Ahoy there! Me and a best matey went to see the newest adaptation (U.S. National Tour version) of the play by Aaron Sorkin.  It was a horrible script and made me angry even though the rest of the production values were fine.  After discussing the flaws of this play in detail, it made us want to re-watch the 1962 film version.  The grainy but wonderful VHS tape viewing made me want to see how clearly both versions held up when comparing it to the original.  I listened to this via audiobook and was struck all over again by how much I love this book.  I usually relate to Scout the most but this read was a lot more analytical in many ways given seeing the two adaptations and my recent work in law.  The narrator was Sissy Spacek but I did not know that until after I finished.  She did an excellent job. I think this is one of the most important books I have ever read and it continues to resonate.  Arrr!

Ahoy mateys! Here be me updated review. This is the first book in the Blacktongue series.  I read this in e-book form but this time around I listened to the audiobook version.  I wanted a refresher before I read the prequel that is due out on June 25th of this year.  I loved this!  The author narrates and is excellent.  Songs in novels don't usually do it for me but I loved hearing them in this (though I think the author was not the singer).  I actually think this is one of those audiobooks that makes the book even better.  I had a problem with the pacing and the history lessons when I first read it. Not this time.  I love Kinch Na Shannack and cannot wait to get more of his story.  Arrrr!

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Ahoy there me mateys!  I received this fantasy eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  So here be me honest musings . . .

With a title like that and a cat on the cover, I knew this book had to be on me list.  Plus it be getting five star reviews all over the place.  The ending of this book paid off for me but I have to admit that the ride there was rough.

First off all, I did absolutely adore the set-up for this book.  The main character, Kinch Na Shannack, is a member of the Thieves Guild (i.e. Takers Guild) who happens to owe them a large debt.  He tries to rob his mark and it goes poorly, much to me delight.  It was an excellent introduction to two characters who be forced to work together.  Include the cat, at least one assassin, and other dubious folk and there are a lot of unsavory people to cheer for.  Like Kinch himself.  He is a jerk but grew on me.

I did also very much enjoy the world building.  I love that humans are failing in the goblin wars, giants are becoming a problem, tattoos can come alive, and witches are rather creepy.  The magic system and politics of the guilds were lovely and had some unexpected consequences.  The world felt well developed.  But this was also the problem; the development made the pace so uneven for me. 

The story format is a travelogue, but basically the beginning of every chapter had a history lesson in some form.  I normally love such things but they interrupted the flow of both the characters' journey and the action sequences themselves.  It was frustrating and the unevenness made me keep setting the book down. Thus it took me a lot longer than normal to read then a book this size normally would.

It may not have been a five star read like it was for the rest of the crew but I am curious to see what will happen next.  Arrr!

So lastly . . .

Thank you Macmillian/Tor-Forge!

Ahoy there mateys! I felt a hankering to revisit this novel given how much the First Mate loved this audiobook.  Me review of the e-book still sums up how I feel about the novel.  However, Adjoa Andoh's narration is so good that when I read this again (definitely) I will listen to the audiobook.  Arrr!

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Ahoy there mateys! I absolutely adore this author’s work and love, love, love her Imperial Radch books. The first book of the trilogy is one of me favourite books of all time. To say I was excited about this newest book was an understatement. And it delivered.

Now to be fair, I think readers are going to have a harder time with this book due to the fact it is written in second person and meanders quite a bit. But I trusted that Leckie’s journey would lead to satisfaction in the end. And it sooo worked for me. Perfect ending.

The odd part of this story is that it be told from the perspective of a rock. Now this rock has a god living in it. So the story goes back and forth between the god’s history and the present. In addition, there are brief philosophical questions and discussions about humanity’s evolution, how the world works, and the other gods’ actions interspirsed through the narrative. I was absolutely captivated.

The god’s focus in telling his story revolves around Eolo, the aide to the leader-in-waiting. She is the “you” that the god is directing his story to. The other major player is Mawat who was set to become the leader of his city only to discover that his uncle has usurped his place. Eolo and Mawat are trying to discover what happened to his father who went missing. The death of the father is tied into the politics of both man and gods. How this question is answered and what happens after were part of the brilliance of the writing.

The story kept me focus through the whole novel and then at the 75% mark blazed to the end. I loved the interplay of between the gods and how the system worked. I loved watching Eolo. I loved the ending. I think those willing to stick with this book will end up loving it as much as I did. At this point I will read whatever Ann Leckie writes. Arrrr!

Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/

Ahoy there mateys! This deals with overwhelming grief.  The world building is the highlight of this book.  There is a town where the dead do return as ghosts and people fight to obtain homes there.  This is an unusual, unique book.  I didn't love the ending but it was definitely worth reading.  I truly fascinating look at grief and loss. Arrr!

Ahoy there mateys! The First Mate recommended a P & P retelling to me and I listened to it recently.  Reviews to come about that book.  Listening to that made me want to revisit the original.  I downloaded a copy from the library and slowly realized that it was by my favorite audiobook narrator Katherine Kellgren!  She goes by Kate Kellgren for this production which is how I originally missed it when looking for her audiobooks.  Divine!  I love this book as much as ever.  This listen through I spent a lot of time on how much of a jerk Mr. Darcy is.  Seriously.  I know Elizabeth forgives him and then blames her prejudice as means to forgive him but bah!  JERK.  Lizzy did jump on the Wickham band wagon but so did everyone.  I think she is too hard on herself.  It was lovely to visit this favorite in this way.  Jane Austen is so lovely.  I will get the First Mate to watch "Love and Friendship" with me this weekend.  I still need to read Persuasion for the first time.  I know, right?  Should I read or listen to it?  Thoughts from the crew?  Also isn't the first line of the novel just perfect?

I need to buy a copy of this audiobook version for sure. Any other favorite audiobook narrators for this story? Arrr!

Ahoy there mateys! I originally read this is 2021.  It won the Hugo award that year.  I have read all the books in the series so far and this and book 4 are my favorites.  I listened to this on in audiobook form and sadly I did not like that format.  I think it is because I am not able to savor the writing and imagery as well when I listen to it.  This was no fault of the narrator.  When I reread any of the books in this series, I will read my copies because I can pause and linger on sections as I read.  On this listen, I very much enjoyed again how devious the wife was and how she used fortune telling to her advantage.  Arrr!

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Ahoy there matey! This is a story about an Empress as told by a servant named Rabbit to a traveling cleric. This story was evocative and beautifully written. I read this novella last but it was a favorite. I loved the way this unfolded and it had such beautiful imagery. The words vividly drew the world and the characters. The story felt simplistic at times and yet had such layers. I can’t do it justice. I am glad this is the first in a series. Arrr!

Ahoy there mateys! I last read a book by Dean Koontz in 2018.  Before that I hadn't read a book by him since 2011.  Given that I have read 60 of his books and he used to be a great favorite, this was sad to me.  So I decided to read my favorite book by him and see how I still liked it.  Answer: I love it.  Part of this is because of nostalgia.  This was one of the first fiction books I read about the consequences of DNA research.  But the main reason is Einstein, the intelligent dog.  I wanted one of my own so bad.  Kinda still do.  The book has problems in terms of the stereotypes of Travis the man and Nora the woman.  Also money solves a lot.  But they are minor in terms of how much I loved reading about Einstein.  I also enjoyed the hired killer and his weird view of the world.  It makes me want to listen to my other favorite Dean Koontz that deals with Nazis, time travel, and frogs: lightning.  Sadly, the library does not have an audiobook copy of that one.  It does have 25 others on audio cd.  Maybe I need to go to the library and pick up some.  Also I may try one of his new books out this year.  Arrr!

Ahoy there mateys! This whole series continues to be such comfort reads for me and I love the audiobooks.  I tend to listen to them via library copies but will certainly be buying them all so that I have them forever.  I usually reread the Thara Celehar books but wanted to go back and listen to the first book.  I love Maia and feel such compassion for him having to unexpectedly become the Emperor and all the trouble that entails.  He is easy to root for.  One of the weirdest things about Kyle McCarley's narration of this first book is his voice for Celehar.  It sounds old, crotchety, and grumpy.  This is likely because Celehar's voice is described as "gravelly."  It doesn't fit my idea of Celehar based on the later books.  But otherwise his narration is lovely.  I did learn that Celehar's third book is scheduled for March 11, 2025.  Hooray!  There are two short stories that I also need to track down and keep forgetting about.  If readers are new to these series, I recommend starting with the written books and then switching to audiobooks after that.  Arrrr!

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Apparently me original musings on this novel have been washed away by the tide.  All I can say is that it be even better than I remembered.  It is a feel good novel of hope that still contains harsh moments of truth.  Maia is the last surviving son of the Emperor who was never expected to take the throne.  He is thrown in over his head and ye follow his journey routing for him the entire time.  I love the world building, the characters, the politics, and well everything.  I am so excited that there be another book set in this world coming out on 06/22/2021.  Arrrr!