Libby Audiobook: A Home on Voster Street, Razina Theba

 

I don't usually enjoy short stories, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this memoir, but I really enjoyed it.

The short vignettes give you wonderful glimpses into different moments in the author's life. Some are genuinely funny, while others are incredibly sad and moving.

I also really enjoyed the insight into a culture and upbringing different from my own. Through the stories about family, traditions and everyday life, you get a very personal glimpse into the author's Indian-Muslim heritage and the world she grew up in.

Together, the stories build a lovely, heartfelt picture of a life, a family and a particular time and place.

A thoroughly enjoyable listen.

Libby: The Wilderness Between Us, Penny Haw

I so enjoyed this book.

The character development was wonderful. I became completely invested in the characters and their lives, and loved watching them develop as the story unfolded.

It was beautifully written, absorbing and one of those books I genuinely struggled to put down. I kept wanting to read just one more chapter.

A thoroughly enjoyable read.

5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Libby Audiobook: Stolen Focus, Johann Hari

 

10 key learnings from Stolen Focus by Johann Hari

1. OUR LOSS OF FOCUS IS NOT SIMPLY A PERSONAL FAILURE

We live in an environment that is increasingly designed to distract us. Improving our attention therefore requires more than simply telling ourselves to concentrate harder.

2. MULTITASKING IS LARGELY A MYTH

What we call multitasking is usually rapid switching between tasks. Every switch has a cognitive cost, making us slower, less accurate and less able to think deeply.

3. TECHNOLOGY IS DELIBERATELY DESIGNED TO CAPTURE OUR ATTENTION

Notifications, infinite scrolling, recommendations and other features are designed to keep us engaged. Our attention has commercial value, which means some of the world's most sophisticated technology is competing for it.

4. DEEP FOCUS NEEDS UNINTERRUPTED TIME

We are capable of entering a state of "flow", where we become completely absorbed in something meaningful and sufficiently challenging. The task needs to stretch us enough to hold our attention, without being so difficult that we become overwhelmed. Constant interruptions make reaching and maintaining this state much harder.

5. BOREDOM AND MIND-WANDERING ARE VALUABLE

We do not need to fill every spare moment with stimulation. Allowing our minds to wander helps us process experiences, make connections, solve problems and think creatively.

6. SLEEP IS ESSENTIAL FOR ATTENTION

Sleep deprivation damages concentration, memory, decision-making and reaction time. Severe sleep deprivation can impair our functioning to a degree comparable with alcohol intoxication. Research has found that being awake for around 17 to 19 hours can produce impairment comparable with, and on some measures worse than, a blood alcohol concentration of 0.05%.

7. HARI'S TECHNOLOGY DETOX SHOWED HOW ATTENTION CAN RECOVER

During three months without a smartphone or internet in Provincetown, Hari found that his concentration, reading, sleep and ability to let his mind wander improved. Removing constant digital stimulation gave his attention room to return.

8. CHILDREN NEED INDEPENDENT, UNSTRUCTURED PLAY

Children learn problem-solving, negotiation, creativity, independence and how to assess risk by playing without constant adult supervision. Fear, including parental fears about kidnapping and safety, has contributed to children having much less freedom to explore and figure things out for themselves.

9. READING BOOKS TRAINS SUSTAINED ATTENTION

Reading requires us to stay with one idea or story for an extended period. It exercises a slower and deeper form of concentration than constantly scrolling, clicking and skimming information.

10. WE CANNOT SOLVE THE ATTENTION CRISIS THROUGH INDIVIDUAL WILLPOWER ALONE

Turning off notifications and putting our phones away can help, but Hari's larger argument is that many of the forces damaging our attention are systemic. Protecting attention requires changes both in our own behaviour and in the environments and technologies surrounding us.

MY BIGGEST TAKEAWAY

Protecting our attention isn't only about eliminating distractions. We also need to deliberately create space for uninterrupted thought, boredom, reading, play and simply doing nothing.

4/5

Libby: The Scammer, Tiffany D. Jackson

 

The Scammer was my first Tiffany D. Jackson book, so I had absolutely no idea what to expect.

Initially, I wasn't quite sure what all the hype was about, and I wasn't sure about the direction the story was taking. But somewhere along the way it completely pulled me in, and I ended up really enjoying it.

I got SO frustrated with the characters and some of the decisions they made. There were plenty of moments when I wanted to reach into the book and shake some sense into them. But I think that frustration was also part of what kept me reading. I was invested.

And then came the ending.

I didn't understand it. 😂 I finished the book, sat there wondering what on earth I'd missed, and eventually had to Google an explanation. Once I'd done that, it made much more sense, although I do think I would have preferred the ending to be a little clearer without requiring outside assistance!

Still, this was clever, engaging and very different from what I expected. For a book I started with some scepticism, it thoroughly won me over.

4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Kindle Audiobook, The Other Twin, Shalini Boland

I usually really enjoy Shalini Boland's books. I like her writing, they're easy to get into, and I know there is almost always a clever twist coming. The Other Twin delivers on that front too, and there is some rather satisfying karma at the end.

But this one wasn't my favourite.

The basic premise irritated me because I just didn't find the behaviour of the sisters particularly believable. One twin can't have children and asks her sister to be her surrogate. Her sister becomes pregnant with twins, but decides she wants to keep one of the babies herself.

And the response? Her twin is so furious that she can't have both babies that she cuts her sister out of her life completely. They make sure she is financially provided for, but otherwise sever ties.

I struggled with that. I can absolutely understand the hurt, anger and sense of betrayal, but permanently cutting off your twin sister, and therefore one of the twin babies, felt extreme and rather too convenient for the plot.

Then the sister moves to the same general area, yet somehow their lives barely cross until the girls are older. Again, I found myself thinking, Really?

Perhaps that was ultimately my problem with this book. I could see the machinery required to make the plot work rather than simply believing in the story.

The main character also grated on me, although, to be fair, there aren't exactly many people here competing for Human Being of the Year. They're a fairly despicable bunch. 

Not one of my favourite Shalini Boland books.

3/5 ⭐⭐⭐

Libby Audiobook: The Way Home, Irene Hannah

 

Very sweet story.

A dynamic journalist and lawyers paths cross. Initially they don't like each other, they then fall in love. Sweet. 

Don't have to think too hard with this one.

4/5

Kindle: The God of the Woods, Liz Moore

 

I honestly don't understand the hype around this one.

Personally, I found The God of the Woods an absolute slog to read. In fact, I think it might contain almost every ingredient of my worst-nightmare book.

There are so many characters. Usually, even with a large cast, I eventually get to grips with who's who. Not this time. I spent far too much of the book trying to remember names and work out how everyone fitted together.

Then there are the multiple timelines, constantly jumping backwards and forwards. Add to that the fact that it's written in the present tense, which I know is very much a personal preference, but I really don't enjoy it.

And then... the em dashes. SO. MANY. EM DASHES. There were so many that I actually stopped reading at one point and asked Google whether the book had been written by AI. 😂 Apparently not. The author is an English professor, so I decided to persevere.

So, persevere I did, largely because all the glowing reviews had me convinced there must surely be a massive, delicious twist waiting for me that would make the whole slog worthwhile.

There is a twist. Unfortunately, by the time I got there, I was so over the book and so disconnected from the characters that I honestly couldn't bring myself to care.

Clearly I am in the minority given how highly rated this book is, but it just wasn't for me.

A generous 2/5 ⭐⭐. Sorry!

Libby Audiobook: Son of Hamas, Mosab Hassan Yousef

I wanted to learn more about Palestine and Hamas. Very interesting book and man. There is still a lot I need to learn. What I find interesting is that his father started Hamas, he the author, became a spy for Israel, and convertered to Christianity.

3.8/5
 

Libby Audiobook: The Prophet and the Idiot, Jonas Jonasson

Started off strong but then lost momentum and I got really bored.

3/5
 

Kindle: The Reluctant Detective Goes South, Adrian Spalding

 

Good light hearted, dry British humour. 4/5

Libby Audiobook: I see you called in dead, John Kenney

This was a weird one. On the one hand fairly humorous, obituary writer gets drunk, writes his own obit and accidentally gets it printed. Hence the title.

But, there are pockets of such sadness.

Long and short of it, we need to live every day.

3.8/5
 

Libby Audiobook: This Happened to me, Kate Price

 

This is a heartbreaking and deeply confronting memoir. What happened to Kate Price is horrific, and I have enormous respect for her courage in sharing such a personal story. By telling it, she shines a light on an issue that deserves far more attention and understanding.

That said, I didn't particularly enjoy the audiobook. The narrator's delivery felt very staccato and, to me, conveyed constant anger. Given the subject matter, that anger is entirely understandable, but listening to it for hours became emotionally exhausting and made it difficult for me to stay engaged.

The book is often recommended to readers who enjoyed Educated. While both are powerful memoirs about overcoming extraordinary adversity, Educated resonated with me far more. I found its storytelling more immersive and emotionally nuanced, whereas this audiobook left me feeling more drained than connected.

This is an important book, and I admire Kate Price immensely for having the strength to write it. My reservation is not with her story, but with my experience of the audiobook narration.

Libby Audiobook: Open, An Autobiography, Andre Agassi

 

Not a fan of tennis, but am a fan of biographies.

Biggest surprise, Andre Agassi does not lik tennis!

I really liked how his none denominational pastor described God to him. He didn't have a good relationship with his dad, and the pastor said that God is totally the opposite of his dad. 

Was married to Brooke Shields and later to Stephi Graf.

4/5

Kindle Audiobook: Hidden in Snow, Viveca Sten

 

This is the first in the series. I enjoy Scandinavian writing. Personally would have preferred a narrator with Scandinavian accent. 

Tricky to get to grips and remember all the names. Will read second book and see how it goes.

3/5

News24 Audiobook: Trace, Ryan Blumenthal

 

Libby Boek: Dwelm, Rudie van Rensburg

 

Another Kassie Kasselman investigation. Again many names, many twists and turns. I thought I was reading them in order, but realised I had skipped a few when I was confused about him marrying Amalia that I had never heard of.

4/5

Libby Audiobook: You Can't Take It With You, Messie Condo

 

I know I need to declutter. So this was a bit of motivation and procrastination to get there. 

It's ok. Narrator a bit condescending. Nothing really new, but good reminder to get decluttering.

3/5

Libby Audiobook: May all Your Skies Be Blue, Fiona Scarlett

 

Beautiful, but so sad.

The story of four Irish friends. Each chapter alternates between their younger years and now.

5/5

Kindle Audiobook: A River in Darkness, Masaji Ishikawa

So interesting to learn more about North Korea / Japan / China relationships.

Hectic memoir of Masaji Ishikawa. He and his family relocated from Japan to North Korea under false pretences in the 50/60's. The struggles that they went through is horrendous. Very sad.

4/5

Books Libby Audiobook: Idol, Louise O'Neill

 

Meh. Absolute load of nonsense. Found the main character incredibly grating.

2/5

Libby: Ikarus, Deon Meyer

 

Part of the Bennie Grissel series. In this one, Bennie falls off the wagon :/

It is also about wine farmers and illegal bottling in Stellenbosch and, an app that helps create alibis for people who cheat.

4/5

Libby Audiobook: Number Thirty Two, Cassie Steward

 

Ah, so beautifully written. 

Family dramas. 

4.8/5

Kindle: Lion Women of Tehran, Marjan Kamali

Quite a sad book. We meet Elaheh and Homa who become close friends from a young age and their journey through life. Interesting to learn more about Iran and its history.

4/5

Libby Audiobook: Oorlewingsgids vir 'n bedonnerde diva, Sophia Kapp

 

Read by Nicole Holm.

Very good. Just thought sharing recipes at the end very random.

4/5

Kindle Audiobook: No One Knew, Kendra Elliot

Second in the Noelle Marshall series. 

3/5 

 

Libby Audiobook: Dinner with Vampire, Bethany Joy Lenz

 

Didn't watch One Tree Hill, but really enjoyed this memoire. Narrated by Bethany Joy Lenz.

4/5

Kindle Audiobook: Her First Mistake, Kendra Elliott,

 

The first in the Detective Noelle Marshall  series. Easy reading (listening). Don't have to think too hard with this one.

3.8/5

Libby Audiobook: Stories for your Soul, Max Lucado

 

Sweet stories. 3/5

Kindle Audiobook: Missing, B.E. Deckler

 

Fairly entertaining. Homeless man starts helping private investigators. He has conversations with his dog. Sweet. 3.8/5

Libby Audiobook: The Other Side, Sarah Bullen

 

Interesting. I think I would have liked more stories.

3.8/5

Libby Audiobook: Smit Motors, Réney Warrington

 

I was initially a bit sceptical whether this would be a book I would enjoy, as it opened with a lesbian sex scene. Fortunately, the story was not overly explicit and actually developed into a really good read. I became quite fond of the characters.

Petro inherits a garage from her grandad and befriends Arno, who lives with cognitive challenges after his mother tried to kill him as a baby.

It is written the way Afrikaans people actually think and speak, which made the characters feel authentic.

4/5

Libby Audiobook: Huis van Gruwels, Susan Cilliers

 

What a sad story. Not particularly well written, a bit all over the place.

Mandri Sutherland was a very good narrator.

3/5

Libby Audiobook: Kantelpunt, Sophia Kapp

 

Ek het hierdie boek ongelooflik geniet. Ek het na die oudioboek geluister en kon elke dag nie wag om verder te luister nie. Dit was werklik baie goed, al was dit op plekke ’n klein bietjie langdradig.

Wat my die meeste geraak het, en nogal laat nadink het, is hoe maklik hierdie storie my eie lewe kon gewees het as ek ander besluite geneem het. As ek byvoorbeeld besluit het om met MB te trou. Hendrik in die verhaal het my sterk aan hom herinner. MB het my gelukkig nooit fisies seergemaak nie, maar die jaloesie en daardie stiltes… ek onthou hoe hy my ’n hele naweek geïgnoreer het oor iets so klein soos ’n pakkie sop wat ek vergeet het.

Dit laat mens besef hoe fyn die lyn soms is tussen twee heeltemal verskillende lewenspaaie. Ek is net ongelooflik dankbaar vir hoe dinge uiteindelik uitgewerk het.

Die verteller van die oudioboek was ook uitstekend.

4.8/5

Libby Audiobook: All My Knotted Up Life, Beth Moore

 

Cried twice.

Love when the author reads their own work, just makes it so much more personal. 

4.5/5

Libby Audiobook: Start With Why, Simon Sinek 4/5

 

Kindle Audiobook: The Unquiet Bones, Loreth Anne White

 

I have enjoyed a number of Loreth Anne White’s books, but unfortunately this one did not quite land for me.

Three reasons stood out:

1. The use of present tense. I realise this is very much a personal preference.

2. There are a lot of characters to keep track of, which made it difficult at times to stay fully engaged with the story.

3. The audiobook experience was disappointing. The narrator struggled with accents, and the South African accent in particular felt off, at times sounding closer to Jamaican. Given how central setting and voice are to a story like this, it would have benefited from a narrator more comfortable with those nuances.

I also found some of the explanations, for example around elements like bobotie, to be a bit repetitive and overdone.

2/5

Kindle: Last Orders, Caimh McDonnell

It's like catching up with old friends 

4/5

Kindle Audiobook: The Perfect Girl, Andy Maslen

 

I really enjoy this Detective Kat Ballantyne series.

I figured out the murderer.

*Spoiler below*

It was the lecturer.

Boek: Custard vir die Siel, Susan Coetzer

 

Soos dit voor op die boek sê: Fiksie met 'n boodskap.

Ek geniet Susan Coetzer se skryfstyl.

Hierdie is die tweede boek in die reeks, die eerste was Oros vir die Siel wat ek ook geniet het. Nooit besef Susan het so baie boeke gekryf nie.

Dit raak effens preachy en bietjie té vir my teen die einde, maar ek het dit nogtans geniet.

Isabella is gebore en tot die ouderdom van 9 in Tanzanië dan trek hulle Suid Afrika toe. Sy trou met Herman, 'n suksesvolle sielkundige wat twee affairs het. Dit is haar reis om haarself en haar man te vergewe en mees bekangrik 'n reis om die Here weer te ontdoek.

Wat my pla, wie het die honde op gepas terwyl hulle op vakansie was.

Andersins, baie sweet, en ek sien uit vir Tjoklits vir die Siel wanneer die tyd reg is dat ek daardie boek vind.

4/5

Libby Audiobook: Do it Afraid, Joyce Meyer

 

Libby Audiobook: Relight my fire, C.K. McDonnell

 

The fourth in the series. This one was about zombies.

Love the dry British humour.

Libby Audiobook: Love Will Tear us Apart

 

Third in the Stranger Times series. Absolutely love the wonderful dry British humour. The one where Hannah infiltrates the Winona Pincher Institute (cult).

The narrator is absolutely brilliant 

4.8/5

Narrator 10/10

Libby Audiobook: We Begin at the End, Chris Whitaker

 

Beautifully written. Quite a few twists and turns along the way. I had to listen intently so as not to miss anything. There is a lot to keep track of.

We meet Duchess about 13 / 14 years old, who pretty much has to raise her younger brother Robin because their mom, Star, has a drinking problem and not very reliable.

We learn that Star's sister was killed accidentally by Vincent. He went to jail and felt incredible guilt all his life.

Star is found dead, shot and ribs broken. Vincent was there when the Chief of police arrived and says he did it. 

Star and Robin go and live with their grandfather Hal on his farm.

SPOILER 

Turns out, Star used to visit Vincent in prison, Duchess and Robin are his child. 

We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker centers on thirteen-year-old self-proclaimed outlaw Duchess Radley, her young brother Robin, their troubled mother Star, and Walker (Walk), the Cape Haven police chief. The story follows their lives in California and Montana after Vincent King, Star's former lover and a friend of Walk, is released from30 years in prison. 

Main Characters

• Duchess Day Radley: A tough, 13-year-old girl who acts as a protector and parental figure to her younger brother and mother.
• Walker (Walk): The chief of police in Cape Haven, California, who is dealing with a terminal illness (Parkinson's) and deep guilt over testifying against his best friend, Vincent.
• Vincent King: Returns to town after 30 years in prison for the death of Sissy Radley (Star’s sister); he is a central, enigmatic figure who carries immense guilt and later acts as a guardian to the children.
• Star Radley: Duchess and Robin's mother, who is struggling with addiction, depression, and the lasting trauma of her sister's death.
• Robin Radley: Duchess's five-year-old brother, who is central to the mystery of the plot. 

Key Supporting Characters

• Dickie Darke: A sinister local figure involved in the central conflict.
• Hal: A character who provides support to the family.
• Martha: A character in the town of Cape Haven.
• Thomas Noble: Duchess's friend
• Dolly: An older friend of Duchess.
• Hank and Busy: Acquaintances and helpers of the family. 

The novel focuses on themes of revenge, protecting family, and the long-term consequences of past actions, driving the characters toward a climactic, tragic, and ultimately revealing ending. 

Libby Audiobook: Carpet Diem, Justin Lee Anderson

 

Not the normal type of book I usually read.

Brilliant narrator with all the voices. 

Wonderful dark, dry English humour.

A lot of names.

3.8/5

Libby Audiobook: Strange Sally Diamond, Liz Nugent

 

It's so weird how sometimes two books that I am reading have overlapping themes.
Abduction has been the theme in the last two.

This was a very good audiobook. We meet Sally, who, when her dad dies had told her to just put him out in the bin, she took it a step further and tried to incinerate him.

We learn that she is a bit strange. Her mom was abducted when she was 11. Molested her and had two children, a boy, Peter, who the dad loved and raised, and Sally that the dad didn't want anything with.

The dad takes Peter and emigrates to New Zealand. There he returns to old habits and abducts a 14 year old Lindi.

Beautifully written. Incredibly sad. Was hooked 5/5