Category: Audible


Review: Origins: Fourteen Billion Years of Cosmic Evolution by Neil deGrasse Tyson

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August 27, 2024

Origins: Fourteen Billion Years of Cosmic EvolutionOrigins: Fourteen Billion Years of Cosmic Evolution by Neil deGrasse Tyson
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Yawn! I was looking forward to our personal astrophysicist narrating his own book. But alas, they found the most boring narrator, JD Jackson. I could still hear Neil deGrasse Tyson’s sense of wonder and humor coming through, but if they were hoping to rev up some interest in science, this audiobook falls with my 8 AM monotone chemistry teacher from high school. I have always loved science. When the bus got us kids to school early, I’d run to the library and find Popular Science magazine. And despite Mr. ‘Chem teacher,’ I stayed true to my actual waking hours interests. And this book will not dull my science passion.

That said, I have to admit to being lost a lot. I let the narrator drone on and often found something interesting every now and then. Mr. Tyson, please read to us with your science enthusiasm shining through!

Still, maybe it is due to reading at bedtime? Maybe others will love this audiobook. In this case, I suggest a paper book or Kindle.

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Review: The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

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August 26, 2024

The Four WindsThe Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am quite the Kristin Hannah fan now. After The Women, I had to read this when it appeared as a suggestion on Libby. Knowing Julia Whelan, the narrator, sealed the deal. She is the most excellent reader. She seems to intuitively read Ms. Hannah’s characters, making the whole story alive and relevant.

Hannah can write historical fiction so that the facts, ‘names and dates’ type of history get lost in following love and family.

After following the book to the conclusion, I was happy to find a bit of discussion about the writing procedure and even Ms. Whelan’s way of narrating. I am still quite interested in that process.

We Baby Boomers can remember hearing about the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression from our grandparents and parents. Even though I was forced to read Grapes of Wrath (ugh!) and remember dusty pictures in the history textbooks, this made the historical events real.

I highly recommend this audiobook!

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Review: Yes Please by Amy Poehler

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August 25, 2024

Yes PleaseYes Please by Amy Poehler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Carol Burnett (Narrator), Seth Meyers (Narrator), & 6 more,* including the author, actress, and comedienne Amy Poehler, made this probably the best memoir I’ve heard (read?). Yeah, I doubt it was nearly as fun in book form. These guests made the game of writing one’s autobiography nearly impossible to win.

I’m not much of a fan of Saturday Night Live, etc. But I do love experiencing stepping into other people’s lives. It brings about a bit of understanding for the world to see how similar we all are and enjoy individual differences.

I did have to be careful as this was my bedtime book. I about popped my eyeballs as I suppressed laughs. I didn’t want to wake the household. It was fun.

Maybe my favorite part was that Amy didn’t dwell on a tortured childhood. Sure, she had her share of problems, but she seemed to own her mistakes and forgive others’ errors as much as she could, making the book more about living life and things that have worked for her.

This was a Libby audiobook. I’m so grateful for how the libraries help us.

*Amy Poehler (Author, Narrator),
Carol Burnett (Narrator),
Seth Meyers (Narrator),
Michael Schur (Narrator),
Eileen Poehler (Narrator),
William Poehler (Narrator),
Patrick Stewart (Narrator),
Kathleen Turner (Narrator)

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Review: The Lying Life of Adults by Elena Ferrante

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August 22, 2024

The Lying Life of AdultsThe Lying Life of Adults by Elena Ferrante
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sometimes, I finish a Libby book with nothing to read next, and Libby suggested this. I thought, ‘Oooh, a little Italian to read. Not a lot, but it is situated in Italy, so the characters sometimes throw out a few words or cities that make me feel like I am traveling.

And to seal the deal, Marisa Tomei narrated. I felt I couldn’t go wrong.

I was wrong. I’ve been around Italian families and seen the passion of their discussions. Not arguments, disputes of passion. It was uncomfortable to be around, for me. I have never enjoyed conflict of any kind. And I have never seen a mind change during these extreme philosophical dilemmas.

Add in a preteen, and it blows up. Her hormones and anger set fire to the pages. Maybe when I was a raging teen, I would have liked it better. But this was too much. I saved it for my bedtime. Big mistake. I’d be angry with the kid, her parents, aunt, and friends as I drifted into slumberland unprepared.

Marisa Tomei put all the fire required for this reading into every beat of each sentence. For her part, I raised the rating from two to three stars.

Look, all the ratings go from five stars to zero. So, I think everyone comes into the book with their circumstances and upbringing, which can color how we perceive books and everything else in life. So give it a try and see if it’s for you.

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Review: My Broken Language by Quiara Alegría Hudes

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August 18, 2024

My Broken LanguageMy Broken Language by Quiara Alegría Hudes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oh my! This was so different than any other memoir. It came at me like my own crazy memories. In and out. Mine are mostly English. But if I were raised with another language spoken around me, it might have sounded like this.

Cousins and relatives played a big part in this book. Exactly like my memories, just different.

If you have a lot of Spanish in your vocabulary, it might be even better. My meager amount barely got me by. At least the author, as she narrated, helped me hear her implications.

I picked up this Audible version after hearing about it on a talk show. I had the spare credit, so grabbed it. I’m thinking I will try to find the paperback so I could I can work on the Spanish more.

Please read some of the more eloquent reviews. Even if you have no Spanish, there is enough to absorb this beautiful story. I’m glad I own it so I can go back and enjoy it and Quiara’s voice and spirit again.

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Review: The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese

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August 15, 2024

The Covenant of WaterThe Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Can I give this book 20 stars? This was amazing! So many levels and people and places and stories to immerse in!

Abraham Verghese (Author/Narrator) is breathtaking. His writing, knowledge, and ability to voice all the characters so believably from an Indian accent to a Scottish accent, and for a man, his women were varied and respectable, all just astounded me.

I think I saw this recommended on a television show. I was able to pick it up on Libby. I’m so glad I did. But I loved this huge book so much that even though it took me days to read (listen to), I felt at a loss to bid my new friends goodbye. This goes on my wishlist for paperback, Kindle, and Audible versions.

It is a hefty book. But if you plug away at it, you will have lived through several generations and lands. How many books give you that kind of experience?

Please, if you get the chance, read or listen to this one. I doubt you will regret it.

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Review: Voice-Over Voice Actor: The Extended Edition by Yuri Lowenthal

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August 13, 2024

Voice-Over Voice Actor: The Extended EditionVoice-Over Voice Actor: The Extended Edition by Yuri Lowenthal
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The thought of podcasting and/or narrating books has run through my mind a few times, um, a day, for quite a while. I’ve done research and have played with ideas for a while. This book was fun and informative about it all. And the voice-over industry I hadn’t thought of.

The narrating tag team authors, Yuri Lowenthal and Tara Platt kept the information hopping and interesting. If one can read cartoons, that’s what it felt like at times, as the team has a population of voices between them.

Now, if only I can conquer the stagefright that silences me with distractions and anti-schedules to keep it organized.

I think this is a lot more that can be gleaned from the wisdom these two grant us in this book. And though I have the audiobook, I feel I need the paper copy to visualize much of the information.

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Review: ADHD is Awesome: A Guide To (Mostly) Thriving With ADHD by Penn Holderness

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August 8, 2024

ADHD is Awesome: A Guide To (Mostly) Thriving With ADHDADHD is Awesome: A Guide To (Mostly) Thriving With ADHD by Penn Holderness
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is one of the most informative and enjoyable books about ADHD I have read to date.

Penn Holderness and Kim Holderness are the husband and wife team that wrote and narrated the book like a podcast. By the way, they have a podcast called The Holderness Family podcast, of all things!

Playing to those of us who have ADHD, the pace is fast and lively. Yet quite conversational. In this case, the person with ADHD was the husband, and the loving wife put up with his antics. I think what they presented was universal. I would like to see this done with a female with ADHD as the circumstances change drastically. But the family tried to point out some of those differences.

The best part, besides the camaraderie, was some of the ways the ADHDers or their families and friends can conquer, change, or make allowances for all that energy and distraction. Kim showed that she wasn’t a saint but learned ways to help her husband become a super-daddy, husband, co-worker, or friend by offering supportive ideas.

I was lucky enough to find this audiobook on Libby, but I plan to buy my own paper and Audible copies soon. I could use a many-layered approach. If you want to better understand this superpower and/or disability, I think you would enjoy this.

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Review: Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, and Me by Whoopi Goldberg

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August 6, 2024

Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, and MeBits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, and Me by Whoopi Goldberg
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

One of the best autobiographies I’ve read or actually heard. Whoopi doesn’t seem to be reading this but rather tells us her stories about her life with her mother and brother.

I must admit laughing out loud and possibly waking my husband to nearly ugly crying as I felt Whoopi’s losses. She feels like she is in the room with you, just relating with you live. I have more books by her that I now feel I need to find and listen to.

I highly recommend this read. More so, I think the audiobook is the best.

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Review: Divergent Mind: Thriving in a World That Wasn’t Designed for You by Jenara Nerenberg

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August 2, 2024

Divergent Mind: Thriving in a World That Wasn't Designed for YouDivergent Mind: Thriving in a World That Wasn’t Designed for You by Jenara Nerenberg
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Divergent Mind isn’t about the the Divergent Series that is similar to the Hunger Games. This is a nonfiction book written by and for those with differing ways, many individuals deal with life and learning. To many, the divergent mind sees things differently than the rest of society. But from the divergent mind, the world seems like a planet in a galaxy far, far away.

Tegan Ashton Cohan was the narrator. Though a bit textbook-sounding, she did lend a voice of truth to a science that is new and needs us all to dive in and see how other people think or feel. Please check out the blurb on Amazon or GoodReads.

ADHD, autism, synesthesia, high sensitivity, and sensory processing disorders are explored with new ways to not only deal with but enjoy our differences. Embrace our uniqueness.

I was lucky to get to listen to the Audible version.

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