Sheila

Georgie's royal relatives don't think twice about asking her for favors. Unfortunately, fulfilling those favors usually places her in situations from embarrassing to out-and-out dangerous. "Babysitting" the beautiful, but wayward, Princess Hannelore will prove to be both. Upon arrival, the princess proves to be a spirited beauty with a penchant for gangster films and an overactive interest in good-looking young men. But soon, those associated with the princess begin to suffer accidents. Then events take an even more sinister turn. Luckily for Georgie, her unusual background of royal education and working-class spunk make her capable of handling nearly all the outrageous situations she finds herself in. When she does find herself in over her head, she can always count on her flamboyant friends and family to make things even more complicated than before. This series bubbles over with wit and charm. Murder was never so much fun.

Sideways ranks far better than average. For a book that focuses on such wanton abandon, it is remarkably thought provoking. I found myself regularly pausing to meditate on the characters and their moral quagmires.

I was most interested in the unshakeable bond of friendship between Jack and Miles. Whenever I would begin to think that one was just using the other, some jaw-dropping act of kinship would pass between them. I was also intrigued by Miles' need to self-destruct whenever he felt he was becoming too amoral. I could have passed on all the wine-tasting jargon, but it was a great vehicle for the story. What better metaphor for the book than raising the enjoyment of intoxication to an art form?

He breathes real life into Jack and Miles making their desperation palpable.

I really can't explain why I bought the book, since I did not like the movie. However, I'm glad I did listen to it. I found the character development and ending supremely satisfying. I ended up really loving these louts. Not to mention how crazy funny they are.

Surprising, original, side-splitting.

I'd say this falls somewhere between the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series and the Naked Gun movies, but there's a far more successful plot to hang the outrageous satire on in The Android's Dream.

I've listened to Agent to the Stars, also by Scalzi, and Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. Wil Wheaton did a fabulous job narrating each of them. He voices numerous characters believably, and has great comic timing. I've started downloading books he's narrated by other authors simply because I enjoyed his performances so much.

Wow, did this book make me laugh! I'd been reading some serious topics, and this book was medicine for my soul. I've listened to it twice in the last month.

I can't give any better praise than the book was so enjoyable, I went on to buy more books from both the author and narrator. More please!

Caring, idealistic, and clueless

It reminds me a lot of The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Age 13 3/4. Both characters are struggling to have a decent love relationship, and are constantly caught in outrageous situations brought on by their friends, family, and own poor judgement. They both long to be taken seriously, but are absolutely clueless. Since both have good hearts we keep hoping for their happiness, even while laughing at their misadventures.

Bridget is definitely my favorite character.

The book did make me laugh a lot. Some of the situations Bridget gets herself in are way over the top, but it still is very entertaining.

Because some of the situations are so far fetched, it makes this book just a little less enjoyable than the first. Still I've listened to it more than once, and will undoubtedly do so again.

I've read a number of the Monsieur Pamplemousse mysteries, and have found them to be fun, witty, and farcical. But I felt like this one never really took off. The characters are the same lovable creatures. Once again, Pamplemousse must rescue his boss from a disaster of his own making. All of the elements are there, but the story never really gels this time. If you are a first-time reader of this series, I'd suggest starting with a different book. Bill Wallis did a fine job of narration as he has done on the previous books.

I sincerely hope that Audible is able to add some of the earlier books in this series. They are highly entertaining. I worry that this one might put listeners off of an otherwise entertaining series.

I've listened to hundreds of audiobooks, and lean heavily toward classic literature and fantasy epics. I got this book almost by accident, and have discovered a series I will enjoy for a long time to come. This book is over the top. Way over the top. I don't know how it will stand up over time, but it is one of the most fun and entertaining stories I've encountered in a very long time.

Atticus, who is over 2000 years old but looks like a college student, has acquired a lot of knowledge over the centuries, and the mix of references to mythology, ancient culture, Shakespeare, more recent history, and arena rock is a little mind-bending. But by far the best story element is Oberon. Atticus owns an Irish wolfhound named Oberon. He shares a mental link with Atticus, and is simultaneously a profoundly innocent, wise-cracking, and cunningly mischievous character. His running comments provide more than comic relief. They may be the best part of the book. Perhaps he should have been named Puck rather than Oberon.

Author Kevin Hearne engaged my curiosity so much, that I've gone looking for his other work, and will dive right in to his other books. As to the narration, Luke Daniels is simply amazing. He adds another wonderful level of enjoyment to the audiobook experience. And I will be exploring other books he has narrated as well.

Adrian's parents have reconciled, but he is still obsessed with Pandora and writing for the BBC. Adrian's life is about to turn upside down, but he sails on naively unaware of major events happening around him. Much of the book concerns his mother's pregnancy and delivery, and the settling in of Adrian's new sister. This made me laugh so hard, I had to stop listening while driving. I couldn't see through the tears.

Maybe it's because the characters are more familiar, but I thought this book was funnier than the first. Adrian's diary entries present huge warning flags of trouble ahead, and much of the fun is seeing it come crashing in. I can't wait to get to the next book.

Adrian is older, but definitely not any wiser. His powers of unintended self-sabotage are almost magical. While the book is very funny, one would expect Adrian to have matured somewhat by now. He loses his girlfriend, his job, and his apartment. And he's just getting warmed up! He could give Eeyore lessons in bad luck. But he has marvelous powers of resilience, and he gets back up and moves onward. Adrian is a man now, and eventually some of the losses he faces are more painful and lasting than the usual teenage frustrations. Also, as Adrian is considerably older, his poetry takes on a more adult tone. I was listening to this at work and started blushing!

While this was enjoyable, it just wasn't as laugh-out-loud funny as the first two books. That said, I'll still be getting the next in the series.

The first few weeks of Adrian's diary may start out a little slowly. Don't stop reading, because soon you won't stop laughing. This is one of those rare books that made me laugh so hard, people kept asking me what I was listening to.

Adrian Mole writes himself an impressive list of New Year's resolutions, and he tries painfully hard to keep them. Unfortunately, his parents' marriage is crumbling, his best friend has gone punk, his dog keeps getting sick, and the BBC won't publish his poems. Then a distractingly pretty girl comes to school...

When I read Bridget Jones's Diary, I kept thinking how much it reminded me of The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole. Both characters are desperately trying to be better people, to be taken seriously by the people around them, yet they continually land themselves in the most outrageous and ridiculous situations. Both are plagued by embarrassing parents, overly dramatic friends, money problems, and personal disappointments. Still, both Adrian and Bridget make us laugh over and over again. They say and do and think all the same things we do, but are too embarrassed to admit. If we don't recognize ourselves in Adrian, we certainly want him for a friend.

I particularly enjoyed Nicholas Barnes' narration. It takes a careful balance to portray how seriously Adrian takes himself and still show how hilarious the situations around him are.

Nero Wolfe's interest is raised when a wealthy woman offers him a huge check if he can get the FBI to stop harassing her. Only a man as arrogant as Nero Wolfe would even dream of attempting this act of professional suicide. But Nero Wolfe loves a challenge, so he takes the case. Although the plots of the books are always clever and engaging, the irresistible appeal of the Nero Wolfe books is the interplay between the principal characters. This is witty banter at its absolute best. Rarely will you hear goads and observations delivered with such acerbic humor or with such rich vocabulary. Stout could have educated Shakespeare in the art of satiric dialog. In particular, this book is my favorite because Mr. Wolfe's real desire to strike a blow for civil liberties and his evident enjoyment of the challenge enriches the story.

The Fairy-Tale Detectives breathes hysterically funny new life into all the old favorites. In the world of Sabrina, Daphne, and Relda Grimm the folk of fairy tales are alive and living as neighbors, friends, and even enemies. Watching a favorite character cope with the modern world, display unexpected foibles, or interact with characters well outside their own stories is intoxicating and fun. The sisters and their friend Puck display all the affection, friendship, and spirited rivalry one would expect in siblings, all the while making parents thank the heavens their children can't get up to magical hijinks. I've rarely read a series of books so creative, engaging, and full of laughs. Reading them never fails to lift my spirits. The only downside the books have is the stitch you'll get in your side.