Download the Popular Authors Audiobooks in Fiction, Contemporary

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Title: The Secret of the Villa Mimosa

Author: Elizabeth Adler

Narrator: Monica Buckley

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 25 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-23-10

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 13 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

A beautiful Jane Doe with no memory of who she is or how she got to the bottom of a treacherous ravine...and a psychiatrist who joins her on her search for her identity.

Dr. Phyl Forster was intrigued by the lovely woman who had been recovered from a San Francisco hillside and taken to the hospital where Forster was a resident psychiatrist. When Jane Doe regained consciousness, Dr. Phyl was at her side. It was then she realized that the patient had lost all memory of who she was or why she was in a hospital. Was it an accident, or was she, as Detective Franco Mahoney was beginning to suspect, the victim of attempted murder?

In an attempt to reconstruct her past, patient and doctor travel back in time across continents to Hawaii, Paris, and the South of France. It is a long and circuitous journey - one that leads to mortal danger and thrilling romance.

Critic Reviews:

"Adler is expert at digging deep into her characters' psyches and showing what makes them tick. Her villain here is obvious but wonderfully portrayed-as are all the other characters in this well-plotted, entertaining work." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Good listen perennially

Good read, characters. Romance and mystery abound. Character is everything, when it comes to standing up to the fast balls life tends to toss our way.

Not the best Elizabeth Adler

Would you try another book from Elizabeth Adler and/or Monica Buckley?

Yes, I have loved all her other books.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Expected

Which character as performed by Monica Buckley was your favorite?

Phil

Do you think The Secret of the Villa Mimosa needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Maybe

Any additional comments?

The "memory" sections were too long. Generally it was too wandering.

Ran out of steam

The story is intriguing but it seemed like the author changed in the last 1/3 of the book and the connections were too neat and tidy. The audio recording/narrator was above par.

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Title: Where the Line Bleeds

Author: Jesmyn Ward

Narrator: Myra Lucretia Taylor

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 23 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-09-10

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 10 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

A stunning debut novel from Jesmyn Ward, Where the Line Bleeds is a rich tale of twins raised by their grandmother in a stiflingly poor rural community on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi. Upon graduating from high school, growing tensions between brothers Joshua and Christophe test their loyaltiesand a violent altercation forever changes their lives.

Critic Reviews:

"Too ashamed to admit that he spends his days in the park selling marijuana, Christophe secretly contributes to the family's expenses with regular deposits to his grandmother's purse. But when Christophe decides to start selling more dangerous drugs, tensions between the twins grow, and the arrival of their long-absent drug addict father sparks a violent confrontation. A fresh new voice in American literature, Ward unflinchingly describes a world full of despair but not devoid of hope." (

Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

This isn't alway the easiest to read but in the end you'll walk away with a better sense of the lives of others

This is a short book but it packs a wallop. What a horror story Katrina was- both during and after the storm. Twins Joshua and Christophe react so differently to their circumstances, much as their parents did. The dichotomy of this is especially intriguing. Ward clearly loves the area where she has created Bois Sauvage, which is as much a character as the people. Her language can be frustrating at times but the novel hangs together so well that you'll look for her again. I didn't read this when it was first published (I suspect very few people did) so the success of Ward's most recent novel is a boon to all of us because it meant that her earlier writings have been reissued. Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC. This isn't alway the easiest to read but in the end you'll walk away with a better sense of the lives of others.

The first of three novels

I received a free electronic copy of this southern novel from Netgalley, Jesmyn Ward and Scribner in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all, for sharing your hard work with me.

This is Jesmyn Ward's first novel written in 2008, which has been followed by two more novels in this series. Where the Line Bleeds is completely stand alone, and an excellent novel it is. Set in Bois Sauvage on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the time frame is vaguely modern. Christophe and Joshua are twins, graduating that spring from high school. Their single mother lives and works in Atlanta and has since they were five. Their dad has never had a part in their lives, often in jail or rehab and always drugged up. The boys are reared by their Grandmother Ma-mee, who has slowly gone blind from untreated diabetes, but Ma-mee is still the boss, though the boys have taken on many household chores and learned to cook at her side over the last few years.

Bois Sauvage is like many - most - very small towns everywhere in the south and west - there are no job possibilities for the kids coming up and shopping has to be done further and further away as town centers die. MacDonalds, Walmart, gas stations and 7-11 stores are for the most part offering all the jobs that are available to each new class of graduating young adults. Waitressing or washing dishes at locally owned eateries are only very occasionally offered as turnover is rare. Strong, stout guys can often get on at the docks several cities down the river, loading and unloading boats and barges.

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Title: The Unknown Ajax

Author: Georgette Heyer

Narrator: Daniel Philpott

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 50 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-04-10

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 1100 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Miles from anywhere, Darracott Place is presided over by irascible Lord Darracott. The recent drowning of his eldest son has done nothing to improve his temper. For now he must send for the unknown offspring of the uncle whom the family are never permitted to mention. Yet none of that beleaguered family are prepared for the arrival of the weavers brat and heir apparent.

Members Reviews:

Another great Georgette Heyer romance

This is the story of Lord Darracott bringing his heir to his estate so he can whip him into shape for his interitance. The Lord, nor any of his family, have ever met the heir because the Lord never thought the estate would go to him (there were two others ahead of him). In fact the Lord never told his family that the person even existed. The new heir was born to a son that the Lord had thrown out of the house and his life because of what the Lord thought was a very imprudent marriage.

The new heir comes to the estate to meet the family. As the family sizes him up, he is also taking their measure. I love the heir (his name is Hugh). I think Hugh is one of Heyer's best characters in all her novels. There are also some other truly great characters in Unknown Ajax. Hugh's cousins are all vivid characters with totally different personalities. Of course there is a romance involved (a very entertaining one) and I find this to be one of the most humourous of Heyer's novels. The scene at the end of the book (all the activity relating to "the shooting") is so funny I lauched until I cried. In fact, I found the book even funnier in the audible version (and this reader's performance) than it was when I read it. What a wonderful book. It is one of my favorite Audible purchases.

The Unknown Ajax

As always, Georgette Heyer is a delight!!! Daniel Philpott's narration was perfect!!!

Enjoyable

This is a good book that was well read by a reader who was easily able to distinguish between the different characters. The book was more amusing than I had remembered. Very enjoyable listening.

so well read, it adds to the pleasure of the story

I have read and re-read Georgette Heyers for more years than I care to count. The Unknown Ajax has always been a favorite yet I derived new pleasure and more enjoyment from the fabulous voicing of the main character Hugo. Reading it myself, I was never able to do justice to the language or the subtle humour that comes out when someone reads it well and with the right sort of accent. What a pleasure!

Light and Lively -- Just right!

I read mysteries and thrillers almost exclusively. However, every now and then, I need a change of pace -- something different to "clear the palate". A Georgette Heyer Regency romance is the perfect thing to direct my mind away from all the crime and violence I've been reading about. Heyer's books are light, lively and full of wit.

"The Unknown Ajax" is one of the best of Heyer's stories, with all the usual elements : aristocratic characters, a fortune or lost fortune, an unmarried daughter, a handsome young man, another plot bedsides the romantic one, Heyer's excellent writing, lively, witty dialog and always a happy ending.. But in addition to those things, in this case, cantankerous Lord Darracott is obliged to recognize as his heir a grandson by the Lord's second son, who becomes the heir upon the deaths of the oldest Darracott son, along with his son.

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Title: The Girl on Legare Street

Author: Karen White

Narrator: Aimée Bruneau

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 52 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-28-09

Publisher: Listen & Live Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 899 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

A this sequel to The House on Tradd Street.

When Melanie Middleton was seven years old, her mother, Ginnette, left home, abandoning her husband and her daughter. Now, nearly 33 years later, Ginnette has returned to Charleston, South Carolina, to confront her past and make amends with the daughter she left behind. Melanie is less than thrilled when her mother reappears in her life and asks for her help in buying back the family home. But before she can slam the door in her mother's face, Ginnette tells her it was a premonition that brought her back - a premonition involving old family secrets and a malevolent presence. It has come for Melanie, and to fight it, they will have to stand together.

Karen White, author of 10 award-winning novels, is a graduate of Tulane University and the American School in London. She currently lives in Georgia with her husband and two children. When not writing, she spends her time rewading, singing, scrapbooking, carpooling children and avoiding cooking. Aimee Bruneau is an actor, director, professor and student of theater. She earned her MFA in acting from the American Conservatory Theater. Aimee has been telling tales in Seattle for more than a decade. She has also worked for theaters in Chicago, San Francisco, Savannah, and in Southern France.

Members Reviews:

Believable Paranormal Ghostly Story

Despite what some various reviews have said, I enjoyed this novel just as much as the first one. Yes, the the female protagonist is prissy, yes, there is predictability but it still was fun to see how the mystery unravelled and yes, I guessed at a few additional plot twists.

BUT, reflecting back on it I really am amazed at how well Karen White made me suspend reality to think the ghosts and psychic abilities of several characters exist. So much so, I expect the ghosts to materialize.

As I said about the The House on Tradd Street, I like the narrator. She keeps the characters clear enough to distinquish and her characterization of Melanie fits! I feel like I am back home again with the somewhat exaggerated accents.

If you are interested in the book I recommend you read Tradd Street first because it lays the groundwork for the characters although I think Legare Street will stand alone ok.

If you're not especially picky, I think the story is light-hearted reading and fun. Go for it!

I am embarrassed that I listened to this

This main character "Melly" is beyond obnoxius, why I continued to listen to this ridiculous banter, I don't know, I had along trip and nothing else on my ipod, but this one was horrible.

disappointing

The House on Tradd Street led me to believe this book would either be as good or better. I found myself really disliking our heroine but liking the folks around her. I don't care to read or listen to books where the main character does not grow or become likeable.

The mystery aspect is great, the romance aspect is painfully awful.

I really like the supernatural aspect to this story, I love a good ghost mystery & it makes me want to visit Charleston , SC but the idea of meeting any of the characters makes me roll my eyes. Melanie is beyond annoying & acts like a preteen and the people she surrounds herself - her 'family & friends' are so condescending and pushy they're making me run away from this series of books.

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Title: The Horse Dancer

Author: Jojo Moyes

Narrator: Julia Franklin

Format: Unabridged

Length: 17 hrs and 27 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-05-09

Publisher: Whole Story Audiobooks

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 1012 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Natasha is a lawyer whose job is to represent the best interests of children. Her confidence in her judgement has been shaken and her marriage has died - but an encounter with Sarah may lead to Natasha learning all she needs to know about life from a fourteen-year-old girl and a large horse named Boo...

Members Reviews:

Wow! Amazing story start to finish

I hung on every word of this novel. I loved the narration, her animated voice was perfect for each character. The story line was well woven. Jojo did a fabulous job with the horse terminology. Being an avid dressage rider, I will suffer through a lot if it is horse related, but I never found the horse parts cliche. I even got my husband hooked on the second half after he started listening. This is a true coming of age novel for all ages!

The best! I'd give it 10 stars if I could...

(By Carol, not Mark.) I listen to LOTS of audio books, and this is simply THE best I've ever heard, the first I've ever felt compelled to comment on. The narrator is superb, and the storyline mesmerizing; I acutally took it to bed with me a couple of evenings because I was simply unable to turn it off!

The characters are fully developed and fresh,and the horse angle authentic. The author's commentary at the end about the origins of the story is the frosting on the cake. Listen to this book!

(Now I'm going to go purchase a hard copy so I can read it for myself!)

You Get More That One Credit's Worth!

I long for REAL horse stories and was surprised to find this one so superbly bound together with the myriad of human experiences from the tween years to middle age to dying and death. I cannot fathom a world without my horses.

I admire the complexity of characters, plotting, and settings in which this author deftly weaves together. Though at times, it seems that too much incidental description is included, then comes the comes the moment this book needs it all so that it may be stitched back together for a satisfying conclusion.

The only down side for me was the pacing of the reader, and that is simply a cultural difference. After the first hour, I was finding it a simply elegant rendering of a very satisfying book. Well worth the credit!

Wonderful wonderful story

Great characters, good drama interesting story all make this book a winner. Absolutely a great read especially for the horse addicted.

Have the Hankies Nearby

I dare the reader/listener to keep a dry eye. This book about a young girl and her horse and her foster "family" made me feel and held my interest every in chapter. Jojo Moyes is becoming a favorite for me. This is the second book from this author I've truly enjoyed. And this one had a horse as a main character who develops a unique bond with his young rider. This is a story with adventure, family bonds, romance, betrayal, danger and redemption. I so enjoy a book that invites you in and brings you along for the ride.

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Title: This Is Where I Leave You

Author: Jonathan Tropper

Narrator: Ramon De Ocampo

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 21 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-24-09

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 2897 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Simultaneously mourning the death of his father and the demise of his marriage, Judd joins the rest of the Foxmans as they reluctantly submit to their patriarch's dying request: to spend the seven days following the funeral together. In the same house. Like a family.

As the week quickly spins out of control, longstanding grudges resurface, secrets are revealed, and old passions reawakened. For Judd, it's a weeklong attempt to make sense of the mess his life has become while trying in vain not to get sucked into the regressive battles of his madly dysfunctional family.

Editorial Reviews:

Judd Foxman has not had a good year. Shortly after catching his wife in bed with his boss (a Howard Stern-like DJ whom he works for as a producer), he learns that his father has died. Not only must Judd attend the funeral, he then has to honor his dad's dying request sitting shiva for seven days with the rest of his eccentric family, including his sex therapist mom, older brother Paul (who's married to Judd's high school sweetheart), sister Wendy, and youngest brother Phillip, who leads a carefree life of hedonism. While a few of the storylines ring cliché (namely catching your wife with your boss), this book is anything but. The dialogue between the family members is realistic, witty, and caustic. And just when you're hysterically laughing at a scene, the next one sucker punches you with the vulnerability and authenticity of Judd's emotions.

Narrator Ramon de Ocampo delivers the right tone for this novel written from Foxman's point of view dry and defeated but the nasal quality of his voice is sometimes distracting and can even border on effeminate. Besides that, his pace is perfect, as well as his voice changes for the dialogue of different characters he really shines as Judd's mother and some of the older Jewish men that drop by to pay their respects.

While This Is Where I Leave You is very funny, the truly laugh-out-loud scenes are few and far between, with the heart of the book being the very real, and very emotional trials of Judd Foxman and the relatable love/hate relationship he shares with his family members. Colleen Oakley

Critic Reviews:

"The affectionate, warts-and-all portrayal of the Foxmans will have fans wishing for a sequel (and clamoring for all things Tropper)." (Amazon.com review)"Tropper strikes an excellent balance between the family history and its present-day fallout, proving his ability to create touchingly human characters and a deliciously page-turning story." (

Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Greatly entertaining, not for all audiences.

My boyfriend and I listened to this on a road trip last week. We both thoroughly enjoyed the book. The crude humor was perfect for the two of us and we each laughed out loud more times I could count. However, I would not recommend this book to my mother, way to much real life for her or any one who is a conservative listener. So know yourself and what to expect. If you know ahead of time that the book has incredibly graphic sex scenes, mild drug use, homosexuality, etc., and you are okay with these topics then you will enjoy it. If any of those things bother you, then I would recommend staying away because you will be offended.

Humorous, but Flat

Sarcastic humor pervades this and all Jonathan Tropper novels. Judd's having a bit of a rough patch.

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Title: Past Imperfect

Author: Julian Fellowes

Narrator: Richard Morant

Format: Unabridged

Length: 16 hrs and 44 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-10-09

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 853 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Damian Baxter is hugely wealthy and dying. He lives alone in a big house in Surrey, England, looked after by a chauffeur, butler, cook and housemaid. He has but one concern--his fortune in excess of 500 million and who should inherit it on his death.

Past Imperfect is the story of a quest. Damian Baxter wishes to know if he has a living heir. By the time he married in his late 30s he was sterile (the result of adult mumps), but what about before that unfortunate illness? Had he sired a child? He sets himself (and others) to the task of finding his heir.

©2008 Julian Fellowes (P)2009 BBC Audio

Members Reviews:

Read Snobs instead

I loved Snobs and immediately downloaded Past Imperfect. I have to say I was very disappointed. The idea is good, but poorly executed, making the stories of all the characters seem way too disconnected.

Julian Fellowes, who makes his point about the British Upper Class so masterfully in Snobs, sounds more like a lecturer here. Instead of letting us "see," he tells us what he knows (and goes on and on about each point, interrupting the storyline constantly). It sounded more like an anthropological treatise than a novel. At times, it was even boring.

Yes, there is one scene towards the end that is incredibly well written and moving because of it -- but I wish there had been more like it.

That said, I would definitely give Mr. Fellowes another chance if he were to write another novel -- simply based on Snobs and Downton Abbey (which I had not seen until after I listened to these two books and to which I am absolutely addicted to now).

Richard Morant is absolutely perfect as the narrator. I think I could listen to him read the London phone book and be engrossed.

Really good plot...but got lost..

The story idea sounded great. The style of writing with wordy descriptions painted a clear picture, which was good in the beginning, but then...well I kept falling asleep listening to it. The parts where things actually happen are good, but the description in between the actual story line is coma-inducing. Get on with the story already!!

Modern Great Gatsby

I loved this book! Julian Fellowes writes beautifully and Richard Morant has the perfect voice as the long-suffering friend of all the debutantes and the quietly bemused observer of British social history. Fellowes uses a small group of debutantes from the 1960's to demonstrate the huge changes to the British social structure from the last half of the 20th century to the present. But this is not "Sex and the City Goes to England", although it is just as lively and topical in references. I was struck by how much it mirrors The Great Gatsby in theme and characters. This book is every bit as good as that old war horse.

As an ex-video clerk from Sacramento, CA I have no personal experience with British Aristocracy but there's something about authenticity, you can smell it like a ripe peach, and Julian Fellowes writing has all that.

Post WWII England

What made the experience of listening to Past Imperfect the most enjoyable?

After engaging in a Masterpiece Theatre television series spree, I was still thirsting for more British entertainment. This novel sated my desire.

It takes place in post WWII England when the landed gentry were trying to practice their traditions despite the tumultuous social upheaval of the 60's breaking out around them.

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Title: South of Broad

Author: Pat Conroy

Narrator: Mark Deakins

Format: Unabridged

Length: 20 hrs and 1 min

Language: English

Release date: 08-11-09

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 1690 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Eventually, he finds his answer when he becomes part of a tightly knit group of high school seniors that includes friends Sheba and Trevor Poe, glamorous twins with an alcoholic mother and a prison-escapee father; hardscrabble mountain runaways Niles and Starla Whitehead; socialite Molly Huger and her boyfriend, Chadworth Rutledge X; and an ever-widening circle whose liaisons will ripple across two decades-from 1960s counterculture through the dawn of the AIDS crisis in the 1980s.

The ties among them endure for years, surviving marriages happy and troubled, unrequited loves and unspoken longings, hard-won successes and devastating breakdowns, and Charleston's dark legacy of racism and class divisions. But the final test of friendship that brings them to San Francisco is something no one is prepared for South of Broad is Pat Conroy at his finest; a long-awaited work from a great American writer whose passion for life and language knows no bounds.

Members Reviews:

Authors Need to Review Pronunciations

I am actually in the process of listening to the book and am only about a third of the way through. Pat Conroy is one of my favorite writers and this is the first book of his that I have listened to. I read the actual books of all the others. I am enjoying the book. However, I continue to be amazed at the improper pronunciation of proper nouns by narrators on audio books. Mr. Deakins mispronounces one of the most notable names from Charleston and I don't understand why Pat Conroy or someone else did not correct this! Huger is properly pronounced like "You gee". It makes me cringe every time I hear him say it wrong. A similar thing happened with another SC author in another audio book set in SC. Please people, do your pronunciation research! Someone from the local area might just be listening!!! And yes, I am from SC.

Long Overdue

It has been at least 10 years since Pat Conroy had written a sweeping passionate great American novel. South of Broad left me wishing there was another page another chapter. Write about anything but most importantly what happens next even if it means that they changed a diaper and went to the grocery store. Mr. Conroy's love of the English language gives the reader that rare joy of both enjoying the plot as well as enjoying the way the sentences float onto the pages as if delivered by an Angel and not a bic pen. A Conroy novel will never disappoint you and this installment takes it to an entirely new level. Treat yourself, spoil yourself today, and take your time with this one. Savor every word. Take your time and sip in each sentence allowing you to enjoy the romantic poetry of his language and develop the passions for his deeply created characters. You will not regret it!!

The Masterful Storyteller has a new offering.

I wanted to find out why Conroy took so long to complete this manuscript. But I nearly failed to order the download. So many of the other reviewers were negative about the story and many hated the reader. But from the very first few moments this book held me -- with a great story, simply told through a wonderful selection of characters.

Leo King is a Catholic. His mother is a former nun. Conroy could not have told his tale effectively without the repeated reference to the Catholic faith.

In the process of enjoying South of Broad, I soon learned that the numerous compelling and will-crafted stories.

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Title: The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove

Author: Christopher Moore

Narrator: Oliver Wyman

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 45 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-04-09

Publisher: HarperAudio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 1295 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Suddenly, morose Pine Cove turns libidinous and is hit by a mysterious crime wave, and a beleaguered constable has to fight off his own gonzo appetites to find out what's wrong and what, if anything, to do about it.

Critic Reviews:

"Moore is Daniel Pinkwater for grownups, but a lot funnier; and his irreverent antics reveal a buoyant wit and surreal authority even while rendering the emotional range, sex life, and murderous tendencies of a sea monster." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

A Good Introduction to Moore

What does Oliver Wyman bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

Mr. Wyman, thank goodness, is possessed of excellent comic timing, which is the difference between life and death for a book this silly. He can also handle a number of voices without making any of them seem stereotypical, which is essential for a book with this many characters, most of whom you are encouraged to love. This is no mean feat, and he does the job perfectly.

Any additional comments?

Christopher Moore's work tends to have gangs of lovable misfits menaced by some crazy monster (or in some other bizarre situation) in a way that permits more serious reflection on a few larger issues. (In Lust Lizard, it's the wide prevalence of overprescribed Prozac, and how we deal with sadness in our lives.) His work feels like it's in a direct line of descent from Kurt Vonnegut through Tom Robbins, with a relative of Carl Hiaasen somewhere in the lineage. The magical-realist philosophical caper comedy. If this is your thing, Lust Lizard is a terrific example of the genre. If you're never tried it before, this isn't a bad place to start.

Very funny, but perhaps not for everyone

I stumbled across this author in a bookstore looking for a book-on-CD before taking a long road trip. The sales clerk recommended "Island of the Sequined Love Nun". What a discovery! Truly laugh-out-loud funny. After that, I downloaded "The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove", which was equally funny. Both books start off a little slow ... but they take off quickly, and then it's quite a ride. Oliver Wyman does such a great job narrating, especially with the wide variety of characters that Moore presents. I can see that not everyone will like Moore's offbeat humor, but his characters are very human and his narration and commentary convey a dry wit that often doesn't translate well. Highly recommended.

Chuckleworthy Moore

What made the experience of listening to The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove the most enjoyable?

Having already read a few of Christopher's novels as well as listened to a few others, The Lust Lizard proved to be another book right in his wheelhouse -- a few interesting real life themes (drugs, both prescription and illicit, along with the trusted professionals who promote their abuse; psychosis and psychiatry; and environmental disaster), a broad array of memorable characters, and Moore's signature device, a fantastical, mythological, or supernatural entity, in this case the title character, an aphrodisiac and a maneater (who comes to be known, simply, as Steve).

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Title: Something Borrowed

Author: Emily Giffin

Narrator: Jennifer Wiltsie

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 41 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-29-09

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 1023 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Rachel has always been a good girl--until her 30th birthday, when her best friend Darcy throws her a party. That night, after too many drinks, Rachel ends up in bed with Darcy's fiancé Dex. Rachel is horrified to discover that she has genuine feelings for Dex. She prays for fate to intervene, but when she makes a choice she discovers that the lines between right and wrong are blurry, endings aren't always neat, and you have to risk all to win true happiness.

©2004 Emily Giffin (P)2009 Macmillan Audio

Members Reviews:

Love, friendship, betrayal and guilt

Thoroughly enjoyed the entertaining story --- I actually looked forward to my hour-long commute so I could listen to it. On top of that, the reader, Jennifer Wiltsie, was terrific --- great job with all the voices.

I'm looking forward to the sequel, Something Blue, but just wish I could find the unabridged version so I can listen to the entire story.

Ugh...

This story just left me feeling cold. The characters and story were well written but I was looking for something a little more "feel good" and this wasn't it.

A romance based on cheating is a hard sell anyway and it's hard to stand up for the protagonist when she isn't taking responsibility for her actions and is constantly rationalizing them by pointing out what a jerk her friend is.

The friend is selfish, so it was disgruntling to find myself feeling bad for her. The boyfriend was weak and I couldn't get on board for someone so spineless, and Rachel, the lead, just seemed to be trying to show how much more she deserved the guy.

This stuff happens in real life. The story is a much more realistic version than what I wanted it to be but, in real life, I avoid these people.

I hope the movie is better

The narration by Jennifer Wiltsie is the only thing I enjoyed about this booked. I read this booking thinking that it would explain to me why I would like a character that has an affair with her best friend's fianc??. On the surface this character is not likeable and I thought the book would give her some likeable depth that I could buy in to. It didn't. I hated her more with every chapter and almost stopped listening to the book all together. Rachel whines and complains about being a victim through the entire book. I just felt that if you lie on the floor, you shouldn't complain about being stepped on. Rachel chose her path and could change it but she just blames her unhappiness on Darcy. Plus the writer does everything possible to make sure you dislike the Darcy character; as Darcy is clearly self indulgent and self centered. Then Rachel's friends that are practically gleeful at her betrayal of Darcy mainly because of how Darcy treated Rachel in grade school...COME ON! This book tries to justify deep betrayal with trivial nonsense and it just didn't work for me. Don???t waste a credit on this one; I wish I had read the reviews before I did.

You Don't Want To Spend Time With These People

First, the good: Jennifer Wiltsie is a great narrator.

Now, everything else: The people in this book are universally horrible. The lead character--Rachel--is a spineless victim who spends most of the book moaning about things that she has the power to change. Dexter (Rachel's beloved) is a cowardly cheater who continually makes decisions that mark him as stupid and morally deficient.