Early Audiobook Review: The Big Book of Useless Knowledge: 250 of the Coolest, Weirdest, and Most Unbelievable Facts You Won’t Be Taught in School by Neon Squid, Narrated by Tim Campbell

The Big Book of Useless Knowledge: 250 of the Coolest, Weirdest, and Most Unbelievable Facts You Won’t Be Taught in School by Neon Squid, audiobook narrated by Tim Campbell, is currently scheduled for release on May 14 2024.

Heard about the lizard that shoots blood from its eyes? Or the ancient Romans who used pee as mouthwash? Did you know that going on a roller coaster can cure kidney stones? In this compendium of obscure facts, listeners will be treated to baffling knowledge they would never learn at school. Broken into chapters including geography, space, and history, a team of experts has scoured the world to find the silliest and most pointless facts that it has to offer.

The Big Book of Useless Knowledge offers readers, and listeners, facts that are organized in logical grouping to interest and entertain them. Weird and odd facts are my favorite kind, and I have been around a bit longer than the target audience, so I will admit hat I knew more than a few of these facts. However, I did still learn some things and was entertained. There is humor in describing some of the facts- making the read more engaging for readers of all ages. I think it will appeal to many readers, and maybe would be good for listening as a family on a car trip. The one thing that I did not like about the audiobook is something they have tagged as a selling point. There is background music and sound effects through out the entire book. I found them distracting, and since they seemed to only directly relate to the facts being discussed on occasion, I thought they were overdone. A few well thought out and placed sound effects would have served the audiobook better. 

Audiobook Review: What Do Bees Think About? by Mathieu Lihoreau, Narrated by Elliot Fitzpatrick

What Do Bees Think About? by Mathieu Lihoreau, audiobook version narrated by Elliot Fitzpatrick, is currently scheduled for release on May 14 2024.

Have you ever observed a bee up close and wondered what was going on inside its head? Like ours, insects' brains take up most of the space in their heads, but their brains are smaller than a grain of rice, only 0.0002% as large as ours. But what purpose does the insect brain serve, and how does that drive their creativity, morality, and emotions? Bees in particular exhibit unexpected and fascinating cognitive skills. In What Do Bees Think About? animal cognition researcher Mathieu Lihoreau examines a century of research into insect evolution and behavior. He explains recent scientific discoveries, recounts researchers' anecdotes, and reflects on the cognition of these fascinating creatures. Lihoreau's and other scientists' research on insects reinforces the importance of protecting and preserving insects such as bees: after all, our survival on the planet is deeply dependent on theirs. This book provides an eye-opening window into the world of insect cognition and echoes an important ecological message about bees—they are intelligent creatures sharing the same fragile ecosystem as us.

What Do Bees Think About? is an interesting and informative read. I have read quite a few books about bees, but this was the first that focused on their learning and though processes rather than just the basics of beekeeping and behavior. I thought the scientific focus are highly engaging and I learned a lot about the cognition of bees and other insects. I will admit that there were moments when my mind wondered during some of the more technical moments of the book- but that is much more on me than the book. I think this is a great read, or listen, for those interested in the intelligence and learning capabilities of creatures that are so often dismissed as 'just insects'. 

Book Review: The Science of Weird Shit: Why Our Minds Conjure the Paranormal by Chris French, Narrated by Michael Langan

 The Science of Weird Shit: Why Our Minds Conjure the Paranormal by Chris French, audiobook narrated by Michael Langan, is an introduction to the world of paranormal beliefs and bizarre experiences. Ghostly encounters, alien abduction, reincarnation, talking to the dead, UFO sightings, inexplicable coincidences, out-of-body and near-death experiences. Are these legitimate phenomena? If not, then how should we go about understanding them?  Chris French investigates paranormal claims to discover what lurks behind this "weird shit" and provides authoritative evidence-based explanations for a wide range of superficially mysterious phenomena, and then goes further to draw out lessons with wider applications to many other aspects of modern society where critical thinking is urgently needed. Using academic, comprehensive, logical, and, at times, mathematical approaches, The Science of Weird Shit convincingly debunks ESP, communicating with the dead, and alien abduction claims, among other phenomena. All the while, however, French maintains that our belief in such phenomena is neither ridiculous nor trivial; if anything, such claims can tell us a great deal about the human mind if we pay them the attention they are due.

The Science of Weird Shit is a great listen, and I am sure a wonderful read. The narration is very well done and well worth this listen for audiobook fans. I thought this book was well balanced, there is some levity here but never at the expense of those with claims of experiencing something they felt was unexplained. French explains the scientific, phycological, and physiological explanations for some claims, explores the mathematical aspects of chance and how they contribute as well. The lens of science and exploration instead of just the idea of proving people wrong or foolish is a delightful change from some other books on the topic.  I love that French describes in detail how the experiments he shares are designed and carried out- and the reactions to the results. I also love the fact that the book also makes the point that while so much has been explained, and proven about specific things, that there is so much left in the world to figure out that one day we just might find some aspect of the world that is currently viewed as paranormal or weird just might have something to it that we can measure and study to better understand the world around us, and ourselves.

 

Audiobook Review: Feel-Good Productivity: How to Do More of What Matters to You by Ali Abdaal

The audiobook Feel-Good Productivity: How to Do More of What Matters to You has been written by and narrated by Ali Abdaal. We think that productivity is all about hard work. That the road to success is lined with endless frustration and toil. But what if there’s another way? Dr Ali Abdaal – the world's most-followed productivity expert – has uncovered an easier and happier path to success. Drawing on decades of psychological research, he has found that the secret to productivity and success isn't grind – it's feeling good. If you can make your work feel good, then productivity takes care of itself. In this audiobook, Ali reveals how the science of feel-good productivity can transform your life. He introduces the three hidden "energizers" that underpin enjoyable productivity, the three "blockers" we must overcome to beat procrastination, and the three "sustainers" that prevent burnout and help us achieve lasting fulfillment. He recounts the inspiring stories of founders, Olympians, and Nobel-winning scientists who embody the principles of Feel-Good Productivity. And he introduces the simple, actionable changes that you can use to achieve more and live better, starting today.

Feel-Good Productivity: How to Do More of What Matters to You is an interesting and informative book. Abdaal does a great job narrating, and I think that only enhances the audiobook format of this read. I thought that he described the problems that many of up face with motivation and productivity and offers information to help us understand the science and feelings that sometimes make us get in our own way. I thought the examples and information was well chosen and explained, getting the details and inherent nature of them across without getting too technical or dry. The suggestions and tools Abdaal offers are manageable, and I like that he mentions several times that not every tool or method will work for everyone. However, the awareness, effort, and intent can all help us work towards happier and more fulfilling lives. 

Audiobook Review: Pirates, Parley, Plunder! (Dungeon Runner) by Dustin Tigner, Narrated by Jackie Meloche

Pirates, Parley, Plunder! is the second book in the Dungeon Runner series by Dustin Tigner, the audiobook is narrated by Jackie Meloche. This book picks up right where the first left off, and I highly recommend reading them in order.

Entin’s guild flourishes, eager to face the untamed dungeons of Eternal Fantasy Online. These dangerous places are worlds within worlds, each presenting unique themes that truly stretch the definition of what a dungeon should be. All seems well until Entin meets a young woman by the name of Aymie Avys. She brings a wealth of knowledge and secrets that challenge everything he thought he knew. There is something dark in this world, a festering corruption that might hold the answers to questions no one is asking. But pursuing these answers could threaten everything Entin and his Runners have built and force him to choose between who he was in the past life and who he is now.

Pirates, Parley, Plunder! is a much more cohesive and engaging read than the first book in the series for me, mostly because it was written to be. I enjoyed getting to know the characters more and seeing them grow as individuals and as a team. I am glad that the author continued to give us the story through several points of view. This gave me a much better understanding of the bigger picture and each character's emotions well before the rest figured things out. I like that while there is romance, and in some sections very important, I like that the book did not become all romance. The pairing off did not derail the other aspects of the story, instead just made the mundane interactions more intense and important.  I think readers that enjoy fantasy and Game lit will enjoy this very much. I am grateful that the author unearthed the stories that became the first book in this series and continued it. 

Pirates, Parley, Plunder! is a fabulous follow up to the first runners book. I cannot wait to see what Entin, Aymie, and the rest get up to next.

Audiobook Review: Exploit, Extract, Exit! (Dungeon Runner)by Dustin Tigner, Narrated by Jackie Meloche

Exploit, Extract, Exit! is the first book in the Dragon Runner series written by Dustin Tigner, and the audiobook is narrated by Jackie Meloche. This is a collection of six novellas set in the same world with connected characters.  There should be two more books coming in this series. 

Eighteen-year-old Entin Soroy was supposed to be the cogging best fighter pilot of the Garentin space colony. But after an unthinkable terrorist attack forced the colony to digitize to survive, he finds himself thrust into a world repurposed from a rushed video game: Eternal Fantasy Online. This new reality might be beautiful. It might be full of endless wonder for its new immortal inhabitants. But the developers, in their haste, failed all those who lost their families and were too young to be given starting resources. Now Entin is a market Runner, working for copper chyps delivering packages to earn what little he can for the orphanage. It’s grueling, thankless work. That is, it was until a far more lucrative job found its way to him, revealing a new path forward. But nothing is ever easy. There are risks involved with going into the Wilds, a place of monsters and dangerous mysteries. Is the loot worth it? What price will he have to pay to succeed where others have failed? Full of adventures, puzzles, and unusual paths to success.

Exploit, Extract, Exit! is not quite what I had expected when I started listening, but that is because I read the author's name and not the description. This is not related to the Arachnomancer series- this is a different game world, with different characters and rules. Once I got past my own expectations I was able to get drawn into the story much more. I thought the characters and world building were well done, and I enjoyed getting to know new aspects of the world along side the characters. I thought the dynamics on Entin and his circle of friends and found family were fantastic, and I enjoyed that those relationships grew and changed without making it the focus of the story. I really liked the development of the main character of the alternating stories, and think she shows a great deal of growth in her stories as well. I liked the world building, and while the author admits in the forward and afterward of the book that it comes off as a little disjointed, because of the format the stories were originally written in, I think it still is very much worth the read, and I look forward to reading more to find out how everything comes together.

Audiobook Review: Stray Shadow: Oh Sh*t! Wrong Side of Heaven! (Arachnomancer) by Dustin Tigner, Narrated by Qarie Marshall

Stray Shadow: Oh Sh*t! Wrong Side of Heaven! is the second book in the Arachnomancer series by Dustin Tigner, audiobook narrated by Qarie Marshall. This is very much a series that needs to be read, or listened to in order. 

Heaven sucks. It most definitely, undeniably did not live up to the expectation of a paradise in the clouds, not with the talking spiders, evil priests of Light, and war, lots of war. Those of Light simply wouldn’t leave the fledgling village—Dedu Tedu Novus—alone. Peace was not on the menu. The seven declarations of war made that point crystal clear. Worse, in a series of unfortunate and escalating events, our stray King of Shadows finds himself where he really ought not to be. But maybe . . . this is a good thing? Probably not. Dhane, Dhane, Dhane, what ever will you do next? Uncover forgotten truths? Form alliances with monsters? Take a stroll in the most dangerous places a Shadow can be? Probably.

Stray Shadow is just as much fun, and as full or danger and angst, as the first book in the series. Dhane is coming into his own more, leaning into his responsibilities, abilities, and role in the larger picture. I liked getting to see some of my favorite characters from the first book make an appearance, and I look forward to how the story will continue. There is constant and consistent world building, and character building. It is exciting seeing all the thread get woven together and towards a bigger conclusion. I think my biggest complaint is that I listened to a companion book for a secondary character, that took place before the action of Dhane's first book. They have had moments in both of Dhane's book, and there is clearly so much more to their story (which I want desperately) but see no coming books for them, instead I see another companion book for another character coming. Do not get me wrong, I will be reading that one too- but I need some loose ends tied up and some questions answered for Sarah. 

Stray Shadow is a superb follow up to Wrong Divinity. This series, and related companion books, is my new obsession. 

Audiobook Review: Bookworm to Badass by Dustin Tigner, Narrated by Reba Buhr

Bookworm to Badass by Dustin Tigner, audiobook narrated by Reba Buhr, is part of a new GameLit series. Sarah snuffed it, expired, breathed her last breath—also known as died, if you need it spelled out—in the most unlikely of places, the library. But do not fret! This is perfectly normal. What is not normal, however, is the persistence of one’s soul after shuffling off this mortal coil. To break the Cycle is strange and wrong and perverse. It goes against the very nature of existence: lives must eventually be recycled (responsibly). Lucky or unlucky, Sarah finds herself Cycle-broken and very much alive, depending on how strict you wish to be with that definition. Turns out, heaven has a return policy better than Costco. And souls are terribly expensive. So if Sarah doesn’t win some forthcoming contests, she is to be flushed back to the Primordial Sea of Souls, back to the Cycle to eventually be reincarnated as whatever the RNG gods have in store for her. A slug, most likely. Join Sarah on her crazy and hilarious adventure into a new fantasy world, where she learns to swear, kill cute monsters, and fight for her survival.

Bookworm to Badass is the start of Sarah's story, and what a start. Having read, or listened to Wrong Divinity (same world, related but not yet reliant on each other) first I knew that Sarah would survive and that she would figure out life as a vampire going into this story. However, I thought Sarah was a charming and, at least for me, very relatable character. I felt bad for her, and angry for her in turn. There were some moments that had me physically reacting, clenching my jaw and getting stressed, when big things were happening. There were some serious twists, and some secondary characters that I kind of what to go back to and see if there is another layer to their story and what might happen to them next. Honestly, I am still trying to figure out what the long game for the gods and mad queen of this world are playing at. I am deeply invested in the larger story line, and cannot wait to see what happens next with Sarah, and how the bigger picture might come together.

Bookworm to Badass is an engaging and entertaining read. I cannot wait to see how this and the Wrong Divinity series come together, because I am sure they will (again). 

Audiobook Review: Serwa Boateng's Guide to Witchcraft and Mayhem by Roseanne A. Brown, Narrated by Soneela Nankani

Serwa Boateng's Guide to Witchcraft and Mayhem by Roseanne A. Brown, narrated by Soneela Nankani, is the second book in a series about a preteen vampire slayer, inspired by Ghanaian folklore. This series is one that must be read in order to understand the characters, their connections, and context of most of the action.

After a lifetime of fighting creatures of black magic, twelve-year-old Serwa Boateng has just learned a devastating secret: she herself is half vampire! Now not only is she dealing with vampire puberty, she's on the run from the organization of Slayers she trained her whole life to join. Serwa's only ally is her aunt Boahinmaa, an obayifo who urges Serwa to embrace her vampire side. Boahinmaa and her underlings are on the hunt for the Midnight Drum, from which they hope to free Serwa's grandmother. When they learn that the Abomofuo have hidden the Midnight Drum deep within the Smithsonian Museum of African Art in Washington, D.C., what do they do? Stage a heist to steal it, of course! For their plan to succeed, Serwa will have to get close to her rival, a Slayer named Declan Amankwah, without revealing her true nature. Declan gets under her skin like no one else...and might just force Serwa to confront some truths she's tried hard to deny. With both sympathy and laugh-out-loud humor, Rosanne A. Brown captures all the discomfort of a girl stuck between two worlds.

Serwa Boateng's Guide to Witchcraft and Mayhem is a fantastic follow up to the first book in the series. Serwa's emotional and magical troubles are engaging and completely understandable to me even as an adult. I thought the story was well written and everything fit together well. I am very thankful to be listening to the audiobook version of this series. The reader is phenomenal and I think I could listen to them read an instruction manual- to something I do not own- and still enjoy the experience. Also, I am horrible with pronunciation and would be spending half my read looking p the correct way to say things- so I love that I get to have the book read to me with perfect inflections and tone for the story rather than my own mental stumbling attempts. I have to admit that I was so engrossed in the story that I was surprised, and more than a little disappointed when the book ended. I felt like this book definitely built on the larger story, and Serwa's personal growth, a great deal. However, it also left me with so many more questions and loose ends than answers. I cannot wait for the next book to see where the story goes from here. 

Serwa Boateng's Guide to Witchcraft and Mayhem is a wonderful addition to this series. I highly recommend this series (in print or audio) for middle grade and older readers. 

Early Audiobook Review: After the Forest by Kell Woods, Narrated by Esther Wane

After the Forest by Kell Woods, with the audiobook narrated by Esther Wane, is currently scheduled for release on October 3 2023. Twenty years after the witch in the gingerbread house, Greta and Hans are struggling to get by. Their mother and stepmother are long dead, Hans is deeply in debt from gambling, and the countryside lies in ruin, its people starving in the aftermath of a brutal war. Greta has a secret, though: the witch's grimoire, secreted away and whispering in Greta's ear for the past two decades, and the recipe inside that makes the best gingerbread you've ever tasted. As long as she can bake, Greta can keep her small family afloat. But in a village full of superstition, Greta and her mysteriously addictive gingerbread, not to mention the rumors about her childhood misadventures, is a source of gossip and suspicion. And now, dark magic is returning to the woods and Greta's magic—magic she is still trying to understand—may be the only thing that can save her. If it doesn't kill her first.

After the Forest takes a unique look at several fairy tales, and ties the together. I have seen this done before, but not with this particular set of tales or quite so thoroughly. I liked getting to see Greta and Hans grown up (for the most part) and how their lives have continued on, and how life has progressed for the poor people struggling to survive. I liked the blend of real life, struggle, and magic. I thought the characters were well built, and while I often disagreed with their choices or words, I fully understood what they took that path. There were some moments that I thought Greta was far too naïve or overlooking what I thought was obvious, but I have to admit that the ride was quite the adventure. I was emotionally invested as I listened, and even when it was over I found myself thinking about the story and the characters. I would definitely read a follow up book about what comes next for several sets of characters. 

After the Forest is a engaging and entertaining read that ties together a collection of classic fairy tales in a new way, with a different look at 'ever after'. 

Audiobook Review: Wrong Divinity: Oh Sh*t! I F*cking Hate Spiders! by Dustin Tigner, Narrated by Qarie Marshall; Reba Buhr

Wrong Divinity: Oh Sh*t! I F*cking Hate Spiders! by Dustin Tigner is narrated by Qarie Marshall and Reba Buhr. It is the start of a new GameLit series that balances comedy with serious themes. It's an isekai—a portal fantasy—to the spirit realm. Join Dhane, our underdog, as he explores his new world, a world full of unique characters, RPG mechanics, and spiders—ugly, terrifying spiders—while he learns what it means to be an Arachnomancer.

Dhane kicked the bucket in spectacular fashion, every bone crushed, every organ popped against the full force of a 40-ton garbage truck speeding through a red light. The only part of him intact—whole—entirely unaffected by the grisly affair was his soul. Souls are durable things, you see, like kids: they bounce. And bounce he did, into the abyss between worlds, drifting until one excited soul watcher fished him out and found him a new home, a heaven for gamers and nerds and everything in between. It was all he could have ever wanted in the afterlife, down to choosing his class, killing mobs, and exploring a beautiful fantasy world chock full of mysteries yet to be discovered. At least…it would have been those things if that first day had gone a little tiny bit differently. Instead, he now finds himself locked in the middle of an eternal conflict between Light and Shadow—humans and monsters—potentially being the enemy to all.

Wrong Divinity is a fun and entertaining listen. I enjoyed Dhane's voice and personality, and hope I would be half so entertaining in his place. I thought the world building was well done, and followed the rules of most online sand table top games so that anyone with a basic understanding or enjoyment of either could really enjoy hat aspect of the story without leaving those with a less than extensive knowledge lost since explanations are made well and brief. I was quickly drawn into Dhanes drama, eager to see how everything paned out for him. Even after finishing the listen I am left hoping to dig into the next installment so I can see how everything works out. I thought the narrators did a great job with the book, but I think that most listeners will find their attention drifting during some of the stat building stuff, which I find much easier to tackle on paper. There is a PDF with that information for those looking to delve in.  My only real complaint is that while I enjoyed Dhane's character and some of his creative cursing, that was one phrase- that while it made me smile the first time- I found to be used way too often and started to get annoying by the end of the book. I think if there had been one other phase so that they alternated that would have made me happier. However, that was my biggest complaint and I greatly enjoyed the listen on several levels. I think there is a great audience for this style and subject and that they will enjoy the series. 

Audiobook Review: How to Stay Productive When the World Is Ending: Productivity, Burnout, and Why Everyone Needs to Relax More Except You by Reductress, Narrated by Mara Wilson and Jay Aaseng

How to Stay Productive When the World Is Ending: Productivity, Burnout, and Why Everyone Needs to Relax More Except You is a humor and satire collection from Reductress. The audiobook is narrated by Mara Wilson and Jay Aaseng. This humor collection is about the cult of productivity and the feeling of impending doom that comes with it. Juggling careers, maintaining relationships, managing side gigs, and sustaining an engaging social media presence is hard––and we're expected to do it all while battling the ever-present feeling of existential dread against the backdrop of climate catastrophe, an ongoing pandemic, and social isolation.

How to Stay Productive When the World Is Ending is a funny, and sadly too relatable, collection of short pieces that had me nodding, laughing, and thinking as I listened along. There were bits that were more fun and relate to me than others, but that is to be expected. There is something in this collection for everyone that has ever worked. The readers did a great job of capturing the needed tome in each segment and I really enjoyed the book on several levels. 

AudioBook Review: Witches in the Kitchen by Danielle Garrett, Narrated by Amanda Ronconi

Witches in the Kitchen by Danielle Garrett, narrated by Amanda Ronconi, is the series starter for a paranormal series with a dash of romance. A picture-perfect seaside town filled with humans who don't know about their witchy neighbors. Up until a week ago, my only knowledge of magic came from the movies. Unfortunately, it didn't stay that way. A bout of insomnia leads to witnessing a scene that belongs in a vampire flick-only, the fangs looked way more realistic. One second, I was running for my life, and the next, I found myself choking on a hairball in the back of an SUV. That's right, a hairball. See, my body's been hiding a pretty big secret, and I'm some kind of witch. One that turns into a cat when under duress. Apparently, my choices are fight, flight, or fur. Overnight, I find myself thrust into a world of magic and mayhem beyond my most wild sleep-deprived delirium. Until the murderous vampire is captured, I'm placed into some kind of witch-ness protection program, and sent to live in a house full of actual monsters. What's the worst that could happen? Hey, at least running for my life will help me squeeze in my cardio.

Witches in the Kitchen is a series starter, but this is third series set in the same town, and I think the sixth in the same world. I have not read any of the previous books, and since Blair is new to the world of magic most of the big stuff was explained and I felt like I knew enough to still enjoy the read. However, I think returning readers will enjoy seeing characters from the prior series and get a kick out of some of the cameos. With this being a series starter, and so much needing to be explained to newcomers, I did feel like the pacing was a little slow, and honestly I kept expecting a character or two from the pre magic moments in the book to pop up and make an appearance in the magical half. I also rather expected a twist or two that did not happen, although there was one I did not expect.  I did like the fact that the romance did not overwhelm the mystery and other aspects of the book. I thought the premise and execution was well done and enjoyable enough that I think I will go back and start at the beginning of the first series and see if the first couple books make me happy. I think I would have enjoyed this book more with a little more of the background knowledge from the other books.  I found that Ronconi did a wonderful job with the narration, and the tones and inflections used brought Blair to life. 

Witches in the Kitchen is a fun read that nicely balances romance with mystery and magical world building. 

Audiobook Review: The Four Workarounds: Strategies from the World's Scrappiest Organizations for Tackling Complex Problems by Paulo Savaget, Narrated by Roger Wayne

The Four Workarounds: Strategies from the World's Scrappiest Organizations for Tackling Complex Problems was written by Paulo Savaget and the audiobook is narrated by Roger Wayne. For ages, global corporations have been lecturing small organizations and not-for-profits on how to get things done. As it turns out, it should have been the other way around. In this audiobook Savaget shows how the most valuable lessons about problem-solving can be learned from the scrappiest groups. Savaget draws most of his examples from small organizations dedicated to social action that have made an art form out of subverting the status quo and have proved themselves adept at achieving massive wins with minimal resources. Through his research, Savaget identified the four workarounds that these groups commonly employ: the piggyback, the loophole, the roundabout, and the next best. With vivid and fascinating examples from his life and travels, he demonstrates how each one works and how to know which one to use when.

The Four Workarounds is a thoroughly researched and well written book. I think the narrator did a good job with the text as well, toner and inflection kept me focused on the book, for the most part. The times my mind wondered was more about me, and other drivers on the road, than anything relating to the text. I liked that the examples and suggestions given were pretty wide ranging, and I thought the book could be very useful for those looking to get out there and make changes, whether it be towards social change and helping others or making changes in your personal or professional life. I think workarounds can be utilized in grand and small scale, and regardless of which you are ready for this book can help you recognize a workaround when you see it in use by others, and to find and use them yourself when needed. I think the book provides exactly what it promises, and might get some people thinking a little differently about authority, conformity, and workarounds. 

Audiobook Review: STFU: The Power of Keeping Your Mouth Shut in an Endlessly Noisy World by Dan Lyons

STFU: The Power of Keeping Your Mouth Shut in an Endlessly Noisy World was written (and the audiobook is also narrated) by Dan Lyons. New York Times bestselling author Dan Lyons is here to tell you—and don't take this the wrong way—that you really need to shut the f*ck up! Our noisy world has trained us to think that those who get in the last word win, when in fact it’s those who know how to stay silent who really hold the power. STFU is a book that unlocks this power and will change your life, freeing you to focus on what matters. Lyons combines leading behavioral science with actionable advice on how to communicate with intent, think critically, and open your mind and ears to the world around you. Talk less, get more. That’s what STFU is all about. Prescriptive, informative, and addictively readable, STFU gives you the tools to become your better self, whether that’s in the office, at home, online, or in your most treasured relationships. Because, after all, what you say is who you are. So take a deep breath, press play, and quietly change your life.

STFU is a good listen, and can be helpful even for those that are not overtalkers, or simply do not want to admit that might be. Lyons uses examples from his own life, research, and studies to demonstrate for talking too much, at the wrong times, or about the wrong things can be detrimental in a wide range of ways. It can impact relationships and people's impressions of you in personal and professional relationships and have a greater impact than you might think, even if it starts off in a positive way. I liked the amount of research and personal investment Lyons has put into the writing of this book, and I always appreciate an author that narrates their own books since they get the inflections and emphasis exactly where it was intended. I also liked that this book offers suggestions not just for curbing your own amount of talking, but also the skills needed to be better listeners and how to make the talking we do count so much more. This includes online interactions as well as traditional conversations. I also took note of the suggestions for escaping and counteracting those that overtalk to us, and getting past the urge for idle chit chat. Most importantly, how listening and some strategies that sound simple but can be hard to implement can help us more away from rambling and toward having meaningful and important conversations.

I think STFU is a valuable read (or listen) for everyone looking to improve their relationships, personally and professionally.

Book Review: Sweep of the Heart (Innkeeper Chronicles) by Ilona Andrews, Narrated by Nora Sofyan

Sweep of the Heart is the sixth installment of the Innkeeper Chronicles by Ilona Andrews, and was originally released as a few novella series. The audiobook is narrated by Nora Sofyan. Life is busier than ever for Innkeeper, Dina DeMille and Sean Evans. But it’s about to get even more chaotic when Sean's werewolf mentor is kidnapped. To find him, they must host an intergalactic spouse-search for one of the most powerful rulers in the Galaxy. Dina is never one to back down from a challenge. That is, if she can manage her temperamental Red Cleaver chef; the consequences of her favorite Galactic ex-tyrant's dark history; the tangled politics of an interstellar nation, and oh, yes, keep the wedding candidates from a dozen alien species from killing each other. Not to mention the Costco lady. They say love is a battlefield; but Dina and Sean are determined to limit the casualties!

Sweep of the Heart is a must read (or listen) for fans of the series. There is plenty of action and danger, great growth and display of character for Dina and Sean as well as the secondary characters. I really enjoyed getting to see some visits from characters that I remember from the Edge series, and those that have made prior appearances in the Innkeeper world. I feel like I got a great deal out of this audiobook, but that readers that are new to the series would be very lost. There are some great summaries and catch up moments if readers mist a related book, but someone with no prior foray into this series would not fully appreciate the amount of information, humor, and winks to other books that fans and returning readers that will enjoy. I have to admit to laughing in my car as I was listening to this, and I was inspired to go back and download other books by the author that I had somehow missed.

Audiobook Review: Haunted in America: True Ghost Stories From The Best of Leslie Rule Collection by Leslie Rule, Narrated by Lisa Flanagan

Haunted in America: True Ghost Stories From The Best of Leslie Rule Collection by Leslie Rule, narrated by Lisa Flanagan, is a compendium of the best of Leslie Rule’s ghost explorations and interviews. With the most-spine tingling stories from the author’s previous four books, Coast to Coast Ghosts, When the Ghost Screams, Ghosts Among Us, and Ghost in the Mirror, along with new and updated accounts and theories, Rule brings her original voice to this omnibus of chilling, fascinating tales.

Haunted in America is an interesting listen for believers and skeptics alike. I liked that while there are plenty of tales of encounters, some spooky and others hopeful, there was great importance placed on respect for the current owners of these locations, the people that have had the experiences, the souls of those that might be trying to communicate, and the families that are left behind. I thought that the focus on history, research, and respect was a bit gratifying and quite the change from attitude many ghost researchers and hunters seem to have in the field, and the way media presents it. I thought that the narrator did a great job of telling the stories with the respect and solemnity due the subject matter- especially when relating the details of tragedies and death that often come hand in hand with tales of hauntings. I did not always agree with the authors take of certain situations and stories, but I did appreciate the honest and well researched relating of both her experiences and those she discovered in interviews and through research. 

Audiobook Review: The Creative Lives of Animals by Carol Gigliotti, Narrated by Sheri Saginor

The Creative Lives of Animals was written by Carol Gigliotti, and the audiobook was narrated by Sheri Saginor. Most of us view animals through a very narrow lens, seeing only bits and pieces of beings that seem mostly peripheral to our lives. However, whether animals are building a shelter, seducing a mate, or inventing a new game, animals' creative choices affect their social, cultural, and environmental worlds. Drawing on a growing body of scientific research, Carol Gigliotti unpacks examples of creativity demonstrated by animals through the lens of the creative process, an important component of creative behavior, and offers new thinking on animal intelligence, emotion, and self-awareness. With examples of the elaborate dams built by beavers or the lavishly decorated bowers of bowerbirds, Gigliotti provides a new perspective on animals as agents in their own lives, as valuable contributors to their world and ours, and as guides in understanding how creativity may contribute to conserving the natural world. Presenting a powerful argument for the importance of recognizing animals as individuals and as creators of a healthy, biodiverse world, this book offers insights into both the established and emerging questions about the creativity of animals.

The Creative Lives of Animals was a hard listen for me for a few reasons. First, I thing the research done to write this book and the information included is important and interesting. However, I have to admit that I almost Did not make it through the introduction. I was expecting the book to focus more on the example and actual experiments and examples of how animals demonstrate creativity. I felt like the book was more aimed at people in the field, or with a particular frame of mind rather than just regular folks that wanted to learn more about the creativity and intelligence of animals. There were times where the tone of the writing felt very pretentious to me, and that always make a nonfiction read harder for me to enjoy. I felt like the narrator tried to do a solid job, using inflections to avoid falling into a monotone, and I think they did the best they could with the material. However, While I was listening I felt like I was in a grad school lecture rather than listening to an audiobook. It might work much better for other readers/listeners, but it just did not work for me.

The Creative Lives of Animals covers and interesting subject matter, and is well researched. However, I felt like it was aimed more at other researchers and scholars rather than readers like me. 

Audiobook Review: Serwa Boateng's Guide to Vampire Hunting by Roseanne A. Brown, Narrated by Soneela Nankani

Serwa Boateng's Guide to Vampire Hunting is a middle grade novel by Roseanne A. Brown. The audiobook is narrated by Soneela Nankani. For most kids, catching fireflies is a fun summer activity. For twelve-year-old Serwa Boateng, it's a matter of life and death. That's because Serwa knows that some fireflies are really adze, shapeshifting vampires from the forests of Southeastern Ghana. Adze prey on the blood of innocents, possessing their minds and turning them into hulking monsters, and for generations, slayers like Serwa and her parents have protected an unknowing public from their threats. Serwa is the best adze slayer her age, and she knew how to use a crossbow before she could even ride a bike. But when an obayifo (witch) destroys her childhood home while searching for a drum, do Serwa's parents take her with them on their quest to defeat her? No. Instead, they dump Serwa with her hippie aunt and cryptic-obsessed cousin in the middle of Nowheresville, Maryland "for her own safety." Now, instead of crossbows and battle armor, she's dealing with mean girls and algebra, and for the first time in her life she doesn't have to carry a staff everywhere she goes, which is . . . kind of nice, actually. Just as Serwa starts to get the hang of this whole normal girl who doesn't punch vampires every day thing, an adze infiltrates her school. It's up to her to whip some of her classmates into monster-fighting shape before all of them become firefly food. And when she uncovers a secret that upends everything she thought she knew about her family's role in the slayer vs. adze war, Serwa will have to decide which side of herself--normal girl or slayer--is the right one. After all, seventh grade is hard enough without adding vampires to the mix.

Serwa Boateng's Guide to Vampire Hunting is a wonderful middle grade adventure with a solid foundation in Ghanaian folklore. I was very happy to learn more about legends I only knew a bear minimum of, and was very glad that I listened to the audiobook version so that I had the correct pronunciations rather than looking them up and still getting them wrong. I thought the balance between magic and the realities of trying to fit into a new environment and dealing this prejudice and preconized notions was very well done, and I felt for Serwa through out the book and was wholly engaged in the story the entire time. I thought the twists and turns of the story were well handled, and while some I suspected long before they were revealed, I think they might take younger readers by surprise, as intended. I will say that I felt a bit like this installment of the series could have ended at an earlier point, and the last few chapters been the start of the next book, but since I do not know the full plan for Serwa and her future adventures there is likely a very good reason for moving forward the way it was. I enjoyed the read, and look forward to what will come next in the series. 

Serwa Boateng's Guide to Vampire Hunting is a great start to a new series that will appeal to a wide range of readers. 

Audiobook Review: A Haunted History of Invisible Women: True Stories of America's Ghosts by Leanna Renee Hieber; Andrea Janes, Narrated by Linda Jones

A Haunted History of Invisible Women: True Stories of America's Ghosts was written by Leanna Renee Hieber and Andrea Janes, and the audiobook is narrated by Linda Jones. From the notorious Lizzie Borden to the innumerable, haunted rooms of Sarah Winchester's mysterious mansion, this book explores the history behind America’s female ghosts, the stereotypes, myths, and paranormal tales that swirl around them, what their stories reveal about us—and why they haunt us. Sorrowful widows, vengeful jezebels, innocent maidens, wronged lovers, former slaves, even the occasional axe-murderess—America’s female ghosts differ widely in background, class, and circumstance. Yet one thing unites them: their ability to instill fascination and fear, long after their deaths. Here are the full stories behind some of the best-known among them, as well as the lesser-known—though no less powerful. Tales whispered in darkness often divulge more about the teller than the subject. America’s most famous female ghosts, from from ‘Mrs. Spencer’ who haunted Joan Rivers’ New York apartment to Bridget Bishop, the first person executed during the Salem witchcraft trials, mirror each era’s fears and prejudices. Yet through urban legends and campfire stories, even ghosts like the nameless hard-working women lost in the infamous Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire —achieve a measure of power and agency in death, in ways unavailable to them as living women.

 A Haunted History of Invisible Women offers a readers a variety of ghostly legends, including the research into the people and places involved, all through the lens of feminism. The social constructs, expectations, and realities of life as a woman have colored even the most factual hauntings, and this book dives into how this has shaped specific stories, and how our perception and interest in the stories has been shaped as well. I love a good ghost story, and more than that I love looking into the historical research of what really happened, particularly what we do know and what is lost in time and legend because of record keeping and unsolved crimes. I like that this book focused on the history, lives, and treatment of the women that these ghostly legends are based on, and the spiritualists and women that are drawn to the subject matter. While every time I hear ghost stories I think about what can be proven, what can be debunked, and the real lives of the people at the heart of the story, I think this book made me even more conscious of how our societal expectations and stereotypes shape  the stories and how we think about them. I think this book offers exactly what it promises and while I was well acquainted with many of these tales, it offered me bits of history and some new perspectives to consider with other stories I already know, or might hear about in the future.