TFI Friday! Is a weekend of great listening on the cards for you? Do tell us what you’ve got lined up! In the meantime…
Here’s what the Gals have been listening to this week.
BJ
Narrated by Rosalyn Landor
Caz
Narrated by Nick J. Russo
Kaetrin
Narrated by Gomez Pugh
Melinda
Narrated by Jason Clarke & Julia Whelan
Shannon
Narrated by Joe Jameson
Earlier this week I listened to Midnight Bayou by Nora roberts for the July TBR Challenge. I thought I’d read this book then realized I never got around to it even though I’d bought the audiobook back 10 years ago. It was “vintage” (the prompt for the month) Nora Roberts and nicely narrated.
I then bought the newly released Beautifully Unexpected by Lily Morton, narrated by Joel Leslie. I enjoyed it even more with Joel bringing the characters and emotions to life.
I just finished To Hold a Hidden Pearl by Fearne Hill, narrated by Richard Stranks. the narrator has a unique voice and I wasn’t sure I liked it at first, but I settled in and really enjoyed it. I’d listen to him again. I mostly enjoyed the story, but took some points off because the “BIG DEAL” that stood in the way of Jay and Lucien just sort of melted into the background and was only briefly addressed. I couldn’t help thinking, Why all the angst before if this really wasn’t an issue?
I’m glad you enjoyed the Hill – she’s a good writer and the narration worked pretty well once I’d got used to it. I do agree about the BIG DEAL – probably what I put in the spoiler tags in my review – but it was a good listen overall.
I will probably listen to the Morton at some point, but my last couple of reads/listens of hers have been a bit ‘meh’ . I did like the book when it came out, so maybe I’ll wait a bit.
I really liked the older protagonists in Beautifully Unexpected. I enjoyed the book in print, but Joel’s narration really helped me feel the slight manic quality Laurie had at times and made it feel more emotional. Not sure I’m making any sense. But I know you understand when a good narration adds some extra life even to an already good book.
Oh, and I just checked the spoiler tag for the Hill book and that’s it. For once I didn’t read the spoiler tag before reading the book. :-) I can’t help feeling that letting people hear things secondhand is a bit cowardly given the circumstances. I also wondered if the author just didn’t want to write it all out, although the epilogue gives a space for a quick summary. It was the focal point of 80% of the tension in the story and then it gets shrugged off. Anyway, I haven’t written the review, but it’ll knock my grade down, probably to a B- for the story. That said, I’m really glad I listened to it.
Yes, I really thought Jay should have had that conversation with someone – the ex, or the bestie, if not the family. I said in another comment that I can’t remember if that’s addressed in the next book; Lucien and Jay do appear in it (I reviewed it at AAR, To Catch a Fallen Leaf but it was a while ago.
Simu Liu’s We were Dreamers