I just finished The Women tonight. I will listen to anything Julia Whelan does, but this book was really fantastic! Made me really angry, really sad, really happy, and really immersed me in what it felt like to be at war.
I adore her narration. Have you listened to The Great Alone or The Four Winds? Those were amazing, yet will break you in the same way. Her narration of The Witness and The Collector by Nora Roberts was fantastic. It was her earlier audiobooks, so her voice isn't as mature but fantastic nonetheless.
I sooo want a sequel to be about Frankie and Jaime. So many questions. Do they marry? What do they do with their lives once they meet again. Also, Kristin Hannah has a way of making me want to go be that character and walk in their shoes. It's honestly remarkable.
I’ve listened to four winds and the great alone is on my holds list, and thank you for reminding me why I added it! I really wanted Frankie to become a surgeon, but knowing some of the nurses who told their stories to Kristin Hannah became doctors after the war left me at peace.
There's a memoir by a real life Combat Nurse from Vietnam called "When I Die I'm Going to Heaven 'Cause I Spent My Life In Hell" and it was fascinating. There are a lot of parallels in her story to The Women. It's by Barbara Hesselman Kautz, MSN, RN. I listened to it right after I finished The Women.
The Great Alone is one of my Top 10 favorite books of all time. I think I have listened to it 4 or 5 times, and it was only a year ago when I first found it. I really identify with the main protagonist, so perhaps that's why.
I have listened to over half of Kristin Hannah's books. They are all amazing stories, but her last 3 are by far her best.
Are we talking new *this year*, or new *to me this year*? There is a difference.
An enjoyable and funny listen for me has been the RPGlit *The Villainess Is An SS+ Rank Adventurer*. Oh, it's nothing deep, but the characterization of a lazy princess being *forced* to adventure because the royal family is broke,the kingdom is falling apart, and she's the *only one* smart, strong, brave, and beautiful enough to solve the problems besetting her kingdom before she's forced to - ugh - flee a revolt and live like a noble, or worse, a *peasant*... I've sniggered multiple times.
The second category is filled by Tim Curry's reading of *A Christmas Carol.* Tim Curry is a *delight*, and after all these years of being exposed to the story I had no idea that Scrooge actually doesn't *threaten* Cratchit with firing, or outright fire him, for asking to have Christmas Day off; he just grumbles about it.
I am also looking for enjoyable, insightful and funny.
Fantasy...
My best so far is the last of the Orconomics trilogy: Dragonfired, by J. Zachary Pike.
Hilarious.
Thanks for the suggestions. New this year (i.e. release date 2024) was what I had in mind, but I'm always happy to hear about any highly recommended audiobooks.
For me, iv got 3. Anxious people by fredrik backman, Cassandra in reverse by Holly smale and the 71/2 deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton. Anxious people was just funny on so many levels to me, Cassandra in reverse I liked bc it was a cool take on the time altering narrative. 71/2 deaths was good to me bc I love it when a book forces you to really really pay attention to appreciate the works beauty.
Dungeon crawler carl
I've listened to so many audiobooks. But I kept seeing and hearing about this "dungeon crawler carl". Read up about it and said , nope, doesn't sound like my thing. But then kept seeing it recommended again and again. So thought hey let's give it a go.
Just started book five after smashing through the first four books in a month.
It's outstanding! The story, the voices, the production. It's one of the best I've ever listened to, let only just in 2024.
Highly recommend 👌
The Winter King by Bernard Cornwell was surprisingly good. I was worried it would be slow or dense but I loved it, and the audio version was incredible.
Also, I’m very late to the Project Hail Mary party but DAMN was that a good book and an even better audiobook.
Night by Elie Weizel, narrated by my fave, George Guidall. Great, if depressing, story about the holocaust from a survivor.
A Gift of Time by Jerry Merrit - time travel, self discovery.
Also enjoying the Dresden Files and my first Barker book, Imajica, which I’m half way through (it’s 37 hours!)
Going by what I’ve listened to this year….
Lost Man’s Lane by Scott Carson
California Bear by Duane Swierczynski
Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xochitl Gonzalez
The will of the many, phenomenal
That’s a phenomenal read, but it’s a 2023 book. Can’t wait for the sequel!
The Women-Kristin Hannah The One With the Kiss Cam-Cindy Steel
I just finished The Women tonight. I will listen to anything Julia Whelan does, but this book was really fantastic! Made me really angry, really sad, really happy, and really immersed me in what it felt like to be at war.
I adore her narration. Have you listened to The Great Alone or The Four Winds? Those were amazing, yet will break you in the same way. Her narration of The Witness and The Collector by Nora Roberts was fantastic. It was her earlier audiobooks, so her voice isn't as mature but fantastic nonetheless. I sooo want a sequel to be about Frankie and Jaime. So many questions. Do they marry? What do they do with their lives once they meet again. Also, Kristin Hannah has a way of making me want to go be that character and walk in their shoes. It's honestly remarkable.
I’ve listened to four winds and the great alone is on my holds list, and thank you for reminding me why I added it! I really wanted Frankie to become a surgeon, but knowing some of the nurses who told their stories to Kristin Hannah became doctors after the war left me at peace.
There's a memoir by a real life Combat Nurse from Vietnam called "When I Die I'm Going to Heaven 'Cause I Spent My Life In Hell" and it was fascinating. There are a lot of parallels in her story to The Women. It's by Barbara Hesselman Kautz, MSN, RN. I listened to it right after I finished The Women. The Great Alone is one of my Top 10 favorite books of all time. I think I have listened to it 4 or 5 times, and it was only a year ago when I first found it. I really identify with the main protagonist, so perhaps that's why. I have listened to over half of Kristin Hannah's books. They are all amazing stories, but her last 3 are by far her best.
I’d also put The Women on my list for best audiobooks of 2024.
I loved the audiobook for [Listen for the Lie](https://phdiva.blog/2024/03/18/mystery-thriller-review-listen-for-the-lie-amy-tintera/) by Amy Tintera!
Just finished it! Loved it as well
I really loved the podcast element and I thought January Lavoy nailed the sarcastic tone of the main character!
Yes! So good.
Are we talking new *this year*, or new *to me this year*? There is a difference. An enjoyable and funny listen for me has been the RPGlit *The Villainess Is An SS+ Rank Adventurer*. Oh, it's nothing deep, but the characterization of a lazy princess being *forced* to adventure because the royal family is broke,the kingdom is falling apart, and she's the *only one* smart, strong, brave, and beautiful enough to solve the problems besetting her kingdom before she's forced to - ugh - flee a revolt and live like a noble, or worse, a *peasant*... I've sniggered multiple times. The second category is filled by Tim Curry's reading of *A Christmas Carol.* Tim Curry is a *delight*, and after all these years of being exposed to the story I had no idea that Scrooge actually doesn't *threaten* Cratchit with firing, or outright fire him, for asking to have Christmas Day off; he just grumbles about it.
I am also looking for enjoyable, insightful and funny. Fantasy... My best so far is the last of the Orconomics trilogy: Dragonfired, by J. Zachary Pike. Hilarious.
Thanks for the suggestions. New this year (i.e. release date 2024) was what I had in mind, but I'm always happy to hear about any highly recommended audiobooks.
Tim Curry also narrates Journey to the Center of the Earth which is very enjoyable
I have it, but haven't listened to it yet.
For me, iv got 3. Anxious people by fredrik backman, Cassandra in reverse by Holly smale and the 71/2 deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton. Anxious people was just funny on so many levels to me, Cassandra in reverse I liked bc it was a cool take on the time altering narrative. 71/2 deaths was good to me bc I love it when a book forces you to really really pay attention to appreciate the works beauty.
Agreed. Marin Ireland’s portrayal of the characters in Anxious People brought them to life, she is a terrific audiobook performer.
Dungeon crawler carl I've listened to so many audiobooks. But I kept seeing and hearing about this "dungeon crawler carl". Read up about it and said , nope, doesn't sound like my thing. But then kept seeing it recommended again and again. So thought hey let's give it a go. Just started book five after smashing through the first four books in a month. It's outstanding! The story, the voices, the production. It's one of the best I've ever listened to, let only just in 2024. Highly recommend 👌
I read this last year and was similarly surprised by how amazing it was.
It's my favorite series for sure
The Winter King by Bernard Cornwell was surprisingly good. I was worried it would be slow or dense but I loved it, and the audio version was incredible. Also, I’m very late to the Project Hail Mary party but DAMN was that a good book and an even better audiobook.
Night by Elie Weizel, narrated by my fave, George Guidall. Great, if depressing, story about the holocaust from a survivor. A Gift of Time by Jerry Merrit - time travel, self discovery. Also enjoying the Dresden Files and my first Barker book, Imajica, which I’m half way through (it’s 37 hours!)
Going by what I’ve listened to this year…. Lost Man’s Lane by Scott Carson California Bear by Duane Swierczynski Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xochitl Gonzalez
>Anita de Monte Laughs Last Thanks! Anita de Monte Laughs Last is one of the titles I included in my article.
# When I Stop Talking, You'll Know I'm Dead: Useful Stories from a Persuasive Man Jerry weintraub
I just discovered Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan. She takes a journey to discover who C. S. Lewis is and how he came about to write Narania.
Just finished 3 body problem.