In which I write about my unintended hiatus

I realized the other night that I hadn't blogged in a while. I didn't realize it had been September! I haven't really been reading but I have been listening to audiobooks and I keep meaning to review them but time has not been my friend for a long while now. I was wondering if I wanted to keep this blog going. Yes, I do. I really do. But, as I've said in the past, I don't want to feel obligated. So hopefully I'll get back to it soon. As I type this I'm thinking about writing up the Enola Holmes series. So clearly the spark to review is not gone. I'm going to get back to it. Bear with me.

Weekly Round-Up 9/22

Weekly Round-Up is my wrap-up of last week's activities and includes what I'm reading this week, reviews I've posted, books in the mail and anything else of interest plus From the Library, my weekly listing of what I've checked out from the library.

I'm reading Landline by Rainbow Rowll. I'm listening to The Case of the Left-Handed Lady by Nancy Springer, read by Katharine Kellgren.

Last week I reviewed The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline by Nancy Springer, read by Katharine Kellgren.

The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline by Nancy Springer (Enola Holmes #4)

Enola Homes, younger sister of Sherlock and Mycroft, is living on her own and evading her brothers in an attempt to stay out of boarding school and keep her independence. When her landlady is mysterious kidnapped and her house ransacked, Enola sets out to find her and figure who and why someone would want her sweet old landlady.

This was a very fun mystery. I enjoyed the character of Enola and how clever she is. Her brothers very much underestimate her but I think Sherlock is beginning to see the truth of his little sister. Enola is a very independent and she knows more about the ways of the world especially a lady's world than her brothers can understand. She is also very good at riddles and coded messages and those skills certainly come in handy for this case. I also like the history of this era like Florence Nightingale and how London was at this time. That was very interesting. 

Katharine Kellgren, one of my favorite narrators, is the reader of this book and I can't say enough good things about her. She really is one of the best narrators I've come across and does a great job on every book and this one is no exception.
The only thing is some weird lengthy pauses between chapters. A few times I wonder if the book had stopped but it was just the way it was engineered.

Weekly Round-Up 9/15

Weekly Round-Up is my wrap-up of last week's activities and includes what I'm reading this week, reviews I've posted, books in the mail and anything else of interest plus From the Library, my weekly listing of what I've checked out from the library.

I'm reading The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith. I'm listening to The Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer, read by Katharine Kellgren.

Hello

I realized the other day that I haven't posted anything, not even a Weekly Round-Up for a while but I was surprised to see that my last post was August 20th. Where did that time go? It's been super busy lately at home and at work so I have been neglecting my hobbies including sadly, reading, and this blog. But it's all cool though. I'll be back soon, I'm sure. I never can stay away for too long.

A Murder is Announced by Agatha Christie

In Chipping Cleghorn an advertisement is placed in the social pages of the local newspaper announcing the date and time of a murder. When several townsfolk show up thinking it is a game they soon see that it is not. For a murder does take place and the police begin to focus on the suspects. But soon Miss Jane Marple becomes involved and the murderer begins to become more desperate.

Continuing with my mystery kick, I checked out A Murder is Announced. It seems that there are a quite a few Miss Marple audios but less Poirot or at least at my library anyway. But that's okay. I enjoy Miss Marple and how she is constantly underestimated because she is a little old lady. Underestimated, of course, by those who do not know her because once they do they never make that mistake again. 

This is one of those mysteries, like most of Christie's, that looks one way at the beginning but has a completely different outcome. All the little clues are there but it takes a mind like Jane Marple's to see the big picture. All the characters are wholly believable as residents of a little village and it is a peek at British life after the war.

8 hours, 42 minutes

Rosemary Leach is the reader and she does a wonderful job making the various characters stand out. Her narration is very clear and I really enjoyed this audio book.

Weekly Round-Up 8/18

Weekly Round-Up is my wrap-up of last week's activities and includes what I'm reading this week, reviews I've posted, books in the mail and anything else of interest plus From the Library, my weekly listing of what I've checked out from the library.

I'm reading The Cracks in the Kingdom by Jaclyn Moriarty. I'm listening to 4:50 from Paddington by Agatha Christie, read by Joan Hickson.

Weekly Round-Up 8/4

Weekly Round-Up is my wrap-up of last week's activities and includes what I'm reading this week, reviews I've posted, books in the mail and anything else of interest plus From the Library, my weekly listing of what I've checked out from the library.

I'm reading The Cracks in the Kingdom by Jaclyn Moriarty plus All Joy and No Fun by Jennifer Senior. I'm listening to A Murder is Announced by Agatha Christie, read by Rosemary Leach.

Last week I reviewed Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie, narrated by David Suchet and The Stones of Ravenglass by Jenny Nimmo, read by John Keating.

This week on Divided We Fall by Trent Reedy, narrated by Andrew Eiden (Scholastic Audio) and The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane, narrated by Frank Muller (Recorded Books). Downloads are free till Wednesday.
Thursday the new downloads are Living a Life that Matters by Ben Lesser, narrated by Jonathan Silverman and Ben Lesser (Remembrance Publishing) and The Shawl by Cynthia Ozick, narrated by Yelena Shmulenson (HighBridge Audio).

The Stones of Ravenglass by Jenny Nimmo (Chronicles of the Red King #2)

The second book of the Chronicles of the Red King finds Timoken still looking a home and then, when he finds it, dealing with his enemies and supernatural forces that wish to stop him.

(Some SPOILERS)
If I'm being honest I'm not entirely sure what I want to say about Ravenglass. It was a good book, for sure. Timoken finds a place to call home and tries to build a castle for himself and his friends but meets with supernatural resistant. Also he is hunted by some enemies and in the end defeats them, is found by all of his friends and they make a home together in the castle that he builds. I didn't really connect with Timoken that much so his story didn't grab me like, for example, Charlie Bone's did. But still it was a good story and I am definitely going to get the third one and hear more about Timoken and his children.

John Keating was once again the narrator and I enjoyed his reading. The audio book was very well done.

5 hours, 46 minutes.

Chronicles of the Red King
#1 The Secret Kingdom

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

Poirot finds himself on a train with a murdered man next door and too many suspects. As he methodically makes his way through the passengers, he finds a connection to an old kidnapping case lies at the heart of the murder.

This is probably my 4th reading of Orient Express. I can't remember when I first read it but it was one of my favorites as a teenager. It's a joy to get to listen to the audio book version especially as it is read by David Suchet, the quintessential Hercule Poirot. He does an excellent job, as expected, of bringing to life one of Christie's most famous mysteries.

The mystery itself, though now a classic mystery ending, is surprising at the end with its complexity. There are a number of clues, misdirections, and red herrings but once all the pertinent information has been gathered Poirot uses his little grey cells to solve the case.

6 hours, 53 minutes.

Weekly Round-Up 7/29

Weekly Round-Up is my wrap-up of last week's activities and includes what I'm reading this week, reviews I've posted, books in the mail and anything else of interest plus From the Library, my weekly listing of what I've checked out from the library.

I forgot to get this posted yesterday.

I'm reading The Cracks in the Kingdom by Jaclyn Moriarty plus All Joy and No Fun by Jennifer Senior. I'm listening to A Murder is Announced by Agatha Christie, read by Rosemary Leach.

This week on Headstrong by Patrick Link, performed by Deidrie Henry, Ernie Hudson, Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine and Scott Wolf (L.A. Theatre Works) and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, narrated by Scott Brick. Downloads are free till Wednesday.
Thursday the new downloads are Divided We Fall by Trent Reedy, narrated by Andrew Eiden (Scholastic Audio) and The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane, narrated by Frank Muller (Recorded Books).

Weekly Round-Up 7/21

Weekly Round-Up is my wrap-up of last week's activities and includes what I'm reading this week, reviews I've posted, books in the mail and anything else of interest plus From the Library, my weekly listing of what I've checked out from the library.

I'm reading The Cracks in the Kingdom by Jaclyn Moriarty plus All Joy and No Fun by Jennifer Senior. I'm listening to Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie, read by David Suchet.

This week on Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Philip Hoose, narrated by Channie Waites (Brilliance Audio) and While the World Watched by Carolyn Maull McKinstry with Denise George, narrated by Felicia Bullock (Oasis Audio). Downloads are free till Wednesday.
Thursday the new downloads are Headstrong by Patrick Link, performed by Deidrie Henry, Ernie Hudson, Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine and Scott Wolf (L.A. Theatre Works) and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, narrated by Scott Brick.

Weekly Round-Up 7/14

Weekly Round-Up is my wrap-up of last week's activities and includes what I'm reading this week, reviews I've posted, books in the mail and anything else of interest plus From the Library, my weekly listing of what I've checked out from the library.

I'm reading The Cracks in the Kingdom by Jaclyn Moriarty plus All Joy and No Fun by Jennifer Senior. I'm listening to Chronicles of the Red King: The Stones of Ravenglass by Jenny Nimmo, read by John Keating.

Last week I reviewed The Secret Kingdom by Jenny Nimmo and Once Upon a Thriller by Carolyn Keene.

This week on Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Philip Hoose, narrated by Channie Waites (Brilliance Audio) and While the World Watched by Carolyn Maull McKinstry with Denise George, narrated by Felicia Bullock (Oasis Audio). Downloads are free till Wednesday.
Thursday the new downloads are The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline by Nancy Springer, narrated by Katherine Kellgren (Recorded Books) and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes II by Arthur Conan Doyle, narrated by David Timson (Naxos AudioBooks).

The Confidence Code by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman

Confidence. We want it. We need it. But it can be maddeningly enigmatic and out of reach. The authors of the New York Times bestseller Womenomics deconstruct this essential, elusive, and misunderstood quality and offer a blueprint for bringing more of it into our lives.

Is confidence hardwired into the DNA of a lucky few—or can anyone learn it? Is it best expressed by bravado, or is there another way to show confidence? Which is more important: confidence or competence? Why do so many women, even the most successful, struggle with feelings of self-doubt? Is there a secret to channeling our inner confidence?

In The Confidence Code, journalists Katty Kay and Claire Shipman travel to the frontiers of neuroscience on a hunt for the confidence gene and reveal surprising new research on its roots in our brains. They visit the world's leading psychologists who explain how we can all chose to become more confident simply by taking action and courting risk, and how those actions change our physical wiring. They interview women leaders from the worlds of politics, sports, the military, and the arts to learn how they have tapped into this elemental resource. They examine how a lack of confidence impacts our leadership, success, and fulfillment.

Ultimately, they argue, while confidence is partly influenced by genetics, it is not a fixed psychological state. That's the good news. You won't discover it by thinking positive thoughts or by telling yourself (or your children) that you are perfect as you are. You also won't find it by simply squaring your shoulders and faking it. But it does require a choice: less people pleasing and perfectionism and more action, risk taking, and fast failure.

Inspiring, insightful, and persuasive, The Confidence Code shows that by acting on our best instincts and by daring to be authentic, women can feel the transformative power of a life on confidence.

The Stones of Ravenglass by Jenny Nimmo (Chronicles of the Red King #2), read by John Keating

The second book in NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY bestselling author Jenny Nimmo's new series chronicling the origin and the adventures of Charlie Bone's magical ancestor, the Red King!
Timoken, a magician king, has found a new home in a castle in Britain. But when an evil steward takes control of the castle, he imprisons Timoken and wreaks havoc on surrounding villages. With the help of Gabar, the talking camel, Timoken escapes and embarks on a quest to find and rescue his friends, and build himself a kingdom to call home for good.
In this brand-new series, bestselling author Jenny Nimmo takes readers on an extraordinary quest with one of her most powerful and mysterious characters, the one who started it all for Charlie Bone. 

Once Upon a Thriller by Carolyn Keene (Nancy Drew Diaries #4)

Somehow I ended up trying out the new Nancy Drew series on book 4 rather than book 1. But that's okay. The beauty of Nancy Drew is that there are not super linear and can be read out of order. As for this new series, eh, it's okay. I still prefer my classic Nancy and the girl on the cover looks 12, not 18 as it's implied this Nancy is. She can drive and has credit cards but no discernible income. I honestly thought this was closer to middle grade based on the cover.

The mystery itself is classic Nancy though. She goes on a weekend vacation with Bess and George and falls straight into a mystery based out of a book. When a bookstore in the town catches on fire, arson is suspected. Was it the reclusive author who was due to give a signing? Or the book store owner herself? Or the inn keeper who didn't get along with either? And why is there a sudden rash of crimes related to the author's books? It's up to Nancy to solve the case.

The Secret Kingdom by Jenny Nimmo (Chronicles of the Red King #1) (audio)

A prequel of sorts to the Children of the Red King series featuring Charlie Bone, this series explores the mysterious Red King, Timoken, and his adventures that lead to the story we later see in the Charlie Bone books.

Timoken and his sister, Zobayda, under the protection of a forest jinni but pursued by evil viridees, straddle the world of men and the world of enchantments, seeking a home while remaining young by drinking a potion called Alixir.

 You know, I enjoyed the Charlie Bone books though I never did finish the series. I plan to though. I think I'm going to finish out the Chronicles of the Red King series and then go back to Charlie Bone from the beginning. I've forgotten quite a bit of the lore and history from those books so it's like I'm learning it all over again. I think this will make the Charlie Bone books pretty fun. But I also think that is what made this book a little bit boring for me because I'm suppose to know some back story of all this all ends. Still I enjoyed the beginnings of Timoken's life and hearing how it all started. I am also glad that the majority of the 200 years covered wasn't spelled out in great detail though I do wonder how he didn't get bored being alone for quite a few of those years with only his camel for company. But I guess that is not the point of the story. The point was to get Timoken to Britain with his friends. So goal achieved and now we know where and how he meet them and how he ended up in Britain from Africa and what the deal with the Red Cloak is. So onwards to the next book to see what happens next.

5 hours, 43 minutes

John Keating is the narrator and, while he did a fine job, he isn't my favorite narrator. Something about his tone, I'm not sure, what but he didn't draw me in as some narrators do.

Weekly Round-Up 7/7

Weekly Round-Up is my wrap-up of last week's activities and includes what I'm reading this week, reviews I've posted, books in the mail and anything else of interest plus From the Library, my weekly listing of what I've checked out from the library.

I'm reading Once Upon a Thriller by Carolyn Keene (Nancy Drew Diaries) and The Cracks in the Kingdom by Jaclyn Moriarty plus All Joy and No Fun by Jennifer Senior. I'm listening to Chronicles of the Red King: The Secret Kingdom by Jenny Nimmo, read by John Keating.

This week on SYNC you can download Torn from Troy by Patrick Bowman, narrated by Gerard Doyle (Post Hypnotic Press) and Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, narrated by Jim Dale (Brilliance Audio). Downloads are free till Wednesday.
Thursday the new downloads are Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Philip Hoose, narrated by Channie Waites (Brilliance Audio) and While the World Watched by Carolyn Maull McKinstry with Denise George, narrated by Felicia Bullock (Oasis Audio).

Weekly Round-Up 6/30

Weekly Round-Up is my wrap-up of last week's activities and includes what I'm reading this week, reviews I've posted, books in the mail and anything else of interest plus From the Library, my weekly listing of what I've checked out from the library.

I'm reading Once Upon a Thriller by Carolyn Keene (Nancy Drew Diaries) and All Joy and No Fun by Jennifer Senior. I'm listening to Chronicles of the Red King: The Secret Kingdom by Jenny Nimmo, read by John Keating.

Last week I reviewed The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie, narrated by Richard E. Grant. 

This week on SYNC you can download Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick, narrated by Noah Galvin (Hachette Audio) and October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard by Lesléa Newman, narrated by Emily Beresford, Luke Daniels, Tom Parks, Nick Podehl, Kate Rudd, Christina Traister (Brilliance Audio). Downloads are free till Wednesday.
Thursday the new downloads are Torn from Troy by Patrick Bowman, narrated by Gerard Doyle (Post Hypnotic Press) and Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, narrated by Jim Dale (Brilliance Audio)

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie, read by Full Cast. 6 hours, 54 minutes

An international cast of suspects, all passengers on the crowded train, are speeding through the snowy European landscape when a bizarre and terrible murder brings them to an abrupt halt. One of their glittering number lies dead in his cabin, stabbed a mysterious twelve times. There is no lack of clues for Poirot - but which clue is real and which is a clever plant?  

Chronicles of the Red King: The Secret Kingdom by Jenny Nimmo, read by John Keating. 5 hours, 43 minutes.

An extraordinary quest, a magician’s powers, and the journey to find a kingdom.... Timoken is a prince from a secret kingdom. Before his birth, a forest-jinni bestowed upon him two magical gifts: a cloak made from the web of the last moon spider, and a potion called Alixir, the water of eternal life. Yet in exchange for the protection of these gifts, Timoken will always have one foot in the world of men and the other in the strange world of magic. When his peaceful kingdom is suddenly attacked, Timoken, and his sister, Zobayda, flee in search of a new land to call home, with only the jinni’s gifts and a talking camel. But the journey is wrought with danger, as Timoken and Zobayda are being hunted by viridees - evil creatures from the realm of enchantments that desperately seek the moon cloak. If Timoken ever hopes to escape the viridees and find a new kingdom, he must learn to harness his powers, and trust those he meets along the way. 

The Private School Murders by James Patterons and Maxine Paetro (Confessions series #2), read by Emma Galvin. 7 hours, 36 minutes.

Tandy Angel may have played the hero when she solved the case of her magnificently wealthy parents' mysterious deaths, but she isn't done yet. Her brother, Matthew, stands trial for homicide, young girls are found murdered all around New York's Upper West side, and Tandy is determined to use her piercing intellect to get to the bottom of both cases. But the biggest mystery of all may be what actually happened to James Rampling, the handsome son of a family enemy, whom Tandy fell in love and ran away with - though most of her memories of the affair are disturbingly absent....
The confessions keep coming as Tandy delves even deeper into her own tumultuous history and the skeletons in the Angel family closet.

Once Upon a Thriller by Carolyn Keene (Nancy Drew Diaries #4)

Nancy and her friends need more than book smarts to get to the bottom of a literary mystery in this fourth book of the Nancy Drew Diaries, a new take on the classic series.

A rash of crimes in a neighboring town—a blazing fire at a bookstore, a boat that sinks in the harbor, and a valuable dog’s dognapping—are eerily similar to the plots from famous mystery writer Lacey O’Brien’s popular books. So who’s behind the crimes? Could it be Lacey looking for publicity? One of Lacey’s superfans? Or maybe it’s Paige Samuels, owner of the bookstore that burned. Nancy, Bess, and George will have to read between the lines as they dig deep into a dangerous mystery.

 

The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie (audio)

When  Colonel Protheroe is found dead at the vicarage, it causes quite the stir in St. Mary Mead. Even after there are two confessions, the police and the townsfolk are wondering how it happened. But little old Miss Marple is the one who solves the case.

I read a lot of Agatha Christie as a teenager, like a lot. But it's been a while so when SYNC offered up The Murder at the Vicarage I knew I had to give it a listen. And I'm glad I did. I love a good murder mystery especially one that features Miss Marple who is clearly one of the best detectives ever conceived. It's interesting that everyone views her as a nosy old lady even the vicar at the start of the book. But by the end he comes to respect her keen observation powers and skills at deduction. Miss Marple is an example to us all.

I don't remember reading this book though I'm sure I did so I couldn't remember the solution. It was simple yet not at all obvious like most of Christie's mysteries. I didn't remember it being from the vicar's view point but I liked that. He had the most clues and was the most involved so it makes sense. Now I feeling like a mystery kick and will have to grab a few more Agatha Christie mysteries.

Weekly Round-Up 6/23

Weekly Round-Up is my wrap-up of last week's activities and includes what I'm reading this week, reviews I've posted, books in the mail and anything else of interest plus From the Library, my weekly listing of what I've checked out from the library.

I'm reading  All Joy and No Fun by Jennifer Senior. I'm listening to The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie, narrated by Richard E. Grant.

Last week I reviewed Confessions of a Murder Suspect by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro, narrated by Emma Galvin.

This week on SYNC you can download I’d Tell You I Love You, But THen I’d Have To Kill You by Ally Carter, narrated by Renée Raudman (Brilliance Audio) and Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery, narrated by Colleen Winton (Post Hypnotic Press).  Downloads are free till Wednesday.
Thursday the new downloads are  Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick, narrated by Noah Galvin (Hachette Audio) and October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard by Lesléa Newman, narrated by Emily Beresford, Luke Daniels, Tom Parks, Nick Podehl, Kate Rudd, Christina Traister (Brilliance Audio).

Confessions of a Murder Suspect by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro (Confessions #1) (audio)

Tandy Angel is a member of the elite Angel family, known for their perfectionism and lack of emotion. Some people call them sociopaths, she just thinks of them as family. When her parents are found dead in their room, the police suspect foul play and everyone including the Angel kids are under suspicion.

Confession: I found Tandy Angel extremely hard to relate to, but then she is almost the exact opposite of me. Her parents have encouraged, beyond encouraged, made her into a emotionless, laser focus practically automaton. So much so I expect the big reveal to be that Tandy and her brothers were created in a lab of some kind. Not quite it turns out, but close (unless that comes up in the next book).  She methodically tries to find out who killed her parents believing she has a better shot than the police and in the midst of her investigation, without her parents' influence, she beings to develop emotions as more and more of the Angel parents' secrets come to light. In the end I still wasn't attached to Tandy or any of her brothers but the story was good and the mystery was interesting (even if the solution was a cop-out).

Highlight for SPOILERS:
The fact that the death of her parents was suicide felt completely like a cop-out though it does fit with how selfish and irresponsible Malcolm and Maude were. They didn't care at all about their kids judging by how they used to them to test out drugs and made them into emotionless robots or try to anyway. And the saddest thing in the whole book was the ending where the Angel children try to convince themselves their parents loved them. The suicides were anti-climatic after learning so much about them and how they handled their personal AND professional lives. Also why would it say in a journal on Tandy that she can read for 6 hours without moving but then the cameras were hidden cameras leading to the neighbors apartment? Malcolm at least would have had to review the footage himself to know what the kids were doing so that couldn't have been a secret. That last part was confusing. It was just a too easy way to show that the parents had committed suicide and to wrap up the book. (end)

6 hours, 3 minutes

Emma Galvin narrates this books and she does a good job of capturing Tandy's emotionless state and then later the one where she starts to gain emotions. I enjoyed her reading. My only issue with the audiobook is that there were sometime long pauses between chapters. It's like they took the CD version and transfer it directly to mp3 without taking out the change of CD pause. The first time it happened I thought my device had failed or something. So that was disconcerting.

Weekly Round-Up 6/16

Weekly Round-Up is my wrap-up of last week's activities and includes what I'm reading this week, reviews I've posted, books in the mail and anything else of interest plus From the Library, my weekly listing of what I've checked out from the library.

I'm reading  All Joy and No Fun by Jennifer Senior. I'm listening to Confessions of a Murder Suspect by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro, narrated by Emma Galvin.

Last week I reviewed The Reluctant Assassin by Eoin Colfer, read by Maxwell Caulfied.

This week on SYNC you can download Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, narrated by Morven Christie and Lucy Gaskell (Bolinda Audio) and The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom, John Sherrill, Elizabeth Sherrill, narrated by Bernadette Dunne. Downloads are free til Wednesday.
Thursday the new downloads are I’d Tell You I Love You, But THen I’d Have To Kill You by Ally Carter, narrated by Renée Raudman (Brilliance Audio) and Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery, narrated by Colleen Winton (Post Hypnotic Press). 

The Reluctant Assassin by Eoin Colfer (W.A.R.P. #1) (audio)

Riley, a teen orphan boy living in Victorian London, has had the misfortune of being apprenticed to Albert Garrick, an illusionist who has fallen on difficult times and now uses his unique conjuring skills to gain access to victims’ dwellings. On one such escapade, Garrick brings his reluctant apprentice along and urges him to commit his first killing. Riley is saved from having to commit the grisly act when the intended victim turns out to be a scientist from the future, part of the FBI’s Witness Anonymous Relocation Program (WARP). Riley is unwittingly transported via wormhole to modern day London, followed closely by Garrick.

In modern London, Riley is helped by Chevron Savano, a nineteen-year-old FBI agent sent to London as punishment after a disastrous undercover, anti-terrorist operation in Los Angeles. Together Riley and Chevie must evade Garrick, who has been fundamentally altered by his trip through the wormhole. Garrick is now not only evil, but he also possesses all of the scientist’s knowledge. He is determined to track Riley down and use the timekey in Chevie’s possession to make his way back to Victorian London where he can literally change the world.
 
Eoin Colfer always delivers even if it takes me a while to get into it. I wasn't too keen on Chevie at first. She seemed too much a FBI agent stereotype but I think, in the end, that was the point of her. She was trying so hard to be a grownup and fit into the idea she had of being an FBI agent and then things get out of hand and way beyond her wildest dreams or experiences. Meanwhile, Riley is a more sympathetic character who is pretty smart for a kid who was essentially raised by a psychopath. But then I guess you'd have to be to stay alive for any length of time. I enjoyed the, as a team and I was glad that they got together quickly and any mistrust between was done away quickly. It made the story stronger.

Time travel can be hard to do but if you largely ignore the science, then it is usually fun. The Reluctant Assassin largely ignores the science and I think the consequences don't show up til the 2nd book based on the description I read of that one. This is sort of a science fiction mystery with a bit of thriller thrown in as Riley and Chevie run from the madman Garrick literally through time. Thrown in are bits of Riley's past and how Chevie got into the FBI in the first place. It was slow to start for me but then, when it took off it was really good and I look forward to the next book.

 

9 hours, 29 minutes

Maxwell Caulfield is the narrator who in my mind is from Grease 2 and Empire Records but that might show my age. Anyway, he also co-narrated Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell when I wondered how he'd do with an entire book and I got my answer. Pretty good it turns out. He has a good voice for the reading though his distinct voices need work. I also feel like this book would done well with a female narrator but I didn't mind Caulfied at all.

Weekly Round-Up 6/9

Weekly Round-Up is my wrap-up of last week's activities and includes what I'm reading this week, reviews I've posted, books in the mail and anything else of interest plus From the Library, my weekly listing of what I've checked out from the library.

I'm reading  All Joy and No Fun by Jennifer Senior. I'm listening to The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie, Narrated by Richard E. Grant

This week on SYNC you can download All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill, narrated by Meredith Mitchell (Tantor Audio) and Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, performed by Richard Dreyfuss, JoBeth Williams, Stacy Keach, Kelsey Grammer, and a full cast (L.A. Theatre Works)
Thursday the new downloads are Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, narrated by Morven Christie and Lucy Gaskell (Bolinda Audio) and The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom, John Sherrill, Elizabeth Sherrill, narrated by Bernadette Dunne (christianaudio).

Weekly Round-Up 6/2

Weekly Round-Up is my wrap-up of last week's activities and includes what I'm reading this week, reviews I've posted, books in the mail and anything else of interest plus From the Library, my weekly listing of what I've checked out from the library.

I'm reading  All Joy and No Fun by Jennifer Senior. I'm listening to WARP: The Reluctant Assassin by Eoin Colfer, narrated by Maxwell Caulfield.

This week on SYNC you can download Confessions of a Murder Suspect by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro, narrated by Emma Galvin (Hachette Audio) and The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie, narrated by Richard E. Grant (Harper Audio). Downloads are free til Wednesday.
Thursday the new downloads are All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill, narrated by Meredith Mitchell (Tantor Audio) and Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, performed by Richard Dreyfuss, JoBeth Williams, Stacy Keach, Kelsey Grammer, and a full cast (L.A. Theatre Works)

Weekly Round-Up 5/19

Weekly Round-Up is my wrap-up of last week's activities and includes what I'm reading this week, reviews I've posted, books in the mail and anything else of interest plus From the Library, my weekly listing of what I've checked out from the library.

I'm reading The Diamond Thief by Sharon Gosling and All Joy and No Fun by Jennifer Senior. I'm listening to The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen, read by Charlie McWade.

Last week I reviewed Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler and When Did You See Her Last? by Lemony Snicket, read by Liam Aiken.

 This week on SYNC you can download WARP: The Reluctatn Assassin by Eoin Colfer, narrated by Maxwell Caulfield (Listening Library) and The Time Machine by H.G. Wells, narrated by Derek Jacobi (Listening Library). Downloads are free til Wednesday.
Thursday the new downloads are Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge, narrated by Elizabeth Knowelden (Harper Audio) and Oedipus the King by Sophocles, performed by Michael Sheen and a full cast (Naxos AudioBooks).

And today is my birthday! We already celebrated this weekend so I'm not anticipating much today. Just lunch with my co-workers.

When Did You See Her Last? by Lemony Snicket (All the Wrong Questions #2) (audio)

Lemony Snicket and his chaperone are still in Stain'd-by-the-Sea and now they are onto a case of a missing girl who happens to be the daughter of the wealthiest people in town. All of the adults seems to feel that the girl has run away to the circus. But Snicket sees things that the grownups don't notice and it leads me on a strange path to find the missing girl and one step closer to the evil plan of the villain Hangfire.

It's interesting to listen to a Snicket book after reading a Handler book. It shows how versatile a reading he is. Not everyone could do a contemporary YA from a female POV and a gothic childrens from a male POV and do it so well.

This series isn't nearly as depressing as ASoUE, at least so far. There is the barest mention of VFD and Snicket's associates though there is a visit from one at the end. I do like a good mystery series and this one is a mystery per book. There are the craziest characters in a Snicket book and this one is no exception. The adults are all typical adults and don't notice things and take everything at face value but the children are the smart ones who figure things out. I can see shades of what Lemony Snicket will become in the later books but in these at least he is a more optimistic fellow.

 4 hours, 22 minutes.

The narrator is Liam Aiken and I liked him better than I did in the first book. He has the right tone and reading for this kind of book. His voices for the different characters are good.

All The Wrong Questions
#1"Who Could That Be At This Hour?"