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The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Reader: Neil Gaiman
Short Review: Neil Gaiman reads his Newbery Medal winning book beautifully. His nod to Kipling’s The Jungle Book is just scary enough, intriguing, inventive, well-written, enchanting . . . it’s downright wonderful. I loved Bod, Silas, Scarlett, Liza, Miss Lupescu, and the rest of the graveyard’s denizens and rooted for them throughout the story. I miss them. I’ll return to this book again and recommend it to adults and kids.
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Going Postal by Terry Pratchett
Reader: Stephen Briggs
Short Review: Another very entertaining Discworld novel read wonderfully by Stephen Briggs. This story follows forcible-reformed former con-artist Moist von Lipwig (a.k.a. Albert Spangler) as he attempts to reform the Ankh-Morpork post office at the behest of Lord Vetinari. The story teems with great characters, intrigue, technomancy, bureaucracy, golems, ponzi schemes, small gods, mail, stamps, secret societies, and a pirate.
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Thud! by Terry Pratchett
Thud! (A Discworld Novel)
Author: Terry Pratchett
Reader: Stephen BriggsShort Review: This fun, funny, and often thoughtful story follows Sam Vimes as he investigates the murder of dwarven leader Grag Hamcrusher. Vimes is a father…
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Storm Front (Dresden Files, Book 1) by Jim Butcher
Storm Front Audiobook by Jim ButcherBook 1
Author: Jim Butcher
Reader: James MarstersShort Review: Down on his luck detective Harry Dresden also happens to be a real, live wizard. This introduction to Harry’s world includes magic, potions, a talking skull named Bob, werewolves – and of course a murder mystery. James Marsters is brilliant.
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Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney
Beowulf, translated by Seamus HeaneyTranslator: Seamus Heaney
Reader: George GuidallShort Review: Heaney’s excellent translation read well, though not perfectly, by Guidall.
Long Review: You know already whether or not you want to listed to Beowulf as…
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Fragile Things: Stories Fictions and Wonders by Neil Gaiman
Read by: Neil Gaiman
Short Review: A solid book of short stories read beautifully by the author.
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Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer (Twilight Saga, Book 3)
Eclipse (Twilight Saga, Book 3)
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Reader: Ilyana Kadushin and Matt WaltersShort Review: Meyer gets better with each book. With this book, she has found a good rhythm. The quieter bits of this story have a stronger voice than those in the first 2 books of the saga. Book 3 digs deeply into Bella’s relationships and finally starts to ask the question of “Why?”. We still get good action scenes (because there is always action in a world that has vampires and werewolves) – but we also see Bella make conscious choices with an eye to the consequences in her future.
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Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn
Across the Nightingale Floor (Tales of the Otori, Book 1)Author: Lian Hearn
Readers: Kevin Gray and Aiko Nakasone
Short Review: Look Mom—I’m panning a well-loved book!
A fantasy/faux history of feudal Japan read… -
New Moon by Stephenie Meyer (Twilight Saga, Book 2)
New Moon (Twilight Saga, Book 2)
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Reader: Ilyana Kadushin
Short Review: The good: a fresh and creative version of vampire and werewolf legends with characters you care about and great action scenes. The less good: lots and lots of Bella’s internal angst-ridden dialogue (not that there is anything wrong with that, if you have a taste for that sort of thing).
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A Hat Full of Sky: The Continuing Adventures of Tiffany Aching and The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett
A Hat Full of Sky: The Continuing Adventures of Tiffany Aching and The Wee Free Men
Author: Terry Pratchett
Reader: Stephen BriggsShort 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.
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The Wee Free Men: A Story of Discworld by Terry Pratchett
The Wee Free Men: A Story of Discworld
Author: Terry Pratchett
Reader: Stephen BriggsShort 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.
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Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
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.
