Olga

This book is a rare gem - educational and extremely interesting. I can't put it down (or rather turn off my player), and yet it also provides a great and unbiased overview of the founding of the state of Israel and the tragedy of the people of Palestine (both Jew and Arab). I highly recommend it, you'll enjoy it no matter your political leanings.

This is an excellent book that any lover of historical fiction would enjoy. It does have a couple of steamy scenes (I am no prude, but I felt they were a bit distracting from the story), so if you are offended by these sorts of things, you've been warned. Overall, well written and interesting. It is long, and does get a little repetitive in a way, but overall a truly enjoyable listen and well-read.

Yet another excellent book int he Artemis Fowl series. This book has a bit of an open end that wraps things up just enough for us not to feel cheated, but makes it clear that there's more to come in the series. A bit fewer plot twists than in the other AF novels, but still a delight to read/listen to. Excellent reading, too.

If you enjoy historical novels and/or historical fiction, you'll enjoy this retelling of the Elizabeth and Mary's story. This is not fiction, but sometimes truth is more interesting than fiction could possible be, and this is one of those cases. The story is engrossing, the reading is excellent, and you'll get a good idea of how these monarch's thought and acted, and how Europe lived in those times. Highly recommended!

This is a very fun listen for both kids and adults, and I can't wait for Audible to get the next books! However, while these books are indeed somewhat like Harry Potter in spirit, don't expect them to be exactly like Harry Potter - the plot here is a little slower, while the writing and characters are more complex. So in some ways, they are more enjoyable, while in other ways, they are a bit less of a "page turner" :). All in all, if you liked Harry, you are likely to very much enjoy this book.

Yet another great book by Jasper Fforde, but I didn't find it as good as lost in a good book. It's a great read (or you can listen), but it is more predictable and has less going on than the previous two books. Also, you DO have to read Lost in a Good Book to understand this one (while Lost in a Good Book doesn't really require the The Eyre Affair for understanding). Overall fun, but don't read it if you can't wait to find out the ending - this won't give you one!

This book isn't the best I've ever read (or listened to), but it's impossible to put down. It suffers from a common problem of long build-up and quick resolution. The characters are well-developed, but some disappear so abruptly at the end of the book, it's unclear why so much time was devoted to them in the beginning. The narrators are generally good, and it's nice to have two voices. The female narrator is sometimes a bit annoying though - she often sounds as if she's talking to 5-year-olds or ESL students - very s-l-o-w and clear, waaayyy too clear. Still, I couldn't stop listening (literally), and enjoyed every moment of it. I would definitely recommend this.