Chivalry

January 2, 2015 -- Book 004

I feel like I am "cheating" by heading off into a set of shorts so early in the year.  But actually, I just couldn't seem to settle my mind long enough to start a longer book.  Hence, a few shorts come up next:

Selected Shorts: Chivalry

Written by: Neil Gaiman

Read by: Christina Pickles

Length: 26 mins 

Radio/TV Program

Release Date:08-15-12

Publisher: Symphony Space, Inc

This short story can be found in a collection of Neil Gaiman's work, called Smoke and Mirrors.  The audio version of that book is read by the author and is a great listen.  BUT, I prefer this version, read by Christina Pickles.

The story is about a British pensioner who happens find and buy the Holy Grail at a local re-use it shop;  it cost 50p. 

Christina Pickles' reading is a delight to listen to. 

Find Chivalry at:

Audible

Find Smoke and Mirrors at:

Overdrive

Powell's Books

Amazon

Will the Real Book 003 please sign in?

So what IS Book 003 for 2015?

Well, this book has been in my library for a couple (maybe even a few) years and has been overlooked for some reason.  It caught my eye and was perfect!

Book 003 -- honestly, this one is really 003:

Cats in the Belfry

Written by: Doreen Tovey

Narrated by: Joy Gelardi

Length: 3 hrs and 40 mins 

Unabridged Audiobook

Release Date:09-17-08

Publisher: Summersdale Publishers Ltd

I will not spell out the cat's name -- I just listened to the book and can't pronounce it based on its spelling, so it would be useless to tell you her name.  What you do need to know is that she is a Siamese cat.  Anyone who has been owned by a cat knows exactly what that means.  But even those people may not know what it means to be owned by a Siamese cat.

This tale, humorously told and full of love, is short and sweet and wonderful.  The book description says the story was first published over 40 years ago, but I've been unable to find the exact date.  Doreen and her husband, Charles, order, and have installed, a refrigerator just to please the Siamese ...

Talkative, prima donna, queen of the house.  Siamese through and through.  And a laugh-out-loud (not an LOL but an honest guffaw) book -- worthy of listen or read.  But I think you may find the listen the best way to enjoy this book again and again!

Check it out at:

OverDrive Audiobook

OverDrive All Options

Powell's Books

Amazon

Audible

Book 003 for 2015

Book 003

 

A Season of Gifts

Written by: Richard Peck

Narrated by: Ron McLarty

Length: 3 hrs and 50 mins 

Unabridged Audiobook

Release Date:09-22-09

Publisher: Listening Library

From the Publisher's Summary:

The eccentric, forceful, big-hearted Grandma Dowdel is the star of the Newbery Medal-winning A Year Down Yonder and Newbery Honor-winning A Long Way from Chicago. And it turns out that her story isn't over - not even close.

It is now 1958, and a new family has moved in next door to Mrs. Dowdel: a Methodist minister and his wife and kids. Soon Mrs. Dowdel will work her particular brand of charm - or medicine, depending on who you're asking - on all of them: 10-yearold Bob, who is shy on courage in a town full of bullies; his two fascinating sisters; and even Bob's two parents, who are amazed to discover that the last house in town might also be the most vital.

As Christmas rolls around, the Barnhart family realizes that they've found a true home - and a neighbor who gives gifts that will last a lifetime.

©2009 Richard Peck; (P)2009 Listening Library

And, I had listened to this book once before and enjoyed it very much.  It helped that I "knew" Grandma Dowdel from the previous two books and had grown to love her.  However, as I set the audiobook to play for me, I remembered the section about the summer camping trip and decided to put off the book until warmer weather (even though it is basically a holiday tale).

Even though, technically, this is not book 003 of my 2015 Reading Challenge, I thought I would share it with you anyhow ... I hope you take the opportunity to discover all three Grandma Dowdel stories for yourself!  I'm sure you'll be glad you did.  :D

Find A Season of Gifts at

Overdrive

Powell's Books

Amazon

Audible

The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents

January 2, 2015 -- Book 001

The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents

I had listened to this book at least once before.  And when it came available from the public library's OverDrive service in the last couple of days in 2014, I decided to hold on to it to make it the first book I listened to in 2015.  **sigh**  I am glad I did. 

As usual, Terry Pratchett delivers an entertaining story.  And, that is probably one of the biggest understatements I can make about anything written by Sir Pratchett.

Maurice is a cat.  His educated rodents are rats.  Their accomplice is that "stupid looking boy" who plays the pipes fairly well.  They all arrive in a town called Bad Blinitz, intending to run their "Pied Piper" scam one last time.  What they find and what happens to them all is not what they expected at all.

You can  find a description of the book, hear and excerpt and find out if your local public library offers the audiobook version of Maurice's amazing story here:  OverDrive

Or if you'd like to own a copy, check out Powell's Books -- a variety of purchase options (editions of the book, scroll down for the list) will show up in the right column:  Powell's Books

When I went looking for this book at OverDrive's main site, I discovered they have 5,283 juvenile fiction audiobook titles in the English language!  WOW!  If only I could get through them all -- LOL!  Then, when I finally scrolled through the list to the books beginning with "The,"  I discovered that Maurice is considered a YA book ... so off I went to scroll through almost 3,029 English language audiobooks in the fiction category here!  So many books, so little time.  ENJOY!