I have been working on this post since Sunday. The date on it has changed four times. I have since finished Lady Audley’s Secret. I think this is just a slump writing week for me.
The Likeness, by Tana French. So I finished The Likeness and it ended up being about the only thing that I read or listened to for the week, and then after I finished I couldn’t start anything else. It’s so good that it requires a certain amount of space around it before you can start anything else. Trish from Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin’? calls this her favorite book ever, and I can see why. I love this book. I was afraid because I was loving it so much that I was going to be absolutely devastated by the ending, but it all worked out. Seriously, read this book.
Lady Audley’s Secret, by Mary Elizabeth Braddon: I bought this on audio and I started listening to the first half hour and I was hooked. But I realized that it was the abridged edition (my bad); I normally don’t do abridged anything. I mean, just why? But then I started listening again because I was curious about the story and the way it ended, and it was a prefect follow-up to The Likeness. A mystery, but totally different in every way, so I won’t even be able to compare the two and inevitably be let-down. I am enjoying the narrator, Juliet Stevnson, and her British accent and all the voices that she was makes up along the way for each othe characters. She is great! I figure that if I love it so much that I want to read the book and discover what I missed, I can buy it or get it from the library.
So far, Lucy has managed to snag rich and older gentleman Lord Audley, and her servants have looked through her things and discovered a little baby shoe which they intend on keeping to blackmail her. Meanwhile, George Talboys who is a friend of Mr. Audley’s nephew, Robert Audley, has just returned from a trip to Australia where he had gone on an expedition to earn money to support his family. George has come back a wealthy man. He returns home to find that his wife has passed away and spends a year in mourning. I know that there is more to the story and I can’t wait to find out what it is. This is so interesting that it makes me wonder if I would like the unabridged edition just as much. Maybe they cut out all of the slow parts. Long scenery descriptions which I have typically come to expect in classics have been curiously absent.
The Simplest of Acts and Other Stories, by Melanie Haney: I have been reading a story here and there and I have been loving them. Lately it’s been hard to find short stories which capture enough of the characters and the story to really enjoy them but Haney manages to do do both. The stories are full of rich imagery and characterization, and explore some interesting themes- like traveling in other countries and hanging on when you really need to let go. I love that I feel something at the end of these stories. That’s a a special thing because a lot of the time after readinng short stories, I am left with one word- huh?
The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen, by Syrie James: I just finished reading and loving The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte and already I am back for more of Syrie James. Enough said.
What do you do with audiobooks when you’re done with them? Do you delete them, or do you have a massive hard drive? They take up lots of space.
Other reviews and posts:
I’m planning to read In the Woods soon, but have heard very mixed reviews for it, so keep putting it off. I trust your reading opinion though, so I think I will give it a go soon, so I can get to Likeness.
.-= Jackie (Farm Lane Books)´s last blog ..The House at Riverton – Kate Morton =-.
I’m right there with you in terms of finding that the bulk of the short stories I read just make me go “huh?” I’ll have to check out The Simplest of Acts and Other Stories.
.-= Megan´s last blog ..Brokeback Megan Talks Books or Whatever =-.
You have just added 3 more books to my tbr list!! Thanks!
Woohoo! I got you on The Likeness train. It will ruin you for all other books.
I mean, you’ll enjoy other books, but it will be a LONG TIME before another book supplants The Likeness.
*sigh* My work here is complete.
.-= trish´s last blog ..GIVEAWAY and much more for Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross =-.
That is the second fab comment I have read about The Likeness. I shall have to look into this one, but I guess I need to start with In The Woods.
.-= vivienne´s last blog ..A Lion Called Christian by Bourke and Rendall =-.
I keep hearing great things about Tana French – must give her a try sometime. Melanie Haney also sounds like my kind of writer. I love short stories that make me feel.
.-= Nymeth´s last blog ..The Illusionist by Jennifer Johnston =-.
God! You have awesome pile! I have heard such good things about Tana’s book.
I don’t listen to audio books
.-= veens´s last blog ..Cover Attractions~~ =-.
I really have to add French to my list. I’ve been wanting to read or listen to her for a while, but between you and Trish, I’m going to have to cave.
Syrie James has also been on my radar, but also unread.
And the Braddon book is new to me, so I’ll have look into it. If even the abridged version got you hooked, then it’s worth the listen!
.-= Beth F´s last blog ..Thursday Teas (July 23): Delectable Mountains by Earlene Fowler =-.
The Likeness is seriously in my top 10 of time.
Oh and I’m still reading Shelf Awareness – but just for the articles
.-= Lenore´s last blog ..Waiting On Wednesday (36) Adland by James P. Othmer =-.
Excellent stack of books there. Don’t worry about your slump. It’s the middle of summer. It’s OK.
.-= Margot´s last blog ..Book Review: American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House =-.
I’ve been wary of reading The Likeness because it seems a little too creepy for my tastes. I’ll have to give it a closer look though just to see if maybe it might interest me.
I check audio books out from the library, so I haven’t had that particular problem.
.-= Alyce´s last blog ..My Favorite Reads – July 23 =-.
it must be the sunshine. I’ve been in a blogging slump this week, too.
.-= J.T. Oldfield´s last blog ..Lit Tripping =-.
I’ve been looking at The Likeness and thinking I needed to read Into The Woods first. But now I’m thinking I won’t be able to wait!
.-= Lisa´s last blog ..Booking Through Thursday =-.
Into the Woods received such a great response (it’s on my shelf – waiting) and then The Likeness continually receives higher praise – I just wish I could read faster and had more time!
I think I need to get my hands on a copy of The Likeness.
.-= Kathy´s last blog ..Review: The Unit =-.
I definitely have to get moving on the Tana French books. About the audiobooks, I’ve only just this year really discovered I love audiobooks, and I hadn’t realized they take up a lot of room! So far they’ve been fitting fine on my iPod. I leave them on my hard drive, but I think if it were to become a problem, I’d probably transfer them over to an external hard drive or something. I’m such a book hoarder and the book being in audio probably won’t make a difference!
.-= Belle´s last blog ..Review: The Strain, by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan =-.