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Title: Haiku

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: Andrew Vachss

Narrator: Christopher Lane

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 37 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-03-09

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 20 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Ho was a revered sensei, but when his dismissive arrogance caused the death of a beloved student, he renounced not only his possessions but also his role as master, and now roams the streets in search of a way to atone. Drawn by his presence, a group forms around him: Michael, an addicted gambler who has lost everything, including himself; Ranger, a Vietnam veteran with a tenuous grip on reality; Lamont, a once-fearless street-gang warlord turned hopeless alcoholic; Target, a relentless "clanger" who speaks only by echoing the sounds of others; and Brewster, an obsessive collector of hardboiled paperbacks he stashes in an abandoned building that even vermin avoid.

Late one night, Michael spots a woman in a white Rolls-Royce throwing something into the river. Convinced that the woman is a perfect blackmail target, he attempts to recruit the others to search for her. But news that Brewster's library is slated for demolition turns this halfhearted effort into a serious mission to find the ultimate problem-solver: money, and with it a new home for Brewster's precious collection.

Each frantic knock opens another barred door as the building's destruction draws nearer. And the answers to each man's questions trigger shocking explosions that hit you with all the visceral power we have come to expect from this fierce and dynamic writer.

©2009 Andrew Vachss; (P)2009 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Critic Reviews:

"Compelling and challenging...[Vachss takes us] not simply into the mean streets but into a subterranean nightmare." (The Washington Post Book World)

"Vachss's reverence for storytelling is evident in the blunt beauty of his language." (Chicago Sun-Times)

Members Reviews:

Andrew Vachss is the Man

This is a Andrew Vachss book so its got to be great. Luckily they also assign master readers to his books which only make them better.

This book has the feeling of his Burke series which he justed ended because a similar "family" of street people and one of them is a martial arts family. While the concept is familiar its a new story from a man who seen a lot and always has something to say. You can't go wrong with a Vachss novel. Its either good or great. This one isn't one of his best but still fun and with lots of meat to chew on between your ears.

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Title: More Tales of the City

Author: Armistead Maupin

Narrator: Armistead Maupin

Format: Abridged

Length: 3 hrs and 7 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-06-09

Publisher: HarperAudio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 8 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

The tenants of 28 Barbary Lane have fled their cozy nest for adventures far afield. Mary Ann Singleton finds love at sea with a forgetful stranger, Mona Ramsey discovers her doppelgänger in a desert whorehouse, and Michael Tolliver bumps into his favorite gynecologist in a Mexican bar. Meanwhile, their venerable landlady takes the biggest journey of all - without ever leaving home.

Listen to more

.

©1980 The Chronicle Publishing Company; (P)2009 HarperCollins Publishers

Members Reviews:

An intriguing series of intertwined tales that will make you cry - and laugh your head off

I first became aware of Maupin's "Tales of the City" a little while ago while reading a book review in the Wall Street Journal. I added it to a list of books that I'd like to find and read some day. The review must have intrigued me, because when I saw it on Amazon the title caught my eye. I read the reviews and decided it would be a good purchase.

Clearly it was, since this is the 2nd book in the series. It's very hard to put this book into categories. It's definitely fiction.

Maupin's people in this world (San Francisco in, if I remember correctly, the 1970's? Late '70s?) weave throughout their own plotlines and those of the other characters in the book. The core group live in an unusual boarding house, run by an eccentric woman "of a certain age," who takes her boarders into her "family." Naturally, these family members also have family and friends (and other types of associates) from their lives outside of the house. Sometimes some of them move in (with or without an established boarder) or out, depending upon the circumstances of their unique and quite interesting lives.

San Francisco has long been known as a haven for eccentrics, artists, people of various sexual identities and old, wealthy society. Maupin's characters travel across these societal, sexual, gender and career lines freely and often. There are frightening villains, but they always receive their comeuppance in appropriate (sometimes humorous, sometimes graphic) ways.

I strongly recommend you give this book a try. My description of Maupin's writing style is sadly deficient. Let's just say it's a sort of New Age soap opera, romance, social commentary and comedy wrapped up in several continuing delicious packages.

The story continues!

I couldn't read a word without seeing the story, the characters and San Francisco unfold in front of me. I became emotionally involved with every aspect- the city, the characters and their stories. I wanted to be there.

San Francisco in the 70's - love it!

ALL of Armistead Maupin's "Tales of the City" books are remarkable. I read them when they first came out, and am now re-reading them, more for nostalgic reasons. Maupin knows how to write characters, and he gives them each their own voice: from the young, green Maryann Singleton from Ohio, to the fabulous over 50 year old Anna Madrigal.

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Title: A Change in Altitude

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: Anita Shreve

Narrator: Gabra Zackman, Emma Walton Hamilton

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 18 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-22-09

Publisher: Hachette Audio

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 70 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Invited on a climbing expedition to Mt. Kenya, the newlyweds are caught up in a horrific accident. In its aftermath, Geraldine must try to understand exactly what happened on that mountain and what it has done to her and to her marriage.

A major author in terms of critical acclaim and best seller status, Anita Shreve limns the secrets at the core of our closest relationships and the ways in which lives can turn on the axis of a single catastrophic event.

Members Reviews:

aaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

I have written very few reviews out of a few hundred books, in part we all like something different so what a book means to me it may not to you. But this book is so incrediblely BAD that I can't stand it, I have had some stupid slow bad written books but this one bakes the cake. I have waisted hours of my life and I wish I could get my book credit back and the other review are not great so proceed with caution.

Altitude was pretty flat!

This book just never seemed to really get going. It was a though the author was trying to make a point, but never got around to making it clear. The worst part was the narrator. She talked so slow and emphasized ever punctuation mark. It was like having your first grade teacher read to the class. I could hardly stand it at first. This might be a better read than a listen. I would not bother downloading it.

Waste of time

I kept listening to this book hoping that it would get better - that there would be some reason and substance to the story. There was not. I just came to the end and am sorry I wasted my time on this book. The storyline about climbing Mt. Kenya was barely existent and the rest of the story wasn't worth bothering about.

Great story, great setting!

I enjoyed the story and especially enjoyed the setting for this novel. The characters are engaging and the quality of writing is excellent, as usual, for Anita Shreve.

Enjoyable

The book fell a bit flat at the end but it was still an enjoyable listen.

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Title: The Actor and the Housewife

Author: Shannon Hale

Narrator: Christina Moore

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 6 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-31-09

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 81 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

New York Times best-selling author Shannon Hale makes her adult fiction debut with The Actor and the Housewife. When Becky, a housewife with screenwriting dreams, attracts the interest of Felix, a Hollywood star, the two quickly become friends. Though the sexual tension is obvious, Becky has no intention of cheating on her husband - but would Felix cheat on his wife? As their friendship blossoms, rumors and suspicion threaten to derail their platonic love.

©2009 Shannon Hale; (P)2009 Recorded Books, LLC

Members Reviews:

Thought Provoking

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It makes one think about the lines that should be drawn to show fidelity in marriage and how important it is to always keep one's spouses needs in mind. I laughed, I cried, I smiled, I shook my head in both agreement and disagreement. The question of having a FRIEND that is a member of the opposite sex in addition to your spouse being your best friend is an interesting one that the author deals with very well.

Can't believe I spent money on this

I loved Austenland so I was very excited about getting this book. Boy am I disappointed. I am seriously dragging myself through this solely because I dropped $14.95 on it. And I can't even skim since it is an audiobook. But if I have to listen to one more description of how much she loves her husbands and kids, I will yak. I need some serious conflict and tension and I'm not even remotely getting it from this book.

Enjoyable story with laughs and tears

I love the story though it does require a bit of toleration for the view into Mormon lifestyle bits. It does illustrate how very different becky's life is from Felix's. I found the narrator's voice to be a bit... whiney for my taste. It took me hours into the story to decide I could endure it to the end. She did a great job making all the characters distinguishable which any good narrator does. I guess it's just my own preference that her voice was annoying to me. I do love this story and laugh and cry through it. It moves me.

Enchanting

Enjoyed this wonderful story of friendship and love. Delightfully performed. Refreshingly void of anything objectionsble. Easy read.

Quirky, Wonderful and worth the listen

Would you listen to The Actor and the Housewife again? Why?

I'd listen again because I loved the story and the narrator did it way more than justice.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I loved Becky, but her husband Mike was a true prince of a guy.

Which scene was your favorite?

The end. It was truly not what I expected, yet made complete sense.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I was not expecting the scene which caused Becky so much grief. The book began as so funny, but turned more serious.

Any additional comments?

I've often wondered how a marriage withstands and thrives in spite of a close platonic friendship/love. Having had a few of those relationships, I found this book wonderful. The balancing act Becky lives, and her unshakable love for husband and children, and her steadfast clinging to the faith which she holds so firm are refreshing. I suppose many would find this book silly. It is, if you are accustomed to gritty novels where deceit and cheating are the norm. But, if you are a fan of Austen, and other writers where character is important, you'll enjoy this book.

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Titolo: Mi Piaci da Morire

Autore: Federica Bosco

Narratore: Federica Bosco

Formato: Unabridged

Durata: 3 hrs and 48 mins

Lingua: Italiano

Data di pubblicazione: 08-27-09

Editore: Emons Edizioni

Valutazioni: 5 su 5 su 2 voti

Categoria: Fiction, Contemporary

Riepilogo Editore:

Regina indiscussa della chick lit italiana, Federica Bosco è una simpatica e affascinante trentenne, che scrive con ironia, romanticismo e spumeggiante vivacità.

Recensioni critiche:

Un "treno di panna" dei nostri tempi, dai toni più leggeri, comunque simpatico e con marcate aspirazioni da grande schermo.

--Sergio Pent, Tuttolibri

Recensioni dei membri:

Loved it!!!

I listened to the book in one day! I believe Federica is a great writer. If you are looking for a beautiful funny modern story with some interesting moments of dept and wisdom this is your book.

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Title: Last Light over Carolina

Author: Mary Alice Monroe

Narrator: Mary Alice Monroe

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 41 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-14-09

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 37 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Here, in Last Light Over Carolina, Monroe tells the haunting and touching story of a longtime shrimp boat captain and his wife of 30 years on the day he is injured at sea.

On an otherwise ordinary day, in a small shrimping village off the coast of South Carolina, a boat goes missing. The entire town rallies as all are mobilized to find the lost vessel. Throughout the course of one day, flashbacks of Bud Morrison, the captain on board, and Carolina, his wife, reveal the happier days of a once-thriving shrimping industry juxtaposed with the memories of their long term marriage.

Through her wonderfully evocative storytelling and keen insights into the human heart, Mary Alice Monroe has yet again delivered an exceptional and engaging work of fiction.

Members Reviews:

Very nicely intertwined plot

This is one of the better books by Monroe. The plot is well developed as are the characters. The plot weaves back and forth in time and is very engaging.

wonderful! I could see the scenes in my mind.

I could imagine the wind and waves and smell the Atlantic. it's a very good read.

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Title: The Lyre of Orpheus

Subtitle: The Cornish Trilogy, Book 3

Author: Robertson Davies

Narrator: Frederick Davidson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 47 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-08-09

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 47 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Additionally, and against all common sense, the Foundation will undertake to stage the opera, entitled Arthur of Britain or The Magnanimous Cuckold. As the production takes shape, Hoffmann's restless spirit hovers rather too close for comfort, and his dictum "The lyre of Orpheus opens the door of the underworld" proves prophetic for many a participant as their lives begin to resemble the opera's plot.

Critic Reviews:

"With his wonderfully complex yet controlled plot, deft portrayal of eccentric characters, and great wit, Davies effectively satirizes the world of universities and foundations." (Library Journal)

"[Davidson] provides an intelligent, expressive, well-paced rendering of the narrative...as well as vivid impersonations of the characters." (AudioFile)

Members Reviews:

A worthy successor to Dickens.

Robertson Davies is a recent discovery and what a treasure! The Lyre of Orpheus is my second favorite book of his, not far behind the first book in this trilogy, The Rebel Angels, both of them comic masterpieces. The middle book, What's Bred in the Bone, begins with a very boring exposition of the class origins of the central character, Francis Cornish. When Francis grows up, the books gets much more interesting. You need all three books for the third book to have its maximum impact. Frederick Davidson (a/k/a David Case), my favorite narrator, makes these books come alive. Well worth your time!

Great book, narration so so

I love Robertson Davies, although I think the first two of the Cornish Trilogy are better. However, I took one star off for the narration. It is very difficult to imitate accents and the narrator tries too hard. He is irregular in many of the accents and the worst is Geraint Powell. Sometimes he uses a vaguely British accent and other times he uses an Indian accent. It gets in the way of the story, unfortunately. He would have done better just reading the story and not trying to make it a one-man play. This is a book that is clearly part of a trilogy. It should be read after the first two. Robertson Davies's characters have stayed in my mind through the years like old friends.

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Title: The Little Stranger

Author: Sarah Waters

Narrator: Simon Vance

Format: Unabridged

Length: 16 hrs and 6 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-28-09

Publisher: Hachette Audio UK

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 51 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

A ghost story from one of Britain's finest and best-loved writers. After her award-winning trilogy of Victorian novels, Sarah Waters turned to the 1940s and wrote The Night Watch, a tender and tragic novel set against the backdrop of wartime Britain. Shortlisted for both the Orange and the Man Booker, it went straight to number-one in the bestseller chart.

In a dusty post-war summer in rural Warwickshire, a doctor is called to a patient at Hundreds Hall. Home to the Ayres family for over two centuries, the Georgian house, once grand and handsome, is now in decline, its masonry crumbling, its gardens choked with weeds, the clock in its stable yard permanently fixed at twenty to nine. But are the Ayreses haunted by something more sinister than a dying way of life? Little does Dr Faraday know how closely, and how terrifyingly, their story is about to become entwined with his.

Prepare yourself. From this wonderful writer who continues to astonish us, now comes a chilling ghost story.

Members Reviews:

Well worth it

I loved this story, and while it is a little slow to start, it's beautiful narration and detail makes it worth it.

I highly recommend it.

Not unless you are a haunted-house-story-maniac

The author does well to capture the image of a post-war English countryside. Simon Vance's narration is more than decent. I found the plot a bit dull and predictible however. The one thing that surprised me was... the anticlimactic ending. Not being an enthusiast of the genre I can think of only one more reason to recommend this book; it is an easy listen, ideal for when driving a car.

I loved it!

The Little Stranger is perfect for audio. Set in the coutryside of post war Britain, a country doctor grapples with the problems of a poverty stricken gentry family and the mysteries lurking within their crumbling family home.The book is engaging, entertaining and beautifully narrated.

A Compelling Listen

The Little Stranger, a Booker shortlist, is told by one Dr. Faraday, a medical doctor of limited success -- for which he blames his humble background and lack of connections -- and anxious about his prospects in post-war England. Throughout the story we encounter his class resentment. Faraday is both reverent and envious of the Ayers, a grand family now in decline, whom he befriends. Midway through the novel we begin to suspect that he could unreliable, and his narration could be self-serving.

The novel is marketed as a ghost story, but I think one may also read it as a mystery novel, as I did. The story lacks the tricks and plot twists that so captivated me in Sarah Water's earlier novel, Fingersmith; nonetheless, I was hooked almost from the word go.

Simon Vance's narration was almost perfect, and makes this a five star listen instead of four.

A subtle ghost story

A subtle ghost story, and all the more believable as the story is told through a character on the periphery of what was happening. Beautifully done, and the complex intertwining of the characters and the house itself builds up a rich atmosphere, which Sarah Waters does so well.

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Title: The Little Giant of Aberdeen County

Author: Tiffany Baker

Narrator: Carrington MacDuffie

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 28 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-08-09

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 478 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

There, while Serena Jane's beauty proves to be her biggest curse, Truly finds her calling - the ability to heal illness with herbs and naturopathic techniques - and, in reckoning with her demons, the possibility of love in unexpected places.

Critic Reviews:

"Baker's bangup debut mixes the exuberant eccentricities of John Irving's Garp, Anne Tyler's relationship savvy and the plangent voice of Margaret Atwood....It's got all the earmarks of a hit -- infectious and lovable narrator, a dash of magic, an impressive sweep, and a heartrending but not treacly family drama. It'll be a shame if this doesn't race up the best seller lists." (Publishers Weekly)

"The Little Giant of Aberdeen County grabs you from its astonishing beginning to its riveting conclusion. Its charms are multitude -- a wholly unique love story, a devastating friendship, a bewitching multi-generational history, all brought to an apex in the larger-than-life personage of Truly, a heroine simultaneously infused with a quiet and dignified grace and peculiar sense of purpose. This dark-yet-rolicking debut is a must-read." (Sara Gruen, author of Water for Elephants)

Members Reviews:

Pretty good - but could have been Truly good!

I really enjoyed about the first 2/3 of this book, charmed by the engaging and wise-beyond-her-years protagonist Truly. But as the story moved toward its conclusion, I felt the author forcing actions on her heroine that felt more in service to an envisioned resolution and less true to the character she had crafted so well. In the end, Truly becomes willfully uncurious, stubborn, and ultimately less appealing.

I generally liked the narration, but wasn't thrilled with her insistence on using a gruff voice for every adult male character.

A new kind of romance

This is a wonderfully quirky romance among people who are very imperfect. Terrific narration captures Truly's frustration of being too large in a small town. Excellent character development makes the reader care about the residents of Aberdeen, and the twists and turns in the plot kept me interested until the very end.

Similes like ants on a piece of melted popsicle ..

The author's use of simile was extremely distracting. I couldn't decide whether this was deliberate, or whether she should fire her editor. I came to the conclusion that it had to be deliberate and her editor probably quit. The story was okay although I'm not going to rush to read anything else by this author. This was my first audible.com download and I am quite impressed by the quality and convenience.

meh...

This book was ok. Not terrific, like the reviews had led me to believe. The characters were not very deep or consistent. I never really believed what Truly was feeling or really began to understand who she was. The multitude of bizarre metaphors and similes sometimes seemed gratuitous - put there as filler, or because the author felt that one was needed - but they were often incongruous. The most telling part of a book for me is when I do not come to care very much for any of the characters or sympathize with them in any way. The plot development kept you hoping, and on edge just enough to want to finish the story, but in the end, it was unsatisfying.

The Little Giant of aberdeen County

What a wonderful read! I was sorry it ended.

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Título: Las viudas de blanco [The Widows of Blanco (Texto Completo)]

Autor: David Martin Del Campo

Narrador: Monica Steuer

Formato: Unabridged

Duración: 8 hrs and 35 mins

Idioma: Español

Fecha de publicación: 11-10-08

Editor: Recorded Books

Calificaciones: 2 de 5 de 1 votos

Categorías: Fiction, Contemporary

Resumen del editor:

"Decir lo pensado con la piel, lo mirado con el corazón", como se lo han propuesto las jóvenes hijas del arquitecto Álvaro, más que una frase afortunada, será la pauta que guíe a estas muchachas hambrientas de bondad y mundo. Todos lo sabemos, "una casa es una historia" ... y por eso adentrarnos en estas páginas nos convierte - más que en intrusos - , en asombrados inquilinos de una historia de pasiones y nostalgias.

Armada con una estructura de resortes y navajas, esta novela corrobora - una vez más - la madurez narrativa de un autor que es ya pieza fundamental de la literatura mexicana contemporánea.

Please note: This title is in Spanish.