melrailey

I've had this audiobook for a while and just hadn't got to it because I got distracted by the Night Huntress series and had to listen to all of those. It took me an hour or so to get back into the feel of this series but once I did, I was not going anywhere. I like the way that Stephens builds a story and tells it. He takes the time to develop his characters and let them grow. He shows them dealing with the consequences of their prior actions. He's also inventive with his words and funny . But it's not the kind of funny where he's telling sarcastic jokes and expecting you to laugh. It's just little things thrown in that are funny - like the Edgar Allan Poe Home for Hopeless and Incorrigible Orphans. That's a great and funny name.

This audiobook is narrated by the great Jim Dale. Again, he is almost flawless. The only complaint I have about Jim Dale's narration is I hear Hermoine and Dumbledore when I listen to him. That's not his fault. He just does wonderful and memorable voices.

If you like middle grade fantasies, you should definitely pick up these books.

It's no secret I'm a Neil Gaiman fan. Love the man. And his audiobooks are always fantastic and Smoke and Mirrors is no exception. Gaiman's narration is spot on. As always when I listen to him tell a story, it feels like he's letting me in on a secret. You know, telling me a special tale that not many people know. I'd heard many of the stories in this collection in other places; but lots were brand new to me. They also opened up some new insights into Neil Gaiman that I hadn't seen before. This collection highlights Gaiman's unique talent and masterful ability to tell a story.

I really loved this book. It didn't have the epic-ness of American Gods but it was wasn't quite the same type of tale either. It was much more humorous and narrow in scope. At first I wasn't too sure how I was going to like the story but Neil Gaiman is a master storyteller. Combine that with Lenny Henry's perfect narration, and I was drawn in and hooked. I laughed out loud during this book. Shed a tear or two. Neil Gaiman is the type of writer that I aspire to be. If you want good storytelling, pick up any of his books. This is a good place to start.

I don't think I have ever read a more self-aware book. I laughed so much during this book. A lot of the time, I was laughing at the sheer ridiculousness of the story. I loved the way Scalzi brought in just about every science fiction trope that I can think of and worked it into the story. I loved the silliness in the story. I thought it was hilarious (as in private joke hilarious) that Wil Wheaton was reading this story. Really, I just loved this book. It's not this amazing work of fiction that will go down in history as the greatest story ever. But it is tons of fun. I have never watched the Star Trek series but I have watched science fiction and thought this was so much fun. I have a feeling if I was a Star Trek fan, I would have had even more fun with the story. If you're a sci-fi fan, I recommend you check this book out.

It feels like so many of my favorite series are ending :( I was so excited to get this audiobook because I love the world of Septimus Heap. I think Angie Sage has created an unique and creative magical world and her use of language is just terrific. She has some of the most intelligent humor I've ever seen in a book intended for this age of child. Sage assumes that the person reading her books is intelligent and never talks down to her audience. I love that. This is one of my top audiobooks so far this year. Gerard Doyle does a fantastic job narrating. I loved seeing Septimus and Jenna grow and take charge of their lives (even though they're just 15). At the end of the day, I was pleased where Sage ended the series (even though I still want more).

If you haven't started these books, I highly recommend them.

This is a modern epic fantasy. It took me two tries to get going on this audiobook. For some reason, the first time I tried to listen, I never could get into the story. Then, a year later, I tried again and this time I loved it! Now, I have to admit that I'd have been much happier if Neil Gaiman had narrated the story himself as he's probably one of my favorite narrators. I had a hard time getting used to the full cast especially as I felt there were some odd interjections.

As for the story itself, it was so creative. I loved figuring out who the gods were in the original incarnations. I liked the twists and I really felt for Shadow. I also got super excited at the part that took place in Rock City (seeing as how that's my hometown area). That made it feel like the story came to me.

Neil Gaiman is definitely at the top of my favorite writers list. Read anything by him.

I'd read this book about fifteen years ago and, truth be told, I'd forgotten a lot of what the story was about. But that ending had stuck in my head. I tend to think that I probably didn't recognize this book for the work of art that it is. With age and experience, I can see the genius of Fitzgerald and recognize the nuances that I think I missed in my younger days. I bought this audiobook for two reasons (1) the movie is coming out soon and I wanted a refresher on the story; and, (2) It's narrated by Jake Gyllenhaal. I wasn't overly impressed by Jake Gyllenhaal's narration. I thought it was adequate but he didn't bring that magic to the story that great narrators do i.e. Colin Firth in The End of the Affair. If you've never read this book, I'd say listen to this audiobook. It's well worth the listen even if the narration isn't out of the park.

How bittersweet. I've absolutely loved this book series. I can't remember a series that pulled at my heartstrings and made me cry, laugh, and feel so much - - especially on audiobook. I've loved Kaylee and her group of misfit friends - - even Sabine and Sophie. I'm so sad to see them go. When I got down to the last two hours of this audiobook, I found myself treasuring every minute knowing that this was the last time I was going to get a new book in this series for the first time. And Rachel Vincent did not disappoint. There was action, laughter, love, betrayal, death - - everything that makes a great book. And can I just say that Tod is the perfect guy. Well, except for that whole being dead thing.

This is one of my favorite audiobook series. Rusch is an expert at weaving a science fiction story. I love every character in these books. It's one of those that I don't mind that she switches points of view constantly. And I always want more when the books are over. I highly recommend the Retrieval Artist series to anybody that loves good science fiction. Also, Jay Snyder is the perfect narrator for this series.

So I've thought about this for a week and I'm still a bit conflicted on how I felt about this story. In my mind, I couldn't help but compare it to Their Eyes Were Watching God which is one of the most beautifully written books I've ever read and The Color Purple didn't have that lyricism and poetry in it that Their Eyes Were Watching God does. It didn't feel quite as authentic. For the first part of the book, I was completely uncomfortable which could well have been what Walker intended. I was unsure whether or nor I wanted to finish the book but it's one of those that I always felt like I should have read so I kept sticking it out to see what all the fuss was about. And then the letters started and I realized that I was crying. I wasn't just crying, I was bawling. Once the letters started, I began enjoying the book so much more.

This audiobook was narrated by Alice Walker and, although I have seen many places where the Walker is criticized as a narrator, I didn't have any problems with it. I think that the person that read Abileene for The Help would have been a better choice but Walker does okay. She's criticized for reading slowly but I think that Celie might be a slow talker.

Do I recommend the book? Yeah, I think everybody should read it at some point in their lives. But do I think you should run out and read it right now? No.

So I'm a huge Richelle Mead fan and after hearing about these books for forever, I decided to break down and start listening to them. I enjoyed this first book. Georgina is my kind of woman. She's powerful, smart, thinks for herself, works in a bookstore, relishes her books like a good meal. The guys were super-sexy and wonderful. And I know I could definitely fall for the sexy writer.

But I'm not sure I'm sold on this series yet. The story drug in a couple of places. Also, I figured out the bad guy halfway through the book. I kept thinking that surely Mead was going to pull a twist at the end and make this person not be the bad guy but she didn't. In all honesty, if I didn't already own the second audiobook, I'm not sure that I would be that pressed to continue the series. But I do have the second book so I will give the series one more shot. So I'm a huge Richelle Mead fan and after hearing about these books for forever, I decided to break down and start listening to them. I enjoyed this first book. Georgina is my kind of woman. She's powerful, smart, thinks for herself, works in a bookstore, relishes her books like a good meal. The guys were super-sexy and wonderful. And I know I could definitely fall for the sexy writer.

But I'm not sure I'm sold on this series yet. The story drug in a couple of places. Also, I figured out the bad guy halfway through the book. I kept thinking that surely Mead was going to pull a twist at the end and make this person not be the bad guy but she didn't. In all honesty, if I didn't already own the second audiobook, I'm not sure that I would be that pressed to continue the series. But I do have the second book so I will give the series one more shot.