Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Trying to listen to an English audiobook

I don't know why I never tried audiobooks. It seems to be too difficult to find enough quiet hours to listen carefully without distraction. I never even considered listening for hours to a story.

But then Will Patching offered to send me the link to his new free audiobook Remorseless. I love the book and therefore I decided to give it a try.


Of course I knew it wouldn't be easy to listen to a British audiobook, but at least I know the story. I'm not used to listen to English, always only reading (and surely "pronouncing" badly in my mind), much less British English. But this excellent story was worth the try.

Another reason was that I wanted to know how Will would master the job, if he is not only a very talented author but also a good narrator.

I was surprised. Will has done a fantastic job: the different voices are distinct and even the female voices are believable. That's of course a great advantage. On the other side it's a problem for me: When certain characters talk I have difficulties to get what they say, Especially Peter Leech is a challenge! Then again, I understand the narrator much better than I had expected.

To tell the truth: I haven't finished the whole thing and I'm not sure if I would have been able to follow the events if I hadn't read the book.

I guess I'll stick to reading. I can read while I'm not alone in the room, I can take my book wherever I want without creating a wall around me by wearing earphones.

For a short time Will is offering this audiobook for free on his very interesting blog!




Sunday, December 20, 2015

Three free stories worth reading



Two weeks ago somebody "liked" my stories on written by you. I was curious to see who that was and had a look at his blog.

www.anthonyvicino.com






















I'm not a fan of science fiction, but the idea of getting free stories just for signing up for his blog was appealing. But before doing so I wanted to know more. And spent the next two hours reading his blog with a lot of helpfull tips for writers, nice videos, some reviews. It was really entertaining. so I decided to give his books a chance ad signed up.

Actually there are 4 different stories that show great writing talent combined with unbelievable imagination.

First I read -



a well crafted story about guilt and what it can do to our mind.






Next was  that's classical sci-fi stuff, but the writing took me in. 

Then of course I couldn't stop myself and read the two stories Hindsight and Infidelity. The first one is written backwards and is somewhat tragic whereas the second is macabre and funny. Both reminded me of Roald Dahl's short stories.







Four stories, four fast and very entertaining but also thought-provoking reads. I read them all within two days.



Anthony might have liked my reviews . He decided to send me his new novella



That's my short review:

Anthony's excellent writing and awesome inner monologue will keep you reading this short novella in one sitting. The story about love above all boundaries has a very unusual setting showing the unlimited imagination of it's author where "purgatory" is not what you expect it to be.

I want to thank Anthony for giving me this free copy, explicitly without the expectation of a review, because he knows that I'm not a sci-fi fan.


If I find more books like his or Michael's Edge of God I might change my opinion about science fiction...

Friday, December 4, 2015

Real crime

My review on goodreads
Another intense read by Will Patching. After Remorseless I really wanted to read his first book.

And I found out that this very different book is just as good. It tells the story about crimes that not only could happen, but happen every day.

Journalists doing whatever to sell their stories no matter the cost.

Insider trading out of insatiable greed.

Sex tourists from our so-called "civilized world" satisfying their perverted lust in the so-called "Third World".

The CIA all over the world doing whatever they think "right".

Hackers proving that no system is really secure.

Abusive child carers.

"Honorable" members of society buying photos of abused children on the internet, or worse, abusing children themselves, making profit with such photos, discarding the "objects" after use. 

All of them play their part in this crime thriller, but there's Doug, the revenge killer.

"Who is more evil? The killer or the victim?" Chief Lee is putting the question not only in Kate's mind but in mine.