10 Best Audiobooks and an Audiobook Giveaway

Did you know that June is audiobook month and that audio listeners are celebrating at home, on the road, and on social media? I'm such a huge fan, I think every month is audiobook month.

Note too that thanks to the Audio Publishers Association and Audiobook.com, I have a great giveaway to celebrate audiobook month, which I'll tell you about in just a minute.

A couple of years ago, several of my fellow audiobook lovers asked each other to name our top 10 audiobooks of all time. Our individual lists were supposed to consist of the audiobooks that created a magical moment or epitomized the listening experience or hit that golden place of perfect narrator–author union.

This was not an easy task for me because I've been listening to audiobooks since the 1980s—when books on tape really were on tape! By the time I narrowed my choices to just 10, I discovered two things: First, I was dismayed to find that some of my favorite narrators didn't make my list. Second, despite my almost 30 years of listening, my all-time favorite audiobooks are all relatively recent releases. Go figure. Here, then, are my (current) picks (in alphabetical order):

• Beauty Queens by Libba Bray / read by Libba Bray. A plane carrying teen beauty contestants crashes on a deserted island—think Lost with a twist. Bray is so versatile and talented that it's hard to remember there's only one narrator.
• The Girl with All the Gifts by M. R. Carey / read by Finty Williams. A different kind of dystopian or zombie story. Williams avoids sterotypes and excessive drama to put in a pitch-perfect performance.
• Lords of Discipline by Pat Conroy / read by Dan Lee Miller. This novel is based on Conroy's own experiences as a student at the Citadel. Miller captures the emotional heart of the story.
• The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman / read by Neil Gaiman. A magical book about childhood, the nature of memory, and friendship. I really have no words to describe the experience of hearing Gaiman read this story.
• Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon / read by Davina Porter. Is there anyone who doesn't the premise of this time travel series? A 1940s British nurse is transported to 1700s Scotland. Porter's consistent characterizations, expressive reading, and lovely accent bring this long series to life.
• Pillars of the Earth series by Ken Follett / read by John Lee. This series is about the building of a cathedral and its effect on a town, the local families, and the wider politics of 12th-century England. Lee is the king of historical fiction and long sagas, and he shines in these books.
• Themis Files series by Sylvain Neuvel / read by full cast. I describe these books as science fiction, alternate history, character study, mystery, and fantasy rolled into one. They are written in the form of logs, transcripts, and diaries, and the full-cast performance is utterly amazing. I swear I felt as if I were eavesdropping on actual conversations.
• The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield / read by Bianca Amato and Jill Tanner. Twins, ghosts, and a mystery are at the core of the Gothic tale. Amato and Tanner are equally great—emotional, dynamic performances that capture the characters' personalities and the deep essence of the story.
• Tomorrow series by John Marden / read by Suzi Doughtery. An alternate history series in which Australia is invaded and conquered by an enemy nation. Doughtery channels the main character, beautifully evoking a full range of emotions and keying into the pacing of the action.
• Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr / read by Alyssa Bresnahan. Urban fantasy mixed with modern fairy tale. Bresnahan narrates this novel in the finest tradition of classic storytellers. I was spellbound.

Giveaway. As I said at the top of the post, Audio Publishers Association and Audiobooks.com are helping us all celebrate June is audiobook month in style. They've rounded up 30 audiobook fans to write about their love of audiobooks and to participate in a great giveaway. Visit the Audio Publishers Association's JIAM web page to see the list of all the participating bloggers (and to find 29 more chances to win).

So what's this giveaway? I'm able to offer one of my readers a set of earbuds and three free audiobook downloads. All you have to do to be entered for a chance to win is to have a USA mailing address and fill out the following form. I'll pick a winner using a random number generator on July 1. After the winner has been confirmed, I'll delete all personal information from my computer. Good luck and keep listening!

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Wordless Wednesday 450

View over the Fence

Click image to enlarge. For more Wordless Wednesday, click here.

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12 Books from the Big Publishers (BookExpo 2017: Part 3)

My final roundup of BookExpo highlights books from the big publishing houses. As I did for my previous posts (5 books for your wish list; 8 books from smaller presses), I'm leaving out the really big authors, whose books you're unlikely to miss (for example, both Alice Hoffman and Philip Pullman have novels coming out this year). My intent is to share just some of the books I discovered in New York. You'll be hearing about more over the coming months.

The following 12 books are a mix of fiction and nonfiction, and all but one is geared to an adult audience. Pay attention to the publishing date; some will be in bookstores this summer, but most won't be available until fall.

• The Address by Fiona Davis (Dutton, August): When the New York City apartment building the Dakota was built in the late nineteenth century, it was considered to be in the hinterlands, a haven for the rich and famous. This novel takes place in two time periods--the 1880s and the 1980s--and explores life within the walls of the iconic building.
• Calling My Name by Liara Tamani (Greenwillow, October): Set in Houston, Texas, this story is told from the view point of an African American girl, who reflects on her teen years, from middle school through senior year of high school. In the short chapters of this emotionally strong novel, we see Taja trying to balance the conservative values she learns at home with her experiences in the outside world.
• The Dark Lake by Sarah Bailey (Grand Central Publishing, October): This first in a new police procedural thriller / mystery series is set in rural Australia. As Detective Sergeant Gemma Woodstock investigates the murder of a former high school classmate, her own past secrets threaten to bubble to the surface. The novel has been billed as being dark and complex.
• Island of the Blue Foxes by Stephen R. Brown (De Capo Press, November): Did you know that Czar Peter the Great funded a major expedition through Siberia and the polar waters into North America, ultimately "discovering" what is now Alaska. Led by Captain Vitus Bering, the adventure had mixed success: it opened up the northwest fur trade but cost dearly in terms of human suffering. This is the true-life account of that Russian journey of exploration.

• The Last Castle by Denise Kiernan (Touchstone, September): I couldn't resist picking up a copy of this true story about Edith Dresser who married George Vanderbilt and was one of the key forces behind keeping the beautiful Biltmore house and estate running smoothly, even during tough economic times. Although many of us have heard of the magnificent North Carolina chateau and the Vanderbilt family who occupied its rooms, few of us know Edith's role in preserving the grounds and her husband's legacy.
• A Moonless, Starless Sky by Alexis Okeowo (Hachette, October): Written by a journalist who was once based in Nigeria, this book follows four threads that expose real life in today's Africa. The people we meet are from different countries and have had different experiences, some unimaginable to those of us in the comfortable West. The publisher's summary to this nonfiction account says it's about "ordinary people doing the extraordinary" to make lives better for all Africans.
• A Secret History of Witches by Louisa Morgan (Redhook, September): This novel was pitched as a family saga, spanning several generations, and set in France and England. It focuses on mother-daughter relationships and, of course, has a bit of magic.The story spans the early 1800s through to World War II and is billed as being good for fans of Discovery of Witches.
• Seven Days of Us by Francesca Hornak (Berkley, October): I couldn't resist the premise of this novel: A family is quarantined in their home over Christmas week because one member has just returned to the UK after being part of a team that treated victims of a viral epidemic in Liberia. No one can leave the house and no one can enter. Will they survive each other's quirks while keeping their own secrets to themselves?

• Sourdough by Robin Sloan (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, September): What happens when a non-cooking Bay Area software engineer inherits a sourdough starter? In this fun foodie novel, Lois is transformed by her new charge, learning to bake and getting involved in San Fransisco's underground food culture.
• South Pole Station by Ashley Shelby (Picador, July): This novel introduces us to a young painter who is accepted into a National Science Foundation retreat program for artists and writers. Sounds like heaven--that is, if your idea of heaven is Antarctica, with six months of no sun and subzero temperatures. Personal growth, the politics of climate change, and making unlikely friendships are at the heart of this book.
• The Twelve-Mile Straight by Eleanor Henderson (Ecco, September): Set on a family farm in 1930s Georgia, this novel explores family secrets, racial tensions, violence, and economic hardship. This multigenerational story shows us both the strength of individual spirit and the ugliness that arises from hate of those who are different from us.
• Watch Me Disappear by Janelle Brown (Spiegel & Grau, July): This novel's tagline caught my attention: "Who you want people to be makes you blind to who they really are." Billie, a seemingly happy and successful woman, goes missing while on a solo hike in the American west, leaving behind a daughter and husband, who can only assume she has died. When father and daughter begin to search into Billie's past for clues of her fate, they realize they never actually knew her at all.

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Weekend Cooking: 4 Recipes to Make This Week

I don't know about your part of the world, but the weather finally turned around in central Pennsylvania, and despite some rain, we've been able to eat outside again. I hope we're done with the chilly evenings.

Instead of a formal review today, I thought I'd share this week's dinner recipes. Two came out of the latest Bon Appetit and two came from the latest Cooking Light.

Now that we have Pinterest, Google, and reliable food blogs, I often forget to take a look at my old favorite recipe source: magazines. The irony, of course, is that I've saved these recipes to my Tried and Liked board, so I guess I haven't escaped the Internet at all.

What's for Dinner?

• Baked Chicken with Tomatoes and Olives: This is a one-dish meal that takes about 10 minutes to put together. You rub some some seasonings on the chicken. Then toss tomatoes, olives, garlic, and thyme in a baking dish, layer on the chicken and bake until it's done. Seriously easy and really delicious. This made enough for two dinners. The first night I served it with asparagus, and the second night I added kale to the baking dish before reheating the chicken in the oven. This was a winner.
• Ramen with Steak and Sesame-Ginger Dressing: This dish is supposed to be served cold, but we ate it for dinner without allowing it to chill. It was still good. The dressing includes tahini, ginger, and lemon, and the salad consists of cabbage, kohrabi, scallions, and cashews. We ditched the ramen noodles for soba, which are a little more nutritious. I like stretching a single 12-ounce grilled steak to four servings. My husband was happy to have a hearty salad for his lunch the next day.

• Tortellini Salad with Zucchini and Peas: Okay, so I admit that part of the attraction of this recipe was that I could use the ribbon cutter on my spiralizer. I was also hoping to find fresh peas at the farmers' market. The zucchini ribbons came out great, but I had to use frozen peas instead of fresh. This salad uses a small package of cheese tortellini, and the pasta and veggies are tossed with a lemon-basil dressing. It was good, but nothing special. If I make it again, I think I'll add scallions. Note that it serves only two for a main dish.
• Rosy Beet-and-Quinoa Salad: I haven't actually tried this recipe yet, but it's on tap for tonight's dinner. With beets, radicchio, pine nuts, and feta (which I'm using for the crumbled goat cheese), I don't see how it could be bad. The recipe says this is a main-dish salad, and I'm not planning on serving anything with it. If we like it, I'll post it to my tried and liked Pinterest board over the weekend.

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Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book reviews (novel, nonfiction), cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs, restaurant reviews, travel information, or fun food facts. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page.

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8 Books from Smaller Presses (BookExpo 2017: Part 2)

One of the things I look forward to when I plan my annual trip to Book Expo (formally BEA), is getting a chance to learn about books from some of the smaller presses. Although the publishers featured today are hardly obscure, they are independent from the giant houses that seem to get all the buzz.

Instead of featuring the big-name authors and titles you'll hear about everywhere (including here on Beth Fish Reads), today I want to introduce you to a handful of books that may have slipped by your radar. All but one is fiction, and most take us outside the United States and/or to different times, providing a broad perspective on life and humanity.

• Solar Bones by Mike McCormack (Soho, September): Set in rural Ireland, this novel is told by a spirit who returns to his home and recalls his life in all his roles, from son to father and everything in between and beyond. This award-winning novel gives us a feel for a generation of changes and challenges.
• The Widows of Malabar Hill (Soho Crime, January 2018): The protagonist of this first in a new series is loosely based on India's first woman lawyer. Set about 100 years ago in Bombay, this crime novel concerns a case of potential fraud against three traditional, sheltered widows of the same man. The case also involves lost inheritances and the threat of murder.
• The Extra Woman by Joanna Scutts (Liveright, November): For most of history, Western culture has pitied or scorned the woman who chooses to remain single. Yet almost 90 years ago, Marjorie Hillis, who wrote for Vogue magazine, helped make the "Live-Aloners" fashionable. This book explores the rise and fall of the glory days of the independent woman over the course of the twentieth century and into our own times.
• Across the China Sea by Gaute Heivoll (Graywolf Press, September): In the post-World War II years, a Norwegian family opens their home to the lost and broken, forging bonds that hold an unlikely group of adults and children together to face a changing world. The novel is told in retrospect as the son cleans out the house after his parents' deaths.

• Reign the Earth by A. C. Gaughen (Bloomsbury, January 2018): This first in a four-part young adult fantasy series features a young woman who agrees to a marriage in return for the promise of peace between two rival lands. Her sacrifice is made all the harder when she must hide her elemental powers from her husband while trying to stay loyal to her own heritage. The novel promises battles, betrayal, politics, and magic.
• Three Daughters of Eve by Elif Shafak (Bloomsbury, December): This novel takes place in the course of a single evening in modern-day Istanbul. A woman who survives a mugging on her way to an opulent dinner party tries to balance her present circumstances with her college years abroad. Meanwhile the city erupts in violence caused by a series of terrorist attacks. Literary fiction that examines feminism in the context of Islam.
• Leona: The Die Is Cast by Jenny Rogneby (Other Press, August): this gritty Scandinavian crime novel features a flawed female detective who is barely able to hold herself together long enough to solve a bizarre bank robbery, allegedly pulled off by a seven-year-old girl. The author is both a former Stockholm cop and a former pop singer.
• To the Back of Beyond by Peter Stamm (Other Press, October): One night after a women goes inside to check on her child, her husband leaves the back garden and starts walking through the Swiss countryside. This slip of a novel explores the couple's now separate lives--one seemingly aimless, the other tied to home--and how life can change in a single moment.

Next week I'll feature picks from the big publishing houses. In case you missed it, yesterday I featured 5 Book Expo picks, also from small publishers.

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