January Audiobooks

This month I have an abbreviated book list. With our travel schedule I had to schedule this post early so missed at least 1 book. I've also had more social time this month and spent way too much time on Youtube. So I only have 3 finished books in addition to two below that I spent way too much time with before giving up. 

As I write this I'm reading an interesting book called, The Nix. I'll have that review next month.

DNF:
Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo - I listened to this for half the book and just gave up. I expected an interesting generational story from a culture different from mine. What I got was a boring family with normal drama and one character obsessed with sex. Even the "gifted" character wasn't all that gifted. I wasted days on this book because I kept procrastinating reading it.

Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - This book is a novel about the Biafra war in Nigeria in the 1960's. It's got great reviews but, honestly, it was too slow for me and the characters were flat.

The Berry Pickers
By Amanda Peters, Read By Aaliya Warbus and Jordan Waunch

In July 1962 a young Native girl named Ruthie, disappears from a blueberry fiend in Maine where her family are seasonal pickers. Then a young girl named Norma is raised in another part of Maine. She has recurring dreams that confuse her and, as she grows older, she questions her heritage since she looks so different from her overprotective parents. The story is quite predictable but also compelling. It explores the themes of loss, guilt, blame and finding truth. I think this book would work best being read. The female narration really harmed the storytelling. She sounded childish all through the book even though we follow her into her 50's. Her narrations was also slow and kind of flat. But the story is good.
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The River We Remember
By William Kent Krueger, Read By CJ Wilson

I know that 2024 is going to be a good book year when I got this book off hold at the library. William Kent Krueger is my favorite contemporary author. 

The story takes place in 1958 in rural Minnesota. On Memorial Day the body of Jimmy Quinn, a wealthy landowner, is found in the Alabaster River. Sheriff Brody Dern is in charge of the investigation. The town gossip quickly identifies Noah Bluestone, a Native WWII veteran, as the suspected murderer. The  truth is much more complex. What follows is a book rich in small town characters, post-war PTSD, teen coming-of-age, power and abuse through money and love stories.

I will say that this isn't my favorite if his stand-alone books but it's still better than 90% of the books I read.

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Someone Else's Shoes
By Jojo Moyes, Read By Daisy Ridley
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​I picked up this book on recommendation from Carole. I've read two of her other books and both of those were historical fiction. This one is a novel that is kind of a cross between the movies Trading Places and Thelma and Louise.

Sam Kemp is having a tough time in her life. Her new boss is targeting her and her husband is suffering from crippling depression and doesn't want to deal with it. One day she goes to the gym and accidentally picks up the wrong gym bag. In the bag are Nisha Cantor's red crocodile Christian Louboutin heels. When she tries them on for a work meeting she gains a newfound confidence.

Meanwhile, Nisha's very wealthy husband has decided that she's reached her sell-by date and cuts her off without warning. She doesn't have clothes, money, a place to live or her red shoes. It was kind a fun romp and written specifically for women as all the "bad" characters are men. But it's not shallow. It explores some complex relationship situations and the importance of real frienship.

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