Book club part 2

[Aspidistra]

I listened to Magpie on BBC I sounds. It was quite good, a few twists.

[koalagirl]

I must listen to that

[Aspidistra]

I thought it was a bit boring to start with but it gets more interesting.

[koalagirl]

I actually ended up listening to the 15 hour audio book instead. Very unusual book.

[koalagirl]

Ignore me. I was talking about The Magpie Murders.

[Aspidistra]

Ah. I am listening to the newish Maggie Farrell novel, something like Portrait or a Marriage or something like that. It is very a very good historical novel set in Italy.
On paper I have given up on the Raynor Winn one, it's good but there is only so much I can read about her going walking. I am attempting Barbara Kingsolver 'Demon Copperhead' which is a big book so a bit daunting.

[Aspidistra]

Popped back over as I was on the wrong thread talking about audible etc. I was thinking, although I struggle a bit to concentrate so much on audio books, one thing that if/when my sight is too poor for reading, I can always listen to books I have already read. I have read a lot in my life and very rarely reread but it would be one way to deal with failing sight and failing memory in the future I guess. It was much harder in my father,s day, he had to get the RNLI to get a reader to read specific books for him, being an academic they were unusual ones whereas nowadays there is so much on audio it is brilliant, that is one great use of technology.

So now I have Homecoming by kate Morton to listen to, I see it for sale everywhere, not sure I have read anything by her. Anyone else read anything by her? I also downloaded the Michelle Obama autobiography Becoming. It is always recommended but I never got around to reading it but it might make a nice audio thing.

For a physical book I have just started Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow. Raved about by many people, it seems to be one of those slightly quirky books. Only 20 pages in but I like the characters already. Recently I have read several books with characters who are not very nice, not nasty, just nothing to warm to and it is rather depressing when there isn’t someone to 'like' or be on the side of, when reading I find.

[hilberry]

I have 4 books by Kate Morton. Enjoyable.

I read a lot and as there are no libraries that do English language books in the vicinity, I have to re-read my big collection of books. At the mo, re-reading "the Woodcutter" by Reginald Hill. Rather too many characters for my aged brain to cope with, but loving it!

[koalagirl]

I like Kate Morton. Homecoming is a good one of hers. She tells the story partly in the present day and partly in the past. It kept me guessing all the way through.

[koalagirl]

I listen to lots of books on Audible because I can do other things at the same time. If I'm listening in bed I always set the timer in case I fall asleep!

[Aspidistra]

May 2, 2024 12:15:17 GMT 1 hilberry said:

I have 4 books by Kate Morton. Enjoyable.

I read a lot and as there are no libraries that do English language books in the vicinity, I have to re-read my big collection of books. At the mo, re-reading "the Woodcutter" by Reginald Hill. Rather too many characters for my aged brain to cope with, but loving it!

Do you do Audible Hils? I a know it's not the same as reading but they have a great selection of books. I found it useful in Portugal where the choices of books are more limited.. What a shame about Brexit, otherwise we could send you books like Flumps did. But I know from trying to send a book to Portugal it's a nightmare now, you end up paying import tax on them. Actually in Portgual there is an outcry about there being too manyEnglish books in the bookshops, they are concerned small Portuguese publishers are getting pushed out of the market as Portuguese also buy books in English Language.

[hilberry]

What gadget do you listen to books on, Aspi? Actually, I doubt I'd enjoy it, but maybe worth a try. I might get some crochet done whilst listening....

Very fed up with Brexit. No more presents from my family. No more on-line shopping from the UK.

Flumps was so good sending me all those books, which I'm still enjoying. I find that re-reading a book is different the second time around, as I've changed/evolved a little bit and understand and enjoy it differently.

[Aspidistra]

I listen on my iPhone or iPad. I think you can get it on any smart phone or laptop. It’s an app, so anything you can download apps on and has wi-Fi should work. KG what do you listen to it on? They usually have an offer where you pay half price for four months, or once month free, then you can cancel if you don’t like it. Audible is part of Amazon so you just use your Amazon sign on. I do recommend it, as well as getting say 3 books a month that you choose, they have masses of books that are free to download.
Yes dear Flumps, she was always very generous. How I miss her silliness.

The other thing I use is BBC Sounds and then search for some of their books or dramas. You can get them abroad, or at least in Portugal, as I recall, or is that only live broadcasts. Hmm I will have to look at that again, I may have done the downloading from the UK.

[Loula]

I use Apple Books. The same as audible really, I prefer to listen than read now, I have them on in the car and as I’m in bed at night.

[koalagirl]

I have a kindle but it is easier to just use the app on my phone. My phone is linked to my car, so if I've been listening to a book on my phone and then drive somewhere, my car automatically picks up where I was and carries on. I sometimes wonder if Violet gets fed up with only hearing bits of each book. 😄

[koalagirl]

I like listening to BBC sounds on my phone also. I could pick it up in Australia too. Radio 3 have done a series of 15 minute essays at 10:45 each night for years. You can listen to them all one after the other, they are all together in one place. If I can't sleep, I start an essay and set a 15 minute timer. The sound of the quiet voice sends me off.

[koalagirl]

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001fnnv?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile

[Aspidistra]

Ooo that sounds interesting, I had assumed radio 3 was all music as I sometimes put it on if I am in the mood for classical music when driving. There really is a lot out there and it,s one of the better parts of the BBC I think, their radio output.

I know a lot of people listen to podcasts but I don’t really know where to start with them, someone told me the women off women's hour did a great one during lockdown. Not really sure where to search for podcasts or what I would want or hear. I am a bit of a radio 4 girl, I like some of the discussions on there on all sorts of subjects. I noticed Alistair Cooke's Letters From America is online, that used to be a fantastic view into the USA. I also like the current Kate Adie thing where she introduces reports from countries around the world, not news but just stuff about a country you wouldn’t know.

[hilberry]

I don't do any of that stuff. Being a serious introvert, it's just too stimulating.

At the mo, I'm re-reading "The Thirteenth Tale" by Diane Setterfield. Worth persevering with and one of my favourite books.