Tag: Audiobooks Page 6 of 22

DETAILS:
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Publication Date: September 14, 2021
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 7 hrs.,  53 min.
Read Date: May 24-26, 2022

What’s Black Nerd Problems About?

Let’s just go with what’s on the Publisher’s website to make things easier:

The creators of the popular website Black Nerd Problems bring their witty and unflinching insight to this engaging collection of pop culture essays—on everything from Mario Kart to issues of representation—that “will fill you with joy and give you hope for the future of geek culture” (Ernest Cline, #1 New York Times bestselling author).

When William Evans and Omar Holmon founded Black Nerd Problems, they had no idea whether anyone beyond their small circle of friends would be interested in their little corner of the internet. But soon after launching, they were surprised to find out that there was a wide community of people who hungered for fresh perspectives on all things nerdy.

In the years since, Evans and Holmon have built a large, dedicated fanbase eager for their brand of cultural critiques, whether in the form of a laugh-out-loud, raucous Game of Thrones episode recap or an eloquent essay on dealing with grief through stand-up comedy. Now, they are ready to take the next step with this vibrant and hilarious essay collection, which covers everything from X-Men to Breonna Taylor with “alternately hilarious, thought-provoking, and passionate” (School Library Journal) insight and intelligence.

A much needed and fresh pop culture critique from the perspective of people of color, “this hugely entertaining, eminently thoughtful collection is a master class in how powerful—and fun—cultural criticism can be” (Publishers Weekly, starred review).

The Fun

This looked like a promising and enjoyable collection (otherwise, why would I have bought it?), and the first few essays indicated that it would be. Then came the fifth essay, “Into the Spider-Verse Got Three Moments Better Than the Best Moment of Your Favorite Comic Book Movie Not Named Into the Spider-Verse. Wow. I listened to it twice (and would probably play it again right now if I had the time). It was more than I could’ve hoped for—funny and insightful, full of joy and intelligence. My expectations had been exceeded and the bar for the rest of the book was raised—thankfully, the essays were up to it.

I’m not going to go on and on about all the essays I wanted to rave about but “Jordan Peele Should Get His Flowers While He’s Here” and “Top Five Dead or Alive: Red Hood in the DC Animated Universe” were almost as good. Words cannot express how much fun I had with “Mario Kart Reveals Who You Truly Are.”

The Serious

After Tamir Rice was killed in Cleveland, I called my father and we had some very sparse conversation before he began theorizing on the role of fiction in our non-fiction lives. Every once in a while, I get these notions that I can outwit my father into pulling some emotional tether to him. I asked him if we love fantasy in fiction as a way to escape every day life, but I think I meant, does he use fiction in this way. He answered, “It’s not an escape, it’s hope. The good guys win and life has value in a fantasy story. It’s not about getting away from something, it’s about inserting hope into what you can’t outrun.”

They’re not as fun, but the essays where they address serious topics through the prism of nerd culture/nerd cultural artifacts are even better.

I couldn’t relate—at all—to “My Theory on How Black Folks’ Black Card Actually Works,” but I loved that essay. I thought the approach of “Green Lantern COmics Have Low-Key Been Tackling Police Accountability for a Minute” was inspired. I loved “Chadwick Boseman’s Wakanda Salute Is Canon in the History of Black Language.” “The Sobering Reality of Actual Black Nerd Problems” was powerful and (as it promised) sobering.

I was surprised by “Go On: An Evergreen Comedic Series That Helped Me Navigate Loss”—it seemed so far out of the bailiwick of the rest of this book that it took me a minute to remember what show they were talking about. I was one of the 7 other people in the U.S. that watched it all, but I didn’t relate to it the same way as Holmon did. After that essay, I wanted to go find it online and rewatch the entirety of the series (alas, no streamer carries it).

How Was the Narration?

It was fantastic. Holmon and Evans begin the book by talking about meeting at poetry slams—they know what they’re doing behind a microphone. They deliver these essays (mostly separately, but occasionally together) with passion and panache.

I kept the speed on this audiobook low because I enjoyed the narration enough that I didn’t want it to pass by. I’d have easily listened to another 7+ hours and enjoyed it all.

So, what did I think about Black Nerd Problems?

I wanted to make all of the previous sections about two times as long—but I’m entering into that dreaded Chris Farley “Remember when….? That was cool” territory. So I made myself stop.

I’ve never been a manga or anime guy—despite a few attempts at it. So I have no opinion on the content of the essays addressing them. The essays themselves made me wish I was a manga or anime guy so I could really connect with them. As for the rest of the essays? They all worked. I could appreciate them when I didn’t agree with them, and when I agreed with them, I pretty much loved what I heard. I disagree with a lot of the politics discussed, but the way they described them won me over every time—I was always entertained, too. That’s all I want in a book like this coming from a different perspective—you don’t need to convince me that you’re right, just bring a good argument I can appreciate, and, hopefully, entertain/engage me in the manner of the rest of the book.

This mix of thoughtful cultural and social observation with pop culture freak out is exactly what I want to read/listen to. It’s what I want to write, honestly, if I weren’t held back by a lack of both talent and insight combined with the laziness too great to overcome that lack. But when it’s done as well as Evans and Holmon? I’ll just sit back, take it in, and enjoy it. Even when (especially when?) I think they might be wrong about something.

If there’s a volume 2 of this, I will jump on it faster than the Falcon can do the Kessel run. If either writer puts out a book that’s not poetry? I’ll hop on board, too. They’ve made this white nerd a fan.

4 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, opinions expressed are my own.

Nothing to See Here (Audiobook) by Kevin Wilson, Marin Ireland: This Family Drama Hits All the Right Notes

By HCNewton

On May 24, 2022

In Audiobook, Fiction, General Fiction/Literature

Nothing to See Here

by Kevin Wilson, Marin Ireland (Narrator)

DETAILS:
Publisher: HarperAudio
Publication Date: October 29, 2019
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 6 hr., 40 min.
Read Date: May 16-17, 2022

What’s Nothing to See Here About?

Over a decade ago Lillian and Madison were roommates at a boarding school for the upper crust (or scholarship kids like Lillian). They were incredibly close until Lillian was expelled. Even then, Madison wrote Lillian regularly and Lillian responded sometimes. They didn’t see each other, only corresponded.

Madison’s gone on to success in politics—first as a campaign staffer, now as the wife of a Senator, who is likely to be tapped for a Cabinet position. Lillian…well, she’s not done really well for herself. The controversy over her expulsion followed her through school—she didn’t get the scholarships she needed to get out of her situation. She’s still living with her mother—which is a pretty contentious relationship.

Now Madison writes with a job offer/plea for help. The Senator’s previous wife has recently died and he needs to take custody of their children. Madison would like Lillian to act as a governess (Lillian keeps saying “nanny,” much to Madison’s consternation) for them, at least until her husband’s nomination is confirmed by the Senate.

There’s a catch. The twins will sometimes burst into flames. Like Johnny Storm without the flying or the trip into space that goes horribly wrong.

They won’t suffer any injury from it, but the same can’t be said for their clothing or anything near them. Lillian needs to keep them out of the press, away from Madison’s son, and hopefully under control. They want to/need to take care of the twins, but really don’t want to have anything to do with them.

This will be the best-paying job Lillian ever has held. She knows nothing about working with kids—and the only models she’s ever had for it are horrible. But she’ll do whatever Madison asks (and she could use the money). Also, she knows what it’s like to be a kid who needs a break—maybe she can help these kids out.

A Pleasant Twist

So you have a couple of kids who burst into flames from time to time. 97% of authors are going to devote the novels to the rest of the characters spending the bulk of the book trying to figure out how or why that happens, and what they can do to stop it/duplicate it/fight crime with it.

Wilson’s in that other 3%, thankfully. Yes, there are some efforts to learn why it happens, but that’s never the focus—and most of the time, those who are investigating aren’t characters who were supposed to be that sympathetic.

The focus remains on the kids as kids—how does Lillian help them feel safe? Wanted? Normal? She does work with them on not bursting into flame—but it’s not so much about the ability/affliction, but about helping them to be comfortable in their own skins—whatever temperature it is. It’s about self-acceptance (which leads to control).

How Was the Narration?

Normally, it takes me a chapter or two to “get into” a new-to-me narrator, or at least to decide what I think of the narration overall. But Ireland won me over within the first couple of minutes—as a certain janitor says, “I don’t know what IT is, but [s]he’s got it.”

She’s a narrator I’ll keep my eyes out for. I don’t know that I’ve seen her in anything, but I saw today that she’s going to be in the Justified revival—I’m looking forward to that.

So, what did I think about Nothing to See Here?

One of the reasons that I put off reading/listening to this book for so long, was that I remember The Family Fang falling apart in the end—or at least not ending as good as the first 80% or so of the book was*. I was more than a little apprehensive that the same thing would apply here. Thankfully, I was wrong.

* My memory of it is hazy, that’s just the sense I have—I could be wrong.

This book started strong and kept getting better—it didn’t end like I thought it would but ended the only way it could’ve (in retrospect). The only way it could’ve been better is for the middle bit to be longer and more detailed. These are fantastic characters, and the concept is just as fantastic. These kids belong in a speculative work of some kind—SF or Fantasy (Urban or otherwise). But no, Wilson puts them in the middle of a family drama. And it’s great to see. Funny, warm, and heartfelt—Nothing to See Here scored on all fronts for me.

4 1/2 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, opinions are my own.

This is Going to Hurt (Audiobook) by Adam Kay: It’s Funny Because It’s True. Also, Dispiriting Because It’s True

By HCNewton

On May 19, 2022

In (Auto)Biography, Audiobook, Humor, Non-Fiction

This is Going to Hurt:
Secret Diaries of
a Junior Doctor

by Adam Kay

DETAILS:
Publisher: HarperAudio
Publication Date: March 7, 2022
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 5 hr., 47 min.
Read Date: May 17-18, 2022

Doctors must be psychologically fit for the job — able to make decisions under a terrifying amount of pressure, able to break bad news to us anguished relatives, able to deal with death on a daily basis. They must have something that cannot be memorized and graded; a great doctor must have a huge heart and a distended aorta which pumps a vast lake of compassion and human kindness.

What’s This is Going to Hurt About?

This book covers the years that doctor-turned-comedy writer Adam Kay spent as a junior obstetrics doctor in the NHS. I’m going to gloss over the various titles he had because it’s a different system than I’m used to, and I’d botch it—but basically, it’s the first few years post-medical school.

Essentially these are excerpts (details tweaked to everyone’s privacy) from his diaries from that time showing the day-to-day realities he faced. Told with a comedic bent, sure, but it’s just real life—a version of real-life that’s more exhausted, more stressed, and covered in more and various bodily fluids than most of us have, sure. It’s told very anecdotally, he’s not trying to construct a narrative here, just “here’s Day X, here’s Day X +2,” and so on.

He talks about preposterous situations he’s put in because of his low-ranking status and/or NHS regulations, he talks about funny situations with patients, ridiculous colleagues, unsympathetic friends, harrowing experiences, and just strange ones. Given his specialty, he deals with expectant mothers, newborns, clueless fathers-to-be, and heartbreak. We get the gamut here.

Bonus Material

The audiobook I listened to was released with the paperback release and contained some bonus material—a few more diary entries and an afterword. The afterword was essentially a rallying cry for people to support the NHS’s existence.

I don’t have a dog in this fight—but I found his arguments compelling, and I thought his support of the NHS throughout the book (while freely critiquing aspects of it) added some good and necessary grounding to the humor. The life and death aspect of the book did, too—obviously—but that’s common with medical memoirs, this is distinctive (at least in my limited experience)

So, what did I think about This is Going to Hurt?

Called to the Early Pregnancy Unit by one of the SHOs to confirm a miscarriage at eight weeks—he’s new to scanning and wants a second pair of eyes. I remember that feeling only too well and scamper over. He’s managed the couple’s expectations very well, and clearly made them aware it doesn’t look good—they’re sad and silent as I walk in. What he hasn’t done very well is the ultrasound. He may as well have been scanning the back of his hand or a packet of Quavers. Not only is the baby fine, but so is the other baby that he hadn’t spotted.

I audibly laughed—twice—during the Introduction, so I was instantly on board with this book. The laughs really didn’t let up. At times, I wondered if it was a little too jokey, and wished we got more of the narrative about his experience—but then he’d say something else funny and then I decided I didn’t care because he’s a good comedy writer. Bring on the jokes!

Like the best medical comedies (e.g., MAS*H (in all its forms), Scrubs), Kay intersperses the laughs with drama and tragedy—stories of hard-fought success and heartbreaking—even devastating—loss. That augments both ends of the spectrum—while you’re chuckling, you’re more open to feeling the empathy to appreciate the dramatic. When you’re reeling from a hard experience, you need the laughter. If Kay’s TV scripts are anything like this, I wish I could see some of his episodes.

Kay handles his own narration here and is great at it, wry detachment mixed with a no-nonsense delivery. He knows it’s funny, so he’s not trying to push the humor, he just trusts the material and lets it do the heavy lifting.

When the library told me that my hold for this was ready, I didn’t remember requesting it—wasn’t sure at all why I did. But I gave it a chance, and am so glad I did—it made for a very entertaining 5+ hours. I think you’ll find the same if you give it a try.

3.5 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, opinions are my own.

Lifesign (Audiobook) by Carl Goodman, Louise Brealey: A Gripping Procedural with a Little Something Extra

By HCNewton

On May 17, 2022

In Audiobook, Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

Lifesign

by Carl Goodman, Louise Brealey (Narrator)

DETAILS:
Series: DI Eva Harris, #2
Publisher: Audible Originals
Publication Date: September 23, 2021
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 13 hr., 6 min.
Read Date: May 10-13, 2022

What’s Lifesign About?

DI Ava Harris continues her work outside her specialty and keeps proving she’s pretty good at it—the book opens with a great action sequence as she leads a team on a raid.

After that, Harris is taken to what looks like a lab—a lab (or an art installation?) full of many well-preserved dead bodies (partial or intact). It’s disturbing for her and the rest of the police (and the poor teen who found it)—it’s disturbing for the listener, too. Once again, Harris and her detectives are on the hunt for a possible serial killer.

It takes a lot of time and effort for the detectives to find a common link between the victims that will hopefully lead them to a suspect. But once they come up with a theory, it indicates that there are more victims to be found—possibly still living. The pressure, which had been strong already because of the number of bodies, becomes even stronger—they have lives to save.

Paging Aldous Leekie

20/20 introduced us to a quasi-religious group, with some shades of medical science that’s a little beyond what’s actually possible right now. Eva is concerned another one of their members is involved in this case as well.

She’s not wrong, but she’s not quite right, her investigation leads to her coming across several people who’ve taken their medical research even further. There’s a strong vein of transhumanism running throughout this novel, adding a flavor to this that you don’t get in Police Procedurals.

We’re not quite talking Cyberpunk-level weirdness. This is about halfway between where we are now and Johnny Mnemonic/Mirrorshades.

There’s some more thoughtful, serious, “how can we battle diseases in new ways” types of science involved, but there are also some more frivolous (for a lack of a better term) uses of this science, too. There are a couple of scenes in a nightclub that feel like they’re straight from the Orphan Black Season 1 episodes with the Neolution club full of body modifications.

I love that Goodman’s able to take a pretty solid police procedural and mix this in so that the books become more than what they are (although, honestly, I’m betting they’d be worth the time without it)—you get something to think about, react to—maybe even research—in addition to the mystery.

My Inner Prude*

* This is an observation/description, not evaluative. I know I have a number of readers who’d want to know this before grabbing the book (and a number who don’t care, too).

There are a few scenes in this that don’t bring out my Inner Prude—but keep it bubbling right below the surface. Thankfully, Eva’s inner prude is pretty loud, too, so she keeps herself at arm’s length from those situations—well, maybe a cubit’s length anyway.

There’s also a scene of assault that’s going to be too much for many—and almost me—but it’s brief and easily skippable. It will be referred to later, but without details.

A Strange Rabbit Trail

Maybe because the same person recommended the two series to me, maybe because there’s a level of reflection on things beyond the case that are common between the two series, but at some point, I asked myself, “What would (Peter Grainger’s) DC Smith think of this case? How would he tackle this?”

I had to stop the audio and ponder this for a while—I think Eva wouldn’t be that great at any of his cases (although she might be quicker to move on some suspects), but DC dealing with the transhumanism angle is a little thought experiment that’s going to linger with me.

And very likely only me. So I won’t bore you with any of my thoughts. I just had to mention it.

How’s the Narration?

I’m going to largely just copy what I said before: Brealey nailed this—she captures Harris’ analytical approach, the distance she’s keeping from her team and the assignment—and then how that distance crumbles—and general unease with some aspects of the assignment. She also does a great job portraying the rest of the cast, and the unexpected attitudes from some of the suspects.

I don’t know if I can separate my appreciation of Brealey’s work from Goodman’s, and don’t really see the point in trying. In my mind, they’re a package deal and should stay that way.

So, what did I think about Lifesign?

This is a pretty gripping read—and as I said, there’s more to it than just the thriller/procedural. As I said before, it’s a great combination and one that I want more of (assuming they’re done as well as Goodman does it)

The key to the enjoyment of both of these books is Eva Harris. She’s this great combination of confidence and doubt; conviction and (hidden) rage; skill and dumb luck. Also, I love seeing her struggle with enforcing the law and seeking justice, while dealing with her instinct of circumventing the law in order to achieve the right result. She’s not the first or only police protagonist to balance these things, but the way Goodman pursues it is what is going to keep me coming back as long as he produces them. Think Fiona Cummings with a different group of psychological issues and without the casual drug use, and you’re most of the way to understanding Eva.

I’m hooked, if there’s a third installment in this series, I’ll be there with bells on. In the meantime, if you have the means, I strongly suggest you give this a shot.

3.5 Stars

Funny Farm (Audiobook) by Laurie Zaleski, Erin Moon: A Woman Rescues Herself, Her Kids, and a Big Bunch of Animals

By HCNewton

On May 11, 2022

In (Auto)Biography, Audiobook, Non-Fiction

Funny Farm:
My Unexpected Life with
600 Rescue Animals

by Laurie Zaleski, Erin Moon (Narrator)

DETAILS:
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
Publication Date: April 25, 2022
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 8 hr., 10 min.
Read Date: May 9-10, 2022

I Did the Things You’re Not Supposed to Do

I judged this book by its cover.

I put this on my Want-to-Read this some months back, and really don’t remember why. All I really remembered is what I saw on the cover—it had to do with rescue animals, an “unexpected life”, and was called Funny Farm. The cover image has some friendly-looking animals. Something about it also reminded me of the cover of Straight Man by Richard Russo.

It looked to me like a light-hearted book full of animal stories, probably some that are inspirational, some that are funny, maybe some that are sad. Think James Herriot, David Rosenfelt (non-fiction that is), or Andrew Cotter. And while I read the publisher’s description, I’d forgotten it, so I just walked into this with my assumptions from the cover.

And you know what they say what happens when you assume…

So, What Is Funny Farm About?

It’s primarily the decades-long story of the establishment of the Funny Farm in its current form. It starts with Zaleski’s mother taking her and her two siblings and escaping from their abusive husband and father, dealing with both their poverty and continued harassment from him, and how they stumbled into Animal Rescue. From there we get a little about Zaleski’s outside career before we focus again on their mother’s relationship and battle with cancer, before getting a few chapters about the Farm’s permanent location and establishment as a non-profit organization.

More than anything else, this is a tribute to Zaleski’s mother—and a deserved one.

Animal Tales

The small, between-chapter, profiles/extended anecdotes about some of the Rescue’s animals are what I came for, and are absolutely worth it. I’d read another book full of nothing else. I don’t know that such a book would be a great read, but it’d be fun.

How was the Narration?

I liked the book, but I think I liked Erin Moon’s narration even more. She did a great job of bringing the text to life and augmenting the emotions.

I did think there was a weird New England-ish accent to the way she said “Mom”—particularly when she stretched it out a bit. I didn’t hear it at any other point, just that one word. It happened pretty frequently, and I bumped on it each time. Not a big deal, by any means, just something I noticed.

So, what did I think about Funny Farm?

I’d have liked it more had I come into it knowing what to expect—and that’s on me. Also, I probably wouldn’t have picked it up if I remembered what I was getting. Not that it’s bad, just not the kind of thing I put on a list to get.

There’s a warmth to the writing—even as it discusses the hardships her family endured, she writes from the perspective of someone who persevered and turned the experiences into something for the better.

While not loving the book, I really liked it—and have started following the Rescue’s social media accounts because I want to see some of this in action. It really sounds like a great organization. If you go into it with the right expectations, you’ll likely get more out of it than I did—give it a shot.

3 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, opinions are my own.

Tuesday Mooney Talks To Ghosts (Audiobook) by Kate Racculia, Lauren Fortgang: The Westing Game for Grownups (with a Supernatural Twist)

By HCNewton

On May 10, 2022

In Audiobook, Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

Tuesday Mooney Talks To Ghosts

by Kate Racculia, Lauren Fortgang (Narrator)

DETAILS:
Publisher: HarperAudio
Publication Date: October 17, 2019
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 14 hr., 6 min.
Read Date: April 28 - May 6, 2022

What’s Tuesday Mooney Talks To Ghosts About?

When Tuesday Mooney isn’t big on socializing—she seems to be a fantastic conversationalist, witty and smart—but she’d rather spend time on her own after work, with few exceptions. But even her best friend has to initiate conversations, she just doesn’t do that kind of thing. Tuesday is a researcher for a hospital charity—she knows Boston’s upper crust in ways few do. She has a well-documented dossier on them all and knows just how to get money out of them.

Tuesday has a neighbor, Dorry, who is an apprentice of sorts. Dorry’s a younger teen who lost her mother recently in an automobile accident. Her father is doing his best, but he can’t be everything she needs and provide for them. Dorry was fascinated by this woman in her building who wore black all the time and kept to herself. They run into each other one day and bond quickly. They soon have a weekly time together (“Tuesday Thursdays”) and Tuesday tutors Dorry in school—and important things like 1980’s-early 2000 music, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and The X-Files.

At a charity event Tuesday’s working at, a particular wealthy man—Vincent Pryce—dies shortly before Tuesday gets to meet him. Pryce rather enjoyed his coincidental name, and played into it. In addition to making gobs of money and doing a lot of charity work, he collected the macabre—particularly things associated with Edgar Allen Poe and that other Vincent. He was a bit of a showman and after his death, had arranged to announce sort of a giant scavenger hunt in the city—inviting individuals and teams to play along to be given the chance to become an heir.

Like many Bostonians, Tuesday and Dorry are intrigued. With some help from her neighbor, Tuesday pours her research strength into the project and leaps to an early lead—bringing along an old friend and a new ally (assuming she can trust him).

That’s really all I can say at this point—other than to throw in, that like Samuel Westing before him, Vincent Pryce has a hidden agenda to his game. As we watch Tuesday, Dorry, and so many others compete, secrets are revealed. (that’s a horribly inadequate way to say it, but I’m tripping over myself to avoid spoiling anything)

Conversing with Specters?

So how literal is this title? Does our titular protagonist chat with the spirits of the departed? Maybe.

The book will eventually take a position on the issue, but it’s going to take its time on it, letting the reader ponder that a bit. Now there are times when I want a book to be crystal clear—supernatural things happen, supernatural beings go around doing things. Or—supernatural things are mumbo jumbo. But every now and then I like a book that deals with the ambiguity well—Tuesday might be talking to ghosts, Tuesday might have a healthy and active imagination, Tuesday might be dealing with trauma. It might be all three and more.

Tuesday’s neighbor, Dorry has no idea about Tuesday and ghosts. But almost more than anything, Dorry wants to see and interact with the ghost of her mother. At one point, she discovers that among Pryce’s collection of oddities are a pair of glasses that can enable the wearer to see ghosts. This becomes her motivation for participating in the game—sure, money would be nice for college and to help her father—but those glasses…

How’s the Narration?

Lauren Fortgang was delightful. There was just something about the way she handled the narrative portions that made this a blast to listen to. Her character work—especially with Tuesday and Dorry—was great, too. There’s a certain sense of fun and play to the text, and she brought that out in a way that was particularly effective.

I enjoyed Fortgang’s work on the Dahlia Moss audiobooks, and I was glad to listen to her again—I think she did better here, for what it’s worth.

So, what did I think about Tuesday Mooney Talks To Ghosts?

I had so much fun listening to this—while doing so, things at work didn’t allow me as much time to listen as I’m accustomed to, so there was a bit of agony involved as the suspense built.

I barely described the characters, and had to leave off so many. But I just don’t have the space. Pryce’s widow, for example, is a wonderful character who should get her own novella to star in. Tuesday’s new ally is a mystery in himself—and won’t stop surprising you until the book is over. I could keep going here, but I won’t. I would love to have a long conversation with Racculia to talk about character design, more than most authors I’ve read recently. I’d love to know how she goes about it.

I’m not sure about the pacing of the whole thing, and I think there could’ve been one or two more moves in the game. But those issues really only occurred to me after I was done—in the moment, I was too busy enjoying myself to notice.

Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts was a lot of fun to read, filled with characters I want to spend more time with—I really don’t need a story, maybe just see them sitting around a table talking about what’s going on in their lives. The novel is rarely what you think it is going to be—and not just at the beginning. I really enjoyed it.

3.5 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, opinions expressed are my own.

Catch-Up Quick Takes: A Few Words on a Few Books

By HCNewton

On May 5, 2022

In Audiobook, Fiction, Non-Fiction, Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy

I tried to write a full post on most of these, and I just wasn’t able to come up with enough to say. So, I guess it’s time for another one of these quick takes posts. The point of these is to catch up on my “To Write About” stack—emphasizing pithiness, not thoroughness. It wasn’t until I was well into writing this one that I realized there was a theme throughout this one. I was underwhelmed to varying degrees by all four of these books. On the plus side, my “To Write About” stack is a bit smaller.

Fight and Flight

by Scott Meyer, Luke Daniels (Narrator)

DETAILS:
Series: Magic 2.0, #4
Publisher: Audible Studios on Brilliance
Publication Date: March 11, 2019
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 10 hr., 26 min.
Read Date: April 4-7, 2022

(the official blurb)
Okay, sure, this was amusing. Luke Daniels is great. I enjoyed spending time with these characters again.

But…

This was a thin excuse of a story, were this a novella, it’d probably be pretty good—but stretched out this far, it just didn’t work.

However, the last chapter made the whole thing worthwhile, and what it introduces/sets up for the future makes me pretty excited to see what Meyer has up his sleeve.
3 Stars

Goodbye, Things:
The New Japanese Minimalism

by Fumio Sasaki, Eriko Sugita (Translator), Keith Szarabajka (Narrator)

DETAILS:
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Publication Date: April 10, 2017
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 4 hr., 32 min.
Read Date: April 18, 2022

(the official blurb)
Ummm….yeah, so this was a thing I listened to. A friend was pretty excited about the book, so I thought I’d give it a whirl.

Sasaki didn’t convince me—the picture he painted of himself—as well as his readers/listeners—is of a pretty shallow person. I don’t think he is—or was, before he went through this period of self-improvement—but he sure did a lousy job of depicting a person who had any depth.

He describes an interesting way of life, but didn’t make me at all interested in trying it. I didn’t hate the book, but I can’t find anything to commend about it.

Szarabajka’s work was fine, I should add—nothing too flashy, which fits the book. I’d listen to other books he narrated.
2 Stars

Taming Demons for Beginners

by Annette Marie, Cris Dukehart (Narrator)

DETAILS:
Series: Guild Codex: Demonized, #1
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Publication Date: December 30, 2019
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 7 hr., 52 min.
Read Date: April 26-27, 2022

(the official blurb)
While I was listening to this, I said, “this protagonist is doing nothing but making foolish/stupid moves—I have to pause occasionally just to growl at her.” I’m used to protagonists making foolish mistakes, that’s not the problem. But this woman seemed to be deliberately choosing the worst thing to do at every moment.

I’m not sure that she really got past that, but at some point, it stopped being annoying. I’m not sure why. Part of it has to do with the way that this book tied into Demon Magic and a Martini—Marie’s done this before, but the way she pulled that off in this case was plenty of fun. I don’t know that I’m sold on this series, but I do want to see what happens next, and that’s good enough.

Dukehart did a fine job—maybe a little bit too close to her work in The Guild Codex: Spellbound, but it’s easy enough to get past that.
3 Stars

Rosebud

by Paul Cornell

DETAILS:
Publisher: Tor
Publication Date: April 25, 2022
Format: Kindle Edition
Length: 112 pg.
Read Date: May 3, 2022

(the official blurb)
I…I just don’t know what to say about this. It’s a clever premise, and Cornell (as one expects) writes well—there are some nice sentences throughout. Basically…I should be singing the praises of this one.

And yet…

I can’t. I don’t know why, but I could not convince myself that I was enjoying this. I just didn’t respond to any of it. I’ve been a fan of Cornell’s for years, this is just a blip, I’m sure, and I’ll be gung-ho about his next work. But this just wasn’t for me.
2 1/2 Stars

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase from any of them, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, opinions are my own.
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Force of Nature (Audiobook) by C.J. Box, David Chandler (Narrator): Wyoming Requiem

By HCNewton

On April 26, 2022

In Audiobook, C. J. Box, Fiction, Joe Pickett

I’ve ended up working on this post a lot longer than most—definitely longer than any other book in this series. I know I didn’t say everything I wanted to, but I think I covered all the essentials. I also think my trimming ideas/paragraphs/rabbit trails didn’t make this too difficult to follow. Let me know if I missed that mark, will you?

Force of Nature

by C. J. Box, David Chandler (Narrator)

DETAILS:
Series: Joe Pickett, #12
Publisher: Recorded Books
Publication Date: March 20, 2012
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 11 hrs., 23 min.
Read Date: April 13-15, 2022

What’s Force of Nature About?

Nate Romanowski.

That’s the short version anyway—but it’s not a helpful answer.

Since we met Nate, we’ve known that he’s living off the grid for more than philosophical reasons—he’s not just a modern Thoreau, But we’ve never been given the story behind that. He’s offered to tell Joe, but Joe’s smart enough to know he shouldn’t know (but he is curious).

Well now, those people he’s been avoiding are getting close to finding him. They are approaching, questioning, kidnapping (if deemed necessary), and putting all other sorts of pressure on those who may know something about Nate or his whereabouts. This includes new characters as well as well-established characters—including all the Picketts, his friends on the reservation, his mysterious friends in Idaho, and others.

To protect those who are important to him, Nate has to stop hiding and go on the offense. Along the way, the reader gets answers to a lot of the questions about him that we’ve built up over the previous eleven novels.

We also get another lesson in watching out for your ears around Nate Romanowski, just in case Free Fire wasn’t enough for you.

Yes, there are several other things going on, but they all tie back to Nate Romanowski—his past, his present, and if he has a future.

A Gripe

This is semi-spoilery, but without this, I might have rated this higher, so I have to talk about it. I don’t think reading this is going to ruin anything plot-wise. Still, feel free to skip down to the next heading.

Nate, Joe, and Marybeth all agree that the Picketts have to get out of town for their own safety. So Joe, Marybeth, April, and Lucy get to the airport so they can get out of the reach of those who might try to use them to get to Nate.

See the problem there? I said nothing about Sheridan. Sure, she’s away at college, but we’re talking about people who have gone to Idaho and Colorado to find people to get leverage on Nate. Does anyone really think they can’t get to Laramie? Yes, Joe sends his FBI buddy to talk to her, but that’s to get information, not to watch out for her.

I literally kept talking back to the recording, “What about Sheridan?” Is it possible I missed the two sentences it would’ve taken for Box to justify this choice, but I don’t think that’s the case.

David Chandler

This is book 12, David Chandler has this series down—I’m sure he’s not on auto-pilot or anything, but at this point, it’s got to be comfortable for him.

That said, he’s on his game here, and really gets to stretch his wings a little—there’s (obviously) more Nate than usual, and Nate has a greater emotional range than usual, too. Bang-up job by Chandler.

So, what did I think about Force of Nature?

This is the most action-packed, violent, and unpredictable Joe Pickett novel yet. I’m not sure it’s even close—I’m not sure it’s the best novel in the series, but I’m guessing it’s quite the fan-favorite because of all the Nate material.

It’s the C.J. Box-equivalent of Robert Crais’ L.A. Requiem where we get all of Joe Pike’s background* in the midst of a gripping thrill ride. There’s a version of this post that contains several paragraphs comparing/contrasting these two novels that I’m sorely tempted to write, but I can’t imagine anyone wanting to read it all. This will both serve to humanize Nate as well as build up his mystique. A nice trick to be sure.

* I just got a very real lesson in careful typing by invoking Joe Pike in a discussion about a Joe Pickett novel.

Am I happy to have a lot of questions answered about Nate? Yes. Do I have a whole bunch of new questions about him? Yes. Do I sort of hope that he disappears for at least a book so we can refocus on Joe? Yes. Do I think that anyone with a mild interest in the Joe Pickett series will dig this novel? No doubt in my mind.

4 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, opinions are my own.

20/20 (Audiobook) by Carl Goodman, Louise Brealy: A New DI Finds Herself in a Disturbing Investigation

By HCNewton

On April 14, 2022

In Audiobook, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

20/20

by Carl Goodman, Louise Brealey (Narrator)

DETAILS:
Series: DI Eva Harris, #1
Publisher: Audible Originals
Publication Date: June 4, 2020
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 13 hrs., 4 min.
Read Date: March 30-31, 2022

What’s 20/20 About?

So you know how in most police procedurals, the protagonist detective(s) is helped out by a super-geek (usually, but not always, a female) who befuddles the Luddites/barely-computer literate detectives with what they can do? Well, Carl Goodman’s DI Eva Harris is the super-geek who is also the protagonist detective in the best kind of a 2-for-1 deal.

Harris is driven, she knows she’s good with computers—a real rival (if not a flat-out superior) to all kinds of cyber-criminals. But the only way for her to advance in the police services is to spend time being a non-cyber officer, out on the streets, working with other detectives for two years. Which is both hard to believe, and completely believable (if anyone knows how legitimate that is, please let me know).

On her first day as a DI in the Surrey Police, she’s summoned to a crime scene before she can even introduce herself to anyone. A woman has been murdered—meticulously exsanguinated, with her eyes meticulously removed. I stress the meticulousness there because this is a very clean crime scene that is going to be forensically unhelpful (if not worse).

And then more bodies show up. There’s a similarity here to a serial killer’s M.O., but that killer wasn’t careful about the crime scenes. Is this the same killer, who has taken the time and effort to refine his method? A copycat? Someone who just seems similar to the serial killer? That’s for DI Harris and her new team to ascertain.

If that’s not enough, part of the reason Harris has been assigned to this command is that she’s being forced by the Intelligence Services to look into corruption at her new HQ. And some skeletons from her past are coming back to haunt her.

How’s the Narration?

Brealey nailed this—she captures Harris’ analytical approach, the distance she’s keeping from her team and the assignment—and then how that distance crumbles—and general unease with some aspects of the assignment. She also does a great job portraying the rest of the cast, and the unexpected attitudes from some of the suspects.

I’m seeing a lot of negative reviews of her work on Audible and Goodreads. I don’t get it—I can see where she might be everyone’s cup of tea (who is?), but I don’t get the negativity. I thought she did exactly what this book needed.

So, what did I think about 20/20?

This was an intense, multi-layered, unnerving, and tough-to-predict police procedural with a little something extra going on. Maybe too much—just maybe.

I think I could’ve lived without the whole Harris investigates her own team aspect of the novel (although, that would have cost the novel some great scenes). The novel might have been a little stronger had it stayed focused on the killings with Harris’ past as the only subplot. It’s hard to judge things like that, so I could be completely wrong.

I cannot stress enough that some of these murders are pretty disturbing and that there is no way I ever want Carl Goodman mad at me. The way he describes murder scenes and artwork, in particular, is really impressive—there’s a lot of narrative and description that’s really impressive, but those really jumped out at me. I could “see” those very clearly.

I sussed out the 2 of the 3 main mysteries early on—that’s fine, it’s not a whodunit kind of read, it’s about Harris getting the answers and what she has to go through for that. As such, it’s a winner—she’s a fish out of water in several ways (geographic, social, vocational, for starters) and that’s the focus of the book. Still doesn’t make it less satisfying when I found out I was right. Also, I really don’t want to live in a world where the motives for the killings are plausible. Sadly, I absolutely believe them.

It’s a gripping listen, and I think you’ll be glad you gave it a shot. There’s a sequel, too—I don’t think it’ll be long before I dive into that.

3.5 Stars

Catch-Up Quick Takes: Some Audiobooks from Feb. & March 2022

By HCNewton

On April 1, 2022

In Audiobook, Don Winslow, Fiction, General Fiction/Literature, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller, Non-Fiction, Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy

Here are some audiobooks that I’ve listened to in the last couple of months, and I really don’t have much to say about them—all are worth the time to listen to (or read, if you prefer), I just don’t have enough to say to make up a typical post.

Hard Reboot

by Django Wexler, Morgan Hallett (Narrator)

DETAILS:
Publisher: Recorded Books
Publication Date:  May 24, 2021
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 3 hrs., 57 min.
Read Date: March 14-15, 2022

(the official blurb)
This just seemed like a lot of fun when it was published last year, so when I saw it on the library site, I had to jump on it. And it was fun.

But it was a bit too short—I know that’s by design, but it felt too abrupt. You got fighting robots on the cover, I want more than two major fights. Sure, the fights we get are pretty cool, but I wanted more.

If this was 20 percent longer, I’d have been happy. As it was? I was satisfied.
3 Stars

Demon Magic and a Martini

by Annette Marie, Cris Dukehart (Narrator)

DETAILS:
Series: The Guild Codex: Spellbound Series, #4
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Publication Date: April 22, 2019
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 7 hrs., 15 min.
Read Date: March 9-10, 2022

(the official blurb)
So, um…yeah. This was okay.

For the second book in a row, we get to peel back the mysterious backstory of one of Tori’s new best friends while they’re battling a new magical threat. This time it’s demons—and rival guilds. One of which is pretty ethically challenged.

It was a bit too similar to the previous book for me. But it delivered the same kind of quippy UF action that characterizes the series. It’s entertaining enough to keep going with the series—and to recommend them—I just want to see a little more out of them.
3 Stars

Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead

by Elle Cosimano, Angela Dawe (Narration)

DETAILS:
Series: Finlay Donovan, #2
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Publication Date: January 31, 2022
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 9 hr., 20 min.
Read Date: February 25-28, 2022

(the official blurb)
I was a little worried how the premise would carry over to a sequel, and I clearly shouldn’t have—largely because Cosimano didn’t just repeat the way the first book went. It was very much an “okay, so now with that finished, what comes next?”—assuming that Finlay and Vero don’t just wholly abandon their new revenue stream.

We get some important new information about Vero—making a lot of what she did in the first book make sense. Finlay makes some smart romantic moves—and there’s some decent movement on the divorce front.

All in all, a solid sequel that shows that this can be a series with legs, not just a quirky one-off.
3 Stars

Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law

by Mary Roach

DETAILS:
Publisher: Brilliance Publishing
Publication Date: September 13, 2021
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 9 hrs., 17 min.
Read Date: January 31-February 1, 2022

(the official blurb)
So this is about what happens when animals and humans have a hard time co-existing—which basically means when animals being animals inconvenience (or worse) humans. Was that hiker killed by an animal, or did they die of other causes and become food for an animal? What happens when we put a building where an animal expected to be able to be?

I don’t think it was as amusing as Roach tried to make it. It was interesting, but it went on too long and therefore became less-interesting the longer it went on. I don’t remember anything more specific than that—which says something about the book. It just didn’t hold my attention for long.

This is my first Mary Roach book—and maybe would’ve been my last if I hadn’t run into a couple of other bloggers who are Roach fans that were as tepid as I was about the book. Still, I’m going to get a bit more distance between this book and my next.
3 Stars

Murder Under Her Skin

by Stephen Spotswood, Kirsten Potter

DETAILS:
Series: A Pentecost and Parker Mystery, #2
Publisher: Random House Audio
Publication Date: December 6, 2021
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 9 hrs., 40 min. hrs and 40 mins
Read Date: March 28-29, 2022

(the official blurb)
The circus that Will used to be in is in trouble—one of their performers has been killed and another has been arrested. Will’s mentor, to be specific. So she and Lillian Pentecost head down south to see what they can do.

It’s a culture clash (both the South and the circus) for the duo—Will learns the hard way that maybe she’s been gone too long—as well as a fish out of water kind of thing for Pentecost. Although not as much as Will and the reader might expect.

I enjoyed this one a lot more than the predecessor—it’s still a bit too much about Will and her current love interest than it is about Pentecost and the case they’re supposed to be working on. The mystery was clever, the character arcs were solid and Will’s narrative voice is strong enough to keep the reader/listener locked in.
3 Stars

Free Billy

by Don Winslow, Ed Harris (Narrator)

DETAILS:
Series: The Dawn Patrol 
Publisher: Audible Originals
Publication Date: 2022
Format: Audiobook
Length:1 hr., 6 min.
Read Date: March 30, 2022

(the official blurb)
This is a silly, fun, and sweet story in the world of The Dawn Patrol (one of my top 5 All-Time books), all our favorites get a quick appearance and we’re introduced to a couple of new characters.

Despite being in the same world as the crime novels that introduced Winslow to me, there’s no crime to be found here.

Which is fine—it’s not needed in this short story. It’s just a fun story about one of Boone’s friends. I laughed audibly more than once, and just enjoyed the story as a whole—I just wish it was longer so I could spend more time in this world. The story didn’t require it.

Ed Harris gives exactly what you’d expect from him in an audiobook narration—near perfection. I thought his stuff was great.
5 Stars

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase from any of them, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, opinions are my own.