All Ears Audiobooks discussion

This is the third book by Thomas Madden that I have listened to and I have enjoyed all of them. In God Wills It!: Understanding the Crusades he presents information in a very organized way and touches on many dimensions of this subject, from the religious powers and thinking, to the secular and geographic influences in this 400 year period of the middle ages. I would recommend this to any history buff.

I finally get to enter the AllEars community! On a trip to Southern california and back, I listened to Louise Erdrich's 'The Plague of Doves.' It's the perfect book for a long drive...part soap opera, part high literature, and changing narrators (two voices and even more characters in the book). Perhaps not Erdrich's best work, but well worth the lengthy investment in time. Kathleen McInerny does a great job with the female parts as does Peter Francis James with the males (I especially liked Judge Antone Bazil Coutts). Love, lust and murder on and off the reservations of North Dakota.

I just finished "Peaks and Valleys : Making Good And Bad Times Work For You--At Work And In Life" by Spencer Johnson.
Even though I read "Who Moved My Cheese?" more than two time, I still confused. May be I am not running in a maze!
It is more real and understandable on peaks and valleys this time. Everyone has peaks and valleys in one's life and emotion. How to deal with one? in a wiser way? in a messy way? I know my choice after reading this book.

Lars wrote: "I finally get to enter the AllEars community! On a trip to Southern california and back, I listened to Louise Erdrich's 'The Plague of Doves.' It's the perfect book for a long drive...part soap o..."

Hi, Lars. So glad to have you posting! Great book review - can't wait to listen to this one.

Julie

A Briefer History of Time by Stephen Hawking is an updated, shortened and easier to understand version of his book A Brief History of Time. It touches on the big bang, Newtonian physics, relativity, particle physics, the efforts to find a grand unified theory, dark matter, black holes, and time travel. This book rides the boundary between explaining the basics of these abstract concepts to the unscientific reader and offering details in these areas that only science lover would enjoy. This book can be enjoyed by most readers.

I just finished 2 books, A Room With a View, by E.M. Forster and Chris Bohjalian's Skeletons at the Feast. A Room with a View is a wonderful classic - not that deep, but a fun book to read. I would have a hard time recommending Frederick Davidson as a narrator. I have seen lots of mixed reviews about him. Many people say he takes some time to get used to. If that's the case, at 7 cds, A Room with a View is not long enough. His women's voices have an irritating quality that made them all sound so simpering and shallow. This might have been intentional given the characters in the book, but it definitely detracted from what was a delightful story.

I absolutely loved Skeletons at the Feast. This book is guaranteed to move you - fantastic choice for a book club! I can't wait to discuss this - anyone out there read this one?

I finished "Change Your Thoughts Meditation" by Dr. Wayne Dyer. It is a good meditation CD when you already understand the Tao verses. I am calmer and more peaceful after listening this CD. I am really into Tao...Tao...Tao...I think I should get one in my collection.

I finished "Mindfulness for Beginners"
by Jon Kabat-Zinn. I find the narrator is a matter when you listen to CD. I do not like the voice of this CD. His voice makes me unhappy, discouraging and depress. I do not get anything from him.

I listened to The Human, the Orchid, and the Octopus. This memoir by the legendary scientist, explorer and environmental advocate Jacques Cousteau speaks to both of his passions. He captivates with stores of his pioneering exploration of the underworld, and he shocks with his accounts of the destructive impact humans have had on the once virgin seas. Both amazing and disturbing.

I just finished Becoming Enlightened by Dalai Lama.

In Becoming Enlightened, His Holiness the Dalai Lama powerfully explores the foundation of Buddhism, laying out an accessible and practical approach to age-old questions: How can we live free from suffering? How can we achieve lasting happiness and peace?

Dalai Lama says that all religions are valid and each is suited well for a different group of people. It says Buddhists should never go around trying to convert others. Buddhism is not better than other religions. Each religion is a path, each one promotes peace, compassion and charity.

Time is precious, don't waste it by hurrying to do things. Instead meditate daily, to give yourself some calm, quiet time. You should try to bring under control your lust for objects and people. Learn to be content with what you have, to appreciate what you already own.

Focus on appreciating yourself and others. People pray all the time for more money, better health, a better job, etc. - but rarely do they simply focus on being content NOW. In fact, if people relaxed and were content with they had now, they would be healthier and happier now.

I have listened to "Stories of Pirates" by Russell Punter for the 100th time. My son makes me turn it on everytime we get in the car.

One of the best pre-schooler books I have listened to. There are three stories in the book. It has all the elements: sound effects, background music, and animated reader that makes this a great audio book.

"Tuned In: Uncover the Extraordinary Opportunities That Lead to Business Breakthroughs" by Craig Stull

It explores the concept of creating a product or service that resonates with buyers. By getting closer to your customers you'll be able to know what they want, and then offer it to them. By paying attention, you'll be successful.

This book focuses on 'Tuning In' to your customers. The authors lay out a 6-step process for tuning in, very detailed yet written in plain English all readers will understand -

1. Find unresolved problems
2. Understand buyer personas
3. Quantify the impact
4. Create breakthrough experiences
5. Articulate powerful ideas
6. Establish authentic connections

The book is full of several examples of why something like Apples Newton was a flop and why the Nano was a success. The key concept is does your company/product 'resonate' with your customer. Do you focus on your customers problems or your companies problems? The resounding answers is to focus on your customer in the correct manner and the cash will follow.

I finished "Mindfulness Meditation - Cultivating the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind" by Jon Kabat-Zinn. The illustration of mindfulness is good. I like the phrase: mindfulness is like a pot, you put everything in it, and let it cook. It takes time to digest after you eat, right?!
On the other hand, the meditation part is bad. His voice is totally discouraging. It is bored to meditate with him.

I just finished The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides. Do you remember that old TV show, The Wonder Years, about a man reflecting on his childhood growing up in a suburban town during the late 60s? The show discusses some of the social issues and events of that era, and revolves around the narrator's crush on Winnie Cooper, the 'girl next door'. The Virgin Suicides is similar in that it is a retrospective of high school boys growing up during that time, only much MUCH darker. A group of boys live across the street from the Lisbon household, a family with 5 teenage daughters. The neighborhood boys, already infatuated with these girls, become obsessed with their lives as all 5 girls commit suicide. The book is well-written and has a strong narration, but it is a hard one to recommend. Although having the story told from the perspective of adolescent bystanders is creative and gives a horrible story an element of innocence, at the end of this book, I just wanted to understand why these girls all took their lives - maybe so I could convince myself that it could never really happen.

I just finished Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. This book definitely goes in that category of 'books that you read (and hated) when you were in high school, but should read again.' What made me pick this one up is that it is narrated by Davina Porter - one of my favorite British narrators. Although I found parts of the book to be very long and verbose, I loved some of the descriptions of everyday life. Whether it was a pasaage about peasants working the harvest or an agonizing childbirth scene, parts of this book were mesmerizing and I found myself sitting in the car not wanting to turn it off. Porter's narration was amazing - truly worthy of her Golden Earphones award for this book. If you hated this book in high school - give it another chance in audio. You just might change your mind.

Julie at All Ears wrote: "I just finished The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides. Do you remember that old TV show, The Wonder Years, about a man reflecting on his childhood growing up in a suburban town during the late ..."

Given your take on 'Suicides,' I'm not sure if I should recommend another Eugenides book, but here goes--'Middlesex.' It also deals with what could be considered uncomfortable subject matter--sexual identity and incest--but is a fascinating story enhanced by Eugenides's wonderful style. Someday, I'll read 'The Virgin Suicides' (and see Sofia Coppola's movie).

Lars wrote: "Julie at All Ears wrote: "I just finished The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides. Do you remember that old TV show, The Wonder Years, about a man reflecting on his childhood growing up in a subu..."

Lars - thanks so much for the recommendation! I have read Middlesex and I completely agree with you - great story accompanied by wonderfully descriptive writing. By the way, I've been browsing your bookshelves and love your reviews, especially for the young adult titles. I am going to get Prince of Persia to share with my son on our next vacation - based on your review, I think he'd love it.

Julie at All Ears wrote: "Lars wrote: "Julie at All Ears wrote: "I just finished The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides. Do you remember that old TV show, The Wonder Years, about a man reflecting on his childhood growing..."

Julie, also check out my website http://lars4learning.com/ once in a while, where I am trying to put up some fairly current reflections on children's literature. The one up there now is about kids' books that have been made into movies with the focus on 'True Grit.' If your son likes the Percy Jackson series, he might like Terry Deary's Fire Thief series.

Just read Nothing to Lose by Lee Child, I enjoyed it. This was my first Lee Child book and I was in the mood for it. I can see why Jack Reacher, the ex-military policeman, has such a following- what's not to like about a guy who can take 'em on 4-on-1, then 6-on-1 and only come away with sore knuckles. I didn't know what I was getting into so it took me a while to figure him out. Then it kept me interested through all the twists and turns. Jack is determined, relentless, physical, always thinking, and hates the bad guys. No situation is to impossible for him to get out of. Now I have to go back and read the first book in the series Killing Floor.

Hi, Lars.

Thanks for the recommendation for my son - we're always looking for good adventure series. Great website - would it be ok if we include a link to your website as an educational resource?

Thanks,

Julie

Lee wrote: "Just read Nothing to Lose by Lee Child, I enjoyed it. This was my first Lee Child book and I was in the mood for it. I can see why Jack Reacher, the ex-military policeman, has such a following- wha..."

Yes, Julie...link to me! Also, I'll put a link to AllEars on my site.

I just finished "People of the Book" by Geraldine Brooks, Michael at the store said that the book that it is based on really exists - "the Sarajevo Haggadah" that is a very old and rare illumated Haddagah, which is read during Passover in the Jewish tradition. The book was saved from Nazi Germany by a brave Muslim librarian (?) and stored in a Mosque during WWII. This book is an interweaving of stories based on clues found in the book by a professional conservator/academic. What Michael and I agreed on is that the storyline of the modern person - the conservator, wasn't that compelling since she wasn't that attractive of a charcacter or story. However the substories were beautifully written and the book was a vehicle to tell those stories over the centuries. The literary device - using the clues to delve into the history of the book, was I thought a a bit worn towards the end. Overall it was a well written book, but I wish the modern story was better thought out and be as arfully written as the other stories.

For any of you, like me, that didn't read The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri when it was on the best seller list for so long, it is well worth circling back for a listen. Knowing that the story is semi-autobiographical, made me pay close attention to details. As a person of Northern European descent, it was fascinating to gain some insight into Bengali culture, especially juxtaposed against the American way. As a former NYer, I thought Lahari's depiction of Maxine's family was pretty darn accurate. It's hard enough to find one's way in a culturally homogeneous environment, daunting to integrate two or more! If you liked The Namesake, I also highly recommend The Hungry Tide by Amitov Ghosh.

I've recently finished 2 children's books - both wonderful listens. Carl Hiaasen's latest, Scat , is funny, exciting and has wonderful lessons about family and our environment. Ed Asner's audio narration was just ok - maybe it was too many hours watching Mary Tyler Moore - I had a hard time picturing kids with his voice. But the strong story makes up for it. Definitely recommended as a good book for a family road trip.

I read Mildred Taylor's Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, because my son had to read this for school. What a moving and outstanding book - definitely deserving of it's Newbery award. This book deals with some very difficult issues of racism in Mississippi during the Depression. I kept on thinking that somehow this book would have that 'happily ever after' ending. Not so. A great book that I would recommend to older children - 10 +, but definitely should be discussed with adults due to tough content. Great audio narration.

After listening to some pretty serious books, I picked up The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy looking for some good laughs and witty humor. No disappointments here! I really enjoyed Stephen Fry's narration. Known as the 'other' Harry Potter narrator, I have never listened to any of his books. This was extremely well done and a great match for Douglas Adams' bizarre wit. A perfect 42!

I listened to The Building Blocks of Human Life: Understanding Mature Cells and Stem Cells, a Modern Scholar Series book. This audiobook takes you on a course explaining all the cells of the human body. He diligently walks through each type of cell discussing its specialized functions and interesting characteristics. This book contains a lot of detail and it is presented to you as if you were sitting in on the end of year summary lecture in an advanced biology class. Very interesting and amazing, but be ready for it as he uses all of the technical vocabulary that a professor would use talking to a class already familiar with the terminology. This is best as a refresher for medical professionals or for the serious biology fan.

I finished "The Friday Night Knitting Club" by Kate Jacobs. It is nice to have a group of people sharing same interest or habit. Yes, knitting seems an old-fashioned habit. People do not have time to knit in this busy world. Sometime, the yarn is more expensive than clothes. It is easier to buy a ready-made clothes. Fortunately, I learnt knitting when I took needlework class in secondary school.
I like the stories, but I am sad when I read the ending. Too surprise to accept it.

I just finishes Groundswell by Charlene Li. If you are in retail, marketing, or any type of business where people's reviews can impact your revenue, then this book is a must-read. The face of advertising and the consumer is changing. Whether it is through facebook, blogging, twitter, or goodreads, viral marketing gives businesses a new way to connect with customers. Got to get clicking!

Janice wrote: "I finished "The Friday Night Knitting Club" by Kate Jacobs. It is nice to have a group of people sharing same interest or habit. Yes, knitting seems an old-fashioned habit. People do not have time ..."

Yes knitting is a bit of a luxury, and it isn't a way to save money, but it is as other crafts, so alluring when you see the pictures in the magazine. I've done crafts all my life and it is hard to fit it in at times. And yes I was surprised at the ending as well. Have you read the follow up book - I think it's called Knit Two.

Dog Days Dispatches from Bedlam Farm

This book gives the individual who has an aspirations of becoming a farmer or wanting to have a ranch a hard reality check. Farmers and ranchers who raise animals as a means of making a living, have to make some very hard decisions and they make them matter-of-factly and swiftly. Jon like most city folks wants to treat every critter as if they were a pet. He comes to find out that it is one thing to go to great lengths to care for a dog, no matter the medical costs, but an entirely different story when it comes to sheep, goats, cows etc. To what lengths would you go to when you have a dozen of each. I speak for experience. Many moons ago when I was young and wanted adventure, I took my three year old daughter and went to Arizona. I was able to rent a ten acre ranch and a mobile home. The ranch had stables, barns and pens for animals. I got chickens for eggs and made the unfortunate mistake of thinking I would raise a pig for market and we would have pork. Well....we brought a piglet and raised it for 10 months, cried for days when it went to market, and when the packages were brought back to us, neither my daughter or I ate pork for a year. I then decided I just could not be a rancher or farmer and promptly got a job.

Jon also talked about his decision about how many is too many dogs and are they getting the attention they need. Without spoiling the story, it was interesting how he comes to a conclusion and the solution.

I am a critter lover and it has made me reflect on my decisions about my animals. I have four dogs and I make a more conscience effort in making sure that each one is given their due in love, exercise and attention.

Just finished Loving Frank by Nancy Horan. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has even a passing interest in Frank Lloyd Wright and the "women movement" in the first decade of the 20th century. The story is chalked full of insight into both. When I was in grade school, one of my friends lived in a house designed by FLW. The house had many of the qualities of the house designed for Edwin and Mamah by FLW. Reading this book reminded me of how exceptional that house was and how it made me feel to be in it.

I just finished listening to "Passion and Purpose" by John Mackey, the CEO of Whole Foods.


Mackey is an advocate of a new business model he calls “conscious capitalism,” one that involves a “stakeholder” rather than “shareholder” philosophy. He rejects the traditional profit-centered business model that seeks to optimize profits for investors only.
Rather, he believes that the key to maximizing long-term profits is by “having a deeper business purpose, great products, customer satisfaction, employee happiness, excellent suppliers, community and environmental responsibility.”
"Just like individual people can follow their hearts and discover their own sense of deeper purpose, a business can have a deeper purpose.

Whole Foods has a policy of fulfilling the needs of many “stakeholders” in the company: customers, employees, shareholders, suppliers, the community and the environment. The company is known for paying high wages and benefits to its workers, including stock options to most employees rather than only executives; and it donates 5% of its profits to local causes.

I listened to Scat by Carl Hiaasen. I thought that this book was very good. one thing I didnt like was that the narator did not change his voice and it was sometimes hard to hear who was saying what. I liked the part where Twilly messed up the oil drilling opperation by reorganizing the pink guide flags into the word "Scat".

I just finished two fantastic audiobooks - 5 stars for both of them! The first is Dick Hill's narration of The Adventures of Huckleberrry Finn by Mark Twain. I picked up this book because there has been so much in the press recently about removing Huckleberry Finn from many high school reading lists. No better press for a book than banning it! The story is a classic with a fun plot and two wonderful characters, Huck Finn and Jim, a runaway slave. It is such a good picture of life in small Southern towns along the Mississippi. What can be difficult for many students is the strong Southern dialect in the book which is told as a journal by Huck Finn. Dick Hill accent and intonation is perfect for this book. He won an Audie award for this narration and he absolutely deserves it.

The other book I just finished is The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo by Stieg Larsson. This one is narrated by the ever-talented Simon Vance (who has joined our All Ears group - welcome Simon!). This mystery is not for the faint of heart. It is gritty and explicit, but the violence is not gratuitous - it is an integral part of the plot. If you are looking for a book that will keep you glued to your earbuds, then this is it. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is the first of a trilogy. The 2nd book releases this summer, but I understand that it is already available in the UK. Anyone heading that way soon? I hope Simon Vance reads the next 2 books - his narration on this was spectacular!

I just finished Nose Down, Eyes Up.
I am not real sure what this book was really trying to say. The main character was so very disjointed in his life and you just wanted to shoot him and put him out of his misery. I did enjoy, however, his conversations with his four dogs. Some of the dogs actions, as described by the dogs themself, explained some of the behaviors all of us has seen in our own critters and our reaction to those certain behaviors.

I did not especially care for the book, but continued to listen to it because of the dog discussions.

I just finish "Unlocking Your Intuitive Power" by Laura Alden Kamm

What exactly is intuition? “It is your connection with your soul, with your spirit,” says Laura Alden Kamm, who realized her own intuitive abilities after a near-death experience at the age of 26. “When you’re aligned with your intuition,” she teaches, “you access the ability to make sense out of anything and everything you encounter.” The telescoping inner vision she experienced during her illness was the first step in her intuitive journey, and in the three decades since she has inspired thousands with her compassionate, empowering art.

The audiobook contains useful exercises to increase intuition as well as a fascinating account of the author's own development of intuition. Many of the exercises are simple but effective. It is definitely NOT an audio for the car. There are a lot meditation exercises.

Just finished 'The Garden of Last Days' by Andre Dubus III. Despite Lily's feelings of discomfort as she started this work, I dived in because I had also liked 'House of Sand and Fog.' This one, though, brought back some doubts I had while reading 'House.' Every character in 'Garden'--and there are a rich assortment of characters all speaking in first person--slips into rhetorical questioning, usually preceded by an expletive, as in 'G-dd---n it, why did she...?' or 'why did he...?' or 'why did they...?' and this device, besides becoming tiresome and grating, also comes close to whining. I can't remember if Dubus did the same thing in 'House,' but that whining quality and a lack of humor were there. Beyond that, Dubus's limning of a 9/11 terrorist borders on stereotype. The premise that he takes off from--the visits to strip clubs indulged in by the plane hijackers and the dichotomy of those visits with their fundamentalist agenda--is fascinating, but Dubus doesn't give us much in the way of insight or meaning. There was enough here to keep me going to the end, but overall a letdown.

Mindless Eating, by Brian Wansink, was an interesting read at first and is well worth the time, especially if you've mysteriously packed on more pounds than you think you deserve. However, the information within is compiled in such a way that to the average reader, the message contained quickly becomes mindless reading if you're not attentive.

Mindless Eating is a critical, research based book backed by clinical studies done by Dr. Brian Wansink and his lab team. Wansink sets out to prove that our eyes are indeed bigger than our stomachs and that we Americans, unlike other people of other countries, seek external cues to tell us when to stop eating, despite our constant reassurance that propaganda, packaging and poor choices and judgement does not work on us.

The experiments and clinical surveys and trials contained in this book are well worth reading and are quite fascinating, but after a while, I found myself grumbling "Okay, I get it, we eat more than we think, enough already."

Take heart, though. Beyond this clinical browbeating lies hope in promising research, advice, meal planning and a point-by-point breakdown of "Mindless Eating Types" and what each diner can do to be more mindful of what they intake, how much and how they can make beneficial changes that don't feel like a diet.

In essence, in between the facts, research, anecdotes and evidence, Dr. Wansink helps readers of all sizes, genders and backgrounds realize their mindless eating habits, break them, and change their mindless poor eating to mindless better eating in a non-invasive, non-painful way.

No Atkins, South Beach or Weight Watchers here, just good common sense, decent nutritional information and a firm understanding of our own minds, bodies and the world around us.

Listened to Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What It Says about Us). It covers all of the dimensions of our road lives. Tom Vanderbilt offers a trunk load of information and explanations on the good and bad habits of drivers, the psychology of drivers, the strategies of traffic engineers, as well as some interesting suggestions. He covers traffic on freeways, local traffic, parking lot traffic, the strategy of merging lanes, and some side trips to ant and bee traffic for fun comparison. A great one to listen to as you drive, it will make you look at your own driving habits in a new light. And remember, you think you are a better driver than you really are.

I realy liked the 100 cupboards but the narator does not changh his voice very often and it was kind of hard to tell who was speaking. I like how one of the cupboards led into another cupboard and Henry tugged on Henryetta's hair through the cupboard. I would recomend this book to people who like stories of Magic and Wizards and Witches.

Michael M wrote: "I realy liked the 100 cupboards but the narator does not changh his voice very often and it was kind of hard to tell who was speaking. I like how one of the cupboards led into another cupboard and ..."

Great review, Michael. What great parents you must have to let you listen to all those audiobooks...

I completely agree with Michael's assessment of the exciting start of this series. The book is wonderful - slightly slow start, but once it gets going, you will not want to stop listening. Great plot with good twists and MAGIC! The audio narration isn't the strongest, but the good story carries it through. The sequel to this book, Dandelion Fire is already available. I'm hoping that there will be more to follow. Great series for young (and old!) fantasy lovers.

The House of Mirth was the selection for my book club this month. Maybe because it is on the classics shelf, my first thought was that this would be another delightful 'parasol' book. You know, the type where all the characters seem to enjoy 'taking a turn around the parlor.' How big were the parlors back then?? The House of Mirth is a timeless classic about social climbing and the status of women. Our discussion of this book lasted several hours and was not just idle speculation about women's lives during the fin de siecle in New York City, but the choices women have today. Edith Wharton's writing style is amazing. Members of my bookclub even had favorite quotes from the book saved to discuss (usually we focus on the food more than quotes from the book). If you are looking to pick up a classic that will lead to a great discussion, then this is it!

I just finished:

Brilliance of the Moon , Book 3 of the Tales of the Otori, ties Lian Hearn's trilogy up well, bringing back a decent helping of the action of the first chapter, but keeping much of the romantic suffering and strife that made the second chapter so satisfying.

The majority of "Brilliance" revolves around the prophecy revealed in "Grass for his Pillow" which is book 2. "Your lands will stretch from sea to sea. Heaven will deliver what Earth desires, but peace will come at the cost of bloodshed. 5 battles lie ahead of you: 4 to win and one to lose."

In book 3, this prophecy is fulfilled, but as with all prophecies, the way in which they are filled may not exactly correspond with what everyone expects. Therefore, the meat of the book was in seeing the way fate played itself out.

All the world's a stage... you well-read people know the rest.
What I'm trying to say is that in the large scale, the characters in this series by Lian Hearn are reduced to pawns (and in some cases, larger pieces) in a large game of fate towards the goal of peace under one ruler of Japan.

All the endearing qualities of the trilogy are still at play in "Brilliance", and for those who are sad to see this chapter draw to a close, two paths lie ahead of them:

Ahead lies "Harsh Cry of the Heron" - a sequel set 16 years after this book

Behind lies "Heaven's Net is Wide" - a prequel surrounding the life of Otori Shigeru, Takeo's adopted father.

Happy reading!

About The Wal-Mart Effect: We've heard of their success, their crimes, and their ways of doing things. Whether we love them or hate them, Wal-Mart is everywhere, and the enormity of their influence has seldomly been captured. Charles Fishman stylishly delivers readers and listeners a glimpse of Wal-Mart's massively influential power. It is amazing and disgusting at the same time. The narration is okay but it's mainly the content that carries the book through.

The Memory of Running by Ron McLarty: A friend had asked me if I had any titles in which I'll reread/listen (between other books-- this is one of them. I will always return to this book. The audio version is narrated by the author, which may not great in most cases, but this is an exception. Ron McLarty does an amazing job of bringing listeners along with Smithy, the balding, fat, and lovable main character. Smithy goes in search of his sister (or her remains-- he doesn't know for sure) in Los Angeles after his parents' death back in Rhode Island. However, he's on his journey-- on bike. Crazy? Sure. Funny and endearing? Most definitely.

I just finished Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. Unaccustomed Earth was fabulous - so good that I posted my review under Favorites of 2009. I'm positive it will make my list at the end of the year.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is Maya Angelou's autobiography of her childhood. Although I still don't know why the caged bird sings, I do know why this book is required reading for so many schools and on the list of 1001 Books to Read Before You Die. Maya Angelou has beaten the odds. She is African American, grew up from a broken family, never had a stable homelife, was molested and yet she never stopped believing in her ability to achieve greatness. And as a writer, she is great. She is a wonderful inspiration for all of us - students and adults. The audiobook is powerfully narrated by the author.

I just listened to Uranium: War, Energy and the Rock That Shaped the World by Tom Zoellner. You know it's radioactive, and you also know about when it went from being an unknown nuisance rock to something that would change the world forever. But do you know where it first came from on its race to its final resting place in Hiroshima? Zoellner does a great job of following its path through history from the first people who dug the mines and quietly shipped it to the secret processing factory, to today's U235 business in unexpected places throughout the world with its cast of shady prospectors, cartels, smuggling and politics. There are now 10 members of the elite club, some developed it on their own, some had spies that stole the secret recipe. Was it all worth the trillions and trillions of dollars spent because of the unique properties of this molecule? It has already affected the lives and health of millions of people, and the nuclear age is nowhere near over. This is a very informative, well balanced look at the complexities and consequences caused by this energetic molecule.

I just finished 2 very good audiobooks. Grave Goods, the latest in The Mistress in the Art of Death Series by Ariana Franklin, is another wonderful historical fiction mystery set during the reign of Henry II. Although I enjoyed this audiobook from the first track to the last, I didn't think it was as strong as the first 2 in the series. It can be hard to follow 2 great hits, especially since the 2nd book in the series The Serpent's Tale made it to my 'best of 2008' list. The book is wonderfully narrated by Kate Reading.

The 2nd book that I just finished is The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau. Although I had read the book a few years ago, I had picked this for a family road trip before we all got to see the movie. The book is wonderful. Loved the story and the audio narration is superb, and even includes sound effects. Very fun and perfect for family listening.

I liked the second in the series, 'People of Sparks,' even better, and have the third on my to-read list.

Lars wrote: "I liked the second in the series, 'People of Sparks,' even better, and have the third on my to-read list."

My son and I are listening to The People of Sparks on our way to and from school (with occasional long delays in the driveway)...