Athena

If you can suspend reality and read this trilogy for what it is - entertainment - then you'll have no problem with it. I love sci-fi, specifically space travel type books. While this was entertaining, I couldn't help but roll my eyes at plenty of scenes. What do you mean one of the astronauts is confused on how to work their EVA suit? Why are people with claustrophobia being sent through the solar system to other planets? Why is this robot claiming to be analytical and unable to understand rhetoric, while simultaneously being rhetorical at times? The story was fun but don't look too hard or you'll find it to be silly and *very* unbelievable. In comparison, I thought the cheese factor and overall believability of the story was on par with the movie Total Recall (original movie). It's a fantastic movie but very laughable at times. This story gave me the same feels. I probably won't read the remaining books in the series, but am content with where it's left off for me.

This book is heartbreaking, moving, and raw. I honestly had no clue what to expect with this book and stopped on multiple occasions to give my heart a rest. The challenges faced by Nuri and Afra grab ahold of you and make you question how war could ever be so prevalent in our world. This book is a dedication to the all the men, women, and children who are Nuri and Afra. If you read this book, plan to shed some tears. It's wonderfully written but so very heartbreaking.

Took .5 star off due to sometimes feeling lost by the jump between past and present in the audiobook. I had to replay parts a few times to understand what was happening.

I recently listened to A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess, narrated by Tom Hollander, and it was an intense yet thought-provoking experience. Tom Hollander’s narration was fantastic. He fully embraced the heavy accent and navigated the Nasdat slang with incredible ease, making it feel natural and authentic. Despite the harsh nature of the book, I could easily envision a teenage boy speaking, which added to the realism and immersion of the story. Hollander absolutely killed it in his portrayal of Alex, capturing both his rebelliousness and vulnerability.

As a social worker with a strong interest in reformative justice, I found the concept of this book particularly intriguing. The dystopian world Burgess created, where violent youth rule the streets, inflicting senseless harm on anyone unfortunate enough to cross their path, raises compelling questions. Can society become a better place if free will is taken away from these youths, forcing them to obey the law or face biological punishment? Does justice truly prevail when the root causes of the violence are never addressed? These were questions that kept surfacing for me throughout the book. Despite the atrocities Alex committed, I couldn’t help but feel some level of sympathy for him. The trauma he endured in prison was despicable—an ultimate abuse of power, as the authorities toyed with the minds of society’s most vulnerable. It felt like the government was condoning lobotomies on teenagers, stripping them of their autonomy in the name of order.

The ending of the book was a highlight for me. It provided a subtle but hopeful glimpse that perhaps Alex could change his ways on his own terms, through self-determination rather than coercion. It was a satisfying conclusion to an otherwise grim narrative.

I did struggle with the Nasdat slang at first. I had to relisten to the first chapter three times before I could even start to grasp what was being said. Eventually, I found a Nasdat slang chart online, which was a huge help! If you’re planning to listen to this book and having trouble with the language, I definitely recommend looking up a chart to make things easier.

Overall, I really enjoyed A Clockwork Orange, though it’s definitely not for the faint of heart. The book is full of brutal cruelty, and Alex, as the narrator, shows little remorse for his actions. However, the story was incredibly intriguing and raised many questions about morality, justice, and the nature of free will. If you’re looking for something that challenges your perspective, this audiobook is a must-listen.

Learning that the world is ending is worrisome enough. Now imagine finding yourself on a suicide mission in space with no recollection of why or how you got there. Through perseverance and a sweet sweet friendship, you learn that all you need is someone to help get you through the hard stuff.

Before Project Hail Mary, I didn't know how much I would like the science fiction genre. Somehow, Andy Weir found the perfect balance of science and storytelling, which made this book so captivating. The way the scientific aspects were described throughout the book provided just enough explanation to follow along with what was happening, without feeling lost or underwhelmed by the nuanced intricacies of it. The story had good pacing, alternating between flashbacks and the present. The build-up of how Ryland got to this point was fantastic and had me waiting to hear more. I highly recommend giving this book a listen/read, even if you aren't typically a sci-fi lover.

Listening to The Shining by Stephen King, narrated by Campbell Scott, was an incredible experience. From the very beginning, Scott’s narration captivated me. His voice range was impressive, and he skillfully differentiated between characters, making it easy to follow who was speaking at any given time. The way he captured each character's emotions made the story even more immersive. I tend to prefer narrators with a conversational pace, and Scott hit the mark perfectly, delivering the story in a way that felt natural and fluid. His performance helped me visualize the eerie atmosphere and fit the characters to a tee.

As for the story itself, it was absolutely gripping. I haven’t seen the movie, so diving into The Shining from this raw, unfiltered perspective was a rare treat. At the start, I found myself really liking Jack. He seemed like a great dad who was genuinely trying to turn his life around, and about 20% into the book, I was rooting for him to keep the upward momentum. But just as I started to feel that way, things took a dark turn. The hotel’s manipulative presence slowly took over Jack's mind, and it was fascinating to listen as he began to unravel. At the same time, watching how Danny and Wendy became more aware of what was happening added layers of tension that kept me hooked. Of the handful of Stephen King books I’ve listened to, this one might be my favorite, and it has definitely motivated me to listen to Doctor Sleep soon to see how Danny's story continues.

The production quality was great, with no distracting background noises or technical hiccups. Scott’s voice came through clearly, which really helped enhance the sinister mood of the story. The pacing of the audiobook felt just right, keeping me engaged without dragging or rushing through important moments. Scott’s conversational delivery made the experience flow naturally.

Overall, this has easily become one of my favorite books this year. The combination of King’s chilling plot and Scott’s captivating narration created a listening experience that I found even more enjoyable than It. Whether you’re a seasoned fan of The Shining or new to the story, this audiobook is well worth your time—especially if you love psychological horror with a touch of supernatural suspense.

The Maria Effect by Mike Guido
Audiobook Platform: Audible
Narrator: Kevin Torres

The Maria Effect is a story about a comedian father whose daughter was born with Autism during a time when very little was known about this developmental disability and even less support was available to those individuals or loved ones. Through love and perseverance, Mike moves mountains as he builds a world where his daughter can live and be loved.

The story emphasizes the power of love and its ability to change people for the better. This is very much a “make them laugh, make them cry” type of book, and allowed me to reflect on my own life and loved ones who have had similar experiences to Mike and his family. The story helped me better appreciate how unique, yet normal Maria and her family are. Yes - individuals with Autism will face many challenges throughout their lives which others will never face. However, the emotional experiences that make all of us human remain the same. We all experience love, anger, sadness, regret, and forgiveness. This story underlines all of it and is a great reminder that we are all on the same journey.

If Cats Disappeared from the World by Genki Kawamura
Audiobook Platform: Hoopla
Narrator: Brian Nishii

What if you were going to die soon? What if you had spent your life rarely considering others? What if the devil appeared and offered a bargain to give you one more day of life in exchange for getting rid of something in the world? Would you take the bargain?

The premise of this book is one that most of us have thought about at one time or another. If we had the chance to make things right, would we try? Would we be able to fix our relationships with others? Tell them how much we love them and what they mean to us? I think we all would like to think so. This book tells the story of how taking the devil's bargain impacts one man and the world around him. He learns what he is willing to give up and what he values most. I loved this book and the simplicity of it. It was a quick listen, with Brian Nishii's narration calming with the perfect change of tone for each character.