A Hat Full of Sky: The Continuing Adventures of Tiffany Aching and The Wee Free Men
Author: Terry Pratchett
Reader: Stephen Briggs
Short Review: If you loved Wee Free Men, you will love Hat Full of Sky. Same great reader - same fun mix of humor, youth, adventure and self-discovery. Tiffany Aching is now 11 and training with a mountain witch. She finds herself faced with a new opponent called a Hiver. It takes all her strength of will (plus the help of the Nac Mac Feegle and a number of other witches) to make it to the end of this entertaining story.
The Wee Free Men: A Story of Discworld
Author: Terry Pratchett
Reader: Stephen Briggs
Short Review: Fabulous and laugh-out-loud funny. Tiffany Aching, 9 year old witch-in-training, takes us on a wild ride to fairyland to rescue her baby brother and save the world from the evil queen. She has the help of the Nac Mac Feegle who happen to be 6 inch tall, fearless, phenomenally strong, kilt-wearing, blue-skinned, red-haired little men who speak with a strong Scottish brogue and are prone to thieving, drinking and fighting. Stephen Briggs reads this brilliantly. It is Terry Pratchett and Discworld at their best.
Twilight (The Twilight Saga, Book 1)
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Reader: Ilyana Kadushin
Short Review: One 17 year old girl who always felt different (and is a klutz to the extreme) crosses paths with a family of exquisite vampires. Romance and intrigue ensues. It grew on me, but it took a while.
April 10, 2008 – 10:59 pm
The Dark Is Rising Sequence, Book One: Over Sea, Under Stone (The Dark Is Rising Sequence)
Author: Susan Cooper
Reader: Alex Jennings
Short Review: This timeless story will spirit you away to a summer in Cornwall to join Simon, Jane, and Barney on a great and noble quest. Alex Jennings creates distinct voices for all the characters (especially for the three children) - and knits together a magical world for your enjoyment.
March 21, 2008 – 11:32 pm
The Goose Girl
Author: Shannon Hale
Reader: Full Cast Audio
Short Review: A magical fairy tale brought to life by an amazing cast of readers. This modern retelling of a Grimm’s tale follows Ani, Princess of Kildenree, as she finds her own inner strength and true path in life. It is officially listed for Grades 6-9, but I am here to tell you that it is a fine choice for any adult interested in getting swept along by a well told tale of magic and strength.
Spook Country
Author: William Gibson
Reader: Robertson Dean
Short Review: A good listen. Likable characters and diverse perspectives carry us through a story set in the here. The author who coined the term cyberspace delivers a carefully wrought tale of high tech intrigue. Robertson Dean reads well - not a performance I would gush about, but it gets the job done without any mannerisms that I found annoying. He faded into the background in the telling - and in my book that is just fine.
February 6, 2008 – 9:09 am
The Curse of Chalion
Author: Lois McMaster Bujold
Reader: Lloyd James
Short Review: Amazing storyteller + multiple fabulous characters + a rollicking fantasy adventure + the perfect voice to pull it all together = one darn good fantasy audio book experience.
Long Review: Bujold is one of my favorite authors. I originally found her through her popular Vorkosigan Saga […]
January 11, 2008 – 11:05 pm
Fragile Things: Stories
Author: Neil Gaiman
Read by: Neil Gaiman
Short Review: An assortment of magical trips into assorted Gaiman worlds in the form of short stories and poem, all narrated by the gentle cadences of the authors voice.
January 5, 2008 – 1:45 am
The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 1)
Author: Lemony Snicket
Read by: Tim Curry
Audio Book Extras: Interview of Lemony Snicket by Leonard C. Marcus
Short Review: Tim Curry! Lemony Snicket! Creepy and dark, yet strangely endearing. And you get to hear an interview with the ever elusive Mr. Snicket.
January 2, 2008 – 11:22 pm
Anansi Boys
Author: Neil Gaiman
Read By:Lenny Henry
Short Review: Funny, dark, whimsical, captivating and carried to your ear via the melodic and varied voices of the incredible Lenny Henry. One of those audio books that will make you find excuses to listen to just one more chapter.
