Audiobooks: March and April 2024
My TBL has dropped to 16 titles, so probably less than a year's listening.
The Tales of Max Carrados by Ernest Bramah read by Stephen Fry. Another early detective series, read beautifully by Stephen Fry. The stories are enjoyable listening and Fry conveys Carrados' personality really well.
The Third Man by Graham Greene read by Martin Jarvis. I'd seen the film many years ago, but forgotten most of the plot, which was as well, because the novel isn't as action-packed, although there are dramatic moments. I've listened to several books by Greene and felt that this one, despite being famous, lacks some of the complexity in the other longer stories.
Maigret's First Case by Georges Simenon read by Gareth Armstrong. Written in 1948 it looks back to Jules Maigret's first case in 1913, in what was a very different world. I enjoyed the sense of the older man looking back and how the dogged nature of the detective remained throughout the years.
Paul Temple: The Complete Radio Collection: Volume Two: The Fifties The usual fun stories, now with Peter Coke as Paul Temple and Marjorie Westbury as Steve. I only listened to the stories I hadn't heard on the radio, listening to an episode a day to increase the enjoyment - totally ridiculous, but entertaining.
The Underground Library by Jennifer Ryan read by Fenella Woolgar. I really like Ryan's WWII stories featuring the women left at home. This is her latest and it was much cheaper to buy the audiobook than the hardback since sadly our library no longer gets her books. This is based on true events from the time, although bringing together things which happened in different parts of the East End to make a more dramatic story. Set in Bethnal Green, after the library is destroyed by a bomb a number of the books are moved underground, therefore giving the people sheltering in the underground station the opportunity to borrow books to help pass the time. The story concentrates on three main characters, although there are several secondary characters, Juliet newly come up from the country to work in the library, Katie who finds she is pregnant by her boyfriend who has been killed in action, and Sophie a German Jewish refugee. Each has a happy ending, which is not necessarily plausible, but this is fiction and why shouldn't favourite characters have things turn out well?
The Tales of Max Carrados by Ernest Bramah read by Stephen Fry. Another early detective series, read beautifully by Stephen Fry. The stories are enjoyable listening and Fry conveys Carrados' personality really well.
The Third Man by Graham Greene read by Martin Jarvis. I'd seen the film many years ago, but forgotten most of the plot, which was as well, because the novel isn't as action-packed, although there are dramatic moments. I've listened to several books by Greene and felt that this one, despite being famous, lacks some of the complexity in the other longer stories.
Maigret's First Case by Georges Simenon read by Gareth Armstrong. Written in 1948 it looks back to Jules Maigret's first case in 1913, in what was a very different world. I enjoyed the sense of the older man looking back and how the dogged nature of the detective remained throughout the years.
Paul Temple: The Complete Radio Collection: Volume Two: The Fifties The usual fun stories, now with Peter Coke as Paul Temple and Marjorie Westbury as Steve. I only listened to the stories I hadn't heard on the radio, listening to an episode a day to increase the enjoyment - totally ridiculous, but entertaining.
The Underground Library by Jennifer Ryan read by Fenella Woolgar. I really like Ryan's WWII stories featuring the women left at home. This is her latest and it was much cheaper to buy the audiobook than the hardback since sadly our library no longer gets her books. This is based on true events from the time, although bringing together things which happened in different parts of the East End to make a more dramatic story. Set in Bethnal Green, after the library is destroyed by a bomb a number of the books are moved underground, therefore giving the people sheltering in the underground station the opportunity to borrow books to help pass the time. The story concentrates on three main characters, although there are several secondary characters, Juliet newly come up from the country to work in the library, Katie who finds she is pregnant by her boyfriend who has been killed in action, and Sophie a German Jewish refugee. Each has a happy ending, which is not necessarily plausible, but this is fiction and why shouldn't favourite characters have things turn out well?