We are all Completely Fine

We are all Completely Fine
by  Daryl Gregory

Genre:  Horror; Speculative Fiction; Fantasy
Publisher: Tachyon Publications on 
12 August 2014
Source:  NetGalley - 182 pages
Reading with my ears:  Unabridged 
04 hours 14 minutes
Narrator:  Tavia Gilbert

Harrison is the Monster Detective, a storybook hero. Now he’s in his mid-thirties and spends most of his time not sleeping.
Stan became a minor celebrity after being partially eaten by cannibals. Barbara is haunted by the messages carved upon her bones. Greta may or may not be a mass-murdering arsonist. And for some reason, Martin never takes off his sunglasses.
Unsurprisingly, no one believes their horrific tales until they are sought out by psychotherapist Dr. Jan Sayer. What happens when these likely-insane outcasts join a support group? Together they must discover which monsters they face are within and which are lurking in plain sight.

My thoughts:
I have not been in therapy myself but this was exactly as I would imagine group therapy sessions to be.  Awkward meetings that slowly turn into meetings that are looked forward to. Strangers that turn into friends or at least people you are comfortable with.

Off course it would have to include those in the group you would like and those that just want to share too much all the time.  And even in this little group of trauma survivors, this is true.  You will like some of the characters and others will leave you cold.

This small group has been the victims of some terrible crimes and slowly you begin to see that their perpetrators might not be all human all the time.   You are given little tidbits of the crimes as the novella progresses and all seems a little "off".  

I don't want to give too much away - this is a story that you have to into blind.  It is only a short novella so there is not much fluff to fill out pages.  The story is presented to you in black and white.

I will recommend it for a few hours' escape.

{Audiobook}Review: Mr Mercedes

Mr Mercedes
by Stephen King
 
Genre: Crime fiction
Date Read:  13 June 2014
Reading with my ears
Narrator:  Will Patton   
Unabridged audio - Length: 14 hours 21 minutes

A cat-and-mouse suspense thriller featuring a retired homicide detective who's haunted by the few cases he left open, and by one in particular - the pre-dawn slaughter of eight people among hundreds gathered in line for the opening of a jobs fair when the economy was guttering out. Without warning, a lone driver ploughed through the crowd in a stolen Mercedes.

The plot is kicked into gear when Bill Hodges receives a letter in the mail, from a man claiming to be the perpetrator. He taunts Hodges with the notion that he will strike again. Hodges wakes up from his depressed and vacant retirement, hell-bent on preventing that from happening. Brady Hartfield lives with his alcoholic mother in the house where he was born. And he's preparing to kill again. Only Hodges, with a couple of misfit friends, can apprehend the killer in this high-stakes race against time. Because Brady's next mission, if it succeeds, will kill or maim hundreds, even thousands.

My thoughts:
Mr Mercedes is the journey of Bill Hodges, a police detective, with nothing to live for after his retirement from the force.   He puts away his father’s gun (and thoughts of using it) as he begins to tract the one crazy killer he was never able to catch. 

Brady Hartfield is very sick.  It is scary to think that he lives in real life too.  People blending nicely into society but with grandiose thoughts of being famous as the greatest killer. 

I loved how King revealed only little bits of the support characters at a time.  We never really got to know the the other characters in the book, just enough to give us glimpses into the reasons for Brady’s psychosis. 

One of these characters is Freddy, Brady’s younger brother.  He is only mentioned a few times in this book but I felt such empathy for him.  A poor little lost soul, born into a family that ultimately killed him.  Freddy was always slow and suffered brain damage during his short life which made caring for him a huge burden on the family.  I understand the frustrations that the family must have felt but poor little Freddy did not deserve his life.  Thankfully he would not have understood all that went on.

If you are looking for a scary horror by the great master, then you will be disappointed.  Mr Mercedes is only scary in the way that an insane person can be scary.   And Brady is scary . . .
This is instead a great detective story, defining the phrase “cat and mouse games”. 

Will Patton once again showed why he is such a beloved narrator.  He did an excellent job and the story flowed beautifully from scene to scene.  He is a true professional.  Love him!

Halfway Update: Audiobook Challenge 2014

I have been having loads of fun with my Audiobook Challenge.  

I originally signed up for a medium level as I wasn’t sure if I would be able to get to listen to all my favorites – who knew there were so many audiobooks out there!  So I chose Stenographer (can listen while multi-tasking) 10-15 but up to today I have already listened to 25 books.

I will have to upgrade to the highest level -  My Precious (I had my earbuds surgically implanted) 30+.  I think I might just be able to make it!

You can still join The Book Nympho and Hot Listen’s challenge here.  Come and join all the fun!

My favorite listens so far this year are:

• The Martian by Andy Weir (15/02/2014)  - review here
• Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein (27/02/2014) - review here
• Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman (17/05/2014)
• Where'd you go, Bernadette by Maria Semple (21/05/2014)

 

 

 

 

 

What has been your favorites so far?  Any suggestions?

You can follow the growth of my list here.

Armchair BEA: More than words

Design by Amber of Shelf Notes

Armchair BEA have loads of topics this whole week and I am sure I am going to be reading loads of blogs!  I am only going to be participating in one or two discussions here on my blog although you will be seeing my comments everywhere!  Audiobooks are near to my heart, so let’s get to the first topic.

One of today’s topics is More Than Just Words:
There are so many mediums that feature more than just words and enhance a story in a multitude of ways. Examples may include graphic novels and comics, audiobooks, or even multimedia novels. On this day, we will be talking about those books and formats that move beyond just the words and use other ways to experience a story. Which books stand out to you in these different formats?

I was surprised to find audiobooks mentioned in line with comics and graphic novels in the little intro above.  I have never really thought of audiobooks as anything else than “reading with my ears”, but I guess their statement is correct.  Audiobooks bring so much more to my own reading experience than just words.
A good narrator can keep me listening even if the book itself is getting lost in it’s own words.  I have kept listening many times when I would have been throwing the book across the room if I had held it in my hands.
I have also enjoyed many different genres when reading them would not have kept my attention.  An example would be THE NIGHT CIRCUS by Erin Morgenstern. This was a very different novel that was much enhanced by being in audio form.  The written word might not have held the same allure for me.

If a good narrator can keep me listening, a great narrator can push the book even higher in my book gushing love opinion.  Some books are just made for this format.  There is nothing like getting weird looks when you suddenly burst out laughing sitting all by yourself in a restaurant.    I have recently discovered memoirs and biographies which I am sure is just because of my audiobook love.  ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK by Piper Kerman had me spitting out my coffee once or twice

Also audiobooks have been a godsend for me in the last few months.  I have been in a position where just sitting still reading a book, seemed like not taking advantage of life enough.  (crazy, I know).  So multi tasking has been my salvation.  While my eyes and hands have been occupied, my ears kept listening to the words spilling out of my headphones.  It is amazing what books can do to smooth the hard bits of life.

So what do you think?  Do you love audiobooks as much as I do?  Or are you more into comics or manga?

{Audiobook} Review: Code Name: Verity

 

 Code Name: Verity
 by Elizabeth Wein
 
Series:  Code Name Verity #1
Genre: Historical Fiction,
World War II
Date Read: 27 February 2014
Reading with my ears
Narrator: Morven Christie,
Lucy Gaskell
Unabridged audio - Length:
10 hours 07 minutes

I have two weeks. You’ll shoot me at the end no matter what I do.

That’s what you do to enemy agents. It’s what we do to enemy agents. But I look at all the dark and twisted roads ahead and cooperation is the easy way out. Possibly the only way out for a girl caught red-handed doing dirty work like mine — and I will do anything, anything, to avoid SS-Hauptsturmführer von Linden interrogating me again.

He has said that I can have as much paper as I need. All I have to do is cough up everything I can remember about the British War Effort. And I’m going to. But the story of how I came to be here starts with my friend Maddie. She is the pilot who flew me into France — an Allied Invasion of Two.

We are a sensational team.

My thoughts:
What an unusual experience this book was!  This was once again one of those books that I went in blind.  Maybe I should make that my standard way of choosing books.  I seem to find a lot of my 5 star reads this way.  Or maybe I should just keep away from others’ reviews so that I don’t get influenced and then be disappointed by their views.  That happens to me a lot!

But to the book. Code Name: Verity is a story of World War II told in two parts.  In part one we meet Verity.  She has been captured for looking the wrong way when crossing the road.  Her first day as a spy and she is captured for just crossing the road!  Now her life is in the balance and she has two weeks to tell her captures everything she knows.  And she will.  She will give them all the names, all the details, all places she can remember - everything.  Because Verity is only a girl named Julie.  A girl who wants to live.  But reality is cruel and often intrudes her reminiscing.   She is convinced that there is only terror in her future and maybe she is right.

The second part shows us all the events through the eyes of her friend, Maddie.  Maddie is a spunky girl that just wants to fly.  She will become one of the many civilian woman pilots that helps in the war effort.  She is a great pilot even trying to save her friend as her plane is coming in for an unavoidable crash.  Maddie is taken in by the French Resistance and hid in a barn while she remembers all the events that led up to her and Julie’s flight into enemy territory.

It is hard to say any more than this without giving away spoilers, so just let me say that Julie and Maddie stayed with me long after I listened to the last sentences.  I am once again amazed at how brave people can be even if it is just to go on living . . . Life is not always just about the joyous moments, sometimes it is just having the courage to open your eyes for one more day.

I think the subject matter is very serious for Young Adult and I would suggest it to older readers.  Also listening to the audio version is a great plus for this book.  Morven Christie and Lucy Gaskell takes you right into the reality of Maddie and Julie’s circumstances.  A great combination.

I would love to hear what you thought about Code Name:  Verity.  I am ready for the second book, Rose under Fire.

{Audiobook} Review: Gone Girl

 

Gone Girl
by Gillian Flynn

Genre: Physiological Thriller, Mystery
Date Read: 18 March 2014
Reading with my ears
Narrator: Julia Whelan and
Kirby Heyborne
Unabridged audio - Length:
19 hours 17 minutes

On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne's fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick's clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn't doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife's head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media--as well as Amy's fiercely doting parents--the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he's definitely bitter--but is he really a killer? As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister, Margo, at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn't do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?

My thoughts: 
I am having a really hard time trying to review this book without giving away any spoilers.  I have written this review and deleted it and written it again . . .   I just want you to be so blown away as I was, so I am not going to give you any of the facts of the story.  Let’s just concentrate on my feelings about the book.  I will try to keep it as spoiler-free as I possibly can.

I picked up this book on a recommendation of my audiobook group on Goodreads.  I have found some gems that I would usually not even have considered and I am loving that my reading horizon are being expanded into genres that I would not usually look at.  I love book clubs!  
When I pressed play, I had no idea about the book except for the blurb and then I only scanned that before I got a copy.  After the first few chapters I was bored and I really hated Nick.   In fact, I was thinking that I did not understand what all the hype was about.  Nick has obviously murdered his wife – what was the big mystery?  This was just going to be a “how-he-did-it” with occasional comments from his wife via her found diary.  Oh my goodness, was I wrong!  I am so glad that I kept going.

This book turned into a psychological thriller like I have not read before (and that I hope I will find more of).  It was awesome!  So many twists and turns!  The ending was a bit of a disappointment as I was hoping everyone would get their due, but this is still one of my favourite reads so far this year.

{Audiobook} Review: The Shining

  The Shining
    by Stephen King
 
  Genre: Physiological Thriller, Horror
  Date Read: 22 March 2014
  Reading with my ears
  Narrator: Campbell Scott
  Unabridged audio - Length:
  15 hours 54 minutes

Danny was only five years old but in the     words of old Mr Halloran he was a 'shiner',   aglow with psychic voltage. When his father became caretaker of the Overlook Hotel his visions grew frighteningly out of control.
As winter closed in and blizzards cut them off, the hotel seemed to develop a life of its own. It was meant to be empty, but who was the lady in Room 217, and who were the masked guests going up and down in the elevator? And why did the hedges shaped like animals seem so alive?
Somewhere, somehow there was an evil force in the hotel - and that too had begun to shine...

My thoughts:
I read THE SHINING a lifetime ago and I still remember how scared I was – I even had to put the book aside for a bit between some of the scenes.  This was the first book that scared me enough to stop me reading.  I loved it! 

I watched the (original) movie a week or two ago and decided to re-read (listen to) the book again.  I must admit that it lost some of the scary-ness for me.   This time round it felt more like a physiological thriller.  It was about a man slowly losing his grip on reality and sinking into madness and not so much about a haunted hotel.  I could see that Jack Torrence wanted to blame everyone around him for his own failures and short comings.  Unfortunately only his wife and son was around and they made excellent scapegoats.  

I have also lost some of my sympathy for Danny (I did not enjoy DR SLEEP as much as the rest of the world).  I realize that he was just a little boy but I was unable to think of him as such.  He seemed to be much more mature than a five year old child.

The narrator of the book, Campbell Scott did not seem like a good fit when I started.  He talked too slowly and in such a dull tone.  But as soon as the real story begun, he was perfect.  That tone just made all the bleakness and emptiness of the snowed in hotel more real.  He quite literally scared me with Jack’s screams a few times.  He was an excellent fit for the story.

All in all, this was still an enjoyable read and I would definitely recommend it.

{Audiobook} Review: The Martian

The Martian
by Andy Weir

Genre: Science Fiction, Humor
Date Read: 15 February 2014
Narrator: RC Bray
Reading with my ears
Unabridged audio - Length: 
10 hours 28 minutes 

Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first men to walk on the surface of Mars. Now, he's sure he'll be the first man to die there.
It started with the dust storm that holed his suit and nearly killed him, and that forced his crew to leave him behind, sure he was already dead. Now he's stranded millions of miles from the nearest human being, with no way to even signal Earth that he's alive--and even if he could get word out, his food would be gone years before a rescue mission could arrive. Chances are, though, he won't have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plain-old "human error" are much more likely to get him first.
But Mark isn't ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills--and a relentless, dogged refusal to quit--he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. But will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?(Goodreads)

 
**Beware of Adult language**

 My thoughts:
I am not exactly sure how I got interested in reading The Martian.   I admit I am a cover lover. Pretty covers always catch my eye.  
This cover would not have caught my attention and I would have assumed that it is directed at a male audience (well, look at it.  don't you agree?). 

This is exactly the reason why I am so glad that that it was discussed in one of the audiobook discussions on Goodreads.  I would have missed an amazing journey - both mine and Mark's.   

The online book club discussions intrigued me.  It brought forth such a wide range of feelings from the participants.  But everyone agreed, you have to read this . . . now!

So I went in search and  when I heard the first few sentences . . .

I am pretty much f*cked . . . that is my considered opinion.  F*cked.

I was hooked.  (how can you not love that!) 

This is a story of one man left behind after a failed Mars mission.  But Mark is not ready to give up even if all rational thought leads to the conclusion that there is just no way that he will be able to survive until a rescue mission can be launched.   But Mark has not lost his sense of humor and it carries him through some difficult situations.

“Actually, I was the very lowest ranked member of the crew. I would only be “in command” if I were the only remaining person.”  What do you know? I’m in command ”

Luckily Mark is the perfect MacGyver type guy and before long he is making water (yeah, that is right - he MADE water).  With that somewhat important problem solved, he goes ahead and starts growing potatoes.  It looks like there might be some hope but before long slight oversights causes big problems.  Luckily Mark has duct tape.

“Also, I have duct tape. Ordinary duct tape, like you buy at a hardware store. Turns out even NASA can’t improve on duct tape. ”    

You will not be disappointed by his story.  I am not sure if all the science is accurate but that is really not important.  This science fiction story is about a man and his fight for survival.

I devoured Mark's story in two days and I am sure you will not be able to put it down either.  Grab a copy today!

Also look out for the movie!  Andy Weir has become one of those one in a million success stories.  From selling the ebook for 99c to having the movie rights bought by a huge movie company.  Congratulations, Andy and here is to many more.

{Audiobook} Review: Charles and Camilla: Portrait of a Love Affair

Charles and Camilla: Portrait of a Love Affair 

by Gyles Brandreth 


Genre: Biography
Source: borrowed copy
Date Read: 06 March 2014
Narrator: Stephen Thorne
Unabridged audio - Length: 
13 hours 08 minutes

This is the definitive account of one of the most extraordinary stories of our time. Gyles Brandreth, who spent many hours with Prince Philip in both formal and informal interviews, presents a unique portrait of his son, Charles, Prince of Wales, and of the one "non-negotiable" love of his life, Camilla Shand, now Duchess of Cornwall. What are Charles and Camilla really like? What is their heritage? What has made them the way they are? This is both a revealing portrait of two unusual individuals and a family saga like no other, told with unrivaled authority, insight, and humor, by a bestselling writer who has met all the key characters in the drama, including Charles, Camilla, and Diana, their children, families, and friends.

My thoughts:
I am not British and am not a big groupie of the Royals. But I needed something to play in the background while I completed some tasks and this fit the bill perfectly. 

Before I begin my rant, let me just say that I loved Diana. I thought she was beautiful and an asset to the Royal family. I have since learned of Diana's faults but we all have our problems. It is easy for me to understand all the “games” she played especially since she had a cheating husband that was jealous of the attention and love she received from the public.

I assume that this book was meant to create greater sympathy for Charles and Camilla but for me, this has just made me dislike them more.  Camilla was the Royal mistress. But the author tried to downplay this by giving us a history of the all the extra marital affairs of the royals

since before history began it felt at times. I am sure he tried to desensitize us to the fact that Charles cheated on Diana.

I would love to write exactly what I think of Charles but will let it stand at the fact that I do not have any time for him. How could you think it appropriate to bed your mistress in the same week as your marriage (and in the years thereafter with your wife in the same house). 

Even though a blind person would be able to feel how bias the author is, and I certainly did not agree with all he said,  I still thought that the writing was excellent.  The “story” flowed easily from one chapter to the next and kept my attention throughout. 

The narrator was fabuous. His calm voice was made for this book. He read some of the facts that could easily have become tedious in such a way that I did not feel like fast forwarding through any places. I just felt sorry for him to have to read the same sentence every few minutes “Charles is the Prince of Wales after all.”

If you are a big fan of the Royal family,  this is a must read even if only to be able to rant about it afterwards, like I did :)  

 

{Audiobook} Review: American Elsewhere

American Elsewhere
by Robert Jackson Bennett


Genre: Science Fiction
Source: my own copy
Date Read: 06 February 2014
Narrator: Graham Winton
Length: Unabridged - 22 hours; 24 minutes 

Some places are too good to be true. Under a pink moon, there is a perfect little town not found on any map. In that town, there are quiet streets lined with pretty houses, houses that conceal the strangest things. After a couple years of hard traveling, ex-cop Mona Bright inherits her long-dead mother's home in Wink, New Mexico. And the closer Mona gets to her mother's past, the more she understands that the people of Wink are very, very different.

My thoughts:
I had a really hard time writing this review.  When a friend asked what I thought of American Elsewhere, I really had to search for words to describe my feelings.  

I cannot decide if I even liked it. I know I am in the minority, looking at all the glowing reviews on Goodreads, but I am sure I would have dropped it if it was not an audio version.  I find that I read outside my normal "comfort zone" when I listen to audiobooks (which just makes me love audiobooks all the more!).

The story started off very slowly and is written in very descriptive, what I image, would be considered prose (my reading style is usually much more relaxed).   Huge sections are just very flowery language describing for example the valley and mountains near the village or just the beautiful night and pink moon.   This is not your usual Sunday afternoon beach read.

Towards the middle, the story starts and it is very, very strange. Not sure why some would consider it horror though. It is at most very loosely based science fiction (mostly alien) or maybe fantasy. 

There is some action towards the end and a lot happens in just the last few chapters.  By this time, I was invested in the story and I just had so see what the author would do to tie up all the loose ends.   I think all fell in place very easily.

I would recommend this to readers of more literary fiction or to people like me who enjoy stretching their reading experience with audiobooks.  

 

{Audiobook} Review: The Partner

The Partner
by John Grisham

Genre: Legal Thriller, Crime Mystery
Source: my own copy
Date Read: 16 January 2014
Narrator: Frank Muller
Length: 11 hours 31 minutes 

They watched Danilo Silva for days before they finally grabbed him. He was living alone, a quiet life on a shady street in Brazil; a simple life in a modest home, certainly not one of luxury. Certainly no evidence of the fortune they thought he had stolen. He was much thinner and his face had been altered. He spoke a different language, and spoke it very well.But Danilo had a past with many chapters. Four years earlier he had been Patrick Lanigan, a young partner in a prominent Biloxi law firm. He had a pretty wife, a new daughter, and a bright future. Then one cold winter night Patrick was trapped in a burning car and died a horrible death. When he was buried his casket held nothing more than his ashes.From a short distance away, Patrick watched his own burial. Then he fled. Six weeks later, a fortune was stolen from his ex-law firm's offshore account. And Patrick fled some more.But they found him.

My thoughts:
I have never read a John Grisham book before. I have always known that he is much loved for his legal thrillers and movies but have always assumed that it would be just to complicated for me to enjoy. Wow, was I wrong! I loved this book! It was very cleverly constructed up to the very unexpected (and sad?) ending.

The story starts when Patrick is caught and tortured. We already know what he did. We know that he faked his own death and stole millions of dollars. But as we get into the story, the facts are revealed and it becomes clear that we might have to change our mind. “Was he so wrong?”.

I just loved how every move is revealed and how we slowly become part of the solution. And isn't it fun when the bad guys get their reward in the end. And there are lots of cheers in this story – from the corrupt lawyers and insurance company to Patrick's very unlikeable trophy wife.

While searching the web to learn more about the narrator, Frank Muller, I found that he died in 2008 from multiple injuries after his motorcycle accident a few years prior. His website promises a few more hours in his company as he has also narrated some other books that is in my TBR list. This will be a pleasure as I enjoy his calm voice slowly revealing the details of a story. 

{Audiobook} Review: The Rules

The Rules
by Mark Troy 

Series: Prequel to The Ava Rome Mysteries
Publisher: Ilium Books
Date released: 27 December 2013
Genre: Short Story
Source: Review copy via Audiobook Jukebox
Date Read: 24 January 2014
Narrator: Julie Hoverson
Unabridged audio: Length: 1 hour 14 minutes 

Personal Protection specialist Ava Rome follows three rules: A professional never calls attention to herself or her principal; a professional never leaves her principal; and, the most important rule, a professional never gets involved with her principal. To break the rules is to die. Paul, her principal, comes from a powerful family with many enemies. Murder and kidnapping are just means of business in Paul's family. Ava believes he is not like the rest of them. Good looking, intelligent, he has everything women want. And many women want him, which makes Ava's job harder. Does she want him too? She recognizes that the greatest threat comes not from the outside, but from her own growing desire. In order to save them both, Ava must leave Paul, against his wishes and in violation of one of her rules. Ava was wrong. A greater threat lurks outside Paul's secure compound. Two threats, in fact. One human and the other a hurricane. Ava focuses on the hurricane. She and Paul make preparations to ride out the storm. It arrives and so does the intruder. Now Ava is in a fight for her life as nature's fury assaults the house from the outside and a serial rapist stalks her on the inside.

**For adult audiences only**

My thoughts:
Ava Rome is a professional. She knows the rules. And up until now, she has followed them religiously. But Paul is making it all very difficult for her to remember them every minute of every day. He does not want to take no for an answer. And sometimes Ava does not want him to.

I really enjoyed Ava. She is a strong leading lady and she can definitely take care of herself and her principal. She takes charge of every situation and her training kicks in before she actively thinks about it. Loved that! She is a kickass heroine. 
Paul, on the other hand, did not sit well with me from the first sentences. He was sleek, rich and . . . well, slippery. I just could not put my finger on it but I mistrusted him immediately. And boy, was I right!

I do not like to read about love triangles, or abuse of any kind and definitely not rape. Yes, I

do read crime novels and all of those can be part of the plot but it is usually told in the past tense and in broad strokes. The Rules makes us part of this terrible event and we are inside Ava's head all the way. The blurb did warn me but I did not pick up on it. My fault. By the time the climax of the book started, I was already invested in the story. I admit that I considered not going any further but I wanted Ava to survive. And looking back, it was not as “in-your-face-awful” as it could have been. I think Mark handled it with a lot of sensitivity.

In the end, this is a brutal story where we cheer Ava on and she gives us the ending we want. I definitely want to read more about her and luckily this is only the prequel. Look out for The Splintered Paddle, the first in the The Ava Rome Mysteries series, coming later in 2014.

I loved the narration by Julie Hoverson. I have read a bit of her facebook page and it looks like she is not actively doing a lot of narration. But what a job she did in the novella. She has a strong voice and she quickly became Ava for me. She does change her voice somewhat for the other characters but it was easy on my ear and did not distract from the story at all. I hope that she will be narrating the upcoming series as I loved her voice flowing into my ears. 

 

{Audiobook} Review: Just after Sunset

Just after Sunset 

by Stephen King

Original Publication date: 03 September 2009
Genre: Short Story Collection, Speculative Fiction
Source: my own copy
Date Read: 19 January 2014
Narrator: Various
Length: 15 hours 11 minutes 

Stephen King — who has written more than fifty books, dozens of number one New York Times bestsellers, and many unforgettable movies — delivers an astonishing collection of short stories, his first since Everything's Eventual six years ago. As guest editor of the bestselling Best American Short Stories 2007, King spent over a year reading hundreds of stories. His renewed passion for the form is evident on every page of Just After Sunset. The stories in this collection have appeared in The New Yorker, Playboy, McSweeney's, The Paris Review, Esquire, and other publications.

Who but Stephen King would turn a Port-O-San into a slimy birth canal, or a roadside honky-tonk into a place for endless love? A book salesman with a grievance might pick up a mute hitchhiker, not knowing the silent man in the passenger seat listens altogether too well. Or an exercise routine on a stationary bicycle, begun to reduce bad cholesterol, might take its rider on a captivating — and then terrifying — journey. Set on a remote key in Florida, "The Gingerbread Girl" is a riveting tale featuring a young woman as vulnerable — and resourceful — as Audrey Hepburn's character in Wait Until Dark. In "Ayana," a blind girl works a miracle with a kiss and the touch of her hand. For King, the line between the living and the dead is often blurry, and the seams that hold our reality intact might tear apart at any moment. In one of the longer stories here, "N.," which recently broke new ground when it was adapted as a graphic digital entertainment, a psychiatric patient's irrational thinking might create an apocalyptic threat in the Maine countryside...or keep the world from falling victim to it.

Just After Sunset — call it dusk, call it twilight, it's a time when human intercourse takes on an unnatural cast, when nothing is quite as it appears, when the imagination begins to reach for shadows as they dissipate to darkness and living daylight can be scared right out of you. It's the perfect time for Stephen King.

My thoughts:
This unabridged audio version of the short stories of Stephen King made for a enjoyable few hours. Not all of the stories was a hit for me and some just left me feeling “huh?” but mostly the old King-magic shone through. 
Short stories allow for some of the “stranger” aspects of life to be shared with listeners and some of these stories definitely fit that bill.  It was exactly what we were looking for.

There are 13 stories in this bundle - let me tell you about a few of my favorites.  

Willa I loved this story. Stranded passengers wait for rescue after their train derail. Not all of them have escaped the wreck with their minds undamaged, so no-one is practically worried when a young man finds that his fiance has disappeared – Willa was not very well liked. But Willa knows the truth and slowly she shows him what he has not allowed himself to see for maybe the last 20 years. This story had all the elements that makes for a creepy story – and I love creepy stories.

Harvey's Dream  It is early morning and when Harvey meets his wife in the kitchen, he begins telling her of the disturbing dream that he has just awoken from wherein an early morning phone call described an awful accident that will change their lives forever.
Some reviews speculate that “. . . everything Harvey described were actual events from earlier that morning, only believed to be a dream due to Harvey's self-denial and his onsetting Alzheimer's disease.” Somehow that makes the story even more disturbing . . . loved it!

N    N suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder (or so we think). The story begins with a note sent to a childhood friend indicating that the doctor treating N has committed suicide (just like his patient). We hear transcripts of their sessions and come to believe that maybe N was not just imagining what was happening to him.  It is always a fascinating story for me when the mind starts to wander into the darker suburbs of our unconsciousness.  The mind can be a scary place.

There are some others that fits the creepy bill perfectly and still others that makes for disturbing reading and some others that will make you scratch your head.  A great escape.

There are quite a few different narrators in this book and King even narrated one of the stories himself (Harvey's Dream). It made for a nice variety. It felt like a brand new book every time I started a new story. The narrators' voices fit the feel of the stories perfectly and the overall quality was very good.  A wonderful compilation.

I would recommend this to satisfy your desire for the shady part of life . . .told through the voices of many characters.

Best of 2013 Audiobook Blog Hop and Giveaway

Hi Everyone! 

It is time for the Best of 2013 Audiobook Blog Hop where we highlight our favorite 3 audiobooks from 2013. This hop is hosted by The Book Nympho, Hot Listens, and Geeky Bloggers Book Blog.  

It runs from Jan 1 2014 to Jan 15 2014.

I only listened to 23 audio books in 2013 (not too bad I think but not a lot reading the other participants blogs.)  
I have already started the challenge for 2014 - let's see if I can beat my total!

My top 3 for the year starts with an oldie but a goodie  . . . 

Killing Floor (Jack Reacher #1) by Lee Child
Narrator: Dick Hill 
Length: 14 hrs and 47 mins 

I love Dick Hill - he was awesome as Jack Reacher!  I would recommend him highly.

The Cuckoo's Calling (Cormoron Strike #1)
 by Robert Galbraith (JK Rowling)
Narrator: Robert Glenister
Length:  15 hrs and 53 min


This one was a surprise but I loved it - am keeping an eye out for the sequel.

Kinsey Millhone ABC series by Sue Grafton
Narrator:  Mary Pfeiffer
Length:  Usually around 8 hours

I am making my way through this series and I find that Mary Pfeiffer has a soothing, comforting narration style. 

 There are two giveaways today (yay!).  

The first is my personal giveaway.

I met JJ DiBenedetto in one of my Goodreads bookclubs.  James has written the Young Adult/New Adult Paranormal Dreams series.  I have started the second audiobook in the series  - watch out for my review coming in 2014.  Will Sara's dreams of becoming a doctor be shattered?

James has been so generous to offer the audiobook of the first in the series, Dream Student to one lucky winner.  Just watch this video, I know you will be hooked.



Here is what the Goodreads blurb says:  What would you do if you could see other people’s dreams? If you could watch their hidden fantasies and uncover their deepest, darkest secrets…without them ever knowing?

Sara Barnes is about to find out. She thought that all she had to worry about was final exams, Christmas shopping and deciding whether she likes the cute freshman in the next dorm who’s got a crush on her.

But when she starts seeing dreams that aren’t hers, she learns more than she ever wanted to know about her friends, her classmates…and a strange, terrifying man whose dreams could get Sara killed.

“Dream Student” is the thrilling first installment of the Dreams series.

Fill in my rafflecopter to win this awesome prize.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

And we have another big Blog Hop prize to give away:  Thanks to Audible you have an incredible opportunity to win a 6 month (single credit) membership to Audible.com! 

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you for stopping by.

And now, don't miss out on the other top audiobook selections and giveaways.  Visit the my fellow blog hop participants.