint.

I just finished Lost in the Forest, just loved it.

I also finished Discord's Apple, the narrator was fine, the story bleh!

Regan wrote: "Susie wrote: "The gentlemen's list is up over at Literate Housewife blog


Vote for your 5 favorite male narrators this was ju..."

She asked for nominations from people who visit her blog and on twitter and yes they are actors but are all really good narrators I for one love James Marsters narration work and I haven't heard Bronson Pinchot but I've heard he's really good too.
I think what she was trying to say was the new actors who narrate just one book the actors on the list have many books to their names.

Bronson Pinchot did a great job reading the memoir My Korean Deli: Risking It All for a Convenience Store, making a frustrating book (the "protagonists" are quite clueless) a better experience.

Yes, I see the point: Talented narrators who are also actors vs. famous people who happen to read a book.

I don't think I realized until recently that James Marsters narrated books, and I love his versatility as an actor, so I've been looking forward to checking out some of his audiobook work.

There aren't any well-known actresses on the women's list and I can only think of one even moderately known actress, Lucy Scott, who does narration work (as opposed to the one-off celebrity reads). Scott is an English actress probably most recognizable in the US for playing Charlotte Lucas in the Colin Firth-Jennifer Ehle version of Pride and Prejudice. Scott did an absolutely perfect reading of Jane Eyre a few years ago.

Regan wrote: "Yes, I see the point: Talented narrators who are also actors vs. famous people who happen to read a book.

I don't think I realized until recently that James Marsters narrated books, and I love his..."

One other from the womens list was Juliet Stevenson if you watch British shows you'll recognize her face.She's a great narrator!

I have listed to a couple of books narrated by Blair Brown. In one she was absolutely awful, and made me steer clear of famous actors who were narrating. i listened to another one in which she was better. Edward Herrmann is excellent as an actor and narrator.

Regan wrote: "Yes, I see the point: Talented narrators who are also actors vs. famous people who happen to read a book.

I don't think I realized until recently that James Marsters narrated books, and I love his..."

I'm very aware of Marsters' Dresden Files work and love Harry Dresden in part because of Marsters. Be forewarned, however, that the production quality of the first four or five books leaves much to be desired--swallows and breaths not intended as characterization and several mispronounced words. But he becomes Harry Dresden and caused a firestorm on Audible last summer when his schedule didn't allow him to read the thirteenth book in the series and a substitute narrator was brought in. I don't think it's a coincidence that Audible began having separate Overall, Story, and Performance ratings very shortly after the release of Ghost Story.

Also, re female narrators... Prunella Scales acted in a version of Emma and also did a very good narration of the entire book--my favorite version, in fact.

I thought she was terrific with the stories she read in Julian Barnes' The Lemon Table; her husband, Timothy West, does a good job reading most of the book.

I'm so excited, because I have just started on John Ajvide Lindqvist's " Harbor " about disappearances on a Swedish archipelago, no doubt with a touch of the supernatural thrown in. So far, the audio edition is very good.

I am now 20% in on John Ajvide Lindqvist's Harbor . It's narrated well, and I'm already enjoying sinking into the darkness of the story as it jumps from the past to the present.

Ancestral wrote: "I am now 20% in on John Ajvide Lindqvist's Harbor. It's narrated well, and I'm already enjoying sinking into the darkness of the story as it jumps from the past to the present."

Just looked that book up, and it looks GOOD!

I am enjoying it as much as his Let the Right One In ; it's the human aspects for which he seems to have a real feel.

Ancestral wrote: "I am enjoying it as much as his Let the Right One In; it's the human aspects for which he seems to have a real feel."

You know, after seeing the original film, I was very interested in the book. But the seamier aspects of the companion just turned my stomach too much. The writing, however, was very good.

Susie wrote: "The gentlemen's list is up over at Literate Housewife blog


Vote for your 5 favorite male narrators this was just as hard ..."

Thanks. I voted for only non-actors as well (at least to the best of my knowledge). I was not aware that Dan Stevens read books, or, more importantly, Michael Jayston. That voice could've been reading to me all this time and I didn't even know it!

Regarding the women's narrator list, my favorite, Davina Porter made the top 5 as did Katherine Kellgren. I just finished an audio by Kellgren called Austenland and I thought she was terrible. But I'm open to reading another by her if someone can recommend. I must say I have never listened to anything read by Davina Porter that I didn't like and I'm listening to Moll Flandersright now and she's doing a wonderful job with it. I tried Paul Gigante's reading of Beyond the Highland Mist and it was so bad (both the material and the reading) that I had to set it aside.

I just downloaded As I Lay Dying which has multiple narrators.

Was Barbara Rosenblat on the list? She was always one of my favorites for humorous books. Also C. J. Critt for Southern books.

Susan wrote: "Was Barbara Rosenblat on the list? She was always one of my favorites for humorous books. Also C. J. Critt for Southern books."

@Janet - for Katherine Kellgren, I've heard nothing but rave reviews of The Boy in the Suitcase. That might be worth a go.

@Susan - Yes! I made sure she was as she got one of my five votes :) I've seen her read live and she is just simply wonderful.

Janet wrote: "Regarding the women's narrator list, my favorite, Davina Porter made the top 5 as did Katherine Kellgren. I just finished an audio by Kellgren called Austenland and I thought she was terrible. But..."

Katherine narrates all the Bloody Jack audiobooks and she is FANTASTIC! She has won a ton of awards for her narration of the series. First book is Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary "Jacky" Faber, Ship's Boy

Xe wrote: "Susan wrote: "Was Barbara Rosenblat on the list? She was always one of my favorites for humorous books. Also C. J. Critt for Southern books."

@Janet - for Katherine Kellgren, I've heard nothing ..."

Yes her narration of Boy in the Suitcase is great as is her narration of Bloody Jack I'll only listen to them on audio now because of her narration!

OK, you all have convinced me to give Kellgren another shot.

Finished Black Swan Green. It had 11 disks. It lost me about disk 7 or 8.

I like how David Mitchell writes but the two novels I've read (the other one was Cloud Atlas) have been frustrating.

One bad thing about borrowing from the library. I had been looking forward to listening to The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov that I borrowed from the library. I was about 1/3 of the way through disk one, when the disk became so scratched that I could not make it out. Tried some Windex, but it did not help. Hoping that it was only Disk one, I tried Disk Two, only to find that it was as badly scratched, as were all the rest. I can't imagine what someone did to all of them. It will have to go back unread. A disappointment, since my library appears to only have one copy, not even a print copy.

Heidi wrote: "Janet wrote: "Regarding the women's narrator list, my favorite, Davina Porter made the top 5 as did Katherine Kellgren. I just finished an audio by Kellgren called Austenland and I thought she was..."

I wasn't thrilled with Bloody Jack. I think it was mostly the book, but I thought Kellgren's accents were awkward. But I'd give her another try with something else.

Susan and those interested in Southern lit, I am currently listening to A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty: A Novel, written and narrated by the author Joshilun Jackson. I absolutely never thought I would like this - but the lines are dam funny! The narrating is superb. Half-way through. I t is not the "mystery" that draws me, but the humorous lines.

Thanks for the tip, Chrissie. I finished Rules of Civility yesterday, and despite the morose narration, I ended up liking it a lot. Couldn't wait to see how it ended. Started Foreign Bodies by Cynthia Ozick for offline book club.

Susan wrote: "Thanks for the tip, Chrissie. I finished Rules of Civility yesterday, and despite the morose narration, I ended up liking it a lot. Couldn't wait to see how it ended. Started Foreign Bodies by C..."

OK.

Regan wrote: "Heidi wrote: "Janet wrote: "Regarding the women's narrator list, my favorite, Davina Porter made the top 5 as did Katherine Kellgren. I just finished an audio by Kellgren called Austenland and I ..."

Hmmm....you are the first person I've spoke with who did not like her narration for Bloody Jack. Oh well! Not every narrator can be liked by everyone :)

Susan wrote: "One bad thing about borrowing from the library. I had been looking forward to listening to The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov that I borrowed from the library. I was about 1/3 of the wa..."

I had the same problem with the David Mitchell novel. There were some minor scratches in the early disks and then a big one on the very last disk. Uggh.

Janet wrote: "I may have mentioned before but I am listening to The House At Riverton by Kate Morton and narrated by Caroline Lee. I too am about 3/4 through but I'm enjoying every minute. I found myself drivi..."

I can't find that one on audiobook!!It's killing me because I absolutely love Kate Morton and Caroline Lee. I'm currently in The Distant Hours and it's great. Sometimes I just sit in my driveway and listen...

Chrissie wrote: "I just finished Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness. I loved it. I highly recommend it. I was doubtful that it could be as good as the same author's book Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonigh..."

Thanks for your recommendations Chrissie! They all sound really interesting although I teared up just reading the description of The Art of Racing in the Rain. We just put our dog down about 2 months ago...still not over it. I guess I'll be driving down I-270 looking a fool and crying on my way to work!

I have a question for those of you who have listened to Game of Thrones is it hard to keep track of all the characters?... I'm watching the HBO series and sometimes find it hard and I'm guessing there are even more characters in the book.

Lindsey wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "I just finished Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness. I loved it. I highly recommend it. I was doubtful that it could be as good as the same author's book Don't Let's Go t..."

But Lindsey it will make you feel you did the right thing! I loved Enzo he was more together than most humans I know!Hope you love it!

Also Lindsey if you are in the US audible has all the Kate Morton books.

Susie wrote: "I have a question for those of you who have listened to Game of Thrones is it hard to keep track of all the characters?... I'm watching the HBO series and sometimes find it hard and I'm guessing th..."

It took me about 7-8 CD's before I figured out who was who!