Category: audio review

When a beautiful woman begs for Sam Spade’s help, well what’s a San Fransisco detective to do but risk his tough guy reputation to help her? 

Sam is a real man’s man and tough enough to bluff confessions out of the thugs.  When Sam’s partner is murdered on a stakeout the cops all but blame Sam… no wait, they actually do blame Sam for the death.  Sam knows people in low places and has the pull to get people working to assist him in solving the crime , as look for the payoff that everyone wants – a valuable gold statuette of a falcon.

Who has the falcon?

What will it take to get it back?

As a motley crew of characters gather in Sam’s hotel room, all searching for the same answers, you have to wonder – can Sam, Mr. Cool, Mr. Smooth Talker himself, solve this crime and mystery?

Ok…

Hee hee.

I picked this audio up from the amazing Tanya of Blackstone Audio (can I get a WOOT!) as well as the great blog, Dog eared copy.  I met Tanya at BEA this year and always interested in dipping my listening ear into different genres and mixes, I jumped at the chance to listen to this audio. 

I find that I am more experimental in my audio then I am in books.  Something about listening to an audio… I usually give it more of a chance to grab me then I will a book. 

In this case, The Maltese Falcon was a surprise in many ways.  For one, I didn’t pick up on the fact that this was Radio Theater.  Or if I did, I did not really think what that meant.  When the audio started with this dramatic  music, sound effects and voices… I was well, take a moment and listen for yourself:

Ok…. so now you see where I am at.  😛

So – I will admit I was surprised, not necessarily pleasantly so as I thought I was going to hear this book read by an assortment of narrators…

The second way this audio surprised me was…. it grew on me.  Suddenly, I got into the way this one played out and I would be in the kitchen laughing to Sam Spade’s over the top solving of the crime, and the search for the maltese falcon.

Que the scary music soundtrack….

Ok I jest…. it really turned out to be a unique experience – one that I really did enjoy.  I have never seen the movie, so I went into this knowing title alone and nothing else.  Both readers, Michael Madsen and Sandra Oh did a wonderful job.  This was actually quite fun.

I have updated the 2011 WHERE Are You Reading map to include Maltese Falcon

Thank you to Tanya and Blackstone Audio!

Mary Beth Latham really has it all.  A loving and devoted husband, three teenage children – the twin boys Alex and Max, and her sweet outgoing daughter Ruby.  Their home is filled with the joys of family and Mary Beth wouldn’t want it any other way.

When Ruby one day announces that she is breaking up with her long time friend and boyfriend Kirenen, Mary Beth feels sad for both her daughter and Kirenan who has really become like one of the family.  Yet, at the same time her son Max is sinking into a depression over his much more athletic and popular brother Alex. A popular daughter, a depressed son and an over-confident son.  In a way, this is what life with teens can be like…

And then one night after a New Years Eve party everything changes.  An incredible act of violence throws Mary Beth’s life into the blender and when she comes out the other side, she is nowhere near the same… nothing is… NOTHING is.

Left with almost nothing, Mary Beth struggles to make a life again for herself, grasping at anything that can be considered “normal” and wondering when the floor will  drop out from under her again.

Powerful read.  I actually have to take pause as I write that.  Having just finished this book I am now of an author who has astounded me  with this well written novel, and her profound knowledge of grief.  As I listened to this on audio, I had to nod my head as the level of despair is so correctly described that I have to believe if Anna Quindlin has not experienced this level of grief herself, then she did a lot of research to understand it well.  Just listening to it made my heart beat faster in a sense of my own grief of what I was hearing. 

The “happening: in this book is blind siding… when it hits it hits hard and only an experienced author could pull off such a plot and be able to maintain the story beyond that. 

The narration itself reminded me a bit of Elizabeth Berg novels, the narrator, Hope Davis is almost monotone, but in this case, as the story is told from Mary Beth’s perspective – it should be, as grief takes you to a level of going through the motions of life… one foot in front of the other, and no emotion is really safer.

Intriguing, passionate, thought provoking…I am left feeling a sense of loss now that the book is over.  I will be visiting author Anna Quindlin again.

Amazon Rating

Good Reads

I updated the 2011 WHERE Are You Reading map to include Every Last One

I borrowed this audio from my local library

which I ♥

Tessa Leoni is happy with her life.  Having raised her daughter Sophie as a single parent for the early years of her life, Tessa loves nothing more.  To better herself and give Sophie a good life, Tessa works as a state trooper.  The hours are not the best, but the money is good, and the benefits give both Tessa and Sophie security in their future. 

When Tessa is introduced to Brian Darby by a fellow officer, Tessa proceeds cautiously into a relationship.  She realizes soon enough that Brian loves Sophie as his own daughter and soon after Tessa and Brian are married and start a happy life together.

Yet why is it that Detective Bobby Dodge of the Massachusetts State Police Department, is now standing in Tessa Leoni’s home looking at a very battered and bloody Tessa, Brian’s dead body on the floor, and six-year-old Sophie nowhere to be found?  Tessa is taken to the hospital – but Tessa is not talking.

What has happened?  Was there a lovers quarrel?  Was Tessa an abused wife?  Was Brian killed in self-defense or cold-blooded murder?  And most importantly of all, where was Sophie?

Bobby Dodge looks at her partner D.D. Warren with a look of resignation.  It is going to be a long, long day.

I read Lisa Gardner a bazillion years ago when I read The Survivors Club (way…. pre blogging).  I loved it, loved the strong female characters, the story line, the quick never dull pace.  Which leaves me sitting here now in the after math of Love You More wondering what took me so long to get back to reading this author.

From my first reading of Lisa Gardner to this now recent one, I find nothing has changed.  Lisa still knows how to write a fast paced twisting and turning novel that leaves you out of breath with every turn of the page.

Just when I thought I had it all figured out, I turn the page and discover that can’t be right, and off we go again in a completely different direction.  I feel like I am on the Tilt a Whirl at the fair, you are rapidly going one way – spinning, spinning, and then you stop and do an about-face and go just as fast int he other direction.

For the record – I can not do the Tilt A Whirl anymore, makes me sick – however I absolutely plan to read more of Lisa Gardner! 

Tessa Leoni is just the kind of character I enjoy.  She is strong-willed, tough, and is a quick thinker.  Love You More is told in some parts from the perspective of Detective D D Warren, and at other times from the point of Tessa.  This makes for an exciting read as D D tries to figure out what sort of person Tessa is – a  loving mother, or a heartless monster…. all the while I was also getting Tessa thoughts too, which lead for an exciting – EXCITING story line!

It wasn’t until the end of this read that I discovered that this is actually book 5 of the DD Warren Detective series, but readers, do not moan, as I did not notice this was a series and am willing to believe that each of the books while having familiar characters are written as stand alone reads.  Of course, now I want to read more about these characters…..  😉

Towards the end a couple of the “happenings” felt a bit too much to me and I admit being a bit disappointed as I was thinking the book was so fantastic.  Then… as I thought about it, I wondered if it really was over the top.  How far does a mothers love extend?  What extremes would I myself go to so my child was safe?

Over the top or not, Love You More is a book (audio) that I recommend highly to those of you who love a good thriller…. you will not be disappointed. 

Amazon Rating

Good Reads Review

The 2011 WHERE Are You Reading map has been updated to include Love You More

I listened to this on the audio I purchased through audible.com

Newly married Patrick and Margaret decide to make a trip to Kenya.  Patrick a doctor, is busy with his practice and Margaret a photography novice, finds she has much idle time on her hands.  When her car breaks down, Margaret finds herself being helped by an English couple Arthur and Diana.  The couples quickly become friends and Arthur and Diana offer Patrick and Margaret a nice cottage to use on their property.  In short time it is discovered that Arthur and Diana are planning a trip up Mt Kenya and invite the other couple along.  Margaret is unsure, but Patrick is excited and encouraging so the trip is planned.

The trip turns out to be a big mistake in more ways than one and a tragic accident where Margaret plays a role, changes the dynamics of life for Patrick and Margaret forever. 

I have read and enjoyed Anita Shreve before.  Her book Testimony, blew me away.  However I have to say this story eked me in so many ways and does not rate more from me than an unfortunate rant, in which I apologize for before I even begin.

First off… I listened to this on audio and it seemed to take forever for the story to get moving.  I believe it was disc three before it became interesting and that was actually the highlight of the audio/ book… the actual climbing of Mt. Kenya and the moments before and after the big plot drop.  I actually loved that part and thought ok…. now we are going….

but…

shortly after the big happening the story dropped off for me again.  While more interesting than the beginning (as now there was the *happening* to deal with), it just overall fell flat.

Margaret was extremely unlikable.  And no I do not have to love all my main characters, but they do need to have something behind the unsuitableness and Margaret was just… bland.  She had no fire or spunk.  Se also had no sense of right and wrong, and no conscience (ok… maybe that’s the same thing…).  I also felt I really never knew Patrick.  Margaret mainly takes the center stage and Patrick pops in and out of the picture.  I never felt the urge to cheer him on or yell at him to wake up.  he was kind of “ehhh”.

With all that said, in the end it felt like the story line just stopped.  No big triumphant “ah ha” moment… just kind of end of the journey.  Period.  The End.  Roll Credits.  Thank the academy.

It was really a “meh” read.  Errr…. listen (audio).

I will certainly venture my way back to Anita Shreve as she touches on some powerful subjects ands gives me the feeling of a stronger personalitied Jodi Piccoult.  And of course, check out other opinions on this one.  I could certainly be in the minority here.  But my two cents are that Shreve has done better and I think if you were new to this author this would not be the one I suggest you start with. 

 In recap this book was an “ehhh”, “meh, “errrrr” read.

Amazon Rating

Good Reads Review

The 2011 WHERE Are You Reading map has been updated to include A Change In Altitude

I picked this one up at my local library

Tina Fey’s book Bossypants is her own story of how she grew up in Pennsylvania (with an over protective dad who will do anything to save a buck), to the early days of saturday Night Live (when women could not have a leading role), her honeymoon cruise because her husband does not like to fly (very Poseidon Adventure and includes a fire on the ship), to her Sarah Palin impression that she did not have time nor want to do, to deciding if one child is enough…

All in all Tina Fey is as funny sharing her own life triumphs and tragedies as she is on TV in her many roles.

I knew when I seen this book was coming out I had to read it.  When I seen the audio was going to be narrated by Tina herself, I decided scratch the book, I now wanted to hear Tina tell her story.  I am so glad I did.

Call it a guilty pleasure but I do really like good funny quick-witted humor.  I love my “funny” to have intelligence with it and Tina Fey delivers all that in an audio that I will cherish as good laugh at yourself moments because what else are you going to do – and that is kind of the way I like to live my life too.  😛

I have enjoyed Tina Fey not so much on Saturday Night Live (mainly because I never really watched Saturday Night Live), but more for her movie roles.  I enjoyed her in both Date Night and Baby Mama.  Not only is Tina funny but she is also an advocate for women’s rights and strongly supports a program Autism Speaks.

So…. here is the visual of my listening to this audio book.  I had it downloaded on my IPOD.  I am mowing our 5 acres of yard on the riding mower… where once I would listen to music and frighten the neighbors with my singing… now instead I listen to audio.  For me that is three hours of non interrupted “book” time.  This particular audio however had me at times laughing out loud to the point I am sure the neighbors were ready to call the “crazies hot line”.

Yes, at times she can be a bit raunchy – and thankfully that is few and far between on this audio.  Over all it was a pleasurable audio that I would recommend over the book just for the reason that it is Tina Fey herself narrating and she has that matter of fact tone that just makes me smile. 

Amazon Rating

Good Reads Review

I have updated the WHERE Are You Reading Map to include Bossypants

I picked up this audio from audible.com

Jan Zabinski was the director of the Warsaw Zoo during WWII.  He, along with his wife Antonia, sheltered 300 Jews as well as Polish resisters in the home, in animal cages, and in sheds.  Using the names of the animals as code names for the people in hiding, they risked their own lives to save those of strangers.

This would be a remarkable fiction story….

what makes it even more remarkable is that it is not fiction.

Using Antonia’s diaries, author Diane Ackerman takes us to a point in history where people ran for their very lives, hiding their heritage, and not knowing if this day may be your last….

it is a hard life to imagine from the comforts of my own life and times…

Russian born Antonia, and Polish Catholic Jan were a rarity and an enigma.  They loved animals and would bring in any stray into their home.  It was not uncommon to have not only cats and dogs in the home, but also a rabbit, birds, otters, badgers, lynx and more.  All this while hiding people and ammunition within the zoo itself, as Europe crumbled all around.

This book was recommended to me by my friend Heidi over a year ago.  I am usually quite open to book suggestions and in short time had the book in possession and on my shelf.  Now – the trick was to find the time to read it.  A couple of weeks ago I found it at my library in audio format and knew that was what would push this story to the front line.

Deeply immersed in the language of the times and the history in the making, I at first found this audio heavy with facts.  As I became more aware of what was happening and how incredibly brave Jan and Antonina were as well as what they did for the Jewish

people – said to have saved over 300 people by hiding them in the zoo cages and in their home. 

In the end, as what happens many times to me when I discover a new vein of history I knew little to nothing about, I want to know more.  If you look on-line you will find many stories of the Warsaw Zoo and the Zabinski’s.

Today the Warsaw Zoo lives on and flourishes.  Check out their website here and be amazed that this incredible Zoo that started in March 1928, still remain open and carrying with it a bounty of history.

Amazon Rating

Good Reads Review

I have updated WHERE Are You Reading Map to include The Zookeeper’s Wife

I borrowed this book on audio from my local library

J R R Tolkien is one of those authors who fascinates me.  I am amazed when authors can create a whole other world out of their imaginations and the more believable it is…. the more it blows me away.  (J K Rowling does the same thing to me…. I am just in awe…)

I actually had a creative writing class in High School that was all about Tolkien.  We watched the animated version of the movie, wrote reports, discussed Tolkien and I for one was in my kind of world.  😀  Tolkien soon became an author I was just fascinated with, and love the thought of he, CS Lewis and other authors meeting and discussing their books in a pub called The Rabbit Room.  (For this reason I have named my own Library the Rabbit Room as it is marked over the doors to enter it.)

The Inklings was an Oxford writers’ group which included C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, Charles Williams and Hugo Dyson. From late 1933, they met on Thursday evenings at Lewis’s college rooms at Magdalen, where they would read and discuss various material, including their unfinished manuscripts.^[4] These meetings were accompanied with more informal lunchtime gatherings at various Oxford pubs which coalesced into a regular meeting held on Mondays or Tuesday lunchtimes at the Eagle and Child, in a private lounge at the back of the pub known as the ‘Rabbit Room’.

~Wikepedia

Recently when I made the decision I wanted to listen to this on audio, Heather at 30+ A Lifetime Of Books had made a similar decision at around the same time.  We decided we would post our reviews at the same time and ask each other our thoughts about the audio.  We both had the same narrator (gah… I feel awful, I returned my copy to the library and can not remember who the narrator was but I bet Heather knows!  :razz:)

Here is what Heather asked me and my responses:

1.  Was the audio what you expected it to be?  Did it surprise you in any way?   You know, I read this in High School Uhh…. *cough cough* that was quite a few years ago, and honestly many of the details of the story I had forgotten.  When I started listening I was pleasantly surprised to find myself sitting outside the hobbit hole with Bilbo and as our narrator read on I was engulfed with memories of the book from all those years ago.

2.  What did you think of the narration?  I just checked my library reserve and it looks like the narrator was John Robert Reuel.  I think he did a wonderful job.  This is not an easy book to narrate as there are many voices and even quite a bit of singing (more on that later)

3.  This was originally written as a children’s book – do you think the book would appeal most to children?  Teens?  Adults?  I gave this question quite a bit of thought.  I think children can and will still appreciate this book as they will enjoy the imagery the story put sin your mind…. hobbits, dragons, wizards – whats not to love?  I also think adults can appreciate this one for the history of the story – love of a classic read, and secondly many of us grew up with these stories floating around in the background of our lives… this was our generations paranormal before paranormal was cool…. 🙂

Sadly though, I am not so sure this book/audio would bring in much interest from todays YA crowd.  While an amazing work of literature by my standards, I don’t think it had the elements that the YA readers are looking for – romance, dystopia, paranormal…  if I am wrong on this let me know… I would love to be wrong on this point.  🙂

4.  Did you have a favorite part?  Least favorite part?  I have to admit when Gollum entered the narration I was excited.  Usually one to feel for the under dog, I always have had a soft spot for Gollum/Smeagal…. when the voice came through my car speakers I got chills of excitement… obviously I did not like who Smeagal had become (the rings fault!) but I think in better circumstances, perhaps in  another life…. Gollum could have been a lot like Dobby (HarryPotter books)

Least favorite was all the singing.  I get that it is part of the story, but I have never been one for poetry so even reading song after song in the book I remember got old fast.  On audio… it was just as disturbing to the point that I had to make sure my windows were up when driving through town as I really did not anyone hearing Hobbit songs coming out of my vehicle 😛

I already confessed this to Heather when we chatted at BEA this year, but at one point the songs (song after song after song) became so much while driving that I grabbed a piece of scratch paper and wrote out my own words to a song that came to mind.  I will share it with you on a separate page as I do not want to take away from my thoughts on this audio and review with my crazy thinking.  For inquiring minds you can find the song here:

Play Me Some Hobbit Music

Ok…. moving on… I enjoyed this refresher course in The Hobbit as it reminded me of the story I read so long ago.  I am excited about the movie, which is really what inspired me to want to listen to the audio, and I am glad I did.  Here is a link for those of you who are curious to know more about the movie.  While Orlando Bloom was missing from the latest Pirates Of The Caribbean movie, he has been confirmed for The Hobbit.

Stop over to Heathers at 30+ A Lifetime of Books and see her review today of The Hbbbit and how she answered my questions.  

And for giggles as I am in a very Middle earth mood, I found a Hobbit Name Generator.  For the record… In Middle Earth I would be known as Ruby Hardbottle.  😉

I rented this audio from my local library

Adam March is a married well to do man.  He has a wife who loves her who likes the comforts of having money and a teenage daughter who wants for nothing.  On the brink of becoming CEO of the company he has worked hard in for years, a lapse in judgement, a snap decision, causes Adam to lose everything.  My the mighty have fallen when Adam loses his job, his, home, his wife, his daughter, and his dignity.   Now working off a community service sentence at a local soup kitchen Adam needs to find out where he goes from here.

Chance is a pit bull.  He has born in captivity to pit bull parents who are caged and breed for dog fights.  Chance is pretty proud of his standings, he has a few scars, but usually comes out the victor in his matches.  While life is ok, Chance knows it is not great.  He sees his mother old and tired, they live in fear of the men who cage them never knowing if they are going to eat that day or be beaten.  When Chance has an opportunity to escape, he does and finds himself living as a free dog on the streets.

In a “chance” meeting… both Adam and the dog wind up together.  But what can a man who has nothing to give do with a dog who has known no other life than fighting?  What can a dog offer a man who is broken, bitter, and self-absorbed?

Pit Bulls:  Many areas restrict pit bull ownership such as Canada, Miami Florida, and Denver Colorado.  They are a member of the terrier family and bull-dog family.  These dogs are a popular breed used in dog fighting.

While looking for an audio a couple of weeks back this one came across my path.  I liked the sound of the read (the synopsis on the audio was kind of funny) but… I was concerned about reading about a dog.

Side note – I am really sensitive when it comes to animals. 

But the book pulled me in and I even made a note on a post that this dog better be ok throughout the whole book because I will be mad if this is another book that breaks my heart. 

SO?

I am not going to tell you.

What I am going to tell you is that the alternating parts told from Adams point of view, and then Chances are wonderful.  Usually if I am reading about a dog he is cute and lovable and Chance is not that.  Chance is a pit bull.  He had half an ear and many scars.  He is a fighter and does not know how to be pet (and not really sure he would want to be one!)  Yet the story is told so well that you come to love Chance for who he is on the inside, really just a dog who needs to catch a break. 

I even enjoyed Adam and he is not a likable guy.  He is rough (get it?  “Ruff!”… oh, never mind…) around the edges and angry with the world.  The story, while maybe predictable, still felt unique to me in its telling.  This was one of those audio I could not wait to get back to.

Amazon rating

Good Reads

My 2011 WHERE Are You Reading Map has been update to include One Good Dog

I purchased this audio from audible.com