Friday, September 28, 2018

The Audiobook Review

There is not enough time to read. I've come to this place and I'm okay with it. So I listen to audio books now.  A lot. A little obsessively. Lately I'm working on a project that allows for this, not all tasks are conducive to listening to narrative. I'm not always listening. I'm often rewinding. But basically if I can, I listen.

I also listen a lot at home on the weekends when I'm trying to do my chores.

I like to listen while baking too. Baking is hobby time. If I'm home and I'm not baking I'd like to be knitting, preferably in front of the television set, because that is how dreams are made, duh. I'm sorry, but knitting and tv. still ranks higher than knitting and audio-booking for me.

So  here's what I've been listening to:

Pachinko
Pachinko (National Book Award Finalist)
Okay this is the winner hands down of my latest "reads". I was like an annoying teenager walking around in my own world of headphones when I was in this. I was knitting and crying while my family watched cult movies that I don't care about. I have told everyone that I loved it. I could think about it afterwards and want to cry. Takes place in occupied Korea and Japan. I forgot how capable I am of getting sucked into a family drama. It covers 4 generations if I remember correctly and it's heart is so full even when broken. A work, people. A work. "Exceeds expectations" LOL

Woman in the Window 
The Woman in the Window: A Novel
In the same genre as The Girl on the Train and the movie Rear Window. There are a lot of old movie allusions. I would say this would be a good vacation read. It's fun, it's not prose, it's a page turner. 2 of my best friends read it while we are on vacation, which is why I picked it up. I did think that the main character was a pretty good balance of broken with a heart in the right place. The author really tries to keep you sympathetic. In terms of what was going on ... yeah I figured that out pretty early, but I was still curious to see how it would all unfold. B

The Death of Mrs. Westaway
Simon & Schuster
This was definitely one I got from the Knitters. I know Kim Knits read it. But I'm pretty sure at least one more of you read it and I'm sorry that my brain cannot remember who. This had all the feels of a PBS special. You know, where a death brings everyone together in a big old house and lands past it's prime. It has family secrets, fraud, and all the good stuff. One thing I was a little disappointed in was that the author used a journal to share some backstory (i.e. clues) and I felt like it took away a bit for me until the main character found the actual journal. This is my issue I realize. I really enjoyed it more than I was expecting. Also the narration was great and I want to learn how to do a Cornish accent now. Just kidding.

A Murder of Magpies
A Murder of Magpies: A Novel (Sam Clair)
Okay before I get into it, the Brits are really serious about their Magpie themes. This is the 3rd book where magpies are a feature or reference. I also had to quick google to tell you that Magpies and Crows are not the same but part of the same bird family, though in the lore they seem kind of interchangeable.

Yeah about the story. I could not STAND the narration of this audiobook. Seriously the woman's intonation was that of an automated phone operator,
"Hello, you've reached (end high) company name (lower here)  pause to speak to  -- (follows same tone") press 2 (same tone)."
* I realize this may not translate and I'm sorry, but that's the best I can do, because I'm not inserting video/recording today.

Look that intonation is fine for a phone operator. It works. but to hear that intonation over and over again was killing me. The saving grace was the Mom character. Despite the main character's feelings of being in her mother's shadow, I liked her and I narrator's voice was better and she even seemed to change the narration a bit. My book friend at work thought I would like it because it's got that publishing world vibe. But the mystery wasn't all that. I honestly couldn't pay great attention to it, since it was more Corporate Financial mystery with a lot of loose screws. I dunno. Someone else read it and get back to me. I admit that my attention span waned so much but I was not invested enough to rewind. I do have it checked out in the book version to do a thumb through to see if what I missed was of any value. I'm not convinced. I'll let you know if that changes. I give it a C tops.

Well that's all for now. I'm working my through The Goldfinch and so far it's LOVE. I'll give you the full report when I finish.

I have a full weekend coming. My hopes and dreams in no particular order:

  • Make good snacks
  • Not get injured
  • No arguing with the teen. May I wish for a spider hug?
  • Bake TWO cakes
  • Finish a baby sweater -- including buttons! You all know how I get all pinched up when it's button time!
  • Dinner with friends who I do not see very often
  • Massage
  • Quality grown up beverage

Tell me, what are your hopes and dreams? Do you feel like you have to choose between reading and another hobby? What hobby do you wish you had more time for? Read anything you'd recommend?

Yours in knitting and best wishes,

Ellen

24 comments:

  1. THANK YOU!!! I am always looking for book recommendations. I listen to two and three books at a time so I need to be fed a constant theme of good listens. I listen mostly when I am hand sewing. I prefer TV when I knit too although I am not sure why because I miss most of everything.
    I wish I had more time for EVERYTHING. I always bite off more than I can chew. I need to learn to say no. To myself. I am my own worst enemy.

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    1. I too am always looking for books that might interest me. My genres and interests have changed so much since my youth. I have gotten some of the best ones from knitters. LOL. I was too tired to t.v. and knit. It was just ... knit.

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    2. I meant it was just t.v. but in my heart right now. I want to "just knit" LOL oops!

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  2. Your weekend plans sound blissful. And yes, knitting and tv, perfection. There is indeed never quite enough time for reading. I read 'Into The Darkest Corner' by Elizabeth Haynes a while back which was quite gripping and a little unsettling. Then a couple of duds. I'm hoping the next one will be good - 'Force of Nature' by Jane Harper. I really enjoyed her first book, 'The Dry', set in small town Australia. I hope your weekend is everything you wish for, and good luck with those buttons. I am also aiming for the first four on your list. CJ xx

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    1. I will look into the Haynes book. I like to think we have to get through the duds to help appreciate the winners. I will keep an eye out for your Harper review of "The Dry".

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  3. Ellen This is a great post!!! We had a pachinko machine and we gave it away. Fireman's family had it . I wish we had not gotten rid of it. It was cool with a shark on it

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    1. Thanks Kathy. After over a decade of housing vinyl records we didn't even have a player for, we gave them away trying to make space and then our son decided to have a momentary interest in vinyl. I try not to mention this to my husband since he had the best records in the collection and getting rid of things we weren't using and taking up space was my sorry suggestion. sigh. coulda woulda shoulda.

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  4. Thank you for the recommendations. I listened to The Woman in the Window and really liked it. You might like The Woman in Cabin 10, sort of the same mystery type book. Your weekend sounds wonderful. Now that Little B and I have completed his homework we are free to enjoy the rest of the weekend.

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    1. I will definitely add The Woman in Cabin 10. We are enjoying the thriller review, even when we don't like them, understanding why you don't like them is important.

      I hope you and little B and the whole household had a fabulous weekend and have a great week.

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  5. A terrific list of hopes and dreams. Yay for listening to audiobooks. I need to start Anne of Green Gables maybe today. I will probably have to dig out the earphones as the kids are watching more TV in their free time. Made me smile to read you are baking.

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    1. Wow, I haven't read AoGG in forever. I may have to return to that at some point. Right now, I am enjoying the new to me. It makes me smile to read and bake too. hehe.

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  6. Nice reviews; I like to knit to audiobooks...or silence or waiting rooms; I knit anywhere and everywhere! lol

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    1. I knit everywhere too, even at the bus stop! Waiting rooms. I'm never bored.

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  7. Audiobooks are practically all I read anymore, especially on road trips and while knitting. I'll look for your recommendations: thanks for the list.

    I liked Goldfinch, but I know many who did not.

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    1. It does seem like Goldfinch is polarizing. Hmm. I am getting to the end and I'll have to research it, see how people felt.

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  8. I still read and do audiobooks. I'm definitely putting Pachinko on my list.
    I tried the Flander's book, and I didn't like reading it either.

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    1. I know it shouldn't but it gives me great joy you weren't a fan of the Flanders either. Your reviews are always good. When you like something or don't, I understand why. You describe things well enough that I feel like I can figure out if I would be interested.

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  9. Thanks for the recommendations! Pachinko sounds like an awesome read. Adding it to my reading list. I haven’t had much luck with audiobooks because most of the time the narrator’s voice gets on my nerves. Can’t seem to get into the story when that happens. But I currently am listening to the Harry Potter series and really enjoying it. Hope that you are enjoying your weekend and getting lots of things checked off your list.
    I wished that I had more time to branch out and learn how to sew. Would love to make my own clothes one day. But knitting is so easy and relaxing and takes over all of my available free time. Currently obsessed with watching knitting podcasts while knitting which completely befuddles my family.

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    1. A bad narrator is the worst curse for an audiobook. I wonder if an author gets any say on who is allowed to read their book? I hate to admit it, but I think I would like that job -- doesn't mean I would be good at it. LOL. Imagine me as one of those crappy narrators!

      I have the Harry Potter series on my old ipods, we've listened to them many times. Car trips, on the speaker between the kitchen and the livingroom when legos were being built. sigh. those were the days.

      Sewing is on my to do list too. Maybe when I'm an empty nester or retire. I dunno, but I'm not taking it off yet!

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  10. I loved pachinko immensely!! It was one of the best books I've read this year :)

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  11. I'll bet listening to Audio Books is more relaxing than listening to the radio these days! Go for it! Hope your weekend was great and that you completed everything on your list. That, BTW, is a good idea that I need to try. Thanks!

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    1. Goodness, I can barely watch 10 mins of the news these days, let alone the radio. My weekend was lovely. I didn't conquer ALL the goals, but I definitely dabbled and had a great time doing it.

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