Greetings Bookworms!
I’ve been having such great fun with audio books these days, specifically audio books I download for FREE from my library. It’s been kind of awesome to check out some older titles I wouldn’t necessarily have devoted eyeball time to. Gosh I love audio books. I can do things and ALSO get books into my brain. Glorious. But, you know how it is. Sometimes you just don’t want to write a whole review on one book, so I’m smushing several into a single post.
1. Pretty in Plaid
by Jen Lancaster- This book had highs and lows for me, but overall I thought it was a nice listen. Reminiscing about past fashion faux pas is something I can totally relate to, but being a risk averse worry wart, some of the shenanigans Jen got up to kind of boggled my boring mind. I still have nightmares that I get a ‘C’ my final semester of college thus destroying my Summa Cum Laude quest, so I simply couldn’t FATHOM ditching class for weeks at a time.
2. Heartburn
by Nora Ephron- I didn’t realize that this book was released the year I was born until after I’d finished it. Good news? It holds up AND it’s narrated by Meryl Streep. Bad news? It’s a little dated. It’s hard to read modern-ish books sometimes without thinking “gah, just GOOGLE HIM! Where is your cell phone?!” You couldn’t Google anything in 1983, and cell phones? Pfft. You could, however, type cookbooks on a sexy typewriter, so, you know. It wasn’t all bad. It’s just really weird to think of my lifetime as borderline historical fiction.
3. Picture Perfect
by Jodi Picoult- This book has kind of been haunting me since I finished it. I’m not sure how much to reveal without getting super spoilery, but I think it does a really good job of getting inside a messy relationship and the way people rationalize things to themselves. Plus, it rips a pretty big hole in fairy tale fantasies which I think needs to happen more. Marrying Prince Charming or a sexy billionaire or a movie star is no guarantee of a happily ever after. If you’ll excuse me, I should probably go and tell some children the truth about the Easter Bunny because I’m THAT PERSON now. (Joking. Your children’s fantasies are safe with me. Just channeling my inner curmudgeon.)
4. A Red Herring Without Mustard
by Alan Bradley- I never tire of Flavia de Luce stories, but I doubt I’ll ever want to read one with my own eyeballs while Jayne Entwistle narrates the audio version. The utter glee she manages to inject into her voice when Flavia discusses chemistry is positively magical. I am sort of appalled at the way Flavia and her sisters treat each other though. I mean… Really?
What are your thoughts, Bookworms? Have any of you read/listened to any of these? Weigh in!
*If you make a purchase through a link on this site, I will receive a small commission.*
Like this:
Like Loading...
Shannon @ River City Reading
I’m always jealous of audiobookers! My commute is too short and I’m too obsessed with podcasts, but I keep a few in my pocket for long trips.
Megan M.
I DNF’d the first Flavia novel years ago, but I remember stuff about the sisters from the beginning. I was like wow, no. But now that I have two girls who seem to love and despise each other with equal intensity, it doesn’t seem so far-fetched. But I certainly wouldn’t allow it to continue! Where are their parents?! (Absent, as I recall.)
Jayne
Yes, mother is dead and dad closets himself away and pretty much leaves the children to their own devices
Amy @ Read a Latte
I’m reading I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron now and liking it, but I might have to check out Heartburn just for the fact that Meryl Streep narrates!
Jayne
I just finished my first audiobook last night! I never had a desire to listen but now I have a little 2 months old and just haven’t had time to read so I was able to listen while I got ready in the morning and during my commute. I did miss the reading process but I more appreciated still getting to experience the story! Now I just need to get my library card working so I can borrow audiobooks because they’re WAY to expensive through iTunes!!
Jayne
Ugh… TOO expensive. Sorry!
AMB
“Modernish” books are really hard for me to read! I have no trouble accepting books that clearly take place in a different time, like “Anne of Green Gables” or “To Kill a Mockingbird.” But books that try to hide the time period, making it seem like it’s eternally contemporary when it can’t be, don’t work for me.
Heather @ Capricious Reader
Flavia!!! Are not the audiobooks a delight? Reminds me of my youth in the country Mildred. Those were the days.
Jennine G.
Ha – rip apart the fairy tales! I much prefer the originals where stepsisters get their eyes pecked out and the mermaid dies (although if I had to pick one Disney version to love, it would be The Little Mermaid). I read them to my kids when they were quite young and they don’t seem too scarred for life. And I like the movie remakes where the prince is not a needed player in the main idea of the story. Like Maleficent…excellent.
Well, now that everyone thinks I’m a man hater, I’m off to do some good deeds for my hubby! (And I feel a post idea coming on…)
Salvatore Odyssey
I wish I could actually listen to a book being read, but when I do that I don’t get anything out of it. I am jealous at your multitasking abilities. I would love to be able to listen to a book while doing another task and still enjoy it the same as if I were reading it. *sigh*
Belle Wong
I can’t believe I’ve never listened to a Flavia de Luce story! I’m still doing catch-up with the series – will definitely have to check out the audio version.
Words For Worms
Definitely do, it’s wonderful on audio!
Katie @ Doing Dewey
I really must get to something by Jodi Picoult! I may have said this to you before, but my sister has been recommending her books for years and it’s only lately that my tastes have changed and her books have started to seem appealing.
Words For Worms
Picoult can be hit or miss for me, but she’s definitely worth a go.