My Extraordinary Ordinary Life by Sissy Spacek

What My Extraordinary Ordinary Life is about:
In her delightful and moving memoir, Sissy Spacek writes about her idyllic, barefoot childhood in a small East Texas town, with the clarity and wisdom that comes from never losing sight of her roots. Descended from industrious Czech immigrants and threadbare southern gentility, she grew up a tomboy, tagging along with two older brothers and absorbing grace and grit from her remarkable parents, who taught her that she could do anything. She also learned fearlessness in the wake of a family tragedy, the grief propelling her "like rocket fuel" to follow her dreams of becoming a performer.

Listening to Sissy Spacek tell her story was like taking a walk with a good friend and hearing about her life. I loved the tales of her early childhood, the complete love and support she always received from her parents, and the journey her life became as she chased her dream of being a country artist and her surprise in becoming a movie actress. I always find it fascinating to hear about the people upcoming stars meet in their life and who end up becoming just as or even more famous than the person telling the story. Sissy certainly met a lot of wonderful people in the business and many of them became treasured and real friends.  Sissy's voice was easy to listen to and I still think she could be Loretta Lynn's twin!!

Recommend? If you have enjoyed Sissy's work in the past and are curious about her life growing up and the simple way she lives today, then this is one to add to your audio list for sure!!

Source:  Purchased from Audible.com
Narrator: Sissy Spacek
Length: 9 hrs an 49 mins

Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #123
© 2013, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

The Great Gatsby (audio version)- Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts

What The Great Gatsby is about:

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic American novel of the Roaring Twenties is beloved by generations of readers and stands as his crowning work. This new audio edition, authorized by the Fitzgerald estate, is narrated by Oscar-nominated actor Jake Gyllenhaal. Gyllenhaal's performance is a faithful delivery in the voice of Nick Carraway, the Midwesterner turned New York bond salesman, who rents a small house next door to the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby. There, he has a firsthand view of Gatsby’s lavish West Egg parties - and of his undying love for the beautiful Daisy Buchanan. After meeting and losing Daisy during the war, Gatsby has made himself fabulously wealthy. Now, he believes that his only way to true happiness is to find his way back into Daisy’s life, and he uses Nick to try to reach her. What happens when the characters’ fantasies are confronted with reality makes for a startling conclusion to this iconic masterpiece.

I started The Great Gatsby several years ago but was distracted by life and sit the book aside. After reading Mary's review of the audio version which was narrated by Jake Gyllenhaal, I knew that I needed to give it another shot. While I loved Jake's voice and thought he did a wonderful job with this book, I found myself wondering what all the fuss about this author and his style of writing??? I was glad that the audio was only four hours because it was easy to listen to while walking and it was quickly done and finished! Maybe I need to take a class entitled, Appreciation of Classic Literature, because I thought the story was stuffy and a bit lackluster. I clearly read too much fluff!

Recommend? This may surprise everyone because it sounds like I hated it, but I didn't. This author just doesn't work for me, but that's okay. However,  I think this audio version would work for those that love classic literature and Fitzgerald.

Source: Purchased from audible.com
Narrator: Jake Gyllenhaal
Length: 4 hrs 49 minutes

Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #110
© 2013, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Halfway to the Grave (Audio Review)

cover image courtesy www.jeanienefrost.com

What Halfway To the Grave is about:
Half-vampire Catherine Crawfield is going after the undead with a vengeance, hoping that one of these deadbeats is her father—the one responsible for ruining her mother's life. Then she's captured by Bones, a vampire bounty hunter, and is forced into an unlikely partnership. In exchange for help finding her father, Cat agrees to train with the sexy night stalker

I'm so glad that I finally started this series, because I was glued to my headphones and seriously did not want the story to end!  I loved Cat and Bones, most especially their chemistry and instant attraction to each other.  The miles flew by while I listened to this audio production on my workouts. In fact, I often walked an extra mile just because I wasn't ready to quit listening. The narrator knocked this one out of the park..loved her voices, male and female.  Halfway to the Grave has it all.......awesome action, steamy sex, and vampires that are NOT campy or sparkly!!

Big shout out to my girl, Sheree, who raved about this series and BONES way back in 2009. Sorry that it took me so long to finally join the club!! Do yourself a favor and click on the link to read Sheree's fantastic review of this book!!!

Recommend? If you like vampires and the paranormal romance then yes, give this one a shot!

Source: Audible.com
Narrator: Tavia Gilbert
Length: 10 hours 30 minutes

Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #108
© 2013, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Ceremony in Death (Audio Review)

cover image via audible.com

What Ceremony in Death is about:
Conducting a top secret investigation into the death of a fellow police officer has Lieutenant Eve Dallas treading on dangerous ground. She must put professional ethics before personal loyalties. But when a dead body is placed outside her home, Eve takes the warning personally. With her husband, Roarke, watching her every move, Eve is drawn into the most dangerous case of her career. Every step she takes makes her question her own sense of right and wrong - and brings her closer to a confrontation with humanity's most seductive form of evil.

Another riveting audio production that continues to keep me engaged and wanting more of Eve and Roarke!! Loved the dark side that J.D. Robb delved into with this story and most especially how Eve found herself needing Roarke more than she ever dreamed possible. Fast paced and never dull, this series continues to leave me totally satisfied. The narrator absolutely kicks ass!

Recommend? If you're looking for a great series to add to your audio mix, then you can't go wrong with these!

Source: Audible.com
Narrator: Susan Ericksen
Length: 10 hours 32 minutes

Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #107
© 2013, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Stories I Only Tell My Friends (Audio Review)- Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #104

cover image via amazon.com

What Stories I Only Tell My Friends is about:
A wryly funny and surprisingly moving account of an extraordinary life lived almost entirely in the public eye. A teen idol at 15, an international icon and founder of the Brat Pack at 20, and one of Hollywood's top stars to this day, Rob Lowe chronicles his experiences as a painfully misunderstood child actor in Ohio who was uprooted to the wild counterculture of mid-70s Malibu, where he embarked on his unrelenting pursuit of a career in Hollywood.

Who knew that Rob Lowe was so much deeper than a pretty face??? I really enjoyed this entertaining and enlightening autobiography that Lowe penned. His self-deprecating manner, his spot-on imitations of Robert Wagner, Cary Grant, Emilio Esteves, Mike Myers (the list could go on forever), and his vulnerability made this a top audio read for me.

Recommend? If you enjoy autobiographies, were a teen when Rob Lowe hit Tiger Beat magazine, and just enjoy getting the inside scoop of an interesting person's life, then I do believe you will enjoy this. I loved listening to Rob tell his story and I'm glad that he made it through the maze of Hollywood success and all of its trappings. He came out on the other side with a loving wife by his side, two sons that he clearly adores, and realizing that family, sobriety, and keeping your integrity are more important that anything stardom can offer!

Source: Audible.com
Narrator: Rob Lowe
Length: 9 hours 11 minutes

Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #104
© 2013, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

The Good House- Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #102

What The Good House is about:
The Good House tells the story of Hildy Good, who lives in a small town on Boston’s North Shore. Hildy is a successful real-estate broker, good neighbor, mother, and grandmother. She’s also a raging alcoholic. Hildy’s family held an intervention for her about a year before this story takes place—“if they invite you over for dinner, and it’s not a major holiday,” she advises “run for your life”—and now she feels lonely and unjustly persecuted. She has also fooled herself into thinking that moderation is the key to her drinking problem.

This is the best audio presentation that I've experienced to date!! Mary Beth Hurt WAS Hildy Good. I loved her raspy voice and she absolutely nailed the accent and the whole vibe of the character. I was struck with how immediate the faces, the houses, and the whole town came to life within my mind as I was listening. There was never a dull moment and I found myself anxiously wanting to return to my iPhone to listen to the story.

Recommend? YES! This will probably be in my top favorite books and audios of the year! Hildy captured my attention from her very first sentence, she made me laugh out loud at her inappropriate thoughts, shaking my head in exasperation at her justification of  "it's only wine, I can handle my wine." This was a brilliant audio production of a stellar book!!

Source: Audible.com
Narrator: Mary Beth Hurt
Length: 10 hours 12 minutes

Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #102
© 2013, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

In the Pleasure Groove(audio)- More than Six Sentences Bookish Thoughts

cover image courtesy indiebound.org

What In the Pleasure Groove: Love, Death, and Duran Duran is about:
In his frank, compelling autobiography, John recounts the highs - hanging out with icons like Bowie, Warhol and even James Bond; dating Vogue models and driving fast cars - all the while playing hard with the band he loved. But there were tough battles ahead - troubles that brought him to the brink of self-destruction - before turning his life around.

My heart broke a little bit when I realized that I was quickly coming to the end of this audio book. John became a treasured friend, someone who I quickly became accustomed spending my early morning driving time with, and also someone who I daydreamed about since the early 80's from the first moment I listened to Planet Earth!! I loved every single moment that I spent listening to John as he told his story of a young lad growing up in Birmingham, being a teen in the 70's music scene, meeting Nick Rhodes, and becoming a driving force behind Duran Duran. What I LOVED most was how authentic John was in telling his story. He didn't sugarcoat any of his mistakes, his drug and alcohol abuse, and being a lousy boyfriend. He was also such a true gentlemen by NOT dishing the dirt on his fellow bandmates and friends, and for that I respect him.

Recommend? If you were a Duranie then YES, of course you MUST read this. I was in love with John Taylor from the first moment I saw him. I knew one day that my last name would be Taylor...had to be,  because I was so going to marry this man!! (Got the same last name just a different guy!!) I saved my money so that I could buy the teen mags that always had some type of poster of Duran Duran or one of the guys. My bedroom walls were one big Duran Duran collage with John being the main focus. What I learned from this audio was that all those years mooning over a fantasy has led me to now realize that John Taylor is so very human, down-to-earth,  and truly someone I would be honored to call friend!

* Warning:  Listening to this audio book can lead to hours spent on YouTube watching Duran Duran videos, interviews, and singing at the top of your lungs....Her name is Rio and she dances on the sand.....

Source: Audible.com
Narrator: John Taylor (I admit to pretending that he was sitting beside me in the car telling his story)
Length: 7 hours and 55 minutes

Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #97
© 2013, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Scarlet (audio)- Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #95

What Scarlet is about:

Cinder returns in the second thrilling installment of the New York Times-bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She’s trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she’ll be the Commonwealth’s most wanted fugitive. Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn’t know about her grandmother and the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother’s whereabouts, she has no choice but to trust him, though he clearly has a few dark secrets of his own. As Scarlet and Wolf work to unravel one mystery, they find another when they cross paths with Cinder. Together, they must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen who will do anything to make Prince Kai her husband, her king, her prisoner.

Scarlet blew me away!! There is no Sophomore Slump going on with Marissa Meyers Lunar Chronicles series. The story advanced rapidly and I loved the pacing, excitement, and the way Meyers twisted Scarlet and Cinder's story lines together....fantastic! And let's talk about Wolf for a minute, can we??? By the end of this story I was crushing on Wolf like a school girl!! I can't wait for the next installment, which sadly isn't until 2014, but I won't hesitate to pre-order it and until then will be obsessively checking the calendar!

Recommend? YES!!! I started this series on audio and will continue listening to it. I love the narrator's voice and once again she did a stellar job!!!

Narrator: Rebecca Soler
Length: 11 hours and 19 minutes
Source: Audible.com

Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #95
© 2013, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Joy for Beginners (audio)- Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #82

Cover image courtesy of Goodreads

What Joy for Beginners is about:
At an intimate, festive dinner party in Seattle, six women gather to celebrate their friend Kate's recovery from cancer. Wineglass in hand, Kate strikes a bargain with them. To celebrate her new lease on life, she'll do the one thing that's always terrified her: white-water rafting. But if she goes, all of them will also do something they always swore they'd never do-and Kate is going to choose their adventures.

Bauermeister has been gifted with the talent of being an amazing writer. Once again she has pulled me into the lives of these characters and made me care what happened to them. I loved being able to get a glimpse into each woman's life and personality. Erica is able to make the reader use all of their senses when reading, or in my case listening to one of her stories. I found myself identifying with Marion on so many levels, so many in fact that it was a bit eerie!!

Recommend? Absolutely, especially if you're already a fan of Erica's work, then you would really appreciate this one. The narrator did a fantastic job on this audio and made it very, very enjoyable to listen to!!

Narrator: Cassandra Campbell
Length: 7 hours 55 minutes
Source: Purchased from audible.com

Book Friends who influenced me to read (listen) to this one:
Margot@Joyfully Retired
Jill@Rhapsody in Books
Diane@Bibliophile By the Sea (audio)
Les@Prairie Horizons
Linda@Silly Little Mischief

Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #82
© 2013, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Magic Hour (audio version)- Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #75

What Magic Hour is about:
Having retreated to her western Washington hometown after a scandal left her career in ruins, child psychiatrist Dr. Julia Cates is determined to free the extraordinary little girl she calls Alice from a prison of unimaginable fear and isolation. To reach her, Julia must discover the truth about Alice’s past—although doing so requires help from Julia’s estranged sister, a local police officer. The shocking facts of Alice’s life test the limits of Julia’s faith and strength, even as she struggles to make a home for Alice—and for herself. 


I've really embraced audio books and 2013 looks like it will be a fantastic year of listening to books. I'm so glad that I started with Magic Hour. I found it hard to tear myself away from the car when I would get to my destination because I was so engrossed in the story.  I needed to know who "Girl" was and how she came to be living out in the forest. For the most part I enjoyed the narrator, but I did find myself annoyed every once in a while when I thought she could have put more feeling behind some of her words.

Recommend? Yes, but just know that at times I felt that Suzanne's narration was lacking in energy.

Narrator: Suzanne Toren

Book Buddies who listened to this one:

• Sheree @ The Eclectic Reader- her wonderful review made me want to listen to this one right now! And I'm glad that I did!!

Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #75
© 2013, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Lone Wolf (audio)- Bookish Thoughts #52

What Lone Wolf is about:
Edward Warren, twenty-four, has been living in Thailand for five years, a prodigal son who left his family after an irreparable fight with his father, Luke. But he gets a frantic phone call: His dad lies comatose, gravely injured in the same accident that has also injured his younger sister Cara.

With her father’s chances for recovery dwindling, Cara wants to wait for a miracle. But Edward wants to terminate life support and donate his father’s organs. Is he motivated by altruism, or revenge? And to what lengths will his sister go to stop him from making an irrevocable decision?

When I first started reading Picoult, I couldn't get enough of her books or her characters. Now, thirteen years later I'm actually thinking of never picking up another story by her. I'm tired of the courtroom drama. I'm tired of the do-good liberal and the evil conservative. I'm tired of the repetitive cycle and I'm ready to get off the gerbil wheel! The whole premise of this book was so out-there that I'm actually a bit surprised at myself for being drawn into the 'man becomes one with the wolves' tale. I did not buy into the idea that a man would leave his family for two years in order to be accepted and live with the wolves. A man who went out into the wilderness with no extra clothing, food, or housing options and lived through the harsh winters, and then made it back alive??? Right. Whatever.

Recommend? I think I would have been better off reading the book because the female narrators annoyed the crap out of me. My patience was starting to wear thin with their lack of animation. If the character is upset, then the narrator's voice should sound the same way right?? Or it could all be me. I could be asking for too much? I have one more Picoult book in my Audible.com library....pray for me to make it through House Rules, without throwing my iPod out the window.  

Source: Public Library
Narrators: 7..too many to list. Here's the link for their names.
Length: 12 hours and 56 minutes

Bookish Thoughts #52
© 2012, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Gods in Alabama (audio)- Bookish Thoughts #49

What Gods in Alabama is about:
When Arlene Fleet heads up north for college, she makes three promises to God: She will stop fornicating with every boy who crosses her path; never tell another lie; and never, ever go back to the "fourth rack of hell," her hometown of Possett, Alabama. All she wants from Him is one little miracle: make sure the body is never found. Ten years later, God has broken His end of the deal. Alabama has landed on Arlene's Chicago doorstep in the form of her high school archenemy, a young woman who wants to find the golden-haired football hero who disappeared during their senior year.


I absolutely love Jackson's voice and it even shined through on this audio version of her book. She has this unique way of creating characters that you can just envision and sometimes even embrace. Arlene is a girl that had a mother who was never really present and who viewed herself as worthless most of her teen years. She flees to Chicago hoping to leave everything behind, even the ones who love her, until one day her past catches up to her!! Jackson takes the reader on a journey inside Arlene's mind and heart. She's finally brave enough to face her demons and ends up with more than she ever dreamed possible!

Recommend? I really enjoyed listening to this one on audio. The narrator had a terrific voice and it literally oozed southern charm to me. The narrator kept me very engaged in the story and I couldn't wait to get back into the car so that I could listen to what was going to happen next in Arlene's crazy life! The only drawback to the audio was the music that they interjected throughout the story. I hated it and thought it was silly. It really didn't help to heighten the suspense.

Source: Purchased from audible.com
Narrator: Catherine Taber
Length of audio: 8 hours and 6 minutes

Bookish Thoughts #49

© 2012, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Cinder (audio)- Bookish Thoughts #35

What Cinder is about:
Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She's a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister's illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai's, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world's future.

Cinder is not your everyday average retelling of Cinderella! It surpassed all my expectations and I found myself enthralled and captivated by this fresh and very original story of cyborg, Cinder. I normally do not do futuristic or science fiction books, but I believe I have been missing out on some fantastic worlds and storytelling. Marissa Myer wrote a book that immediately pulls the reader into the story and has them rooting for Cinder from the very first encounter. I also loved, loved, loved Iko, Cinder's little robot friend. And how can I forget Prince Kai??? He was completely adorable, but also very strong willed.

Recommend? YES! I loved listening to this on audio. I thought Rebecca Soler captured the essence of each character and changed her voice just enough to make you believe each and every one. She nailed Cinder's sarcastic voice and I found myself more than once laughing out loud! I'm very excited because book two of the Lunar Chronicles will be coming out in February 2013...can't wait to read more from this talented author!

Source: Won from Sheree@The Eclectic Reader
Narrator: Rebecca Soler
Length of audio: 10 hours


Bookish Thoughts #35

© 2012, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

The Beginner's Goodbye (audio)- Bookish Thoughts #33

What The Beginner's Goodbye is about:

Anne Tyler gives us a wise, haunting, and deeply moving new novel in which she explores how a middle-aged man, ripped apart by the death of his wife, is gradually restored by her frequent appearances—in their house, on the roadway, in the market.


I couldn't wait to get to this book because Diane@Bibliophile By The Sea, gave it 5 stars! When I saw it in audio form at my library, I decided to listen to it instead! I am here to confirm that her five star rating was right on and I think the audio comes close to being perfect too!  I found myself at times laughing at the pictures Aaron's words created in my mind, and other times feeling his sorrow so much that it hurt. The title of this story is wonderful and I feel that it ties the whole book together in regards to what Aaron did for a living and how he tried to go on living after the loss of his wife.

Recommend? Absolutely and without hesitation! This will be one of my favorite audios to date because I loved the humanity of the story and the sheer exquisiteness of Tyler's words. She writes with such an ease and allows the reader or listener in this case, to lose themselves within the pages of her stories of ordinary people experiencing grief and starting over.

Source: Public Library
Narrator: Kirby Heyborn- He did an excellent job and I felt that he captured the essence of Aaron.
Length of audio: 6 hours and 22 minutes

Bookish Thoughts #33

© 2012, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

The Pioneer Woman: From Black Heels to Tractor Wheels (audio)- Bookish Thoughts #30

What From Black Heels to Tractor Wheels is about:
Read along as I recount the rip-roaring details of my unlikely romance with a chaps-wearing cowboy, from the early days of our courtship (complete with cows, horses, prairie fire, and passion) all the way through the first year of our marriage, which would be filled with more challenge and strife—and manure—than I ever could have expected.

The Three Reasons Review is a simple way to get your thoughts out there about a book.  The reasons are as follows complete with fancy button:

1.) Reasons you chose this book

I've been reading Ree's blog for a number of years and even bought one of her cookbooks. I liked the person behind the blog and was interested in knowing more about her.

2.) Reasons you liked or disliked this book

10 hours of Ree's voice was almost more than I could take. By about disc 6, I was contemplating throwing the whole audio box out the window, until I realized that I didn't own it and the library would charge me a huge fine!! If I had to hear her go on about her damn Anne Klein jeans or being a stuck-up city girl one more time I could have throttled her. So, I guess you can see that I really didn't care for the audio version of this book at all.....not one dang bit! Aw shucks! I hated hearing about her projectile vomiting when she was sick from flying. Did I need to know what color (chartreuse) her vomit was after she gave birth to her first child??? Did I need to know about the nurses cleaning up her nether regions??? Is she some type of livestock? By the way....who says nether regions???? Whatever!! Her voice is annoying, she is annoying, Marlboro man being referred to as Marlboro man if FREAKING annoying, being a city girl stuck out in the fields of no where is annoying, oh golly how will I survive without my designer brands was annoying.

3.) Reasons you are recommending this book

I'm not. Unless of course you adore Ree and can't get enough of her voice. Which by the way you would think that the author reading their own work would have some type of inflection and personality while reading their own words....wouldn't you? Well, she doesn't. What a horrible experience. I should have thrown it out the window!

P.S. I sat back and reviewed this thinking to myself that I was pretty harsh. I contemplated softening it up a bit, but then decided to just let it rip! 

Source: Public Library

Bookish Thoughts #30

© 2012, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

The Lightning Thief (audio)- Bookish Thoughts #28

What The Lightning Thief is about:
Fantasy-adventure novel based on Greek mythology, it is the first novel in the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, which charts the adventures of modern-day twelve-year-old Percy Jackson as he discovers he is a demigod, the son of a mortal woman and the Greek god Poseidon. Percy and his friends go on a quest to prevent a war between the gods Zeus, Poseidon and Hades.


Why I wanted to read it: Because I work in a middle school library and all of the kids are reading this series and the others by Riordan. And because I need to know what gets them so excited about each new book that is released!!


Source: Public Library for the audiobook

• I thought the narrator for this book was a perfect choice. His voice wasn't too old sounding and he actually made me think of Percy when he spoke (is that weird?) 
• The action in the story never stopped and so this was a very fast audio book for me. I actually sat in my car a few times so that I could listen to just one more sentence!!
• I loved being able to talk to the students about listening to this one on audio. Many of the kids were very interested and hoped that I loved the book as much as them!
• Many, many aspects of this story felt almost parallel to Harry Potter. The powers, the invisibility hat, the three friends, going on a quest, losing your parents.....you get the picture. 

Even though at times I thought the book was a bit cheesy (but it is targeted to 9-13), I can absolutely see why the students love it and I'm pretty sure that I will continue on with the rest of the series. Not sure if I will do them on audio books or read them, but either way I've found out that I love Greek mythology and want to read more about Percy Jackson and what happens next!!

Bookish Thoughts #28

© 2012, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Deep Dish (audio)- Bookish Thoughts #24

What Deep Dish is about:
Chef extraordinaire Gina Foxton doesn't expect anything to be handed to her on a platter. After years of hard work, the former runner-up Miss Teen Vidalia Onion is now the host of her own local Georgia public television show called Fresh Start, and she's dating the show's producer.
But when her show gets canceled, and she catches her boyfriend in flagrante delicto with the boss's wife, Gina realizes that she's meant for bigger and better things. The Cooking Channel is looking for its next star, and Gina is certain that she fits the bill. Trouble is, the execs also have their eye on Mr. "Kill It and Grill It" Tate Moody, the star of a hunting, fishing, and cooking show called Vittles. Tate is the ultimate man's man, with a dog named Moonpie and a penchant for flannel shirts. Little does Gina know, though, that she and Tate are soon to embark on the cook-off of their lives.

Why I wanted to listen to this one: I enjoyed a previous book by this author and thought it would be fun to have a lighthearted book to listen to while driving back and forth from work.

Source: Public Library

This will be my first NEGATIVE audio book for this year. I thought the story was fun and I think it would've played out wonderfully in print form, however the narrator's lack of inflection drove me bonkers and made me want to throw the CDs out the window! I found it extremely frustrating that she portrayed the main character with so little gumption and everything she said was flat and with no emotion. Normally I love southern accents but after listening to 12 discs of that monotone drawl, I was ready to have myself a few drinks!

Note to self: Make sure before you listen to another of Mary's books on audio that it isn't Isabel Keating reading the story.

Recommend? Read the book, skip the audio!

Bookish Thoughts #24

© 2012, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission. 

I Thought You Were Dead (audio) - Bookish Thoughts #21

What I Thought You Were Dead is about:
For Paul Gustavson, a hack writer for the wildly popular For Morons series, life is a succession of obstacles. His wife has left him, his father has suffered a debilitating stroke, his girlfriend is dating another man, he has impotency issues, and his overachieving brother invested his parents' money in stocks that tanked. Still, Paul has his friends at Bay State bar, a steady line of cocktails, and a new pair of running shoes (he’s promised himself to get in shape). And then there’s Stella, the one constant in his life, who gives him sage advice, doesn’t judge him, and gives him unconditional love. However, Stella won’t accompany Paul into his favorite dive bar. "I'll roll on dead carp, I'll even eat cat turds, but that place grosses me out." Stella, you see, is Paul's aging Lab-shepherd mix, and she knows Paul better than he knows himself.

Why I wanted to read it: Since I've decided to dive into audio books this year, I have been religiously (seriously) going through Diane (Bibliophile by the Sea) and JoAnn's (Lakeside Musing) past posts about their favorite books they've listened to. Both of these wonderful ladies write such thoughtful and well constructed reviews and they have not steered me wrong. I picked this one from Diane's blog because I'm a huge dog lover and thought the whole concept of a dog being able to communicate with its owner was so very clever!

Source: Purchased from Audible.com

• I loved the narrator on this audio. He did such a great job of delivering Paul's voice and making him at times sound so sad, and then so very pathetic! I also thought he nailed Stella's character perfectly. She just came across to me as a dog with huge personality. I believed it when Stella spoke and what came out of her mouth had me laughing out loud on more than one occasion.
• At first glance this book could really sound dumb...I mean talking dog and all, right? That is so not the case. This is such a touching story and I cried on more than one occasion. It's really all about the human experience of love, loss, family, forgiveness, and moving on. 
• I found myself rooting for Paul and I loved how he tried to reach out and have a relationship with his father even though it was via IM on the computer and his father was limited in answering yes or no to Paul's questions.
• Stella is an old soul. I loved her so much...her story made me cry.

This was one of the best audio experiences I've had to date and the story itself was wonderfully articulated by Josh Clark. I loved listening to this one daily and I honestly didn't want the story to come to an end. If you're looking for great audios, do yourself a HUGE favor and visit Diane and JoAnn's blogs. You will not be disappointed!

Bookish Thoughts #21

© 2012, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission. 

Crooked House (audio) - Bookish Thoughts #20

What Crooked House is about:
In the sprawling, half-timbered mansion in the affluent suburb of Swinly Dean, Aristide Leonides lies dead from barbiturate poisoning. An accident? Not likely. In fact, suspicion has already fallen on his luscious widow, a cunning beauty fifty years his junior, set to inherit a sizeable fortune, and rumored to be carrying on with a strapping young tutor comfortably ensconced in the family estate. But criminologist Charles Hayward is casting his own doubts on the innocence of the entire Leonides brood. He knows them intimately. And he's certain that in a crooked house such as Three Gables, no one's on the level...

Why I wanted to read it: I'm on a huge Agatha Christie roll right now. I can't seem to stop myself!

Source: Public Library

• Before I check out any AC's on audio I make sure that Hugh is the narrator. I absolutely love his voice and he really just does a phenomenal job! 
• This is one story that I just couldn't get enough of! Normally, I hate driving ,but I couldn't wait to jump in my car so that I could get back to this riveting story.
• I loved every single aspect of this audio book and if you can believe it or not...I figured out who the murderer was!! I still can't believe it but I did figure it out! 
• This one has a bit of a creepy gothic feel...not only because of the crooked house but also because of some of the characters. 

Agatha Christie has a way of keeping the reader on their toes and leading them astray with just little tidbits that make the reader second guess their own intuition. I love her writing and her clever twists in her stories! This one will be a top favorite for me!

Bookish Thoughts #20

© 2012, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission. 

One, Two, Buckle My Shoe (audio) - Bookish Thoughts #19

What One, Two, Buckle My Shoe is about:
What reason would an amiable dentist like Dr. Morely have for committing suicide? He didn't have emotional difficulties, money problems, or love trouble. What he did have was an appointment with Hercule Poirot, who is not persuaded by the suicide story and has therefore taken it upon himself to questions the good doctor's patients, partners, and friends. All he's come up with is the numbing fear that Dr. Morely wasn't an unlikely victim at all. Nor the first.


Why I wanted to read it: Because I'm addicted to Agatha Christie right now! Can not get enough!


Source: Public Library

• I absolutely love Hugh Fraser as a narrator. His voice is wonderful and the pronunciation of his words are so sharp and crisp. I feel like I'm right in heart of England when I'm listening to him tell the story.
• I liked Poirot a lot in this story and found him to be a very engaging character. I love it when someone ruffles his feathers just a bit and he gets a bit huffy...Fraser really brings him to life!!
• This was a very complicated plot and at times I found myself struggling to keep the players all in line in my brain. I had absolutely and I mean...ABSOLUTELY no clue who the murderer was in this one. And I had such high hopes for myself! 

In my opinion this one wasn't a favorite for me. I think it may have been that at the end I found the reasons for the murders really strange and almost implausible. I'm glad that I listened to it though and I can now cross off another Christie book from my list!

Bookish Thoughts #19

© 2012, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.