Audiobooks I Listened to in August 2023
I like to list the audiobooks I listen to each month so that I can keep track of them. Hopefully, I’ll share some good ones with those readers who are interested.
This August I was snowed under with tasks. Somehow I did get to squeeze in some time to listen to some great audiobooks.
I loved many books I listened to this month, I liked a few, and couldn’t get into one so I gave up on it. Giving up on a book for me is rare but if I can’t get into an audiobook or if it is very offensive or whatnot within an hour and a half I just can’t keep investing time into it.
Here’s the list I hope you can also listen to many of these too.
1. The Passion of Dolssa by Julie Berry– This was such a great book. I loved it! It is about a girl growing up during the Inquisition era. It was very interesting.
I learned a lot as I haven’t read much about The Inquisition.
I really liked the author’s writing style, her character development, and the plot.
I found it fascinating how the basis of this book was pulled from a story that was found buried within the archives of a convent during medieval France.
2. Where’d You Go Bernadette? by Maria Semple- If you’ve seen the movie and didn’t like or love it, I’d recommend reading the book— it is much, much better.
Bernadette struggles with anxiety, loss, insomnia, extreme introversion, and other issues that make her a very unique character but I just loved her and I loved so many other characters in the book.
Maria Semple did great with character development in this novel.
Not to give anything away, but I hadn’t laughed so hard in a long time then when the school psychologist sent out the email blast about the kindergarteners.
The twist at the end was a pleasant surprise. Reviews were so mixed I almost missed out on this book. I’m glad I took my friend’s recommendation as I highly recommend this fun and entertaining read.
3. Murder on the Orient Express (Dramatised)by Agatha Christie
This was a great book dramatization of a well-known story written by Agatha Christie.
I really liked the actors who read the script; they did an excellent job. I was very entertained and while I don’t agree with the overall moral of the story, it was worth the read.
4. The Nightingale- by Kristin Hannah.
Kristin Hannah is a great writer. This book was very good. It follows a French family during the German occupation of France throughout WWII. It is based on some true characters.
It was so well written that it had me hooked from beginning to end.
I told my husband after listening to this that I never cease to be amazed at the horror of WWII and how its pernicious effects reached into the four corners of the earth.
5. Lady Ludmilla’s Accidental Letter by Sofi Laporte
This is a light-hearted, fun, and entertaining Victorian Era love story. I can’t wait to listen to the second in its series.
6. Die with Zero by Bill Perkins- This is a new way to look at money, spending, and retirement. I agreed with some ideas in the book and some I didn’t.
For example, I don’t agree with giving away money to children throughout life just because one may have money left when they die. This idea seems like it could encourage an entitlement attitude, resentment, etc. The example he uses of the impoverished single mother is extreme. Most parents would help or loan in a situation like this. Most relationships would not benefit from free monetary giving and handouts.
Also, I don’t necessarily agree with using a mathematic equation to determine how old you’ll be when you die. I have a 95-year-old grandpa and if he took his Die with Zero life statistics when he was planning for retirement he would have been set to have zero money 15 years ago.
I do agree with making memories with family and friends and spending money if those memories or travels are worth it. So, I agree with that.
Finally, he fails to take into account differences in temperament and personality. A lot of people, my husband included, don’t need vacations, fancy experiences, etc., and are more generally home-bodies. So, yeah, it was an okay book.
I do think it could be summed up in a few sentences which are: make sure that you prioritize making memories, especially with loved ones throughout life; live life while you have optimum health and do not wait until retirement to travel and participate in other desired experiences; save for retirement but don’t over save to the point where you have missed out on living a fully authentic life.
7. Pastoral Song by James ReBanks
I tried to get into this book and just couldn’t. Maybe it was the mood I was in the few days I tried listening, I don’t know. Even at 2.25X speed, it was very slow and boring.
Also, there was excessive offensive language that I didn’t appreciate. I can handle a novel with a few well-placed swear words but just swearing to swear isn’t my thing.
For these reasons, after a few hours, I gave up and returned it to the audio library.
The book has great reviews though so if you like farming and animals, and can handle a bit of boredom on the front end I think it does get better; based on its reviews, it must.
I like to share the audiobooks I listen to each month to keep track of them.
If you are looking for more recommendations feel free to read these lists as well.
In 2022, I listened to over 250 audiobooks. If interested you can click the link to see which ones I read last year.
Happy Listening!!
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