Audible

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Re: Audible

Post by Isgrimnur »

Bronson Pinchot has made a job out of doing it. He has, iirc, hundreds of titles on Audible.
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Re: Audible

Post by Jeff V »

Isgrimnur wrote: Sun May 05, 2019 2:59 pm Bronson Pinchot has made a job out of doing it. He has, iirc, hundreds of titles on Audible.
I listen to nearly 100 audio books per year, i don't recall Bronson Pinchot narrating any of them. I rather like him, though. My favorite readers are Rene Auberjonois and Scott Brick.
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Re: Audible

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Re: Audible

Post by Jeff V »

So, not exactly a niche reader, is he?

Oh, I forgot to mention Neil Gaiman. I don't always care for his books, but if he's doing the reading, I'm in.
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Re: Audible

Post by msteelers »

Jeff V wrote: Mon May 06, 2019 9:35 am So, not exactly a niche reader, is he?

Oh, I forgot to mention Neil Gaiman. I don't always care for his books, but if he's doing the reading, I'm in.
His reading of Norse Mythology was fantastic.
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Re: Audible

Post by MonkeyFinger »

msteelers wrote: Mon May 06, 2019 9:48 am
Jeff V wrote: Mon May 06, 2019 9:35 am So, not exactly a niche reader, is he?

Oh, I forgot to mention Neil Gaiman. I don't always care for his books, but if he's doing the reading, I'm in.
His reading of Norse Mythology was fantastic.
Interesting... I have the book but may look into getting the audio version as that may be the only way it actually gets "read" anytime soon. :think:
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Re: Audible

Post by msteelers »

MonkeyFinger wrote:
msteelers wrote: Mon May 06, 2019 9:48 am
Jeff V wrote: Mon May 06, 2019 9:35 am So, not exactly a niche reader, is he?

Oh, I forgot to mention Neil Gaiman. I don't always care for his books, but if he's doing the reading, I'm in.
His reading of Norse Mythology was fantastic.
Interesting... I have the book but may look into getting the audio version as that may be the only way it actually gets "read" anytime soon. :think:
I know for me the underlying stories weren’t interesting enough to get me to actually read them. But it made for good background noise when I was doing something else. I’m pretty sure I got the audiobook from my library.
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Re: Audible

Post by hentzau »

I just grabbed Adam Savage's "Every Tool's A Hammer". I'll report back after a listen.
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Re: Audible

Post by Jaymon »

recording an audio book sounds really cool.
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Re: Audible

Post by Jeff V »

Jaymon wrote: Tue May 07, 2019 11:27 am recording an audio book sounds really cool.
Check out Librivox sometime. Thousands do. That site will make you appreciative of professionals who do that for a living.
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Re: Audible

Post by gbasden »

hentzau wrote: Tue May 07, 2019 11:04 am I just grabbed Adam Savage's "Every Tool's A Hammer". I'll report back after a listen.
Please do! I'd love a review!
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Re: Audible

Post by Hyena »

Nick Podehl does a great job, too. He reads mostly fantasy and LitRPG, but his voices are incredible and unique for each character.
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Re: Audible

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I've been listening to audiobooks during my stationary bike sessions every day, but I have trouble finding good fits. The problem is that there is a fine line between too involved and not involved enough. Let me explain.

I've listened to a few pulpy adventure stories, but found that they weren't deep enough to really hold my attention most of the time, which let me sit there and think, "OW! My legs!" instead.


I've also listened to some deeper, better written material that I'm having trouble following because my attention needs to wander sometimes (to adjust my pace, my focus on my breathing for a minute, etc.) Right now I'm listening to Count Zero by William Gibson. I loved Neuromancer in dead tree format, but as an audiobook it's too much for a workout. I find that I often lose track of the story because I missed a sentence or two. I also lose track because of all of the metaphor in it, which is hard to suss out while my heart rate is at 150. It's a great choice for driving or painting, but just doesn't work for exercise.


What I need, then, are books that are a happy medium, that are involved and well-written enough to keep my attention and entertain, but aren't so abstract or detailed that a moment's wandering attention can cause .


I very much prefer fantasy, with sci-fi in second place. I'd also be willing to try adventure/thriller books with more of a real-world setting, but they're not an everyday thing for me.
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Re: Audible

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June Originals
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  • Even Tree Nymphs Get the Blues
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Re: Audible

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Isgrimnur wrote: Sun Jun 09, 2019 1:47 pm June Originals
  • Alien III
Why am I not excited?
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Re: Audible

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I just finished recording my first audiobook. The author must have enjoyed it because he asked me to narrate the 2nd book in the series. I think I’ll have some promo codes to give away, if you’re willing to leave a review. It’s a post-apocalyptic zombie book. Let me know if you are interested.
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Re: Audible

Post by Jeff V »

msteelers wrote: Sun Jun 16, 2019 10:06 am I just finished recording my first audiobook. The author must have enjoyed it because he asked me to narrate the 2nd book in the series. I think I’ll have some promo codes to give away, if you’re willing to leave a review. It’s a post-apocalyptic zombie book. Let me know if you are interested.
Switching narrators in the course of a series is akin to changing the cast in a TV series or movie sequels. It's jarring for the listener as they have to re-identify with each character in the story. Still, if he hated the result, the offer probably wouldn't have made.

I do lots of book reviews and my reviews are always based on the merits of the story (and audio production if that is impactful). As long as you don't expect a forum-friend advantage, feel free to shoot me a copy if you'd like it reviewed (I'll post on Amazon and Librarything).
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Re: Audible

Post by msteelers »

Jeff V wrote:I do lots of book reviews and my reviews are always based on the merits of the story (and audio production if that is impactful). As long as you don't expect a forum-friend advantage, feel free to shoot me a copy if you'd like it reviewed (I'll post on Amazon and Librarything).
Thanks! I’ll let you know when I get some promo codes. It will probably be two weeks or so.
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Re: Audible

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The audiobook I recorded is now on sale! Zombies! Book 1: A Small World is about three groups of survivors trying to get by in the zombie apocalypse. It's a pretty light read (listen?), even though things get pretty bleak for the characters really quickly. It clocks in at around 7.5 hours.

I do have some promo codes available, so shoot me a message if you are interested in getting a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
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Re: Audible

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When being a lazy student of literature isn't enough, there are the audio versions of CliffsNotes.
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Re: Audible

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July Originals
  • A Grown-Up Guide to Dinosaurs
  • Screwball - Babe Ruth in the minor leagues
  • The Man Who Knew the Way to the Moon - Science history
  • Proof of Love - play
  • Rivals! Frenemies Who Changed the World
  • The Adventures of Tom Stranger, Interdimensional Insurance Agent
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Re: Audible

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msteelers wrote: Mon Jul 01, 2019 9:48 am The audiobook I recorded is now on sale! Zombies! Book 1: A Small World is about three groups of survivors trying to get by in the zombie apocalypse. It's a pretty light read (listen?), even though things get pretty bleak for the characters really quickly. It clocks in at around 7.5 hours.

I do have some promo codes available, so shoot me a message if you are interested in getting a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Added to my list.
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Re: Audible

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The Man Who Knew the Way to the Moon - Science history

Listened to this while driving for the 4th. It was quite good.
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Re: Audible

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August Originals
  • Wally Roux, Quantum Mechanic - teen sci-fi
  • It's Not What It Looks Like - Molly Burke
  • Foreverywhere - kid fiction
  • It Burns - The Scandal-Plagued Race to Breed the World’s Hottest Chilli
  • Treasure Island
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Re: Audible

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September Originals
  • The Sisters - prequel to the Cormac Reilly mystery series
  • The Mystwick School of Musicraft - kids
  • The Home Front: Life in America During World War II - narrated by Martin Sheen
  • Press Pause: A Young Person's Guide to Managing Life's Challenges
  • Body of Proof - true crime
  • The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey - police procedural, LGBTQIA+
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    Re: Audible

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    Three crime novels and two kids books. Ick.
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    Re: Audible

    Post by Isgrimnur »

    October Originals
    • Carnival Row: Tangle in the Dark - prequel to the Amazon series
    • Carmilla - erotic gothic horror
    • Camp Red Moon - R. L. Stine
    • the way she spoke - drama about women and Juarez
    • The Burnout Generation - all about Millenials
    • My Lost Family - fiction, sequel to My Mother’s Lost Children
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      Re: Audible

      Post by Defiant »

      Isgrimnur wrote: Wed Oct 16, 2019 4:15 pm October Originals
      • Carnival Row: Tangle in the Dark - prequel to the Amazon series
      • Carmilla - erotic gothic horror
      • Camp Red Moon - R. L. Stine
      • the way she spoke - drama about women and Juarez
      • The Burnout Generation - all about Millenials
      • My Lost Family - fiction, sequel to My Mother’s Lost Children
      Maybe I'm misreading it, but it looks to me like Carnival Row is free for for members independent of being an October Original?
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      Re: Audible

      Post by Isgrimnur »

      ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

      Couldn't tell you, as I'm either signed in as a Silver member, or logged out.
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      Re: Audible

      Post by Blackhawk »

      Correct. Two plus Carnival Row.
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      Re: Audible

      Post by Blackhawk »

      I ended up sticking with Audible, and still use it primarily to listen to while I work out. So, recommend me a few books. I've found that workout listening doesn't lend itself well to overly detailed, complex novels or plots. William Gibson, for instance, made a great car listen, but I couldn't follow it while working out, as my mind isn't on the book 100% of the time - I also need to be thinking about the workout itself. Gibson had plots that were 2/3 implication that weren't explained to the end, and had extensive descriptions along the way. I'd miss a line here or there and have no idea what was going on five minutes later.

      I just listened to Jurassic Park and Lost World by Crichton. It was a great match for the workout, as it had enough plot and events to keep me interested, but wasn't so detailed and convoluted that a 20 seconds of focusing on my breathing broke the story.

      I love sci-fi and fantasy, although right now I'm not really in the mood for either. I've thought about Clive Cussler, which I've heard compared to Alistair MacLean (one of my favorites when I was younger), but the books available on Audible seem to be all over the place, continuity wise (IE - they have 13, 14, 17, and up from there, but none of the others.) I've also considered The Dresden Files.

      Any thoughts, either on my ideas or other suggestions? I really only have Audible available.
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      Re: Audible

      Post by gbasden »

      Blackhawk wrote: Fri Oct 18, 2019 2:32 pm I ended up sticking with Audible, and still use it primarily to listen to while I work out. So, recommend me a few books. I've found that workout listening doesn't lend itself well to overly detailed, complex novels or plots. William Gibson, for instance, made a great car listen, but I couldn't follow it while working out, as my mind isn't on the book 100% of the time - I also need to be thinking about the workout itself. Gibson had plots that were 2/3 implication that weren't explained to the end, and had extensive descriptions along the way. I'd miss a line here or there and have no idea what was going on five minutes later.

      I just listened to Jurassic Park and Lost World by Crichton. It was a great match for the workout, as it had enough plot and events to keep me interested, but wasn't so detailed and convoluted that a 20 seconds of focusing on my breathing broke the story.

      I love sci-fi and fantasy, although right now I'm not really in the mood for either. I've thought about Clive Cussler, which I've heard compared to Alistair MacLean (one of my favorites when I was younger), but the books available on Audible seem to be all over the place, continuity wise (IE - they have 13, 14, 17, and up from there, but none of the others.) I've also considered The Dresden Files.

      Any thoughts, either on my ideas or other suggestions? I really only have Audible available.
      I have a few recently that I've loved and would be suitable for workouts, I think.

      What If? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions By Randall Munroe. By the gentleman who does XKCD, I found this super fascinating. Starting with the initial opener, what would happen if a baseball pitcher threw a ball at the speed of light (spoiler - everybody dies) it was almost uniformly awesome.

      The Last Days of August by Jon Ronson. I'm a big fan of Ronson and his first person journalism/storytelling. This is half the story of internet bullying and half a look at the issues in some modern porn. I thought it was really well done and very humanizing for all involved.

      Kitchen Confidential - Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly by Anthony Bourdain. I'm sure you may have already read this, but on the off chance I though I would recommend it. Bourdain was legitimately larger than life.

      Change Agent by Daniel Suarez. I've liked everything he's done, and this is no different. A near future sci-fi/distopia-ish novel, it looks at the ability to rewrite DNA and how that might be used for ill.
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      Re: Audible

      Post by Jaddison »

      I just finished "Super Pumped" about Travis Kalanick and Uber. Was a good listening and fascinating to hear the rise of Uner and all the machinations within the company.

      About a month ago finished Out for Blood about Theranos and Elizabeth Holmes.

      If you are at all interested in startup culture, Silicon Valley and egos gone wild both are highly recommended.
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      Re: Audible

      Post by MonkeyFinger »

      I'll throw some out there, things I've listened to recently and enjoyed.

      Spearhead by Adam Makos. "An American Tank Gunner, His Enemy, and a Collision of Lives in World War II". Been discussed here, great book.
      Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovksy. "Humanity's battle for survival on a terraformed planet". First in a series, listening now.
      Heirs of Grace by Tim Pratt. "A tale of family and magic, action and wonder". Really enjoyed this.
      Hell Divers by Nicholas Sansbury Smith. "Survival in the sky after WWIII poisoned the planet". Sixth book comes out in a couple of weeks.
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      Re: Audible

      Post by Blackhawk »

      gbasden wrote: Sun Oct 20, 2019 4:10 am

      What If? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions By Randall Munroe. By the gentleman who does XKCD, I found this super fascinating. Starting with the initial opener, what would happen if a baseball pitcher threw a ball at the speed of light (spoiler - everybody dies) it was almost uniformly awesome.
      I'm almost done with this, and it was a good suggestion. It wasn't a perfect fit for my needs, and is outside of what I usually listen to, but it was a fun listen and a good palette cleanser.

      I'd like to ask for a more general recommendation this time. Here is my earlier criteria:
      Blackhawk wrote: Fri Oct 18, 2019 2:32 pm I've found that workout listening doesn't lend itself well to overly detailed, complex novels or plots. William Gibson, for instance, made a great car listen, but I couldn't follow it while working out, as my mind isn't on the book 100% of the time - I also need to be thinking about the workout itself. Gibson had plots that were 2/3 implication that weren't explained to the end, and had extensive descriptions along the way. I'd miss a line here or there and have no idea what was going on five minutes later.

      I just listened to Jurassic Park and Lost World by Crichton. It was a great match for the workout, as it had enough plot and events to keep me interested, but wasn't so detailed and convoluted that a 20 seconds of focusing on my breathing broke the story.
      I'm trying to figure out what on my list would be a good match. My wish list right now, based mostly off of suggestions that I found for dead tree books before I started listening to many audiobooks:

      Dresden Files
      Clive Cussler (various)
      Monster Hunter series - Larry Correia
      Red Queen's War series - Mark Lawrence
      The First Law Trilogy - Joe Abercrombie
      Honor Harrington series - David Weber

      Are any of those good matches? Are any of them particularly bad matches?
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      Re: Audible

      Post by Blackhawk »

      Blackhawk wrote: Sat Oct 26, 2019 11:47 pm
      Monster Hunter series - Larry Correia
      Wow, was that a mistake. The premise: An accountant discovers that the supernatural and monsters exist, and that he has a talent for fighting them. Ratings in the 4.5 star range out of 1k+ reviews on Amazon. My expectation: A more grown-up version of Buffy's world.

      Reality: If Buffy was written by an extreme right-wing gun nut survivalist as a self-masturbatory power fantasy. Ugh. I got through three chapters. Chapter three was one hour long. The first half consisted of the main character having his resume read to him. Our accountant protagonist? A towering genius, 400-pound bench pressing, raised by special forces, one of the nation's top marksmen, former pit fighter with multiple black belts. So much for him growing into his new profession.

      The second half of the chapter consists of a job interview during which he hits on the interviewer (naturally the most beautiful woman he's ever seen) repeatedly while describing her gun in painful detail, most of which was just lists of brand names of components. Seriously, it goes on and on and on about the effing guns, then just when he hands her gun back they start discussing the ammunition in exactly the same tone. All while Joe Macho the accountant is trying to get into his right-wing fantasy girl's pants (she's wearing combat boots with a business suit, FWIW.)

      It is absolutely apparent from the beginning that this whole thing is the power fantasy of an author who would carry an assault rifle into a Wal-Mart after a shooting just to make a point about his rights.

      This will be the first Audible title I return.
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      Re: Audible

      Post by AWS260 »

      Blackhawk wrote: Fri Nov 01, 2019 2:52 pm Reality: If Buffy was written by an extreme right-wing gun nut survivalist as a self-masturbatory power fantasy. Ugh. I got through three chapters. Chapter three was one hour long. The first half consisted of the main character having his resume read to him. Our accountant protagonist? A towering genius, 400-pound bench pressing, raised by special forces, one of the nation's top marksmen, former pit fighter with multiple black belts. So much for him growing into his new profession.
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      Re: Audible

      Post by WYBaugh »

      Blackhawk wrote: Fri Nov 01, 2019 2:52 pm
      Blackhawk wrote: Sat Oct 26, 2019 11:47 pm
      Monster Hunter series - Larry Correia
      Wow, was that a mistake. The premise: An accountant discovers that the supernatural and monsters exist, and that he has a talent for fighting them. Ratings in the 4.5 star range out of 1k+ reviews on Amazon. My expectation: A more grown-up version of Buffy's world.

      Reality: If Buffy was written by an extreme right-wing gun nut survivalist as a self-masturbatory power fantasy. Ugh. I got through three chapters. Chapter three was one hour long. The first half consisted of the main character having his resume read to him. Our accountant protagonist? A towering genius, 400-pound bench pressing, raised by special forces, one of the nation's top marksmen, former pit fighter with multiple black belts. So much for him growing into his new profession.

      The second half of the chapter consists of a job interview during which he hits on the interviewer (naturally the most beautiful woman he's ever seen) repeatedly while describing her gun in painful detail, most of which was just lists of brand names of components. Seriously, it goes on and on and on about the effing guns, then just when he hands her gun back they start discussing the ammunition in exactly the same tone. All while Joe Macho the accountant is trying to get into his right-wing fantasy girl's pants (she's wearing combat boots with a business suit, FWIW.)

      It is absolutely apparent from the beginning that this whole thing is the power fantasy of an author who would carry an assault rifle into a Wal-Mart after a shooting just to make a point about his rights.

      This will be the first Audible title I return.
      I actually really enjoyed this series of books. I know Correia is a gun nut but the series is pretty good.
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      Re: Audible

      Post by WYBaugh »

      Blackhawk wrote: Sat Oct 26, 2019 11:47 pm
      gbasden wrote: Sun Oct 20, 2019 4:10 am

      What If? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions By Randall Munroe. By the gentleman who does XKCD, I found this super fascinating. Starting with the initial opener, what would happen if a baseball pitcher threw a ball at the speed of light (spoiler - everybody dies) it was almost uniformly awesome.
      I'm almost done with this, and it was a good suggestion. It wasn't a perfect fit for my needs, and is outside of what I usually listen to, but it was a fun listen and a good palette cleanser.

      I'd like to ask for a more general recommendation this time. Here is my earlier criteria:
      Blackhawk wrote: Fri Oct 18, 2019 2:32 pm I've found that workout listening doesn't lend itself well to overly detailed, complex novels or plots. William Gibson, for instance, made a great car listen, but I couldn't follow it while working out, as my mind isn't on the book 100% of the time - I also need to be thinking about the workout itself. Gibson had plots that were 2/3 implication that weren't explained to the end, and had extensive descriptions along the way. I'd miss a line here or there and have no idea what was going on five minutes later.

      I just listened to Jurassic Park and Lost World by Crichton. It was a great match for the workout, as it had enough plot and events to keep me interested, but wasn't so detailed and convoluted that a 20 seconds of focusing on my breathing broke the story.
      I'm trying to figure out what on my list would be a good match. My wish list right now, based mostly off of suggestions that I found for dead tree books before I started listening to many audiobooks:

      Dresden Files
      Clive Cussler (various)
      Monster Hunter series - Larry Correia
      Red Queen's War series - Mark Lawrence
      The First Law Trilogy - Joe Abercrombie
      Honor Harrington series - David Weber

      Are any of those good matches? Are any of them particularly bad matches?
      Absolutely The First Law Trilogy. Do not hesitate...get them!!
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      Isgrimnur
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      Re: Audible

      Post by Isgrimnur »

      November Originals
      • Climbing with Mollie - William Finnegan autobio
      • Find Another Dream - Maysoon Zayid autobio
      • How Chefs Holiday
      • Viva Durant and the Secret of the Silver Buttons - kids
      • You Can Thank Me Later - family holiday stories
      • Midnight Son - Alaskan True Crime
        It's almost as if people are the problem.
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