ailbhe | October books (Reply)

I haven't tried to track this much in the past but in October I mainly listened to audiobooks, especially while someone was in hospital. And a lot is re-listening to things I've been rereading for over 20 years. But some are new to me. And they're mostly serieses because then I have to change gear less often between universes. Martha Wells, Murderbot -- I listened to them all in a batch, having tried several times before and not had the brain for a new text. But this time it worked and I loved them. Ugh, that's an emotion. These were new to me in about September and I finished them and relisted in October and I really enjoyed them. They're full of violence and trauma but it's not gratuitous or glorified or pornographic. The effect of trauma is really nicely handled from the very first book and gets developed more explicitly throughout the series. And the importance of mainstream popular fiction is NOT SUBTLE. Bubblegum for the brain, people. We all need it.

Georgette Heyer -- I don't even know which ones I listened to in October. The Reluctant Widow, certainly. It's not one I know by heart so it was good when I needed not to have too much spare brain for third thoughts. Frederica and Venetia, too. And The Talisman Ring. I often listen to those going to sleep because I know them so well that they don't keep me awake to see what happens.

Naomi Novik -- Temeraire. I actually read these in ebook format because we don't have audiobooks, but that's much more tiring for me so I do it very slowly, on and off, between audiobooks. I really enjoy these every time I read them.

Elizabeth Peters -- Amelia Peabody series. These are audiobooks I listen to with possibly less emotional and intellectual investment than almost anything else I "read". The entire conceit and tone feeds the I Am An Intellectual Like Adrian Mole part of my brain, while actually requiring almost nothing from me, but rollicking on for a million books. This listen through, I've just finished Crocodile on the Sandbank and am starting Curse of the Pharaoh's.

Emma Orchard -- The Second Lady Silverwood and What The Lady Wants. These are written by a Heyer person and I hadn't read much romance in the last 20 years and I was surprised by all the sex after talking so much Heyer with the author (omg they KISS?!?! SHOCKING), but I like the books a lot, and I really like the consent, agency, etc. WTLW in particular has a great list-making person and if she lived now she'd REALLY like my food storage spreadsheet. I am pretty sure I didn't re-listen to the other two this month. There are four, and I like doing them in order, but it depends on apps.

Cat Sebastian -- The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes and The Queer Principles of Kit Webb. These were new to me, and quite good fun, but I haven't felt compelled to immediately re-listen like I did with the Murderbot ones. Partially because they're in a slightly more awkward app.

Bessel van Der Kolk, The Body Keeps The Score -- I'm listening to this really slowly, along with Rob, and it's tough going. But the audiobook reader has a soothing, calm voice. Not as good as the man who reads Murderbot, but soothing.