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Review: The Seven Wonders

By Jan

on January 4th, 2020

The Seven Wonders: A Novel of the Ancient World (Novels of Ancient Rome Book 1) Author: Steven Saylor; Genre: Historical Mystery; Format: Audiobook; Narrator: Stephen Plunkett; Publisher: Recorded Books (2012); Rating: . A very fun prequel to the Roma Sub Rosa historical mystery series, with a young Gordianus the Finder traveling the ancient world to see the seven wonders with…

Review: Wives and Daughters

By Jan

on November 23rd, 2019

Wives and Daughters Author: Elizabeth Gaskell; Genre: Victorian Novel; Format: Audiobook; Narrator: Nadia May; Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc. (2005) Rating: . Absolutely stunning narration by Nadia May really kept this long listen alive for me. Her timing and accents were wonderful. It’s a character-driven Victorian novel about young woman named Molly, the daughter of a doctor in an English country…

Review: Artemis

By Jan

on November 17th, 2019

Artemis Author: Andy Weir; Genre: Science Fiction; Narrator: Rosario Dawson; Publisher: Audible Studios (2017); Rating: . Many readers want to compare this book (unfavorably) to Weir’s”The Martian,” but I actually enjoyed this one more. It’s different, but better in some ways. There were less of the technical jargon and scientific concepts, although there were still plenty for the geeks. The story…

Review: From Here to Eternity

By Jan

on October 26th, 2019

From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death Author: Caitlin Doughty; Genre: Non-fiction; Format: Audiobook; Narrator: Caitlin Doughty; Publisher: Recorded Books (2017); Rating: . A fascinating review of the death practices of a few other countries, and how we Westerners might benefit from rethinking our own methods. Written (and narrated) by a young mortician who clearly…

Queen Victorias Mysterious Daughter cover

Review: Queen Victoria’s Mysterious Daughter

By Jan

on October 3rd, 2019

Queen Victoria’s Mysterious Daughter: A Biography of Princess Louise Author: Lucinda Hawksley; Genre: Biography; Format: Audiobook; Narrator: Jennifer M. Dixon; Publisher: Tantor Audio (2018); Rating: . Queen Victoria had nine children (who all looked exactly alike, btw) between 1841 and 1857, although she was frightened of childbirth and didn’t like children. And she wasn’t a very good mother… Go figure….

A Boy and his Dog at the End of the World cover

Review: A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World

By Jan

on September 19th, 2019

A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World Author: C.A. Fletcher; Genre: Fantasy; Format: Audiobook; Narrator: C.A. Fletcher; Publisher: Hachette Book Group (2019); Rating: . A boy lives with his family on a remote island after most of the people on Earth are long gone. A stranger steals his beloved dog and the boy decides to get…

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek cover

Review: The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek

By Jan

on September 19th, 2019

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek Author: Kim Michele Richardson; Genre: Historical Novel; Format: Audiobook; Narrator: Katie Schorr; Publisher: Blackstone Audio (2019); Rating: . Set in 1930s Kentucky, this was a fascinating story about a young woman who delivers books to rural homes. She rides a mule as she works for the Kentucky Pack Horse library service, a short-lived, but…

Review: The Sisters Brothers

By Jan

on September 19th, 2019

The Sisters Brothers Author: Patrick deWitt; Genre: Western, satire; Format: Ebook; Publisher: Ecco (2011); Rating: . Damn that cover. It drew me in and wouldn’t let me go. The designer was Suet Yee Chong at Harper Collins, and she perfectly captured the contents of this story. It’s dark, it’s violent, and it’s quite silly at times. I laughed aloud at…