For many years I have enjoyed audiobooks, although just lately I had a lull. However I’ve picked up my pace again and I am well on my way to finishing my present one. So my mind has gone to what I might listen to next.
Here are the ones I will listen to this year but I am not sure in what order!
I have Becoming for sometime, I really need to make it a priority, I know I’ll really enjoy it. I know I do not need to say any more about this book, it has been huge.
This is another one I’ve had since last year. I haven’t really read Maeve Binchy but I believe this is worth reading. It is narrated Caroline Lennon.
This one is a retelling of Pride and Prejudice but set in Pakistan. It was on Anne Bogel’s Summer Reading Guide 2019 and it has been on my radar. So now its in my Audible library waiting for my attention. It is narrated by Rasheeda Ali.
I listened to The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir by Jennifer Ryan and really enjoyed it. This one is her next book and is World War 11 as well. It has only one narrator – Jane Entwhistle. Her previous book had quite a cast of narrators.
The Sun Sister is the next one in a series and I have been watching for it to coming out on audio.There are two narrators as there usually in these books as they tell two time lines. Some readers haven’t been happy with the narrators but I think I’ll still go with it. I haven’t got this one in my Audible library yet but it will be soon. Its about 26 hours long though!!
Which one will I listen to next? I am not sure! But at least I have narrowed it down to five! That’s sort of a plan! If you were making a choice which one would it be for you?
When it all Turned to Custard by Danielle Hawkins is one I own and bought after I read a review by an Australian blogger. I haven’t read it yet but its in the queue. It too is set in New Zealand. Hmm I just see a recommendation on the back by one of my favourite Australian authors – Fiona Lowe who says ” An entertaining read full of humour, heart and soul.” I should move it up the list. Published 2019
Soraya Lane has written both romance and women’s fiction. Its the latter that I enjoy. The Spitfire Girls is set overseas and is an insight into the courageous contribution women made in both England and the USA towards the WW2 endeavours. These women were willing to put their lives on the line and take on piloting planes to where they were needed. And… they were very successful.
What a honey of a book. I was originally enticed into this book by the US edition with its warm tones on the cover, however as I read the book I came to love this cover too. Sugar is a treasure and the amazing ‘family’ of people she gathered around her was endearing and satisfying. As it says on the cover – a novel of honey, love and manners.
Finally a book I bought this week. This is by Farid Ahmed about his wife, the Christchurch massacre and his journey to forgiveness. All royalties go to St John Ambulance. As the one year date for this awful shooting and I heard about this book o the radio, I was immediately interested in reading it. Farid’s wife was killed in this massacre. I believe the book will build my understanding of the experience of another New Zealander.
This one is part of the Thunder Point series written by Robyn Carr and published in 2015. This is a story of a woman who has a broken marriage and the loss of a child. The woman’s name is Ginger and she makes a very gutsy as she looks for new hope in her life now and into the future. As ever Robyn Carr writes a very good book with a wide range of interesting characters.
This is by Australian author Rachael Johns and she has become an author I’ll automatically read. This book is set in Hope Junction and its about a couple who have been burned by life and have the opportunity to grasp something new and positive… if they can find that hope and trust.
From my favourite paranormal series comes this book by Nalini Singh. I love her themes and explorations of issues. In this story…Awakening wounded in a darkened cell, their psychic abilities blocked, Aden and Zaira know they must escape. But when the lethal soldiers break free from their mysterious prison, they find themselves in a harsh, inhospitable landscape far from civilization. Their only hope for survival is to make it to the hidden home of a predatory changeling pack that doesn’t welcome outsiders.
This is another book by an Australian author. Its the story of Augusta – a twin to Julia who is always so good and Augusta – well she gets rather squashed for her forthrightness and view of life.
Emily March is the New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and USA Today bestselling author of over thirty novels, including the critically acclaimed Eternity Springs series. Publishers Weekly calls March a “master of delightful banter,” and her heartwarming, emotionally charged stories have been named to Best of the Year lists by Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and Romance Writers of America.
An unusual book, it tells the story of Tom an Australian farmer and his love for Hannah and Peter. Hannah has suffered and lost so much and her story of Auschwitz is heartbreaking. Tom too is not a stranger to sadness yet he is extraordinary in his quiet way. I loved his way with people and animals and his ability to work and craft beautiful bookshelves. I really enjoyed the Australian flavour to this book. I laughed aloud at some of the recognised colloquilisms. Hannah is a difficult character, but she has been through so much, her struggle understandable. I liked her determination to gather and sell books to make up for the many destroyed by the Nazis. My heart went out to Peter, so young and yet so much heartbreak for him. It had a lot more appeal for me than I thought it would.
I listened to this one on audiobook and I found that at times I had to push myself to pick it up to listen to. I may have liked this a lot more if I’d just read it. Nina works in a book shop, is a total book nerd, loves her cat and is a trivia expert. She has never known her Dad, but when he dies she finds out she has lots of family -some lovely some not. There is also a little romance and Nina finds herself wondering is it better to be alone or is it better to be alone with someone who loves her as she is.
This one is a true bookish book. It is about a bookshop and the people who own it and work in it. It has lots of bookish talk and yet its about so much more. It’s about relationships and what makes them, its about valuing and loving people in spite of what might appear on the surface. We often judge, but are we making that up in our heads, is it really what’s happening? I loved the explorations and paths this book took me down. Its definitely one for my keeper shelf.
The Ten Thousand Doors of January is not immediately bookish, but it is still about the power of story and words and captures much of the magic of books. It is fantasy but often feels very real. January the young heroine of the book loves to read and write. There are doors that lead into other worlds, and there are those who want to lock them up tight and keep the world safe and to their order and power. Safety at the cost of freedom and choice. January stands at the centre, she is key. Magic, time travel, a coming of age story. It’s thought provoking. The characters, especially January and Sam and Bad really appeal. Maybe not for everyone but I am pleased I gave this one a chance. If you want to know a little more read this 
The Book Charmer has a small town approach with a librarian – Sarah who often has books that “talk” to her and she gives books to people because she “knows” they need them. And most often she is proved right. Grace turns up in town and Sarah knows that Grace is destined to stay in the town but Grace is not inclined. It was a good read although I didn’t entirely warm to it. However other readers I follow did award it 5 stars so it could have just been me. I gave it a solid three stars.