Stevon

I'm not even sure how I came across this book and it was my first with this author. It was an enjoyable listen. It was a bit more senuous than I expected but in the end that didn't distract from the story. The book grew on me as I progessed through it. The historical part was good as well.

This is my third Penny novel and I'm reading them in order. I enjoy the stories but I'm still getting used to them. This one had two good mysteries in it and you eventually get caught up in the story and it flows right along. But, I have trouble keeping the characters straight for some reason. There is just enough French in the story, being set in Quebec, that I wonder if that's it, it doesn't seem like it should but I do think about it. Many of the names are French, the pronunciations are French, and it is set in a native French speaking land. Who knows, maybe the local English speakers feel the same way? I had a semester of French and feel good about my language capabilities in general so, as I say, it makes me wonder. But, I still enjoy the plot, the rich characters, and the setting. The Montreal area has a lot of different types of weather and the author does bring them all to life. I've always wanted to visit Montreal, now I'll have to take a drive in the countryside looking for Three Pines:) On to book #4!

First time author that audible got me to try by offering it as a free short story. Audible further got me as I'm not really a follower of the vampire genre and, therefore, wasn't aware in the title that undead most likely meant a story with vampires in it. But, I had it and liking to give new authors a try I did go ahead and listen to the book. I was a half hour into it before realizing the vampire aspect. But, it was enjoyable to listen to, the writing was snappy, the narration good and I relatively breezed right thought it. I always feel a little cheated when listening to a short story or unabridged book as I really enjoy plot and character development. Will I give Molly Harper another try? I don't know, maybe if I find one not vampire related that is rated over 4.0 on the audible scale. But, for a short story, it was good enough.

This is a series where I was able to start with book #1. This was book #2. I had listened to #1 only several months ago but wished it had been more recent as some of the storyline tied into the first book and the details weren't as fresh as I would've liked. In this book, the author introduced several characters early that I had a hard time keep straight until I progressed in the story somewhat. But, the elements of what I liked in the first book were there and as I listened to the story it all came together. The characters were rich, the story involved, it was a thinking man's mystery, and in the end Ms Penny penned a good story. Living in the US you think that Canadian winters must be cold and this story did nothing to dispel that. It's interesting as well to hear about the interactions of the French and English in Quebec. There was some French language in the book but most of it was fairly simple stuff and didn't really distract from the story. As I plan on progressing methodically through all the books in the series, I will look forward to getting to know the characters and the town of Three Pines more intimately. On to #3!

Whew, this book was a long one, almost 58 hours to listen to but it was worth it. This is book #6 in the Outlander series and was set in North Carolina in years 17724-1776, right before and during the start of the Revolutionary War. This series has a bit of everything you would want in a book, rich characters which after 6 books shouldn't be a surprise. But, the author does a great job of describing what life might have been really like during these times; botany, medicine, the what seems to us as a primitive way of living but in the end it's about the characters and their lives; you get so caught up in the travails of Jamie, Claire, Breanna, Roger, Ian, the list goes on. it took me a month to listen to this book and that alone was intimidating but it is so good I never got tired of it and wanted to get to another book. I do recommend that if you might be considering this series to start with book #1, "Outlander". I have recently learned that some part of this series is going to be made into a TV series on the Starz cable TV channel. It will be interesting to see how that's done. But, before then it will be on to book #7, "Echo in the Bones", after a short break from the series first! Enjoy

What to say? I broke one of my own book rules in listening to the Walt Longmire series in that I usually go through my books in the order I buy them but not this time. I read online that season two of the Longmire TV series on A&E cable would be starting on Memorial Day weekend 2013. I haven't seen any of season one either. Knowing that seeing a book you like as a movie or as a TV series can be disappointing and since I was enjoying the books so much, I decided I wanted to finish all the books that are out at this time before seeing any of the TV shows. So, this is the last of the 8 Longmire books currently out. Craig Johnson is really a creative, imaginative writer. In his series he brings Wyoming to life, he brings the characters of not only Walt Longmire himself but his family, friends, and staff to life in a very fun, witty way. You can't help but respect Walt as the sort of crusty old sheriff that does whatever it takes to solve a crime in his county. The writing makes you chuckle at times. In this book, Walt spends his time on a Cheyenne Indian reservation on the Wyoming/Montana border helping a new chief of police solve a crime while he gives the chief help in learning how to investigate a crime. At the same time his daughter is making plans to get married. There is a lot going on but Walt works through it all as only he can. Finding this series has been a real joy. I hope I like the TV series, the author says he approves the adaptation so I will watch based on that recommendation. And, I'll look forward to book #9, whenever that is.

I'd have rated this one higher than 5 stars if I could have, it was that good. Craig Johnson really out did himself with this story. He left all of Walt's staff and friends behind and had Walt going up a mountain by himself chasing the bad guys when he had every reason not to. But then, that's Walt Longmire and the more we get to know him the more we like and respect him. I'd say that Walt sure could retire after this adventure and no one could fault him. But, I know he doesn't retire as I'm on to "As the Crow Flies".

Trouble sure seems to find its way to the least populated county in the least populated state! And, Walt Longmire works at solving these crimes as only he and his staff can. It seems I've been listening to narrator George Guidall for years but he is especially good with the Longmire stories. What can I say, I've enjoyed all the book in the series so far, now it's on to "Hell is Empty".

In book #3 we learned about Walt's Philly connections, in book #4 we have a story that weaves Walt's Vietnam war experience into the mystery. I'm now caught up in the series as I started with "Dark Horse", book #5 then went back to the beginning. It's been an interesting series. I broke my own book reading process with this series as I almost always go through my books in the order I buy them. I changed up for the Longmire series, mainly because I enjoy them so much, but the final decision was when I discovered there is a Longmire TV series on A&E and season 2 starts on Memorial Day weekend and I want to have read all of the book out at that time before I get to see how TV has altered the stories. I see the author likes how they've been adapted but, I don't know, the TV adaptions are never the same. Anyway, back to this story, it grabbed you right from the beginning, it was an easy, interesting listen and weaves in all the characters even while bringing a Moretti, other than Vic, from Philly to Wyoming. Learning a bit about Walt's Vietnam experience was interesting but at the core, it's about Walt and the person he is and how that drives his personal and professional life. And, I assume most fans, like me, enjoy it. On to #6, "Junkyard Dogs"

Well, I'm hooked on these Walt Longmire books now and will methodically work through the ones I've haven't listened to yet. This one was set in Philadelphia and not Wyoming. I'm not surprised the author set one of his stories in Philly as his bio states that he has Philly ties. So, I can see why one would be there since his daughter lives there and his detective is from there but I am a bit surprised that he chose just his third book in the series to tell us about Vic's family, a lot about Philly's history, including Indian, but in the overall series it doesn't really matter when he introduces this part of the series. I'm sure his Philly family and friends appreciated it. But, it was another good Walt Longmire tale. In book #2 when his daughter visits him in Wyoming he's so busy working a case he doesn't have much time for her and in this one she's injured and they can't talk to one another. We'll see if that changes going forward. The author really has a witty style of writing, the way he describes people, the settings, the mystery, etc., is really enjoyable. He spins good mystery yarns but it's his character development and writing style that really pull you in. Now I feel like I know the Moretti family and more about Vic's upbringing there, I'm ready to get back to Wyoming, just like Walt. On to book #4!

I read William Faulkner or at least tried to read him in my 20's. I never really thought much about him after that until audible offered up this book as part of its Audible Modern Vanguard classic selections. The plot seemed interesting and I liked that it was narrated by actor Will Patton, who also narrates the James Lee Burke novels I enjoy, and since he's from the south where this book takes place, he had the southern accents down to a T.

This is a thought provoking book that touches on several different topics. Since it's set in Mississippi in the 1930's, it is a timepiece novel looking at that era, post Civil War but where racism still existed even all those years later. But it also touches on the hopes and dreams of people who are just trying to get by in life. It touches on the effects our parents and even out grandparents have on our lives. Did we lead the lives our parents wanted us to or did we stay true to ourselves and lead the lives we wanted to? Was it possible to do both? How did our grandparents effect the lives of their children and how then did that get passed down onto us? Many of us rebel and strike off on our own but as we get older we sometimes think that we are leading the life we were supposed to and now we've gone full circle.

Faulkner touches on all these issues in this book. Yes, it's a novel of the deep south in the 1930's but it is also universally timeless. I enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would when starting out. Read it slow and think about it, as i said, it's thought provoking.