Kylie’s favorite reads are usually horror/thrillers, which matches her taste in films as well. When she’s not cracking bad jokes she can often be found curled up with a cup of coffee and her cat, Gideon.
Welcome to our monthly blog feature — Book Clubbin’! Sometimes life can get busy, we get it! That’s why listening to an audiobook can allow you to read so much more than you already do! Press play on your current listen during your commute, while you’re cooking dinner, or after the kids go to sleep — the possibilities are endless!
Every month we pick a popular book club pick and set up some discussion questions to get you and your book club going. This month, we’ve got questions for The Dutch House by Ann Patchett. This book has been taking the world by storm, and news traveled fast when it was announced that Tom Hanks would be narrating Patchett’s latest release. Already a smash hit, The Dutch House was selected as 2019’s Book of the Year by publications such asThe Times, Guardian, Daily Telegraph, Washington Post, and more. Plus, it was Jenna Bush Hager’s October choice for her book club, Read with Jenna.
So take a peek at our questions, and as always, remember there MAY be some spoilers in here!
—————MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!————
1) What allows Maeve and Danny’s relationship to persevere throughout everything they go through together?
2) Why do you think Andrea was so spiteful toward Maeve and Danny? Would you go as far as to label her as an “evil stepmother?”
3) Academy award-winning actor, Tom Hanks, narrates the audiobook for The Dutch House. Do you think that celebrity narrators add to the experience of listening to an audiobook or take away from it?
4) Even after finishing medical school, Danny still feels drawn to working with construction and building houses. Why do you think this is?
5) Do you think the setting of Philadelphia was integral to the story or could this have taken place somewhere else?
6) The story is told from the perspective of an adult Danny Conroy. Do you think this impacted how the story was told? Do you think it would have been more effective from another character’s perspective?
7) The Dutch House takes place over a span of five decades. Do you think this amount of time was necessary? Could the same message have been conveyed in a shorter period of time or could Patchett have stretched it out even longer?
8) What do you think the Dutch House represents for Maeve and Danny? And why do they continue to revisit it?
9) Is there a place that resonates with you the same way the Dutch House resonates with Maeve and Danny?
10) Is there a specific character or storyline that you wish you could follow after the audiobook ends to see what happens next?
New to Audiobooks.com? Get your first book free, PLUS a bonus book from our VIP selection when you sign up for our one-month free trial. Digital audiobooks make audible stories come to life when you’re commuting, working out, cleaning, cooking, and more! Listening is easy with our top-rated free audiobook apps for iOS and Android, which let you download & listen to bestselling audiobooks on the go, wherever you are. Click here to get your free audiobooks!
Sophie Kinsella’s Confessions of a Shopaholic debuted in 2003 and since then has snowballed into an extremely popular and successful series that not only boasts 10 books in its line-up, but also has a movie adaptation of the first book starring Isla Fisher, Hugh Dancy, Krysten Ritter, Joan Cusak, and John Lithgow – to name a few.
Now, Kinsella has released the 10th book in the series, Christmas Shopaholic, where Becky is faced with the daunting task of hosting the big family holiday celebration at her place. With every step she takes to make everything perfect she worries if she can really pull this off.
We were able to catch up with Kinsella recently to ask her a few questions about her latest release and what she sees on the horizon for both Becky and the Shopaholic series.
Audiobooks.com: What do you look for in an ideal audiobook narrator?
Sophie Kinsella: I love to hear characterful voices. When I write, my books are all first person and so the voice is very clearly in my head. I love it when an audiobook narrator taps into the narrative voice I have had in my head when writing.
Audiobooks.com: What do readers gain from listening to the audiobook that they miss out on if they just read the print version?
Sophie Kinsella: When I read books that I like, I often whip through them very quickly, and think afterwards that I’ve missed some of the subtlety and wit of the writing. With audiobooks you have the opportunity to luxuriate in the writing.
Audiobooks.com: In Christmas Shopaholic, Becky’s family has long-standing holiday traditions. Does your family have any similar, fun traditions that you’ve kept up over the years?
Sophie Kinsella: We play a brilliant game where you have to put on hats and gloves and scarves and eat a chocolate bar with a knife and fork. We also read ‘Twas the night before Christmas every Christmas Eve before we put out mince pies and sherry by the fire for Father Christmas to find.
Audiobooks.com: Becky is tasked with hosting the holiday festivities and chaos ensues. Did you draw on your own personal experiences with hosting family over the holidays? And if chaos ensues, how do you deal with it?
Sophie Kinsella: I don’t know what you mean – there is never any chaos when I host Christmas… Seriously, I think it’s easy to panic over Christmas arrangements but I’m lucky that we as a family are all quite forgiving of each other – and a box of candy and a small glass of sherry will always smooth things over!
Audiobooks.com: In this installment of the Shopaholic series, in typical Becky-fashion, she strives to host the perfect holiday get-together and get everyone the perfect gifts. What do you think it is about Becky that causes your readers to have such a soft spot for her?
Sophie Kinsella: It absolutely thrills me that Becky has such an enduring appeal. I think she feels real to a lot of my readers – she certainly feels real to me! She has grown and matured over the years, even though she is the same Becky and still gets into trouble. And although she has flaws, she also has many qualities which are inspiring – her optimism, her good-heartedness, her ingenious solutions to problems, and her relationships with her family and friends. She always tries her best, even if her best usually backfires.
Audiobooks.com: And more personally from your own perspective, what is it about Becky and her story that makes you want to keep returning to it again and again?
Sophie Kinsella: I love Becky like no other character! She’s the only heroine I’ve created that I keep returning to. I just love writing in her voice and seeing the world through her eyes. She’s so optimistic and can-do and has her own special logic.
Audiobooks.com: Where do you see Becky and her family in 10 years?
Sophie Kinsella: I’m sure Becky will have given up shopping and she and Luke will be a sensible ordinary couple… or not!∎
New to Audiobooks.com? Get your first book free, PLUS a bonus book from our VIP selection when you sign up for our one-month free trial. Digital audiobooks make audible stories come to life when you’re commuting, working out, cleaning, cooking, and more! Listening is easy with our top-rated free audiobook apps for iOS and Android, which let you download & listen to bestselling audiobooks on the go, wherever you are. Click here to get your free audiobooks!
When it comes to what’s playing in my headphones, you can usually bet on it being a horror audiobook or at least something with a dark and chilling vibe. As my current audiobook comes to an end (Ninth House) and I queue up my next listen (The Remaking), I think it’s safe to say that I’m a little obsessed with witches.
Can you really blame me? There’s been a total uptick in the witch’s presence in pop culture as a whole. From TV series like The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, A Discovery of Witches, and the Charmed reboot to the remake of the 1977 film, Suspiria, and countless audiobooks focusing on these magical beings (The Furies, Toil & Trouble, Gideon the Ninth…etc) – witches are having a serious moment.
This got us thinking…what are the major differences between old school witches in classics like Macbeth and Grimm’s Fairy Tales, and new age witches in audiobooks today?
We’ve compared old school vs. new age vampires before, but we thought culturally, we had to pay our respects to the powerful witch – she’s been around forever, you know? Let’s compare…
Old School
vs.
New Age
Physical looks
We all know those classic depictions of hag-like witches with hooked noses, warts, moles, and even beards (a la The Weird Sisters in Macbeth). And let’s not forget the most infamous characteristic of all – green skin, which was most famously depicted in the 1939 film adaptation of The Wizard of Oz.
Now-a-days the witches that are leading the charge for this resurgence of witchy content just look like regular, everyday people! They’re teenagers who just learned that they come from a long line of witches or they’re 11-year-olds whojust got their letter to Hogwarts!
Evil Motives
Double, double, toil, and trouble…witches are often associated with classic depictions of covens surrounding cauldrons and putting curses on unsuspecting townsfolk – usually curses that last through many generations.
New age witches are real people and no person is 100% evil or 100% good, but most of the witches of today are fighting for what they think is right and using their magic to protect others.
All Black Garb & Pointy Hats
Every year around Halloween the image of the witch pops up and what is she wearing? A black cloak and a big pointy hat. The history of the witch’s hat seems to be a murky one, but I think it’s safe to say that we can attribute its popularity to The Wicked Witch in The Wizard of Oz as well.
The “witchy aesthetic,” as some call it, can be seen in the covers of audiobooks that center around witches. Audiobooks like Basic Witches and The Babysitters Coven feature astrological symbols, plants, dreamy pastel colors, and even pentagrams.
Outsiders
For as long as there have been witches, there have been people who have been afraid of their powers. This would put them on the fringe of society.
With hashtags like #witchesofinstagram amassing over three million posts, and countless brands marketing to millenials seeking that witchy aesthetic, I think it’s safe to say that witches have totally gone mainstream.
Flying on Broomsticks
This one has always been my favorite characteristic when it comes to witches because if I could just grab any old broom and get from point A to point B, that would be fantastic!
For our #witchesofinstagram, broomsticks are a thing of the past. While they sometimes may levitate (shout out, A Discovery of Witches) I think new age witches will probably just take the bus.
In conclusion, the witch is an elusive character and always has been, but with their new age counterparts and their move to the mainstream I think that we will continue to see the morphing of what it means to be a witch as time goes on. They’ve already got me under their spell, what about you?
New to Audiobooks.com? Get your first book free, PLUS a bonus book from our VIP selection when you sign up for our one-month free trial. Digital audiobooks make audible stories come to life when you’re commuting, working out, cleaning, cooking, and more! Listening is easy with our top-rated free audiobook apps for iOS and Android, which let you download & listen to bestselling audiobooks on the go, wherever you are. Click here to get your free audiobooks!
Getting way too excited for an upcoming audiobook release is something we are all too familiar with here at Audiobooks.com. Now, you can join in on our excitement with the all-new “Most Anticipated” feature!
With this new feature you can add any of these titles to your Wishlist or, if you don’t have an account with us, simply select “Let me know when available” and enter your email address. You will then be notified when this title is available for your listening pleasure!
We’ve rounded up some highly anticipated listens that are due to be released in the coming months, from sequels to thrillers to heartfelt memoirs that you’ll definitely want to be notified about. Click here to view our full ‘Most Anticipated Upcoming Books’ book list.
This highly anticipated first and only official autobiography from pop sensation, Elton John, is getting major buzz. In Me, John dives into his past, his rise to fame, and how he got to where he is today. The audiobook is narrated by John himself as well as Taron Egerton who portrays John in the recently released biopic, Rocketman.
Advance praise for Olive, Again has landed this upcoming audiobook on the radar of some major publications where it has been named as one of the most anticipated books this fall. Following Elizabeth Strout’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Olive Kitteridge, Olive, Again, gives us more from the character that captured the attention of millions. Follow Olive as she tries to not just figure out her own life, but the lives of others in her town of Crosby, Maine.
If you are one of the lucky ones who got lost in Erin Morgenstern’s fantastical bestseller TheNight Circus and loved every minute of it, then hold on to your hats because she’s back with another immersive listen, The Starless Sea. In this upcoming release, we follow Zachary Ezra Rawlins as he discovers a magical realm beneath the world. As he uncovers more about this mysterious world, he also begins to unravel the mysteries of his own life.
Fifty years ago, Michael Crichton released The Andromeda Strain, which not only made him a household name, but also spawned the creation of a new genre, the technothriller. Now, Daniel H. Wilson helps to keep this relevant and resonant story going with the follow-up, The Andromeda Evolution. You’ll definitely want to be among the first to know when this audiobook is out.
After almost a decade since Mockingjay, the final of the Hunger Games series, was released, Suzanne Collins has announced that she will be releasing a prequel titled The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. This new addition to the series will revisit the world of Panem sixty-four years before the events of The Hunger Games, starting on the morning of the reaping of the tenth Hunger Games.
How does he do it? Stephen King just released The Institute in September of 2019 and he has already announced his next release!If It Bleeds will be a collection of novellas: Mr. Harrigan’s Phone, The Life of Chuck, Rat, and the title story If It Bleeds. Dubbed as master of short fiction and the king of horror, this one is bound to be a chilling listen.
New to Audiobooks.com? Get your first book free, PLUS a bonus book from our VIP selection when you sign up for our one-month free trial. Digital audiobooks make audible stories come to life when you’re commuting, working out, cleaning, cooking, and more! Listening is easy with our top-rated free audiobook apps for iOS and Android, which let you download & listen to bestselling audiobooks on the go, wherever you are. Click here to get your free audiobooks!
In 2007, Melbourne gangland kingpin Carl Williams was convicted of three murders and was sentenced to 35 years’ jail time. While he served his sentence he spent most of his time in his small cell, but was given access to a laptop computer. In 2010, Williams was murdered by a fellow inmate. Following this, his laptop was confiscated and they found countless letters addressed to his friends and family spanning the last eighteen months of his life.
Life Sentence, Williams’memoir, allows you to hear Williams’ inner thoughts by listening to the intimate letters he had written daily to his loved ones.
Taking on the job of narrating personal letters like the ones inLife Sentence can’t be an easy feat. We had the chance to chat with Tim Carroll, the narrator for Life Sentence, and pick his brain on how narrating this memoir differs from his other projects.
Audiobooks.com: How did you prepare before sitting down to begin narrating Life Sentence?
Tim: Well actually, there was particularly a lot of preparation required before recording this book as many of the transcribed letters contained typos or missing words. On paper this is easier for the reader to decipher but in audio it would make for a very confusing listen if I included the typos or didn’t attempt to fill in the missing words. So we had to adapt the text slightly so it made sense to the listener. As the person embodying Carl Williams’ character and voicing his flow of thought, I was asked to make the initial suggested adaptations, working of course with the audio publisher and the print publisher, and had to make sure to stay as true to Carl’s words as possible. The process was of enormous value in discovering an empathy for Carl’s characters, and understanding of his circumstances and what I very strongly felt was his motivation and purpose for the letters he had written.
Audiobooks.com: What was the most challenging part of narrating Life Sentence?
Tim: The most challenging part was perhaps…capturing Carl’s humanity, his sense of humor, his fear, his anxiety, and of course, his bravado….in a way that I hope he would be happy with.
Audiobooks.com: What was your biggest take-away from narrating Carl’s letters?
Tim: Good question…regardless of the crimes Carl had been charged with, Carl was also just an every day knock about bloke who was likable in many ways. With the intimacy of reading his letters…I felt a genuine responsibility to convey his love for his daughter and step-children, for his parents, and of course for Roberta. I have tried my best to capture what I believe to be the truth and intention of his words.
Audiobooks.com: What vocal techniques did you have to develop and hone while narrating this book?
Tim: It was a little tricky switching between the essence of the character of Carl, and then the more neutral tone required for the factual and informative pieces of narration, which are interspersed throughout the performance.
Audiobooks.com: How did narrating Life Sentence differ from other narrations you’ve done in the past?
Tim: Well, the fact that Carl is (was) a real person…and that these are his actual words, which were more than likely never intended to be read by anyone other than their original recipients, kind of presented me with… a very serious responsibility to be truthful and real, in my performance but also respectfully dignified to Carl…and especially to his loved ones. I took that obligation extremely seriously, and believe it or not, I felt almost a sense of his presence, in regard to portraying and presenting his intimate thoughts and private words, in such a public fashion.
New to Audiobooks.com? Get your first book free, PLUS a bonus book from our VIP selection when you sign up for our one-month free trial. Digital audiobooks make audible stories come to life when you’re commuting, working out, cleaning, cooking, and more! Listening is easy with our top-rated free audiobook apps for iOS and Android, which let you download & listen to bestselling audiobooks on the go, wherever you are. Click here to get your free audiobooks!
Tomorrow is Stephen King’s birthday, so why not celebrate the King of Horror by highlighting some of his most terrifying audiobooks. These are just eight of his freakiest tales, but you can find over 100 audiobooks on Audiobooks.com by King or featuring King.
From the staple King classics to some of his newer releases, pick up one of these if you’re in the mood for a good scare.
When Stephen King himself considers a novel he has written as taking things too far, then you know it’s going to be real freaky. Pet Semataryis a classic from King, and the audiobook is a gripping listen with Michael C. Hall putting on a very convincing Maine accent if you ask me, ayuh!
In Pet Sematary, Dr. Louis Creed gets a new job and moves his family to Ludlow, Maine – a seemingly normal little town. It’s only when he feels a pull to venture to a burial ground that lay just beyond a children’s pet cemetery that he sees why sometimes dead is better.
This beast of an audiobook is not for the faint of heart. Emphasis on beast… The reason that It has held up all these years and now has three motion pictures and even a mini series to its name is because the monster in this listen isn’t just Pennywise the Clown, it’s fear itself. This one has a major creep-factor, so buckle in and prepare to immerse yourself in the world of Derry, Maine and become a member of The Losers’ Club.
Seven kids get caught up in an evil that resides in their hometown of Derry, Maine. Now, they’ve grown up, moved away, and found success, but they feel that pull back to their hometown to finish what they started.
I’m sure you’re all familiar with The Shining. Whether you’ve listened to the audiobook, you’ve caught the 1980 film adaptation starring Jack Nicholson, or maybe you’ve just heard people quoting, “Here’s Johnny!” for the past 40 years (give or take) – The Shining is one of King’s most popular and most frightening releases.
If, for some reason, you don’t know what The Shining is about, it follows Jack Torrance and his family as they move to the remote and idyllic Overlook Hotel. It seems like just the getaway that the family needs until winter creeps in and weird things start happening that only Danny Torrance seems to notice.
We’ve all been there…when our favorite character or series plays out in a way that we don’t agree with. It can certainly be frustrating, but my first thought isn’t to go out, kidnap the creators, and force them to right their wrongs like Annie Wilkes does in Misery. This listen will give you a glimpse into how fandom can take a seriously dark turn.
In Misery, Paul Sheldon takes a risk in his writing career and kills off the main character of his romance series, so that he can move on to something new. He later ends up injured in a car crash and who should rescue him, but his number one fan, Annie Wilkes. She is not happy with what Paul has done to her favorite series, so she demands that he resurrect both the character and the series. He has no excuse…as Annie’s prisoner, he has all the time in the world.
King blessed us with ‘Salem’s Lot back when vampires were actually vicious and terrifying monsters as opposed to sparkling in the sun, and using their super speed to play baseball. Being the second release from King after Carrie, it’s been quite a while, but this suspenseful audiobook will still keep you on the edge of your seat after all this time.
In this spooky tale from King, we follow fiction writer Ben Mears as he moves into this big mansion in Jerusalem’s Lot to gather inspiration for his new novel. After two boys enter the woods near his house and only one returns he gets the feeling that something dark and sinister is lurking in his small town.
If you’ve seen the film adaptation of King’s The Mist, then you know what it’s like to be filled with hopelessness and to ugly cry at the TV screen. Don’t let that deter you from giving the audiobook a listen. The story definitely plays out a little differently, but still gives you the same claustrophobic feeling.
In The Mist, David Drayton, his son Billy, and their neighbor head over to the local grocery store following a storm. While there, a mysterious mist overtakes the whole town. Holed up in the grocery store with an array of characters, they have to decide whether it’s better to deal with people they may not trust or face the unknown.
Take a look at that cover. Need I say more? The Outsider is part mystery, part horror, and it definitely has that “give-you-the-chills” factor. Plus, if you frequent Stephen King’s audiobooks, then you’ll recognize the narrator, Will Patton, who has lent his voice to many of King’s novels.
The Outsider opens with the corpse of a little boy being found in town. It seems all evidence points to the local Little League coach as the main suspect. The detectives believe that they have this case in the bag, but as the coach reveals his alibi and they unearth more about the crime the story gets kicked into high gear. Did they get the right guy?
The Institute is Stephen King’s latest release and even though there are supernatural elements to the story, the monsters in this listen are real people, which make it that much scarier. After listening to this audiobook you’ll surely wonder what terrible things people are truly capable of.
In The Institute Luke’s parents are killed and he is kidnapped and taken to The Institute. He and other gifted children are being used for their extranormal talents and if they cooperate all is fine, but if they refuse the punishment is severe. The really bad kids get sent to the “Back Half,” which the other children want to avoid at all costs. Their only hope is to escape and get help, but no one has ever escaped The Institute.
New to Audiobooks.com? Get your first book free, PLUS a bonus book from our VIP selection when you sign up for our one-month free trial. Digital audiobooks make audible stories come to life when you’re commuting, working out, cleaning, cooking, and more! Listening is easy with our top-rated free audiobook apps for iOS and Android, which let you download & listen to bestselling audiobooks on the go, wherever you are. Click here to get your free audiobooks!
