Tag: Audio Review

When 14-year-old Audrey is the target of  bullying at school, she finds that she struggles to even leave the comfort and security of her own home, finding dark glasses to help her move through day-to-day life.  Diagnosed with depression and anxiety disorder, Audrey works with a counselor to help her take steps towards a more normal life style.

One that Audrey could really not care less about.

When her brothers best friend Linus starts to frequent her home.  Audrey’s interest is piqued.  Linus is not like other boys.  He doesn’t seem to be startled by Audrey wearing dark glasses inside or her inability to go out into the world.  Instead, Linus seems to enjoy Audrey’s company, even coming over to the house to see her.  The connection Audrey makes with Linus is one that not only is helping her, but her entire family.

Finding Audrey was a fun listen.  I have read Sophie Kinsella before (I’ve Got Your Number) which was a light fun read.  This one is still fun as YA goes, but it also has a more serious undertone to it that makes you really think about what Audrey is going through.  You also can not help but cheer on Linus, what a great character!  Over all Kinsella comes through again with a heartwarming story that I think will speak well to young adults and all ages alike.

On a personal note:  I found with my own life these past 10 months that I could relate to Audrey.  I get the desire to feel safe and secure in my own home as well, never knowing what you can be dealing with in the real world.  By no means am I at where Audrey is at, I can and do go out and carry on as I used to – I just find it takes more energy to do so.  I only mention this because it helped me understand what Audrey is going through a little more.

• Age Range: 12 and up
• Grade Level: 7 and up
• Audio CD
• Publisher: Listening Library (Audio); Unabridged edition (June 9, 2015)
• Listening Length: 6 hours and 36 minutes
• Program Type: Audiobook

Mindy Kaling is on the search for fulfillment in here adult life.  She is looking for love, friendships, and trying to be the first person in the world to lose weight without changing any habits.  She discusses how to be glamorous for any occasion, dealing with anxiety and more in her life as a star.

Confession… I have never watched Mindy Kaling’s show.  I chose this audio mainly because I like autobiographies.  I enjoy hearing back ground stories to people’s fame.

Most of the time.

Occasionally I find one that is not really a fit.  This would be one of those times.

While Mindy may be a funny actress, I found her to be unnecessarily crude which is something I am never a fan of.  This one is entirely on me, I gave it a shot.  I am sure fans of Mindy Kaling would find this to be a good listen.

What I can say is Mindy Kaling narrates this book herself, which I almost always find I am drawn to in memoirs. Mindy has an exception narrating voice and comes across clearly with great emotion, wit, and voice expressions.  Her narration I felt was spot on… after all who better to tell her story?

 Why Not Me, and Mindy’s narrating performance has been nominated for an Audio Award.

• Audible Audio Edition
• Listening Length: 4 hours and 57 minutes
• Program Type: Audiobook
• Version: Unabridged
• Publisher: Random House Audio
• Audible.com Release Date: September 15, 2015

It’s simple but fitting… I do LOVE this cover…. ~ Sheila

When Lauren and Ryan meet in college they instantly feel the attraction.  The two become inseparable and a wedding of course is the next step in this match.  Now, ten years later the old arguments are no longer funny and are instead pointed.  That once was cute is now annoying and Lauren and Ryan can not seem to find their way back to the great love that once was.

Then Ryan lays out a plan to take a year off from each other… no communications whatsoever to see where everything lands once they go out on their own.  Heartbroken, Lauren has no choice but to agree.  Once Ryan moves out, Lauren is left to sort out her own feelings on her marriage, focus on her extended family and her career.

What does a good marriage consist of?  And more importantly is it enough to bring her and Ryan back together or was it really never what was supposed to be?

This was my first dabble into author Taylor Jenkins Reid and I was not disappointing.  After I Do is written in a humorous lighthearted way that is engaging, witty, and significant all at once.  The one-year-break was a unique way to handle a marriage gone awry.  While the story is told mainly from Lauren’s point of view, we as readers are left pretty much as she is… not knowing what Ryan is thinking or doing or if he will even come back.  I enjoyed the suspense.

If you enjoy a good not to heavy read I suggest you try this book.  I listened to it on audio and found Tara Sands narration to be perfect for this book.  In fact, once I finished After I Do, I went on to read two more books by this author.

• Audible Audio Edition
• Listening Length: 9 hours and 11 minutes
• Program Type: Audiobook
• Version: Unabridged
• Publisher: Dreamscape Media, LLC
• Audible.com Release Date: September 10, 2015
• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Washington Square Press (July 1, 2014)

Gabe and Nora Hawthorne are living the life.  They both have successful careers, Gabe works with a Tech Firm and Nora is a Realtor for the upper class of Marin California.  They have three daughters and to the outer world this white-toothed perfect smile family with the right house and the right cars looks as thought they have it all…

Angela is on a straight path to Harvard (it is where her dad went!) her grades are exceptional, there is nothing in her way… but had anyone given any thought to what Angela wants, including Angela herself?

10-year-old Cecily loves to dance but one false move changes everything

Maya is in second grade and can not get the grasp on reading. Could this have anything to do to with the secret that happened to her as a baby?

Nora excels at her job… but her clients can be problematic and sometimes – sometimes,Nora longs for am easier way

Gabe loves what he does but a woman he works with could tear his whole world apart… should he confess what he has done?

Each of the Hawthorne’s have something to admit… and that is what makes Admissions a fun reading adventure. ~ Sheila

I listened to Admissions on audio and thoroughly enjoyed it.  The play on the word admission just added to my enjoyment.  It is not often I find a book title to be as perfect as this one is to the story line.

Listening to admissions you could imagine the anxiety this family had as they all tried to hold their corner of the picture perfect outlook up to standards.  Yet, as in most cases of what appears to be perfect or… those who appear to have it all – not all is as it seems.

I really enjoyed what I thought was going to be a story based mainly on Angela and her admission to Harvard, but it is sooooo much more. With each member of the family having admissions of their own, this witty read is one not to miss.

Narrator Allyson Ryan did a wonderful job of portraying the heart of this story.

• Audible Audio Edition
• Listening Length: 14 hours and 34 minutes
• Program Type: Audiobook
• Version: Unabridged
• Publisher: Random House Audio
• Audible.com Release Date: August 18, 2015

In the future, a virus blankets the earth.  For some, the symptoms are flu-like and than they get better… for others… the virus causes what becomes known as “lock-in. victims are fully alert and aware of their surroundings but unable to move or voice a response.

25 years later, the results of this virus is now called ‘Haden’s Syndrome.’  Newly appointed FBI agent Chris Shane is assigned to a case that appears to be a Haden related murder. The suspect is an “integrator” – someone who can let the locked in borrow their bodies for a time. If the Integrator was carrying a Haden, then naming the suspect for the murder becomes that much more complicated.

As Chris and his partner Van start to dig into the crime, what they find is bigger than they had imagined.

Recently I posted about a book I reviewed that I was hoping a bit more dystopian than it was and a little less sci fi than it was…. and now, with Lock In, I found what I was looking for.  Lock In gave me the dystopian I was craving and while this synopsis was a bit out of my league… it was the narration by Wil Wheaton sold me on giving it a try in audio format.  Wil Wheaton is one of the few narrators I have actually tracked by what they narrated because they are so incredible at it.  Nicely played John Scalzi.

Lock In was brilliant.  While it took me a while to fully picture what was happening, once I got it, it was a fun listen.  With John Scalzi’s quick wit writing and Wil Wheaton’s perfect execution of the narration – readers are in for a pretty sweet ride.  Treat yourself to this one in audio.

I see author John Scalzi has used Wil in other audio as well which I will be checking out soon.

• Audible Audio Edition
• Listening Length: 10 hours
• Program Type: Audiobook
• Version: Unabridged
• Publisher: Audible Studios
• Audible.com Release Date: August 26, 2014

Antonia Murphy was born in San Fransisco and never really pictures herself as the farm girl type.  Later in life she settles with her husband in New Zealand after her son was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition and they felt a slower more laid back style of life might be just the ticket.

The decision to start a farm was probably not as slow and laid back as they had anticipated, but it sure makes for some fun writing.

Obviously, the title captured my attention.  While I have had this book on the shelf for the better part of a year, it was the audio version I fit into my schedule and found it quite entertaining and distracting while mowing my lawn.   Much of what happens in dirty chicks is fairly funny.  Imagine starting out with animals you know little about but you soon learn….. (I swear, I will never look at a duck the same way again.)

There is much to like about this book, and for me – I also found some things I personally didn’t like.  As this is a memoir and I often hesitate to review some memoirs due to the impossibility of separating the book from the writer, I will refrain from giving my opinion here on what I did not like.  After all – it is just my personal opinion.

I am glad I had a chance to experience this book.  Antonia does narrate this book herself which I always find impressive and she did a good job of narrating.  If you are ever thinking ooh starting a farm could be a lot of fun,” you may want to test this book out first.

• Audible Audio Edition
• Listening Length: 7 hours and 20 minutes
• Program Type: Audiobook
• Version: Unabridged
• Publisher: Audible Studios
• Audible.com Release Date: January 22, 2015