My 2018 Audiobook Reading List So Far

Last year I started reading the Bernie Gunther series by Philip Kerr (discovered thanks to an interview with Sean Bean), and in December and early January 2018 I finished reading (audiobooks) A Quiet Flame and The One from the Other.  I've been trying to read them in chronological order, according to a list in a Bernie Gunther fan forum.  I think I have two or three books left in the series so far, this includes the one Kerr just published last year. 

http://berniegunther.com/


I have found that because of the subject matter in the Gunther books that I often need a break between every couple of  books.  So I'm taking a break at the moment starting another mystery series from one of my favorite people on social media, and favorite authors, David Hewson. I've started the Nic Costa series and now listening/reading A Season for the Dead.  In an earlier life I was lucky enough to do a bit of traveling, and extremely lucky to have visited Rome and The Vatican on three occasions.  Always fun to read/listen to a book and be able to recognize a familiar visited location.  

I have to say to David Hewson that if Richard Armitage is cast as Pieter Vos, that is certainly the next of his mystery series I'm reading. 

https://www.amazon.com/David-Hewson/e/B000APG5PO

My reading list so far this year continues with audiobooks, or audioplays, narrated/performed by my favorite narrator, Richard Armitage.  Now, I don't know if the Audiobook Challenge counts podcasts as part of the challenge, so one of the audio plays I will not count, but I'm adding to my list here. I've pre-ordered the works listed below:

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris, (Update - February 20, 2018  February 8, 2018) Jan 23, 2018 from Audible.  Hopefully narrated by Richard Armitage in the US also (1/19/18 - Richard Armitage now confirmed in Audible US site as narrator! Yes!).  If not, I'll cancel from Audible.

The Martian Invasion of Earth - Starring Richard Armitage, February 2018, from Big Finish (HG Wells adaptation)

Podcast - serial:

Wolverine: The Long Night - from Marvel and Stitcher - Richard Armitage stars as Wolverine.  Expected in Spring 2018 

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Now if someone is reading this, you  may have noticed I haven't included Wanderlust by  Lauren Blakely, co-narrated by Richard Armitage and expected this month from Audible.  Well, that's because I don't know if I will listen to this audiobook.  This type of Romance novel is definitely not my genre.  Maybe if the cover was less "cheesy" my reaction might be different.  Let me say to Audible that a romance novel by Heyer is very different. I would welcome Richard recording more Heyer.  Look, lots of RA fans seem to enjoy this genre, and many of them that constantly tweeted Audible about wanting him to read something more contemporary, romantic, and sexy, got what they wished as interpreted by Audible.  Always remember, be careful what you wish for.  

I'm certain Richard has his reasons for recording this audiobook.  I can see that it will bring him new fans, and maybe even change the way casting people look at him when considering him for a project. Maybe he and his management thought he's viewed a bit as too old fashioned for a younger US audience, and maybe this will change that perception. From what I've been reading the author has a following, and so do this type of romance novels.  If so, this may be a good thing for the future for him.  

As an Armitage fan/supporter I'm willing to give this the benefit of the doubt.  I will wait and see what others in the fandom say after they listen to it, and I will wait until I have a credit from Audible to get it in any case, if I decide to do so ultimately.  

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This year more than ever I'm taking life one day at a time. Last year was a difficult health year for me.  This year expected to be even more so. But whatever the future holds or doesn't hold for me, I'm glad to have audiobooks keep me company.

My Audiobook List Jan/Feb:

A Season for the Dead

The Tattooist of Auschwitz 

The Martian Invasion of Earth (adaptation of The War of the Worlds)

Audiobook Challenge 2018 - I'll Give it a Try

As an audiobook listener I thought I would give this year's Audiobook Challenge a try.  For a variety of reasons I don't know how far I will get this year, but it gives me an excuse to return to my blog. 

I need something hopeful this year to help distract me from my troubles. Maybe a goal, a challenge, is just the thing. 

I first learned about the Audiobook Challenge through Twitter, and I looked into it more on various blogs.  Finally I decided today to look at the blog at the link below, and copy the rules, regs, and etc.  

https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2017/12/2018-audiobook-challenge-sign-up.html

Challenge Details

• Runs January 1, 2018 – December 31, 2018. You can join at anytime.
• The goal is to find a new love for audios or to outdo yourself by listening to more audios in 2018 than you did in 2017.
• Books must be in audio format (CD, MP3, etc.)
• ANY genres count.
• Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed.
• You do not have to be a book blogger to participate; you can track your progress on Goodreads, Facebook, LibraryThing, etc.
• If you’re a blogger grab the button and do a quick post about the challenge to help spread the word. If you’re not a blogger you can help by posting on Facebook or Tweeting about the challenge.
• Updates plus a giveaway will be posted twice during the year. First update in June 30, 2018 and last update in December 15, 2018

Achievement Levels

• Newbie (I’ll give it a try) 1-5
• Weekend Warrior (I’m getting the hang of this) 5-10
• Stenographer (can listen while multi-tasking) 10-15
• Socially Awkward (Don’t talk to me) 15-20
• Binge Listener (Why read when someone can do it for you) 20-30
• My Precious (I had my earbuds surgically implanted) 30+
• Marathoner (Look Ma No Hands) 50+
• 
  

My level is probably somewhere near Stenographer, since I mostly listen to audiobooks when commuting to and from work.