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Hot New Audio Books – November 4th

Lots of interesting audio books were released this week. In particular I noticed a lot of memoirs and autobiographies. This week’s hot new releases include an exciting conclusion to a fantasy series, two memoirs and a historical tale.

The final book in the bestselling Wicked Series was released this week. Out of Oz by Gregory Maguire takes listeners back to this magical land. The Cowardly Lion is on the run from the law, war has broken out, and the small American girl has decided to come back… yes that’s right, Dorothy’s back. The Wicked Witch’s granddaughter has grown up and it’s time to find out if she has more similarities with Elephba than just her strikingly green skin. The long awaited conclusion to this series will be a fast favorite for Maguire fans.

Considered the most remarkable Christmas of the Century, Pearl Harbor Christmas by Stanley Weintraub looks at Christmas 1941. Publishers Weekly talks about the audio book, “A minor genre, the day-by-day chronicle, receives a fine addition as veteran historian Weintraub devotes a chapter each to the last ten days of 1941 plus New Year’s Day…Readers will enjoy his opinionated portraits of the allied leaders as they hammered out strategy, much of which was rendered irrelevant by subsequent events.”

Carrie Fisher is back with another memoir, Shockaholic. Fans of Wishful Drinking will be excited to delve a little deeper and learn more about her surreal life. The few years since her last audiobook was published has been a roller coaster ride and she talks about her friendship with Michael Jackson, the loss of her father and stepmother, as well as the “wishful shrinking” of losing forty pounds of unwanted flesh. This honest memoir promises to reveal a new, tender side of Carrie Fisher.

Mindy Kaling, best known for her role on The Office has written a hysterical memoir, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns). Compared to Tiny Fey, this audio book is guaranteed to have you in stitches. Mindy tells the stories of her different lives: the dutiful daughter of immigrant parents, off-Broadway performer and Hollywood actress.

Do any of these audio books peak your interest?

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The Language of Flowers – A Review

How do you select the next audio book that you’re going to listen to? Do you search through other reviews, ask your friends for a recommendation, or just grab something from one of your favorite authors? These are great ways to discover a wonderful story, but sometimes I like to try something a little different. I’ll grab an audio book based solely on a great cover illustration or just a spectacular title. That is how I chose Vanessa Diffenbaugh’s The Language of Flowers.

The Language of Flowers has a beautiful image of white flowers on the cover, and so I was expecting a love story. As the saying goes, you shouldn’t judge a book by the cover, and while it wasn’t exactly what I was expecting, it is a beautifully told story revolving around the language of flowers.

Victoria Jones was abandoned at birth and grew up in a series of foster and group homes. When she turns 18 she is emancipated and has to start fending for herself. She ends up sleeping in a park (thankfully she lives in San Francisco) and with her knowledge of flowers and their Victorian meanings, she starts a part time job at a florist. While moving forward through the story, Victoria also tells the listeners about her past, focusing on the time she lived with Elizabeth, a woman who was hoping to adopt her. The past and present are woven together beautifully, moving forward at a similar pace and truly adding to the story.

Tara Sands does an exceptional job narrating the audio book. The different voices she uses for 18 and 10 year old Victoria are spot-on and her tone is perfect. She also does a marvellous job with the other characters, including Grant. I can only imagine that this is exactly how Vanessa Diffenbaugh would have wanted it read.

I may start picking more books by their covers from now on! Have you listened to The Language of Flowers? Share your thoughts in the comments and tell me how you select your audio books!

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Something Wicked This Way Comes

Earlier this week I blogged about All Hallows Listen, and I have found my recommendation! Gather your family and friends around your computer or stereo system and get ready for an exceptional audio production! Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury is not your typical audio book. This is a production with a full cast, music and sound effects. It’s an engaging story and has been created in the format of radio theater.

In this story, a creepy carnival comes to town a week before Halloween and two thirteen year old boys, Jim Nightshade and Will Halloway, are swept up in the excitement. There’s a house of mirrors, a maze and of course, a curious carousel. The carnival promises to bring you everything you wish for, but the boys will soon learn that what you wish for isn’t necessarily what you want. And if something is too good to be true, it probably is.

This wonderful audio production really adds to the story; you’ll feel like you’re walking (and running) through the carnival with the boys. The audio book was spooky, but not too scary. If you’re still looking for your All Hallows Listen pick, this would be a really fun audio book to listen to with a group on Halloween.

Have you listened to an audio book that was an amazing audio experience? Share your story in the comments section below!