This was a fun listen: “Prophecies, Libels and Dreams” by Ysabeau S. Wilce, which I got in a giveaway from Small Beer Press (Thank you, Small Beer Press!). I didn’t know what to expect, and so this was my introduction to the fictional world of Califa that Wilce has written about in previous books, whereContinue reading “Audio book review: ‘Prophecies, Libels and Dreams’ by Ysabeau S. Wilce”
Tag Archives: audio books
When do you give up on a book?
I quit a book the other day. I’ve seen Harlan Coben books everywhere, but I had never looked at one. At the library, I picked up the audiobook version of “Six Years,” read by Scott Brick (who I think has done a great job with Justin Cronin’s “The Passage” and “The Twelve”). I only madeContinue reading “When do you give up on a book?”
#tbt review: Lisey’s Story by Stephen King
This review originally appeared in the Times Union on March 1, 2007. “Lisey’s Story” by Stephen King. Read by Mare Winningham. Unabridged, 19 hours, 16 CDs. Simon & Schuster. $49.95. In ancient Greek drama, deus ex machina was used when the plot got so out of control that only divine intervention could resolve it. “Lisey’sContinue reading “#tbt review: Lisey’s Story by Stephen King”
#tbt review: World War Z by Max Brooks
This review originally appeared in the Times Union on Jan. 2, 2007, long before the Brad Pitt movie came out. “World War Z,” by Max Brooks. Read by a full cast. Abridged, 6 hours. Random House Audio. $29.95. The stellar cast includes Alan Alda, Carl Reiner, Mark Hamill, Henry Rollins, John Turturro, Rob Reiner andContinue reading “#tbt review: World War Z by Max Brooks”
Review: The Cut
The Cut by George Pelecanos My rating: 2 of 5 stars I’ve enjoyed other George Pelecanos’ books, especially The Turnaround, much better than this. The character Spero Lucas just seems too pretty/macho/lucky/wise/serious to feel real or to be seriously. View all my reviews
Review: Oil and Honey: The Education of an Unlikely Activist
Oil and Honey: The Education of an Unlikely Activist by Bill McKibben My rating: 4 of 5 stars Bill McKibben opens up about his mixed feelings of turning from writer about the environment to activist. A heartfelt and compelling read. View all my reviews
Big-name books on LibriVox
LibriVox, the all-volunteer effort turning public-domain books into audio files, has recently released some classics of literature: Moby-Dick by Herman Melville The Autobiography of Mother Jones The Story of My Life by Helen Keller
“Extracts from Adam’s Diary”
Among the latest releases from LibriVox — the volunteer group that publishes free audio files of public domain books — is Mark Twain’s “Extracts from Adam’s Diary,” a fun and funny collection of ruminations from humanity’s first man. Here’s a print excerpt: Friday The naming goes recklessly on, in spite of anything I can do.Continue reading ““Extracts from Adam’s Diary””
Audiobooks review: “I Like You”
“I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence” by Amy Sedaris. Read by the author. Unabridged, 5 hours, 4 CDs. Hachette Audio. $29.98. Early in this book about entertaining at home, Sedaris says, “Even though the word entertainment is commonly used today, to me it sounds charmingly old-fashioned, like courtship or back-alley abortion.” Those words giveContinue reading “Audiobooks review: “I Like You””
Michael Janairo 