Audio Review: Room by Emma Donoghue

Title: Room

Author: Emma Donoghue

Narrators: Michal Friedman, Ellen Archer, Robert Petkoff, Suzanne Toren

Publisher: Blackstone Audio

Format: Unabridged Audio

Length: 10 hrs 45 mins

Publication: November 16, 2010

Source: Library

Genre: Fiction

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Synopsis: To five-year-old Jack, Room is the entire world. It is where he was born and grew up; it's where he lives with his Ma as they learn and read and eat and sleep and play. At night, his Ma shuts him safely in the wardrobe, where he is meant to be asleep when Old Nick visits.

Room is home to Jack, but to Ma, it is the prison where Old Nick has held her captive for seven years. Through determination, ingenuity, and fierce motherly love, Ma has created a life for Jack. But she knows it's not enough...not for her or for him. She devises a bold escape plan, one that relies on her young son's bravery and a lot of luck. What she does not realize is just how unprepared she is for the plan to actually work.Told entirely in the language of the energetic, pragmatic five-year-old Jack, ROOM is a celebration of resilience and the limitless bond between parent and child, a brilliantly executed novel about what it means to journey from one world to another.

My Thoughts: This is the heart breaking story of survival. Jack loves Room; it's all he knows. I have never thought about survival from the eyes of the smallest victim. I'm glad that with this read I got the opportunity to see it. All Jack knows is Room and as far as he can tell Room is safe. The safety of room is only confirmed when Jack participates in his mother's plans to get him out of Room. 

This read is not for the fain of heart. I shed many tears during this story. In my past life i worked with survivors everyday. But, I was only working toward a goal. I didn't take the time to learn about how they survived and how they were affected by the struggle to survive and how they felt about things outside of the their struggles. This book reminded me that my struggles are small and insignificant compared to others and to never take freedom for granted. This is a great read for mature readers. Just be prepared that the content is difficult to swallow. 

Audio Review: Don't Breathe A Word by Jennifer McMahon

Title: Don't Breathe A Word: A Novel

Author: Jennifer McMahon

Narrator: Lily Rains

Publisher: Harper Audio

Format: Unabridged Audio

Length: 12 hrs 2 mins

Publication: May 17, 2011

Source: Library

Genre: Psychological Suspense

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Synopsis: 
On a soft summer night in Vermont, twelve-year-old Lisa went into the woods behind her house and never came out again. Before she disappeared, she told her little brother, Sam, about a door that led to a magical place where she would meet the King of the Fairies and become his queen.

Fifteen years later, Phoebe is in love with Sam, a practical, sensible man who doesn't fear the dark and doesn't have bad dreams--who, in fact, helps Phoebe ignore her own. But suddenly the couple is faced with a series of eerie, unexplained occurrences that challenge Sam's hardheaded, realistic view of the world. As they question their reality, a terrible promise Sam made years ago is revealed--a promise that could destroy them all.

My Thoughts: I loved this read. The suspense was intense, i was on pins and needles until the very end. Then my jaw hit the floor. This psychological suspense had my mind in knots. From the very beginning I was suspicious of the Fairy King and whether he was real or fantasy. I quickly came to the  conclusion that he must be real or there is a huge conspiracy encompassing just about everyone in the state of Vermont. Lisa story and having to know what really happened to her her kept me moving through to the end. I was not disappointed by this read. 

This is a single voiced unabridged audio performed by Lily Rains. The original material works wonderfully as on audio presentation. Lily does an excellent job differentiating between characters. She uses tone, inflection, and accent. Gender differences are also clear.  Lily adds that extra suspense to the book and breathes life into each character. Pace is maintained throughout the production and plot flows without interruption. During the opening music is used and creates the creepy atmosphere appropriate to the book. I enjoyed Lily's narration and look forward to listening to her again. 

Audio Review: W.A.R.P. by Eoin Colfer

Title: The Reluctant Assassin 

Author: Eoin Colfer

Narrator: Maxwell Caulfield

Publisher: Listening Library

Format: Unabridged Audio

Length: 9 hrs 29 mins

Publication: May 7, 2013

Source: Gift- Audio Book Sync

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction

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Synopsis: 
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.

My Thoughts:
I was surprised by how much I loved this book. Chevie Savano is a tough girl just trying to become a "real" FBI agent. She is taking her small role seriously. Riley is just trying to survive day to day in late  1890's England. This is a test within it self not to mention Riley is training to be an assassin and his teacher is one scary dude. 

During the story we learn how each main character came to be in their current situation and the motivations for their actions. It's easy to see why Agent Orange's father hid the time keys. Perhaps he should have moonlighted in another area or time. 

This is an entertaining read. It's clear there is a need for a second book but this could have easily been a standalone. I'm excited to see where the next book takes Chevie and Riley I'm positive adventure is in their future. 

This is a single voiced unabridged audio performed by Maxwell Caulfield. He does a outstanding job with variations in gender and with differentiating each character. Pace is well maintained throughout the production. Caulfield is able to breathe emotion and intent into his narration. 

Big Girl Panties by Stephanie Evanovich (Audiobook)

Author: Stephanie Evanovich
Narrator: Katie Schorr

Title:Big Girl Panties

Publication: July 9, 2013

Publisher: Harper Audio

Genre: Chick Lit, Romance

Pages: 368
Length: 9.5 hours

Audience: 18 and up

Rating:  3 out of 5

Source: Public Library

Synopsis (from the cover):  Holly didn't expect to be a widow at thirty two. She also didn't expect to be so big. After her husband's death, food was the one thing she could always count on. Now, those extra pounds make flying coach feel like medieval torture- especially when she's squished next to Logan Montgomery. A personal trainer to famous pro athletes, her seatmate is so hot that he makes Holly sweat in all the right (and so embarrassingly wrong!) places.
Logan finds himself intrigues by Holly's sharp wit and keen insights, so he impulsively offers to get her back in shape. Holly turns out to be a natural in the gym, slimming down into a  bona fide looker with killer curves- and a new kind of hunger. Before either of them can stop it, the easy intimacy of their training sessions leads to even more steamy workouts away from the gym. But can a man whose whole life depends on looks commit himself to a woman who doesn't fit his ideal? Now that Holly's turning other men's heads, does she even need Logan anymore? Are they a couple built to last...or destined to fizzle? 

My thoughts:
I'm still a little unsure about this book. It seemed to do a lot of fat shaming. In my mind Holly was never obese. She was just overweight. From other reviews I read that was the main problem a lot of people had with the book. The author just did not portray overweight people properly. Some people are overweight, but are otherwise healthy people. And some people just do not care and are happy with themselves, I fall into this group. So I had a hard time sympathizing with Logan's view of Holly and sometimes Holly as well. 
Another problem that arose from the novel was the randomly changing view points. The author would flip from Logan to Holly to Amanda to Chase to Natalie to Tina except shuffle that up a bit. I didn't have a huge problem with it because the narrator, Katie Schorr did a great job of doing a distinct voice for each character. My husband listened to a little of the book with me and we both think she sounds like Rebecca Soler who narrated Cinder and Scarlet. They are both great narrators in my book.

 Even though this book had some flaws there was something about Logan and Holly's relationship that really pulled at my heart strings and made me care about the characters and even dislike a few.
Overall, this book is just a short sweet romance novel. I enjoyed it and if you are more into romance than I am, I'm sure you'll enjoy it too!

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green (Audiobook)

Author: John Green 

Narrator: Jeff Woodman

Title:  An Abundance of Katherines

Publication: September 1, 2006

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Genre: Young Adult

Pages: 272

Length: 6 hours and 48 minutes

Audience: 16 and up

Rating: 1 out of 5

Source: Public Library

Synopsis (from Goodreads): Katherine V thought boys were gross

Katherine X just wanted to be friends

Katherine XVIII dumped him in an e-mail

K-19 broke his heart

When it comes to relationships, Colin Singleton's type happens to be girls named Katherine. And when it comes to girls named Katherine, Colin is always getting dumped. Nineteen times, to be exact.

On a road trip miles from home, this anagram-happy, washed-up child prodigy has ten thousand dollars in his pocket, a bloodthirsty feral hog on his trail, and an overweight, Judge Judy-loving best friend riding shotgun--but no Katherines. Colin is on a mission to prove The Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability, which he hopes will predict the future of any relationship, avenge Dumpees everywhere, and finally win him the girl. Love, friendship, and a dead Austro-Hungarian archduke add up to surprising and heart-changing conclusions in this ingeniously layered comic novel about reinventing oneself.

My thoughts: I have heard a lot about John Green and I have purchased Fault in Our Stars, but it is currently on my bookshelf collecting dust while I’m reading six other books. So I thought I would go with an audiobook at the time because I had nothing else better to listen to and I really wanted to try a John Green book. I guess I should have not gone with An Abundance of Katherines, but our library is so underfunded, that this was my only John Green option. I kept listening to it, hoping it would get better. By the end of it I was tired of Colin Singleton, the term “fug” in any format, anagrams, and math terminology. At one point, I was almost certain that Colin had Asperger’s Syndrome. The book never mentioned it so I guess he didn't. This entire book was about him and his wants and obsessions. He never seemed to care about other people. It was annoying. However, his friend Hasan was the comedic relief, but even he got annoying at times. The other main characters were uncertain about what they wanted as well. So it was full of coming of age angst. The book was a good book about being yourself and coming of age novel. However, there was too much stupid love drama with the Katherines, whining from Colin, anagrams, and math for my taste. 

The narrator, Jeff Woodman does a great job. He does a different voice for each character. His southern accent for Hollis and Lindsay and the other residents of Gutshot is over the top, but it works. Some people really do sound the way he narrated them. I think he did a fantastic job. You can tell when Hasan is speaking or Colin or one of the many Katherines. He is a wonderful narrator, but the book was kind of poop for me. If you love John Green I suggest giving it a try, but if you are not a John Green fan, or have never read any of his books I was told to try Looking for Alaska. 

Audio Review: Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

Title: Cruel Beauty

Author: Rosamund Hodge

Narrator: Elizabeth Knowelden

Publisher: Harper Audio

Format: Unabridged Audio

Length: 10 hrs 17 mins

Publication: January 28, 2014

Source: Gift- Audio Book Sync

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

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Synopsis: 
Based on the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, Cruel Beauty is a dazzling love story about our deepest desires and their power to change our destiny.

Since birth, Nyx has been betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom-all because of a foolish bargain struck by her father. And since birth, she has been in training to kill him.

With no choice but to fulfill her duty, Nyx resents her family for never trying to save her and hates herself for wanting to escape her fate. Still, on her seventeenth birthday, Nyx abandons everything she's ever known to marry the all-powerful, immortal Ignifex. Her plan? Seduce him, destroy his enchanted castle, and break the nine-hundred-year-old curse he put on her people.

But Ignifex is not at all what Nyx expected. The strangely charming lord beguiles her, and his castle-a shifting maze of magical rooms-enthralls her.

As Nyx searches for a way to free her homeland by uncovering Ignifex's secrets, she finds herself unwillingly drawn to him. Even if she could bring herself to love her sworn enemy, how can she refuse her duty to kill him? With time running out, Nyx must decide what is more important: the future of her kingdom, or the man she was never supposed to love.

My Thoughts: I love the retelling of classic fairy tales. Rosamund Hodge goes one step further by adding mythology to the mix. All of her live Nyx has been preparing to marry and destroy the enemy. She knows it will not be easy an easy task and the fate of her kingdom is determined my her success or failure. 

I was drawn in to the story from the very beginning. I realized very quickly that a simple bargain was at the center of everything. I just couldn't figure out what the bargain was and how it ended with a kingdom held hostage. Nyx's passion surprised me. As they say Love and hate the are two sides of the same coin. Ignifex and shadow were a puzzle to me. In hind sight they shouldn't have been. I tend to overlook what is staring me right in the face. Even though I found the ending confusing I was happy with how things ended. 

This is a singe voiced unabridged audio performed by Elizabeth Knowelden. She does an excellent job with variations in gender and with differentiating each character. Knowelden gives life to Nyx and her emotions. Pace is well maintained throughout the production. 

Audio Review: Emily Windsnap and the Monster from the Deep by Liz Kessler

Title: Emily Windsnap and the Monster from the Deep 

Author: Liz Kessler
Narrator: Finty Williams
Publisher: Listening Library
Format: Unabridged Audio
Length: 4 hours 13 minutes

Publication: December 6, 2007

Source: Library

Genre: Fantasy, Middle Grade

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Synopsis:
An enchanting tale with a fabulous monster, engaging characters, plenty of mermaid magic, and a page-turning story, Liz Kessler's new middle-grade fantasy has all the charm and warmth of its predecessor, THE TAIL OF EMILY WINDSNAP.

Picture an island set in a glittering blue sea, sparkling with white sand and palm trees, a secret place where humans and merfolk live together and where a girl who grows a mermaid's tail when she enters the water is not considered a problem. To Emily Windsnap - half mermaid, half human - her new home is perfect. That is, until Emily ruins everything by waking a legendary sea monster known as the Kraken from its hundred-year sleep. As the Kraken rises from the deep, putting the future of the islanders in jeopardy, Emily makes a desperate attempt to save them. But how could she have dreamed that her best friend, Shona, would stop talking to her, or that Mandy Rushton, her old enemy from junior high, would turn up when least expected?

My Thoughts: Emily drags her best (and only) friend, Shona into a restricted cave in attempts to impress some of the mer girls. In the process Emily and Shona awaken the terrifying Kracken. This action drives the girls apart. Will Emily be able to defeat the Karcken on her own? 

In this second tale of Emily Windsnap Mandy, Emily's nemesis, and Emily's stories intertwine. Neither girl is anxious to encounter the other as they both feel the other has ruined her life. Emily struggles with friendships and jealousy all the while trying to adjust in new surroundings and getting use to having a father. Emily's curiosity could be the end of her new home as she may have crossed Neptune one to many times. 

Audio Review: The Silent Wife by A.S.A. Harrison

Title: The Silent Wife

Author: A.S.A. Harrison

Narrator: Karen White and Donald Corren

Publisher: Blackstone Audio

Format: Unabridged Audio

Length: 8 hrs 57 mins

Publication: June 29, 2013

Source: Library

Genre: Psychological Thriller, Mystery

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Synopsis: 
A chilling psychological thriller about a marriage, a way of life, and how far one woman will go to keep what is rightfully hers

Jodi and Todd are at a bad place in their marriage. Much is at stake, including the affluent life they lead in their beautiful waterfront condo in Chicago, as she, the killer, and he, the victim, rush haplessly toward the main event. He is a committed cheater. She lives and breathes denial. He exists in dual worlds. She likes to settle scores. He decides to play for keeps. She has nothing left to lose. Told in alternating voices, The Silent Wife is about a marriage in the throes of dissolution, a couple headed for catastrophe, concessions that can’t be made, and promises that won’t be kept. Expertly plotted and reminiscent of Gone Girl and These Things Hidden, The Silent Wife ensnares the reader from page one and does not let go.

My Thoughts: This story really made me think, what would I do in the same situation? Many times I found myself yelling at Jodi. As a mental health professional I felt that she should know how to respond to the situations she is faced with and not be in denial. At the same time I realize that I probably would have done the same thing. 

Todd is a self made man. He has worked hard to become the businessman that he is today. He is selfish yet he wants to do the right thing. I both loved and hated Todd. I loved him for wanting to do the right thing and hated him for treating Jodi as if she were nothing. In the end I wasn't sure as to who was actually responsible but I was pleasantly satisfied with how things ended. 

This is a multi-voiced unabridged audio production. The original work is appropriated for the audio medium. The narrators bring feeling and depth to the story. Each narrator clearly differentiated each character. Pace is well maintained throughout the production and plot flows with interruption. 

Audio Review: Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

Title: Beauty Queens 

Author: Libba Bray

Narrator: Libba Bray

Publisher: Scholastic Audio

Format: Unabridged Audio

Length: 14 hrs 37 mins

Publication: May 24, 2011

Source: Library

Genre: Young Adult

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Synopsis: 
The fifty contestants in the Miss Teen Dream pageant thought this was going to be a fun trip to the beach, where they could parade in their state-appropriate costumes and compete in front of the cameras. But sadly, their airplane had another idea, crashing on a desert island and leaving the survivors stranded with little food, little water, and practically no eyeliner.

What's a beauty queen to do? Continue to practice for the talent portion of the program - or wrestle snakes to the ground? Get a perfect tan - or learn to run wild? And what should happen when the sexy pirates show up?

Welcome to the heart of non-exfoliated darkness. Your tour guide? None other than Libba Bray, the hilarious, sensational, Printz Award-winning author of A Great and Terrible Beauty and Going Bovine. The result is a novel that will make you laugh, make you think, and make you never see beauty the same way again.

My Thoughts: I love, love, love this read. Libba Bray has created a funny and heart warming story of competition, friendship, and individual growth. Libba has capitalized on multiple stereotypes and debunked each one. The girls begin there journey as competitors in the Miss Teen Dream Pageant. The all have the singular goal of being crowned winner, each for different reasons, but there can only be one winner. I loved watching the characters survive, thrive and grow while stranded on the island. I loved how Libba addressed issues that teens are currently facing. In the end each girl realizes that she is more than just a pretty face. I look forward to more book by Libba Bray. 

This is a single voiced unabridged audio. Libba Bray narrated this audio. She does an excellent job with differentiating each character through tone, inflections, and accents. Her accents are well done. Libba's narration brings the story to life and made the audio entertaining. Pace is maintained throughout the production. 

Audio Reivew: The Tail of Emily Windsnap by Liz Kessler

Title: The Tail of Emily Windsnap

Author: Liz Kessler

Narrator: Finty Williams

Publisher: Listening Library

Format: Unabridged Audio

Length: 4 hrs 38 mins

Publication: August 25, 2004

Source: Library

Genre: Fantasy, Middle Grade

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Synopsis: 
For as long as she can remember, twelve-year-old Emily Windsnap has lived on a boat. And, oddly enough, for just as long, her mother has seemed anxious to keep her away from the water. But when Mom finally agrees to let her take swimming lessons, Emily makes a startling discovery - about her own identity, the mysterious father she's never met, and the thrilling possibilities and perils shimmering deep below the water's surface. With a sure sense of suspense and richly imaginative details, first-time author Liz Kessler lures us into a glorious undersea world where mermaids study shipwrecks at school and Neptune rules with an iron trident - an enchanting fantasy about family secrets, loyal friendship, and the convention-defying power of love.

My Thoughts: This story is both about Emily's tale and her tail. Emily has been begging her mother for years to let her have swimming lessons. They do live on a boat after all. Emily is drawn to the water and is a natural in the pool. But something happens to her legs after a time in the pool. This is the story of discovery, challenges, and love. Middle Graders will love this heart warming story.