'Blood, Bones and Butter' Audiobook Review

Audiobook: Blood, Bones and Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef by Gabrielle Hamilton
Read by: Gabrielle Hamilton
Genre: Memoir

I was turned off by "blood" in the title, but the subhead made me wonder "what made her so reluctant?" And who wouldn't want to get some insider tips from a recognized chef. So, I checked it out.

I never got my answer about the "reluctant" part, but enjoyed hearing about Gabrielle's twisty-turny life very much. And the blood was minimal.

Gabrielle runs a pretty successful small restaurant in the East Village and has for several years. The restuarant business in NYC is cut-throat, so anyone who manages to stay open and profitable in that business, has my admiration. And her journey to Prune includes underaged waitressing (drugs), line-cooking, high-society catering and even chefing at an upstate camp.

So what I didn't understand is how Gabrielle considered herself reluctant. She's in a kitchen or restaurant starting at 14, when she's left to fend for herself after her parent's divorced. If she was so reluctant, she should have taken up teaching math or selling shoes. 

The Italian husband was a storyline I wasn't expecting, but one I enjoyed following. The chapters in Italy visiting family were rich with flavor.

The book is read by Gabrielle and, while her voice stays in this clear, this-is-how-it-went-down directness, it was missing some natural inflection. Even books read by actors show some emotion. But Gabrielle is utterly unapologetic, even when relying some dark days. And her impression of her husband deep Italian accent is comic.

Grade: Greenlight

'Endymion Spring' Audiobook Review

Audiobook: Endymion Spring by Matthew Skelton
Read by: Richard Easton
Genre: YA Fantasy

After the love I had for Seraphina, I thought I'd try another YA Fantasy novel. And this one I'd seen a few times on the shelves, with an intriguing cover of the entwined snakes. Try it!

I got about half way into the discs and decided life was too short for a boring fantasy. And turned it off.

The book was told in two eras; One from present day Oxford and one in medieval Germany. The story is about a secret book and made of magic paper. It was technically well-written, slow and little hard to follow in parts ... and full of things that bugged the crap out of me.

First, the boy in Oxford, Blake -- no idea how old he was. None. I thought it might be part of the mystery, but the longer I waited for that little fact, the more annoyed I got. The difference between a 14-year-old and a 10-year-old is too great to try figure out for half the book (with no hints). And the author was obviously English, but didn't take into account cultural differences for his American main characters. For example, Americans don't use the word "torch" -- it's a "flashlight." This happened, a lot.

And last -- and this is turning into a real problem for me -- I didn't like the gruff male voice telling the story. And, looking back, I realize I haven't liked one book from a male reader.

Grade: Yellow Light

'The Anglo Files: A Field Guide to the British' Audiobook Review

Audiobook: The Anglo Files: A Field Guide to the British by Sarah Lyall
Read by: Cassandra Campbell
Genre: Memoir (Cultural Anthropology?)

My first love is British culture, from Mr. Darcy, Lucy Honeychurch and Prince William and Jamie Oliver. I love British literature, culture and lifestyle. London is one of my favorite cities and I used to dream about marrying a man with a British accent. So this book's little dive into British-isms sounded like fun -- a good way to indulge my anglo-love.

Not so much! It was such a nasty look into this group of people I turned it off after disc two so I'd be able to watch Downton Abbey without wincing!

The author, a journalist married to Brit and now living in London, is clearly unimpressed by the British way of life and its people. In fact, I'd say she hates them. I'm not even sure why she's married to one.

I only got through a few chapters which included demystifying sex (Brit men are bad in bed because they were harassed by their male prep school teachers), politics (all women-hating, foul-mouthed drunks) and drinking (the way to meet your soulmate is to be completely blitzed at a pub) -- wow. She's inspecting the people around her like something she found on her shoe. I turned it off. Too mean.

Grade: Red Light

'The Heights' Audiobook Review

Audiobook: The Heights by Peter Hedges
Ready by: Peter Hedges, Amy Ryan and Alison Pill
Genre: Lit

I have had this book in my To Read pile (on my Kindle) for the last year. I've been a fan of Peter Hedges since What's Eating Gilbert Grape, so I'm usually looking out for what he's doing next.

I don't often read "adult" lit. I usually find it too melodramatic and predictable. And, I found that to be true of this book, as well.

Tim and Kate are no different than a lot of people I know, but they're just so stupid, they can't see what they have. And when they do have an enlightened moment about the good in their lives, they're completely OK with chucking it all for someone in skinny jeans and an expensive haircut. It's likely why I hardly read about people in my own demographic -- we're stupid. Anyway, this book goes along just as you'd expect it. And ends they way you'd think.

And, yes, I did yell at the characters from the driver's seat. Tim mostly. What an idiot.

On the plus side, I really enjoyed Alison Pill reading crazy Bea's chapters. Her intensity (she's completely obsessed with Tim) really captured her unhinged-ness. Amy Ryan was pretty great, too.

Grade: Yellow Light

'Enchanted' Audiobook Review

Audiobook: Enchanted by Alethea Kontis
Ready by: Katherine Kellgren
Genre: YA Fantasy

So after a few nonfictions, I was looking to delve into something fantastical. I heard nothing about this book but the cover and blurb were intriguing and since it's from the library, I have nothing to lose if it's a total dud.

This lovely cover undersells the delightful and silly story within.

Enchanted is a mashups of fairytales you're already familiar with. Sunday lives with her big family in a home that was once a tall-tall tower and now resembles more of a shoe. She's the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter -- which makes her fate magical. She meets a frog in the woods one day, who was charmed by his godmother. She kisses him. Twice. Madness -- that includes charms, beanstalks, cinders, a missing shoe and more -- follows. It's a dizzying ride that had a lot of heart.

This audiobook is performed (rather than just read) by Katherine Kellgren, with a sweet British accent and plenty of feeling and inflection. I enjoyed her voice so much that I'm starting to wonder how much the voice has to do with my overall opinion of the story. Would I have liked this book as much if I had read it on my own? Hmm.

Grade: Green Light

'The Difference' Audiobook Review

Audiobook: The Difference by Jean Chatzky
Read by: Jean Chatzky
Genre: Self Help

Perky and smart, I've seen Jean Chatzky on the Today Show a bunch of times but I'd never bought her books. But, I could use some financial tips and, sure, I'd like to be a millionaire, so I pulled this one off the shelf. I figured, if even 1/4 of this information gets through my thick, numbers-deficient brain, it would be a win.

What I got was some good advice not all about money.

The Difference, Jean states in her clear, positive voice, isn't about being born with a trust fund or knowing your way around Wall Street (although those things certainly help), it's a state of mind. Your attitude. She sent a questionnaire to a bunch of people, including millionaires, and mined some common themes.

Interestingly, luck plays no part in financial wealth. In fact, Jean found the more you believed in luck, the less likely you were to be rich. Rich people believe they had some luck, yes, but earned what they have. Wealthy folks also sleep less.

So I didn't learn all there is about saving and spending money, but I liked the advice I got and thinking about my financial future during my commutes wasn't a bad use of time.

Grade: Greenlight

'Seraphina' Audiobook Review

Audiobook: Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
Read by: Justine Eyre
Genre: YA Lit

Dragon fantasies are often a stretch for me, but I do enjoy a fantasy now and then -- and this one came highly recommended by my friend Sonja at bookwink.com. So when I saw the audiobook brand-new on the shelves, I couldn't resist.

I'm actually not sure how I stayed on the road while listening to this book. I was so caught up in each scenes, picturing every character, imagining their outfits, gestures and looks. Miles went by when I don't remember consciously looking at the road in front me. (Maybe a risk I should think about in the future.)

I loved this story. Seraphina is a sweet girl despite the large burden of secrets she carries around. The book is exquisitely written. And Prince Lucian Kiggs is dreamy; I kept picturing Jon Snow from "Game of Thrones." Actually, every character is vivid and full of life. And each is operating in the shadows of good and evil.

But the MVP goes to the narrator, Justine Eyre. Her voice is lilting with a sweet British/Irish accent and she smoothed over foreign words I would have tripped over on my own. She breathed even more life to this already excellent story.

Grade: Greenlight

'The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate' Audiobook Review

Audiobook: The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly
Ready by: Natalie Ross
Genre: YA Lit

Not that I'm always swayed by covers, but this one always caught my eye; the brilliant yellow and black silhouettes. And not that I'm swayed by medals, but it's a 2010 Newbery honor recipient for pete's sake. The story did sound cute and I could use a few hours in hot Texas this week. So, I checked it out of my library.

Bottom line: Not for me.

The imagery was beautiful. My car actually grew a bit hotter with descriptions of a Texas heatwave that sent families inside during the afternoons to nap. And I grew fond of the brisley grandfather and wondered how a turn-of-the-century Mother kept all those kids respectful and in-line.

But the story moved slowly and lazily. Calpurnia took too long to figure things out. And the audio quality felt blurry in my ears. Like it was recorded behind a wool blanket.  After disc 2, it got returned to the library. Maybe Ms. Kelly will write a turn-of-the-century parenting guide next.

Grade: YELLOW LIGHT

'Bringing Up Bebe' Audiobook Review

Bringing Up Bebe

Audiobook: Bringing Up Bebe by Pamela Druckerman
Ready by: Abby Craden
Genre: Memoir

I’ve been curious about the book ever since its release but decided I missed the boat, since my kids were already past toddlerhood. But to satisfy my occasional Francophile itch (my copy of Amalie is MIA) I grabbed the audiobook from the library and popped it in. And I’m happy I did.

My conclusion: Parisian mothers don’t have it all worked out (glad to affirm that we’re all floundering) but they view some parenting concepts in much different ways.

For instance, they embrace day care – mostly because it’s government subsidized and the care givers are practically pediatricians. They often say “the perfect mother doesn’t exist.” And they don’t believe in over-scheduling children but allowing them freedom to discover, or “awaken.” Independent play is hugely important. Their kids sleep through the night at 3 months (mine did too) and are good eaters – though I suspect the latter is due to those excellent day care chefs.

Parisians seemed to have figure out how to stay true to themselves and not fold into the “I am a mother now” trap that I’ve seen some women do. And going back to work is the norm in Paris (though, it IS the most expensive city in Europe). The author gave an example that, at dinner parties, if a stranger knew she had kids, they’d still ask “what do you do?” Where here, it’s always assumed I stay home with the kids. Always.

Lastly, I've always fantasied about raising kids in a different country, so hearing Pamela's experience let me live vicariously. There are plenty ups and downs of Americans raising little Parisians.

Overall, I’m glad I heard this book after a few years of parenting experience, because, pre-kids, I might not have fully understood what was wise and what was plain unrealistic.

I wonder if there’s a raising kids in Spain book, too? 

'Julie & Julia' Audiobook Review

Audiobook: Julie & Julia by Julie Powell
Read By: Julie Powell

So I'm a little late to this party. The Julie & Julia blog had a huge following (one of the first blogs to reach mainstream attention), the book came out in 2005 (a NY Times best seller, hello!) and the movie came out in 2009 (was that Meryl Streep?) that I never saw. So, yes, three years later I'm scanning the options at my local library and picked it up.

It's so not what I expected.

I was expecting Julie to be mousey and quiet -- a quintessential secretary with a passing interest in cooking. In reality, she swears like sailor and drinks like a fish (another gimlet, please). She's depressed, is crazy/dramatic and is a Buffy fangirl. One night, over wine, she jokes about cooking her way through Mastering the Art of French Cooking and her husband takes her seriously. He shows her this new thing called blogging and, much to her surprise, she follows through with it. Managing a year of butter, pork fat, testing the bonds of her marriage and all her other relationships.

I enjoyed that it was Julie's voice narrating the words. It made the memoir more personal. I responded or scolded her. "Julie, don't eat that!" And I cheered when she de-boned a duck. And I was sad, very sad, at the end when (spoiler alert) THE Julia Childs doesn't appreciate all she's going through.

The story rambled, but the challenge of all those recipes and the effect the project on her life was compelling. And hearing a female's voice move flawlessly from pronouncing French foods to dropping dirty f-bombs was entertaining.

Grade: Greenlight  

Gallagher Girls Series Audiobook Review

Audiobooks: Gallagher Girls Series, books 1-5 by Ally Carter
Ready by: Renée Raudman
Genre: YA Lit

I read Heist Society, Ms. Carter's other spy series and really liked it. (Review of second book in that series is coming.) As books, I had always dismissed the Gallagher Girls books because they looked a little too kid-ish for my tastes. But, as audiobooks, there's less of a time commitment, and these books are universally adored, so I picked up the first one.

I was back at the library the next day to check out the rest of the series.

The Gallagher Academy is a top-secret, all-girls spy school and Cammie, the main character, is its headmistress's gawky daughter. The series follows Cammie as she matches her education against real-world dangers, and real boys(!), with her best friends Liz and Becks.

The miracle of this series is that Cammie grows up a lot. I listened to these books consecutively in the span of about a month, so her growth was easy to chart. She goes from naive and silly to wise and capable. This series gets compared to Harry Potter, and this is likely why. The fifth book was far darker than the first.

The narrator, who reads all the books, has worked for the Simpsons and it took me weeks to figure out which voice. And her boy voice is seriously annoying. Also, Carter is repetitive -- like a romance writer. You'll read descriptions on how the girl spies can incapacitate a man 3-times their size with ____ (fill in a cosmetic bag staple). Or how they can speak 17 languages, but can't understand what boys are talking about. But I guess if you listen to 6 books, you're bound to pick up the rhythms.

These books were a hit, and deserving of all the praise they get.

Grade: Green light

And in case you're wondering, those titles are:
GG1:  I’D TELL YOU I LOVE YOU, BUT THEN I’D HAVE TO KILL YOU
GG2:  CROSS MY HEART AND HOPE TO SPY
GG3:  DON’T JUDGE A GIRL BY HER COVER
GG4:  ONLY THE GOOD SPY YOUNG
GG5:  OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF TIME
GG6: Coming Next Year
source: allycarter.com