Tag: Audio

Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah (The audio that caused my meltdown in the kitchen)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)34 Comments

Sisters Meredith and Nina have grown apart once they reached adulthood.  Meredith took over the family business and raised a family, while Nina followed her dreams to traveling the world as a photojournalist.  When their doting father suddenly becomes ill and dies the sisters world is rocked to the core.  As a dying wish, their father had made the girls promise to spend time with their Russian mother, who has never been the warm motherly type.

As the girls try to come together on a decision of what to do, their mother, Anya, starts to act oddly – leaving burners on in the house and even pealing the wallpaper off the walls.  Anya starts to share fairy tales that she used to tell when the girls were little and through these tales, the girls discover the stories are not stories at all but the facts of Anya’s life growing up in war-torn Russ.  In amazement of this new discovery, Meredith and Nina decide to help their mother uncover the truth of her tragic past, in the hopes of understanding more about her as well as themselves. 

I wonder what a winter garden would look like...

Kristen Hannah is one of those author’s whose book covers draw me in and I always plan to read … and then rarely do.  In fact out of all of her attractive looking books, the only other one I have read in Firefly Lane with my book club a few years back.  (I remember I was in Honduras on a bus when that book came to its rocky ending that left me in tears)

SO here I am again with Kristen Hannah with probably the least likely choice of all her books – Winter Garden.  Why?  Because winter is my absolute least favorite time of year…. (however… I do like gardens?)  But of course none of this random ramblings has anything to do with the book….

Winter Garden started slow for me.  The two sisters thing and dysfunctional family synopsis has been done and done and done again.  I listened halfheartedly taking in all the facts but not really engaged. 

Then the audio suddenly took a turn to the “holy wah” when Anya started detailing her story of growing up in Russia…. suddenly I was glued to my kitchen, unwilling to shut the audio off, or leave the room I was folding laundry on my kitchen table and cleaning kitchen counters, and straightening seasonings in the cupboards – all to keep on listening. 

It all came to a tearful fully engaged version of me as the story unfolded into what I could only refer to as Kristen Hannah working her magic of story telling. I literally had tears rolling down my face as I heard the story pour out of Anya.

In recap… the first half of the book was meh…. the second half…. a rollercoaster of emotions that has left me wondering what I should choose next of Kristen Hannah’s books.

Amazon Rating

Goodreads Review

The 2011 WHERE Are You Reading map has been updated to include Winter Garden

I purchased this audio from Amazon

Tick Tock by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)4 Comments

Michael Bennett is back in this 4th book in the Michael Bennett series.  While taking his ten (TEN!) adopted children to a seaside retreat with live in nanny Mary Katherine and (the hilarious and wise) Grandpa.

What Detective Michael Bennett had hoped for was a little r & r and perhaps exploring his growing feelings for Mary Katherine, he uncovered much more than he bargained for when a rash of bizarre crimes tear through the city, terrorizing  everyone who lives there .  So much for vacation…

When Michael is pulled away from the retreat to investigate the crimes, his family is left open for attack.  Working the case with attractive colleague FBI Agent Emily Parker, Michael finds himself questioning what the future may hold.  All the while the clock is ticking towards who is behind the odd murders that seem to be copy cats old famous crimes…

TICK
TOCK

 

 

A couple of years ago when I started to embrace audio books – this series was one of my first audio experiences.  I know this is a Patterson book and I know some people struggle with his books and in some cases I agree, Patterson does have some gory graphic books out there.  This series is not one of them.  I think it is the touch of author Michael Ledwidge that gives this series its likability for me.

This series is centered around a detective, Michael Bennett who had adopted with his wife, 10 children.  As the series opens, Michael loses his wife to cancer and while adjusting to a life without her, maintaining a huge household, and maintaining a high-capacity job, I kind of fell in love with this family.

In this fourth in the series, I enjoyed the start of a possible relationship between Michael and Mary Katheryn and even the annoying presence of the attractive Emily…. tossed in for good measure.  The story line of the kids is always interesting and the crimes are usually good and not too graphic.

Usually.

I found in Tick Tock the gore level was raised – not a lot, but enough for me to notice.  I could almost sense the shift from Ledwidge to Patterson.  While I still enjoyed this audio, it was probably the one I have enjoyed the least out of the series.

Will I continue with the next one when it comes out?  Absolutely… there is still more of this story to be told and I for one want to know what will happen. 

Amazon Rating

Goodreads Review

The 2011 WHERE Are You Reading Map has been updated to include Tick Tock

I picked up this audio through Amazon

The Help by Kathryn Stockett (audio review)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)20 Comments

 

The Help

 

In the early 1960’s, Jackson Mississippi was a community of white women who ran charity events, and ran their help.  The “help” were their African-American maids  who cooked and cleaned and raised the white children so the white women of Jackson could play bridge, have coat drives, and complain about their heavy word load.

Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan, a young woman fresh out of college comes home to Jackson to live with her mom who is sick and her father.  Skeeter attends the bridge meetings and hangs with what is considered Jackson’s elite, especially Hilly, leader of the pack – and the coalition for every home in Jackson to have a separate bathroom installed for “the help” as after all as Hilly would say, “they carry different diseases than us, and we must protect our children!”

Skeeter, is appalled by the way the black women are treated and decided to write a book giving the maids (Help’s) perspective on how they feel they are treated, from raising the kids (who will later become their boss), to wages, and what they think is unfair. 

Needless to say – none of the black women jump at the chance to speak first.

Enter the wonderful Abilene, she cooks, she cleans, she has raised many a white child… and finally she has something to say.  As Skeeter and Abilene have secret meetings at Abilene’s home were Abiline talks ad Skeeter writes, eventually the feisty and hilarious Minnie joins in with her stories.

The result is an incredible story about faith, trust, and blowing up a small town.  😛

Skeeter.... making a few changes....

 

I am believing that if you have not read the book or seen the movie – you at least have heard about the phenomenon that is “The Help”.   Currently at the movie theaters (I have seen it twice!) I would suggest you run – don’t walk, to get your ticket!

I read this book in late 2009 and wanted the refresher of the audio with the movie coming out.   I had heard some buzzing about the fact that the movie was different from the book and from my foggy recollection I was thinking of very few differences but of course, this recent listen of the audio has now refreshed my memory…. HOWEVER – both…. are awesome… yes there are some differences, but I still feel it held true to the main story.  

If you enjoy good audio – you must listen to The Help… (yes, Laurel…. maybe even you 😉  ).  The narrators are fantastic!  The woman who reads the part of Minnie… also plays her in the movie!  Seriously great stuff!  I can not rave this one up enough!

The Help is so good that I do not care how you get it in (book, audio, movie) – but you must!!! 

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

I purchased this audio from audible.com

After by Amy Efaw (audio review and giveaway)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)38 Comments

How could this happen?  Who would do such a thing?  These are the questions that surround the new-born baby that was found tied in a trash bag in the dumpster. 

This certainly could not be Devon Davenport, a straight A student, exceptional athlete, and girl with a plan.  Yet, when the police find Devon she is bleeding heavily, and when rushed to the emergency room it is confirmed that she has just given birth.  Soon Devon finds her self thrown into a Juvenal criminal facility and being charged with attempted murder.  As police and lawyers talk to her, tell her she must tell the truth… Devon has to admit that she doesn’t remember what happened.

Is Devon in fact dealing with such trauma that she truly can not recall what happened… or is this just a brilliant ploy to get off the hook…

I listened to this audio because I had heard raves about the book.  The subject matter interested me…. a baby left in a dumpster…. a teen so distraught, she does not even realize for most of the book that the baby is hers.

I know many people loved this book, but I have to say I was not one of them.  As well written as this book was, it didn’t hold true for me.  I could not believe that a girl like Devin, described as a straight “A” student, obviously intelligent, and strong-minded – had no idea she was pregnant.  I know that the power of the mind can be strong, but the physical changes to her body…

And if that is worth arguing about by those who loved the book, and feel that it is possible to put yourself into such a state of denial…. then I will add this…

The fact that Devin refers to the baby throughout the whole book as “it”….. drove me nuts! 

Maybe it was the audio version but Devin just was not engaged in what she had done, even as she began to remember she still did not seem to connect that the baby was a human life…. I don’t know… I am still a little frustrated about it.

I enjoyed the part with Devin in the correctional institute.  I liked the correspondence between the girls, this is where the book excels.  Amy Efaw really captures the things that the girls are dealing with and how they defend themselves from society.  Its sad, really.

I think that in the end, no matter what Devin’s circumstances (I wont even go into my thoughts about the mother) were a major concern and the audio made me angry more than anything.  The ending is all a little too neat…. and as the final words were said… I was left with a feeling of “huh?”

If you would like to give this audio a try – leave a comment here letting me know… I will have a drawing later this week … and offer it up to someone.

 

The 2011 Where Are You Reading Map has been updated to include After

I purchased this audio from Amazon

Born Round by Frank Bruni

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)36 Comments

Frank Bruni was ALWAYS hungry.  He was born that way.  His mother cooked amazing meals and loved having people  over to enjoy them.  If food was eaten in full of one of something left, Franks mom felt as though she had not made enough.

Bottom line was Frank enjoyed eating.  he had an epic appetite that later would serve him well as a restaurant critic for the New York Times.  Totally in love with his job, Frank had to learn how to deal with his long time love hate relationship with food.  What followed was yo yo dieting, and dealing with a painful lifelong addiction to food.

Frank Bruni

I had heard this audio was pretty good…. and as a self-confessed foody (oh yes… I do love food!) I though it would be an interesting listen.  The draw to this audio for me was that I found it interesting that someone like Frank who battled his weight all of his life – would take on a job as a food critic for The New York Times. 

Frank, who reads this audio himself, tells an honest portrayal of diet pill abuse, over eating and then working out like a mad man…. going from one extreme ( a hiking adventure that is pretty extreme causing him to lose extreme weight) to another ( refusing dessert at a restaurant but them stopping on the way home for not only a piece of his favorite dessert – but the whole dessert!).

At times I felt the audio was getting long with tale after tale of food event, job, weight battles…. and just about then – frank would come in with a little “comic relief” and share about how many times when critiquing food he would mix up his alias names he used for reservations… or his denial about his pants being tight (certainly it was the cut of the pant… obviously the company has changed that…. or the old shrinkage in the dryer story…)

In the end – the book was satisfying – neither leaving me hungry, or full.  I enjoyed learning a little about Frank Bruni.

This review is part of the Weekend Cooking meme at Beth Fish Reads

Interested in this audio?  Leave a comment here telling me what your favorite food to go out for is, and I will have a drawing next week and choose one of the comments using random.org as the winner and I will mail you this audio. 

 

The 2011 WHERE Are You Reading map has been updated to include Born Round

I purchased this audio from Amazon

Curse Of The Blue Tattoo by L.A. Meyer

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)14 Comments

The sequel to Bloody Jack, Jacky Faber has now been removed from the Dolphin, her “ships boy” role stripped from her now that they know she is a girl…. and she has been placed instead into The Lawson Peabody School for Fine Young Girls. 

Wha? 

The Jacky Faber?  Tom boy, loud, adventurous, pirate fighting, occasionally obnoxious, Jacky…. in a school for fine young ladies?

It is soon discovered that the high seas fighting for rations was a piece of cake compared to the stuffy girl for schools where you have to master “the look” ( sucked in cheek bones, lips slightly parted, and eyes lowered), and how to sew and…

well… as you can imagine… Jacky finds her way into mischief by sneaking out of the school playing her music in bars at night and scaring a preacher who does not deserve the title…  she learns to ride a horse not only like a girl, but also like a guy with a leg on each side…. she struggles learning the ways of being a lady, but at the same time finds a way into some of the girls hearts and earns the name, “friend”.

Yet Jacky still missed her first love Jaimy, and feels the draw of the sea….

I think Jack will always be drawn to the sea...

I have made my way through this second audio.  It didn’t take long that Jacky would have troubles in school with some of the snooty rich girls like Clarissa, and yet admired for her high spirit and dedication to anyone who is kind to her, like Amy. 

This is the new cover for the book

I enjoyed the mystery around the reverend and wish that would have been a bit more in the book.  There is a lot of action happening between Jacky’s trips to Amy’s home, and meeting her brother Randall, and making friends, and

dancing, and making money, and getting into trouble…

yeah about that…

by the end of this audio book I was a bit stretched on the amount of trouble that Jacky kept getting in to.  It seemed like she keeps making major mistakes and causing her friendships to strain.  I realize that is part of the thrill of Jacky Faber and the series but in the end… I am going to have to say it was all a bit too much.

Still a delightful listen, incredible narration by Katherine Kellgren who does a lovely job with the rough accent of Jacky, to the polite voices of the girls from school….

Yes I will move on to audio book three as I think Jacky is on her way back to the ship and maybe if I can get her back in the water, I will find what I loved about the first audio again.


Amazon Rating

Goodreads Review

The 2011 WHERE Are You Reading map has been updated to include Curse Of The Blue Tattoo

I borrowed this audio from our local library

One Tuesday Morning by Karen Kingsbury

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)22 Comments

This book sat on my shelf for YEARS and I just never got around to it.

Then I seen it on audible.com and bought it to listen to on audio…. now

with tears in my eyes, I wonder what took me so long.

Sheila

Jake Bryan was a God-fearing man.  He loved his wife Jamie, and his daughter Sierra with all of his heart.  Jake was a fireman in New York City but made it a point to always be home to put his daughter to bed, and spend time with his wife.

Eric Micheal’s was a business man through and through.  When early in their marriage he and his wife Laura,lost their new-born daughter right after she was born.  They were told if they had brought Laura in earlier for more care, they could have prevented this but at the time they did not have the insurance to help pay for doctors appointments.  Eric vowed never again would they be in want of anything.  Now, years later, Eric works all the time…. working his way up the corporate ladder and not looking back.. barely noticing that he is leaving his beautiful blond wife and 6-year-old son behind.  Eric once believed in God – but since his one day old daughter died, Eric really had no time for a God who did not deliver.  Time after all was money.. and money was security.

Then, one Tuesday in September, Eric was on a business trip in New York at the World Trade Center when a plane mysteriously hit the other tower.  Baffled, Eric watches the smoke billow from the building and calls home to tell his wife what happened.  When she asks him to leave the building, he says there is no need – he is safer where he is and continues his work…

just as a second plane comes on to the TV screen aiming for the tower he is in, as his wife screams “Eric!  Watch out!”

and then

silence.

Hours later on this September day, Jamie receives a phone call.  Jake has been found… alive.  He is in the hospital and he has amnesia.  Jamie is so grateful, but Jake does not recognize her.  And as days turn into months, Jamie’s heart breaks again and again as the man in her home tries to remember… but can’t.  And odd flashes are coming to him… of a blond woman… and a little boy….

Twin Towers.... coming up on ten years.

When I recently found this book on audible.com I was thrilled to finally get to know what this book was all about.  When I announced on the Monday What Are You Reading Meme that I would be listening to this, Martha from Martha’s Bookshelf commented that she was about to listen to this too… we teamed up to do our reviews together.

One Tuesday Morning is a phenomenal read centered around the events of September 11th and the tragedy of The World Trade Center.  Author Karen Kingsbury does a wonderful job of handling a hard subject with great care.  The words play out and word after word, I find myself there…experiencing it almost again, but from a different view.  A few times, this book brought me to tears.

One of the questions I had asked Martha for her review was did she find this book believable?  To answer this myself, I did.  What happens in this book through the terror and the grief, and the hope for a miracle… I could see something like this happening. 

Martha asked me if I felt the faith based issues were blended easily into the story or if they felt forced (more preachy).  I would say… a little of both.  For me, I like faith based books with some meat to them – not fluff and all is right with the world…. real life issues, messy even and I think Karen Kingbury delivered… after all, we do have a mix up of identities and a man living with another mans wife -falling in love with her.   There were a few moments in the book that felt a little forced, but I would not say over done – just enough for me notice the push. 

It’s not an easy read, but it is a worthwhile one.  Even if you are not a reader of Christian Fiction I think you would find this book a great read.  There are two more books in this series, and I will go on to read the second one Beyond Tuesday Morning, because I loved the characters and seeing what happens next is very appealing to me.  However – you don’t need to feel that this book left you hanging on for another book… it doesn’t.  You could easily stop right here with this one as it comes to a wonderful close.

Please check out Martha’s review – I asked her a couple of question for her review and thought she had great answers.

Amazon Rating

Goodreads Review

The 2011 WHERE Are You Reading Map has been updated to include One Tuesday Morning

I purchased this from audible.com

Something Blue by Emily Giffin

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)30 Comments

Darcy was born beautiful.  Really… it’s true.  Just ask her.  She will be the first to tell you that she is perfect.  She loves that men find her attractive so it’s no big surprise that she is stunned to find that her fiance friend Marcus takes work.  Oh but never fear, Darcy continues to work her magic until she gets her way… only to be truly shocked and offended when she finds out fer fiance Dex, has also found his way to another… her best friend Rachel.

Oh the nerve of some people!  While yes, Darcy to has cheated with Marcus (more than once but really who is counting) she is still appalled to think that Dex and Rachel had done the unthinkable to her.  Yes… once again it is all about Darcy…

and as the title suggests….

she turns out to be pregnant with Marcus’s child… a child he does not want… and in fact he’s pretty tired of Darcy’s uppity ways as well.  Darcy quickly finds herself without a place to stay, so she packs her bags and goes to London to stay with her writer friend Ethan… only the life lessons continue as Ethan’s flat isn’t “all that” and he is not about to put up with selfish behavior.

Oh whats a girl to do…. and a pregnant one at that….

The character of Darcy is desribed as 5' 9" and 124 pounds. I had to Google such a body type to get a visual... and here she is .... "A Darcy"

Occasionally I enjoy a bit of a fluff read.  Just a fun, no thinking involved read.  When I found this audio on Amazon I thought I would give this audio a try.   A series of emotions came forth as I listened to this audio:

disbelief

annoyance

horrified

disgusted

cautiously optimistic

passive

accepting

Ugghhh…. it’s almost like the stages of grief.  😛  I started out not liking Darcy at all.  Really there was nothing to like.  She is an extremely self-centered character who only cared about making sue all men had eyes only for her, always wanting what she could not have until she got it… and then drinking while pregnant just about pushed me over the edge.  Fictional character or not, I was about to take Darcy out. 

Then…. slowly…. she began to change, in an almost predictable way, she learns the errors of her ways and well… you will just have to read it to see exactly what that means.

This is the sequel to Something Borrowed which I have not read.  ( I heard it was a movie and I was going to try to see it before I listened to this audio but I did not… I still may watch it at some point.) However I don’t think I missed anything by diving into this one, the characters were easy to figure out where they stood. 

In recap…. I didn’t hate it.  It actually grew on me a bit.  Not so much as I would pursue the series, but in the end I may have been able to have lunch with Darcy without stabbing her in the neck with my fork. 

Amazon Rating

Goodreads Review

I have updated the 2011 WHERE Are You reading map to include Something Blue

I purchased this audio from Amazon


Heaven Is For Real by Todd Burpo

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)14 Comments

Four year old Colton Burpo undergoes an emergency surgery that almost takes his life.  As his parents Todd and Sonja pray for a miracle to save their son… a miracle happens, and Colton survives. 

In the months that follow, Colton starts to talk to his parents about things he could not have possibly known, such as while he was being operated on, he was able to describe where his mom and dad both were and what they were doing, even though neither of them were int he room with him.  At first skeptical, Colton’s father, who is a Pastor, lets these conversations run their course.  Soon Colton is describing Jesus in ways that are beyond his years and Todd knows in not part of the Sunday School curriculum.  He describes Heaven in ways that match up with the Bible, again in ways that a four-year-old would not know.  

Colton Burpo, now age 11, is described as a normal kid who fights with his siblings .

Colton himself picked out the title of this book, says Todd Burpo.  We were sitting around trying to decided on a title when we asked Colton what he hoped people who read this book learned.  Without hesitation, Colton responded, “That Heaven Is For Real.”

I first heard of this book through the buzz of my book club.  When this group of amazing readers talk books… I listen. The audio is a short 4 cd’s but in those 4 cd’s an amazing story is told of a little boy and his experience when he almost died. 

Spoken in the pure and bold way of a child, Colton’s dad retells the story of his son’s time in Heaven.  Todd Burpo, being a Pastor, knew that this book would bring up questions as well as its share of doubting Thomas’s.  He two had questioned his son but knowing what was going on when his father was in another part of the hospital and describing seeing him was just the start of the unexplainable things that Colton knew. 

In April 2011, he book was the number one best selling book on USA todays best selling book list, the fifth week dropping to number two behind Water For Elephants.  People could not get enough of the story.

Heaven Is for Real by Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent

I enjoyed this quick audio listen.  If anything I wish it would have been longer, more in detail – but I can not put my finger on what could have been added to the book.  It is a book that will make you think.  Colton’s story is an amazing one, and one I will not soon forget. 


Goodreads Review

The 2011 WHERE Are You Reading map has been update to include Heaven Is For Real

I purchased this audio from Amazon.com

Hey You! Busy People Of Summer! YES! I Mean YOU!

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)48 Comments

I have been wanting to, meaning to, write this post for a long LONG time.

Winter is a great time to snuggle up with a blanket, grab a cup of hot cocoa, and of course a book or two.  No guilt goes along with winter reading as we all know… it is cold outside!  😛  Not to dis on summer, which  can present wonderful reading opportunities like:  beach reading, lawn chair reading, reading on the boat, on the deck, while tanning…

yet summer can also present a busier outdoor life style where reading is not possible (or in some cases like at family get togethers… frowned upon :razz:)

Summer seems to bring in with it things that are hard to hold a book to:

gardening

mowing

taking walks

grilling and cooking either indoor or out

driving to and from events – weddings, grad parties, gatherings of all types

biking/roller blading

washing windows

What I am leading to is….

audio books.

Ok wait you non audio book people – before you decide to leave, hear me out.  If you think audio is cheesy, well guess what?  I did at one time too.  Both my aunts have listened to it for years and I have all but eye rolled in the past.

BUT…

two years ago I discovered there is such a thing as good audio and audio – when done well, can enhance your reading and help you get to books you never thought you would have time for.  I have had books on the shelves for years (no exaggeration) that I have waited to read but never found the time for them.  I started picking them up on audio (I currently use audible.com, Blackstone, Hatchette, just to name a few) and find I get to them much faster and listen to them while I am doing other things.

This post today is not only to plug audio to those who have not tried it or had a bad experience, but to also assist you with choosing amazing audio books that I can personally recommend, and other audio lovers have recommended as well.  Audio is linked to places you can hear a sample.


The Help by Kathryn Stockett (click to hear a sample)


After by Amy Efaw (Recommended by Patricia’s Particularity)  I ordered this one today!

Michael Bennett Series by James Patterson (my recommendation!!!  LOVED THESE!)

The Lions Game by Nelson Demille   (Recommended by The Brazen Bookworm)


The Passage by Justin Cronin (Recommended by me)

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote (Recommended by dog eared copy)


We Need To Talk About Kevin by  Lionel Shriver (Recommended by Book, Line, and Sinker)

Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling (Recommended by Reading Extensively but I have to second that!  :razz:)


127 Hours by Aron Ralston (Recommended by Savvy Verse & Wit)

Born Round by Frank Bruni (Recommended by Amused By Books)  *Which I ordered today because the price was right and it sounds interesting!

Bossypants by Tina Fey ( I absolutely recommend that you listen to this one rather than read it.  Tina reads this herself and it is HILARIOUS.)


Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia (Recommended by Alison’s Book Marks)

The Iron King Series by  Julie Kagawa (Recommended by Alison’s Book Marks)

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (I have not listened to this but read it – heard the audio was fantastic!)

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer/ Ann Barrows (Recommended by A Book Lover)


The Wheel Of Time Series by Robert Jordan (Recommended by Just One More Chapter… please)

Bloody Jack Series by L A Meyer (Recommended originally by Under The Boardwalk and then again by 30+ A Lifetime of Books)

A Cedar Cove Christmas by Debbie Macomber (Recommended by Emma… a reader not a blogger)

First Rule by Robert Crais (Recommended by Home Sweet Hopkins)


The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield (Recommended by dog eared copy)


The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde (Recommended by Lil Rae Of Sunshine)

The Chaos Walking Trilogy by Patrick Ness (Recommended by There’s A Book)

Strangers AT The Feast by Jennifer Vanderbes (Recommended by Bookworm With A View)


Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkele (Recommended by 133ov)


Jesus, My Father, The CIA, and Me by Ian Morgan Cron (Recommended by Faith Hope and Cherry Tea)


I Thought You Were Dead by Pete Nelson (Recommended by Bibliophile By The Sea)


Their Eyes Were Watching God by Ruby Dee (Recommended by me)


Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr (Recommended by Under The Boardwalk)


The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham (Recommended by me)


I’d Know You Anywhere by Laura Lippman (Recommended by Bookworm With A View)


Return Of The Native by Thomas Hardy (Recommended by Zenleaf – now at Mandaland)

The Host by Stephanie Meyers (Recommended by Zenleaf – now at Mandaland)


The Magicians Nephew by C S Lewis (Narnia series) (Recommended by The Fake Steph)


The Boy In The Striped Pajamas by John Boyne (Recommended by me)


Cry the Beloved Country by Alan Paton (Recommended by reader Linda, not a blogger)


Unspeakable Journey by Rinda Hahn (Recommended by me)

Still Missing by Chevy Stevens (Recommended by Jo-Jo Loves To Read and Just One More Chapter…please)

The Art Of Racing In The Rain by Garth Stein (recommended by me)

Dresden Files by Jim Butcher (Recommended by Notes Of Life)

Backseat Saints byJoshilyn Jackson (Recommended by Tina’s Book Reviews)


To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (Recommended by dog eared copy)

Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen (Recommended by Annette’s Book Spot)

Thank you to all the bloggers and book lovers mentioned here who through earlier posts this year have brought these suggestions as awesome audio.  I hope audio book lovers find a few titles here, and those of you new to audio may feel encouraged by these trusted sources to dip a toe in…

and stop trying to sneak your nose into books at those family gatherings. 😛

Have you listened to any of these and want to add your two cents?  Do you have other awesome listens that were not mentioned?  Please let me know, as I am always (ALWAYS) looking for great audio!