"I" (that is, WE) Love to Listen -- Authors and Book Titles Beginning with "I"

I Can’t Keep These Audiobooks to Myself – Authors Whose Last Names Begin With “I”

Author's note: A couple of years ago, my library system added blog posts to our website. Many of the posts were short collections of book reviews, often following a theme. I tried writing a few of these, but never felt like I could keep up with the thought-provoking themes of my librarian colleagues. It was a good challenge, a growth opportunity, and I was honored to have been selected to write for our site. After a few successes, and several wadded-up-and-thrown-in-the-trashcan failures, I realized that what I needed was my old writing partner to get me going again. Enter Polo! 

All of the books reviewed here are available as downloadable audiobooks.

Thanks to our current socially distant and economically uncertain situation, Polo and I have become even more particular about the kinds of audiobooks we choose. Escapism is our current jam. We hope you enjoy these suggestions.

Bus Stop

William Inge

This is an LA Radio Works full-cast recording. These productions are well done, reminiscent of old-time radio drama but without the distraction of scratchy analog technology. (Listen also to Seven Days in May, by Charles W. Bailey II – another LARW production featuring Ed Asner.) Everything about these shows puts you right into their settings. Fun listening!

Polo’s reaction: There’s a snowstorm raging outside. I hurt my paws once by staying in snow too long. I’d be next to these people, stuck in the diner, for sure – especially with food!

 

The Quiet Game

Greg Iles

There’s sex, significant violence, racism, but good suspense. Racism, set in the Deep South (with a visit to Wyoming), story unearths old secrets with ongoing consequences. 

Polo’s thoughts: This was scary and too hot and also too cold. Many people who were not nice. I’m glad I live right here.

 

You Me Everything

Catherine Isaac

Again, there's sex, but real-life feel to the characters’ moral dilemmas. Opening scene is boyfriend not making it to his son’s birth. Grandma has HD, and this develops into bigger story arc. Well done. If you like Jojo Moyes, you’ll relate to this book.

Polo’s response: I would like to take the boy home with me. He could use the love of a good dog, but he does have some great family behind him.

 

I See You

Clare Mackintosh 

(We were running out of author names beginning with “I” so we looked at titles. I considered doing a whole post on books with this specific title, but that would just be overly confusing.)

Gripping psychological thriller read by British-accented narrator. Something we could sink our teeth into! Britain's CCTV is meant to help fight crime, but what happens if someone hacks the system to commit crime? The victims are easy targets if the villain can see them.

Polo’s take: I will not live in a big city, ever. I will not ride in a subway, ever. No wonder these people had fear!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Being Educated by "Educated"

I don't usually read bestsellers. At least, not while they are still on the bestseller list. The main reason is that I don't feel any need to jump on the bandwagon. The other big reason is that I don't think to put myself on the waitlist for soon-to-be-published hot titles, and once I notice the new book, the hold list is way long. So I don't bother.

But I have friends who recommend books. In fact, they're professionals when it comes to suggesting the next great read. How can I help but get excited? So I put myself on the list for Tara Westover's memoir, Educated. Homeschooled girl from strict religious family makes it big in academia, despite not having any formal instruction in history, science, or math. How did she break free to enter university? How did she manage to earn multiple degrees? How did she overcome her extremely isolated childhood?

When I listened, engrossed, I found the audiobook was more of a horror story. Over and over, I perched on the edge of my seat. "Run! Run from the house before the crazed ax murderer catches up with you! Get away from the giant metal-eating behemoth machine before it crushes you! Tell someone about your brother slamming your head into the wall!"

This is a story of abuse. So much abuse, for so many years. The breaking free was not so much about education, although that certainly was her ticket to a completely different world. As is so common for people who experience domestic violence, it seems impossible to sever the ties that bind them to their abusers. That is the horror of this story. And that is the reader's opportunity for education.

Yucky Trip, Great Scenery

I recently had to travel to my eldest brother's home to help take care of his estate. I've heard that losing a sibling is more emotionally stressful than losing a parent, and perhaps that's true. In this case, though, my other brother (Jim) and I have long anticipated a random phone call about our elder sib. We knew it would happen, just didn't know when.

It was a difficult week, indeed, but there were bright spots. There was great support among family members and new friends. The weather was good for most of the week, and I got to take a few photos of things that Tom had seen almost every day for the past 30 years. Northern California and Nevada are beautiful, if stark, and you just can't beat that backdrop of bright blue December sky.

I hope you find these pics restful, as I do.

Let's Get Medical

All right, I've had enough. The pain in my foot isn't severe, and it's not as serious as my very first flare-up, but I'm tired of ending the day with a sore heel. I'm tired of having to always sit with my legs crossed because it's too uncomfortable to put weight on my tender heel. I'm tired of thinking about plantar fasciitis.

This week, I'm going to my podiatrist to see about getting a cortisone injection. Take THAT, plantar fascia!

I don't mind wearing sensible shoes. It doesn't matter that my orthotics have to fit inside of them. The foot brace I wear to bed every night isn't any bother. But I've had enough of this nagging pain that should be curable.

Now, if I live through the injection, I should feel better soon. After that, the next thing will be to get Polo more accustomed to riding in the car to our walk sites.

*****

THURSDAY UPDATE:

I had the injection about four hours ago. My doctor was amazingly smooth about the procedure -- although I kind of wanted to see the needle and maybe watch it go in, he made sure I couldn't even get a glimpse of anything. It hurt, but my foot hurts some days anyway. I was glad when he said he was done! For now, it's ice alternating with heat, and comedy TV. I've got a good stack of books, but don't have much concentratability right now.

Aren't you glad you asked?