?Have You Heard??Audiobooks For Your Listening Pleasure ?The Best of March?

Posted March 31, 2021 by RobbieLea in Book Reviews / 0 Comments

#thefourwinds #kristinhannah #juliawhelan #girlsofsummer #nancythayer #katerudd #murderbyothermeans #johnscalzi #zacharyquinto #thefirstpatient #michaelpalmer #philgigante

The month of March is known for its winds and mercurial weather and I suppose the same could be said of the audiobooks I chose. I had to throw in a “feel good” listen after this month’s first book, then a short book due to the length of book one, and I finished up the month with a book by one of my all-time favorite authors just because I’m the boss of me! There is a setting in the past which is eerily reminiscent of this current time, a setting on an island known for wealth and privilege, a setting in some sci-fi future time, and a setting in that hotbed of political intrigue, Washington, DC. Are you getting my point about wild winds and mercurial change???

The Four Winds by Kristen Hannah

Narrated by Julia Whelan

There is no question The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah is a 5 Star book and it may be the only 5 star book that I don’t necessarily recommend. This book is hard to hear despite a moving performance by Julia Whelan. The author paints a vivid portrait of a time in our country’s history when a significant number of our people lived lives of unmitigated oppression and poverty. I have to confess there were times when I almost sped up the narration just to get past the sadness and put an end to this seemingly joyless tale. Why — you may ask — would anyone want to read or listen to this book? My one-word answer is hope. As we are continuously reminded of a dark time in our country’s history, we can find hope in the fact that we made it through the darkness. This beautifully written book gives me hope that we will be victorious once again. 

Girls of Summer By Nancy Thayer

Narrated by Kate Rudd

So, Girls of Summer by Nancy Thayer is my “feel good” listen for March, and I earned it by listening to every word of The Four Winds. Lisa Hawley is a businesswoman, a divorcee, and the mother of two adult children who falls in love with a younger man. Mack Whitney is a businessman, a widower, and the father of an adult daughter who falls in love with an older woman. Meanwhile, Lisa’s daughter falls in love with an older man, and her son and Mack’s daughter confess that they’ve loved each other since they were teenagers. Lots of nosy gossipers and a major weather event add to the drama. Narrated by Kate Rudd, Girls of Summer will cleanse your palate and lift your spirits.

Murder by Other Means By John Scalzi

Narrated by Zachary Quinto

For those of you who regularly read my posts, you may remember the last John Scalzi book I reviewed, The Dispatcher. Murder by Other Means is a sequel to that book and features our favorite dispatcher Tony Valdez. All is not rosy in the murder-for-hire world and our man finds himself in trouble with the law for bank robbery even though he legally kills people for a living. Just so you know, dispatchers perform a unique service by killing people so they can come back to life (it’s complicated) or at least they do 99.9% of the time. Bizarre, right? Both The Dispatcher and Murder by Other Means are little jewels that are perfect for a short road trip or a plane ride. Brilliantly performed by Zachary Quinto, the concept will make you smile even though it seems a bit creepy.

The First Patient by Michael Palmer

Narrated by Phil Gigante

It is no secret that the late Michael Palmer was one of my favorite authors. Imagine my surprise when I found a book of his that I have not read! I scoured both my digital and audio libraries and, sure enough, The First Patient was not there. I downloaded it immediately and began to listen, hoping that it wasn’t in the long-gone pile of books I gave to a public library when we downsized. I was pleased to find that not only is it a new (to me) book but one with particular relevance to our current political climate. Dr. Gabe Strickland has been called upon to take over the care of his former schoolmate who happens to be the president of the United States, but will Gabe have no choice but to provide fodder for those who want to use the 25th admendment to remove his friend from office? This tale, which is expertly performed by Phil Gigante, features curve after curve on a winding road that leads to a startling conclusion. Dr. Palmer, this is one of your best!!!

Thank you for following us at Literati Literature Lovers and Happy Listening in April!

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