Audiobook Review: I Don't Know What You Know Me From by Judy Greer

Title: I Don't Know What You Know Me From: Confessions of a Co-Star

Author: Judy Greer
Narrated by: Judy Greer
Publication Date: April 8, 2014
Publisher: Doubleday, audio by Books on Tape
Genre: Non-Fiction/Celebrity Memoir
Find It: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, Book Depository; Audible
Source: Purchased

You know Judy Greer, right? Maybe from The Wedding Planner, 13 Going on 30, Carrie, Arrested Development, orThe Descendants. Yes, you totally recognize her. And, odds are, you already feel like she’s your friend.

In her first book of essays, I Don’t Know What You Know Me From, Greer writes about everything you would hope to hear from your best friend: how a midnight shopping trip to Walgreens can cure all; what it’s like to wake up one day with stepchildren; and how she really feels about fans telling her that she’s prettier in person. Yes, it’s all here—from the hilarious moments to the intimate confessions.

But Judy Greer isn’t just a regular friend—she’s a celebrity friend. Want to know which celebs she’s peed next to? Or what the Academy Awards are actually like? Or which hot actor gave her father a Harley-Davidson? Don’t worry; Greer reveals all of that, too. You’ll love her because, besides being laugh-out-loud funny, she makes us genuinely feel like she’s one of us. Because even though she sometimes has a stylist and a makeup artist, she still wears (and hates!) Spanx. Because even after almost twenty years in Hollywood, she still hasn’t figured everything out—except that you should always wash your face before bed. Always.

I've been a fan of Judy Greer's for a while now. While she may not be instantly recognizable to some, her acting resume is impressive and varied. She's been in Thirteen Going On Thirty, The Wedding Planner, Arrested Development, The Village and 27 Dresses. One of my favorite roles of hers is Cheryl/Carol from the animated series Archer, in which she plays a psychotic railway heiress who likes auto-erotic asphyxiation, bobcats and country music. She often plays the best friend or kooky co-worker, which suits her well as she seems like she would be a really great girlfriend. In my imaginary celebrity life, she, Sandra Bullock and Jennifer Garner would be a part of my bestie girl crew and we'd have epic dinner parties and sleepovers complete with a dance montage (I said it was imaginary).

I Don't Know What You Know Me From tells the story of Greer's childhood and eventual rise to Hollywood co-stardom. She takes us from the suburbs of Detroit all the way to Hollywood, telling her story through funny anecdotes, letters and journal entries. Greer has a dry wit and self deprecating manner that make you like her, not hate her for getting to make out with the likes of Ashton Kutcher and George Clooney. Greet tends to ramble a little bit, which can be endearing or annoying, depending on your view. I didn't have a problem with it though. The book jumps back and forth in time a lot which I found a little bit confusing at times but didn't detract from the overall experience.

I listened to the audiobook version of this book which is narrated by Greer herself. Greer is a voice over veteran and there is no one better to narrate her story than herself. Listening to her, I can easily imagine that we're just two good friends having a late night chat. I admit that I was a little sad that she didn't yell out any quotes from Archer, but I'll get over it. 

This book is very similar to how I imagine Greer to be - sweet, funny, and down-to-earth. Greer doesn't take herself too seriously and seems genuinely happy and grateful for the career she has. While this book isn't really going to give you any deep insight into the Hollywood system or tons of juicy celebrity gossip, it's a light and entertaining read that made my weekly commute a bit more bearable. I would recommend the audiobook if you can get it, as I think hearing Greer's story in her own voice made for a better read.

*All images are property of the respective film and television studios. Images are meant merely to illustrate Greer's career and no harm or infringement is intended.

Stacked (115)

Inspired by Pop Culture Junkie and The Story Siren, Stacked is a weekly post where I share with you the books that I've bought, borrowed or received for the week.

Hello again! I hope you all had a nice weekend. No big plans for me this weekend, which is kinda nice. I really need to catch up on my reading and knitting so the free time is needed. I still have a mountain of ALA books to read so I haven't acquired too many books this week (at least not physical ones). I received one book for review, which I am really excited about and stocked up on audiobooks.

For Review

Burn For Me by Ilona Andrews - I had a mini freak out session when I saw this one on Edelweiss and saw that I was also auto-approved. Yes, please! I am a huge fan of the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews series and was excited to hear that the duo was writing a straight up romance this fall. While I am not a huge fan of this cover, I am very excited about the insides of this book. 

Bought

I used up all of the Audible credits langushing in my account and purchased on audiobook for super cheap. Guess I need to actually start listening to some of these on my commute now.

Landline by Rainbow Rowell - I was going to hold out and get this in hardcover but funds are a bit tight and I had a bunch of Audible credits. Hoping that the audio version is good.

One More Thing by B.J. Novak - Another celebrity type memoir/book that looks promising. I really like BJ Novak's work on The Office and hope that it translates in to his writing. He also reads it which is a bonus.

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson - I've been meaning to reach one of Matson's books for a while now and this looks like a good summer read. It was also on sale for just $3.99 on Audible.

Tangled by Emma Chase - I've never listened to any type of romance book before and thought I'd give it a try. I've heard good things about this one.

The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet by Bernie Su and Kate Rorick - I really loved The Lizzie Bennet Diaries web series and wanted to jump back into that world. It's also read by the actress that played Lizzie in the web series which should be fun. 

Even though I have a long commute now, I don't listen to a whole lot of audiobooks. Clearly this needs to change and I have a whole slew of them to get through. Big thanks to Lucy at The Reading Date whose blog I mined for audiobook recs. Besides just having a great blog, Lucy listens to tons of audiobooks and reviews them. Her blog is a great resource when you need an audiobook rec. 

Thanks for hanging out, everyone. Have a great Sunday!

Audiobook Review: The Black Echo by Michael Connolly

Title: The Black Echo (Harry Bosch #1)

Author: Michael Connolly
Publication Date: December 1, 2002
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Genre: Adult Mystery/Thriller
Find It: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, Audible
Source: Library

For maverick LAPD homicide detective Harry Bosch, the body in the drainpipe at Mulholland Dam is more than another anonymous statistic. This one is personal...because the murdered man was a fellow Vietnam "tunnel rat" who had fought side by side with him in a hellish underground war. Now Bosch is about to relive the horror of Nam. From a dangerous maze of blind alleys to a daring criminal heist beneath the city, his survival instincts will once again be tested to their limit. Pitted against enemies inside his own department and forced to make the agonizing choice between justice and vengeance, Bosch goes on the hunt for a killer whose true face will shock him.

When a body is found in a drain pipe in the Mulholland Dam, Detective Harry Bosch knows it's more than just the tragic fate of a homeless man. The victim is from someone from Harry's past and the investigation leads him down a dark and winding road that will test him in more ways than one.

I don't usually read a series out of order but that's what happened and I read Nine Dragons, book 15 in the series a couple of years ago. It had good points but I didn't love it and put off reading more in the series until now. The first book in Michael Connolly's popular Harry Bosch series is gritty, twisted and full of surprises. I listened to this audiobook in one week while commuting and it was great at helping pass the time while stuck in traffic. Bosch is a throwback to the grizzled noir detectives of the past. He's smart and unrelenting and has a hard time with authority.  He can be gruff at times but it's clear that he cares the victims in his cases. I also enjoyed that the story was set in LA (where I live) and the city was great backdrop for the unfolding mystery.

The story was well paced and full of twists that I did not expect. It was also really interesting to see how Bosch meets Eleanor Wish, a character who comes back later in the series. Dick Hill is the narrator for the audiobook and he has a great voice that embodies Bosch well. There's a grit to it and a sort of wariness in the voice that fits the character well. I wasn't as big of a fan of his female voices - Eleanor comes off as a bit high pitched and breathy - but he is a very good narrator overall.

I am glad that I returned to the beginning of this series. While I don't think I will be rushing out to get the next book but it will be on my list of books to read when I am in the mood for a well written mystery. Recommended for fans of noir and hard-boiled detective stories and mysteries.

---

Visit the author online at www.michaelconnelly.com/, Facebook and follow him on Twitter @Connellybooks

Please note that this post may contain affiliate links. For more details, please see our full disclosure policy here. 

Audiobook Review: Second Grave on the Left by Darynda Jones

Title: Second Grave on the Left (Charley Davidson #2)

Author: Darynda Jones
Narrated by: Lorelei King
Publication Date: August 16, 2011
Publisher: St. Martin's Press, Audio by Brilliance Audio
Genre: Adult Urban Fantasy
Find It: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, Book Depository, Audible
Source: Library

If you hang around with dead people, life can get pretty complicated. Take it from Charley Davidson, part-time private investigator and full-time Grim Reaper. Complicated is her middle name. The deceased find her very sparkly. Demons find her irresistible. And one entity in particular wants to seduce her in every way possible.

When Charley and Cookie (her best friend/receptionist) have to track down a missing woman, the case is not quite as open and shut as they anticipate. Cookie's friend Mimi disappeared five days earlier. Mimi then sends Cookie a cryptic message telling Cookie to meet her at an nearby coffee shop. The coffee is brewing, but Mimi's still missing. There is, however, a clue Mimi left on the bathroom wall: a woman's name. Mimi's husband explains to them that his wife had been acting strange since she found out an old high school friend had been murdered. The same woman whose name Mimi had scribbled on the bathroom wall.

Meanwhile, Reyes Alexander Farrow (otherwise known as the Son of Satan. Yes. Literally) has left his corporeal body and is haunting Charley. He's left his body because he's being tortured by demons who want to lure Charley closer. But Reyes can't let that happen. Because if the demons get to Charley, they'll have a portal to heaven...well, let's just say it wouldn't be pretty.

Can Charley handle hot nights with Reyes and even hotter days tracking down a missing woman? Can she keep those she loves out of harm's way? And is there enough coffee and chocolate in the world to fuel her as she does?

Here is your signpost for the most hilarious read of the year: Second Grave on the Left.

I read and really liked First Grave on the Right, the first book in the Charley Davidson series. Charley’s sarcastic wit and self-deprecating nature really appealed to me and had me laughing out loud. The super hot romance with Reyes was an added bonus and I was really happy to find a fun new series to get into. I don’t know what happened between when I read the first book and when I read the second one, but Second Grave on the Left was not fun and I really had to push myself to finish it.

The main problem for me with the book was Charley herself. I remembered that she was super sarcastic in the first book and the jokes felt a little forced at times but, overall, I liked her and enjoyed the sarcasm. This time around though, I really noticed how every sentence and word out of her mouth was a sarcastic quip or catch phrase. It’s like she could not utter a normal sentence. Because she would only speak in wisecracks, nothing that came out of her mouth seemed sincere. She also used “like,” “duh” and “totally” too much and I kept wondering if she was a grown woman or a testy teenager. She is also described as being a great PI but I did not see any evidence of this. At least 3 people tail her during the book and she doesn’t notice a single one of them. Later she ends up leading the bad guys to a witness. She makes really dumb decisions and barely manages not to get herself killed every few hours.

I was hoping that Reyes would save this book for me but I didn’t like him either. His interactions with Charley in this book consist of threatening her and saving her life. He even calls her a “whore” at one point, which isn’t a good sign in a relationship. The two still have physical chemistry but the book doesn’t go anywhere with it. And if I have to hear about Reyes’s “liquid brown eyes” one more time, I may scream. There is a reason that I have avoided audiobooks with a lot of romance. Lines that sound swoon-worthy when reading often sound cheesy when read aloud.

Then we get to the ending, which really annoyed me. I don’t want to give it away but Charley’s actions at the end of the book just show how immature and selfish she is. I really can’t think of any other reason why she does what she does.

Lorelei King read the audiobook of Second Grave. I have heard good things about King but this is the first time I have listened to her. King is very talented, giving life and expression to the words and dialogue. However, her voice didn’t quite match what my image of Charley. As I said, Charley is very immature and speaks more like a teenager than an adult. King has a really rich, deep voice that is incongruous with how I perceive Charley. It just wasn’t a good fit for me.

Sad to say that I won’t be continuing on with this series. I don’t think I can take another book of Charley’s one-liners and pouty quips. It’s unfortunate, too, because I really enjoyed the first book in this series. But Charley’s schtick gets old fast and, without a viable plot or other likeable characters, the humor simply isn’t enough.

---

Visit the author online at www.daryndajones.com and follow her on Twitter @darynda

Please note that this post may contain affiliate links. For more details, please see our full disclosure policy here. 

Grave Peril - Audiobook Review

Grave Peril (The Dresden Files #3) 
by Jim Butcher, ready by James Marsters

Publication date: 01 September 2001 by Roc/audio by Buzzy Multimedia

ISBN 10/13: 0979074975 | 9780979074974
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Audible

Category: Adult Urban Fantasy
Keywords: Urban fantasy, warlocks, ghosts, revenge, vampires
Format: Mass market paperback, eBook, audibook
Source: Library

Synopsis:

*This review may contain spoilers for previous books in the series.*

Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden has had a rough couple of weeks. As the only openly practicing professional wizard in the Chicago area, he has squared off against a multitude of supernatural bad guys. Harry has won the day against demons, poltergeists, sorcerers, trolls, vampires, werewolves, and even an evil faerie godmother. You might think nothing could spook him. You would be wrong.

Something is stirring up angry apparitions all over town. Something that can break all the laws of supernatural physics. Something that doesnt like Harry.

His closest friends are being targeted. The net is closing in. Harry must find a solution soon or find this is one Nightmare from which he will never waken.

Review:

The Dresden Files is one of those series that everyone seems to love and I feel like I should love it, too. I diligently listened to the first two books and, while I found them entertaining, they didn’t wow me. I never wanted to rush out and read the next book and I always felt like something was missing. But I kept seeing the reviews and people said that it just took a little bit of time for the series to hit its stride and then you’d be hooked. With that in mind, I decided to give the third book in The Dresden Files a chance in the hopes that it would be the book that would convince me of this series’ awesomeness.

The book starts off well enough with Harry and Michael, a new character, fighting off an angry ghost wreaking havoc in the maternity ward of the hospital. Looks like someone powerful is going around and pissing off a bunch of ghosts, causing them to act out destructively. The mastermind of these attacks is more powerful than other demon Harry has ever encountered and he has a grudge against Harry.

At this point, I am on board and it seems like this story could be pretty fun and interesting. Then a girl, Lydia, appears and Harry loses all his common sense. This is a reoccurring theme for Harry and there seems to be an endless queue of damsels in distress just waiting to take advantage of him. Then Harry gets a call that Johnnie Marcone has been attacked. Then some vampires come and threaten Harry and invite him to a ball. And then Murphy is also attacked in the same manner as Marcone. Oh and did I forget to mention that Harry’s evil fairy stepmother is after him as well?

Sounds like a lot of crazy stuff, right? Well it was too much for me. I felt like there were 3 or 4 storylines going on at once and I didn’t care about any of them. The plot just kept getting more convoluted and ridiculous. Seriously, why is everyone trying to kill Harry and how does he manage to survive? I don’t think it’s by his awesome detective skills because he missed a lot of things that were staring him right in the face. And while I normally enjoy Harry’s somewhat martyred air, he comes off as pretty whiny in this one.

The one bright spot was Michael, whom I really liked and wouldn’t mind seeing more of. I also really liked his wife Charity. She had a razor sharp tongue and wasn’t afraid to use it.

As you can see, Grave Peril was not the book to put me on the Dresden Files train. While I like most of the characters and many elements of the books, they just don’t wow me enough to continue on with the series. This last book especially was very tedious for me. Even James Marsters’s wonderful voice is not enough incentive to continue.

 

---

Visit the author online at www.jim-butcher.com and his blog.

Tough Sh*t: The Story of a Fat, Lazy Slob Who Did Good - Audiobook Review

Tough Sh*t: The Story of a Fat, Lazy Slob Who Did Good 
by Kevin Smith
Read by Kevin Smith

Publication date: 20 March 2012 by Gotham

ISBN 10/13: 0446574503 | 9780446574501
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Audible

Category: Adult Biography/Comedy
Keywords: Comedy, biography, inspirational, film
Format: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook
Source: Purchased from Audible

Thuy's Review:

Let me start off this review by saying that I am a fan of Kevin Smith. I’ve seen all of his movies, listen to his podcast, am a regular attendant at his Hall H panel at Comic-Con every year, and even visited his comic shop, Jay and Bob’s Silent Stash, back when they had a location in Los Angeles. When I heard that he had a new book coming out, I knew that it would be funny and entertaining, like the man himself.

Tough Sh*t: Life Advice from a Fat, Lazy Slob Who Did Good, is partly and inspirational tome and part biography. In it, Smith chronicles his rise to indie fame with his first film Clerks and his film industry education at the hands of Harvey Weinstein. Smith leaves no rock unturned and chronicles each of his films, from Clerks, which was funded by credit cards and sold at Sundance, to his newest film, Red State, which he sold the rights to himself for $20 and took on tour through indie movies houses across the U.S.

A lover of all things pop culture, Smith’s book is peppered throughout with references to comics, Batman, Wayne Gretsky, and John Hughes, all of which had a large impact on his life. Smith also gets into the nitty gritty of life in Hollywood, telling of his falling out with Harvey Weinstein as well as the story of which star on the set of Cop Out was a nightmare to work with (hint – it wasn’t Tracy Morgan). But the book isn’t all film and Hollywood gossip. Smith talks extensively about his family, namely his father, wife Jenny and their daughter Harley Quinn (best name ever!). Smith may be the most humble man in Hollywood as he makes it clear that much of his success and sanity are due to the support and talent of his friends and family.

Through all of these life lessons and experiences, Smith’s message is clear – if a fat f*ck like him can make a living doing what he loves, then so can you. Smith encourages you to dream big and “follow your whimsy.” Life may not turned out the way you planned, Smith says, but keep an open mind and it may turn out to be a slightly different and more over the top version of what you were aiming for. In an age of cynicism, following your dreams may sound too idealistic, but Smith has his own unlikely and inspirational story to hold up as an example. He’s built an empire just by being himself.

Smith is the perfect narrator for his own book and I couldn’t imagine anyone else doing it justice. For the past few years, Smith’s been doing a weekly podcast and it’s clear that he’s comfortable behind the mic. Already funny on the page, his words take on a whole new life coming from the source (especially the cuss words). Smith speaks with charm and enthusiasm and his attitude is infectious. I actually wanted to stay at the gym a little longer just so I could keep listening (and it takes a lot to keep me at the gym, folks). The audiobook is also peppered with little asides from Smith as he reads – little side notes not in the book that are an added bonus of getting the audiobook.

Fans of Kevin Smith will no doubt be highly entertained by this book. If you've been listening to Smith for a long time like I have, some of the stories may be familiar. But this doesn't detract from the book because Smith has a way of never telling a story the same way twice. I'd recommend this for fans of Kevin Smith and those with an open mind who don't mind some crude language and humor.

---

You can find Kevin Smith all over the internet. Find him on Twitter @ThatKevinSmith, View Askew, and SModcast. 

Austenland - Audiobook Review

Austenland by Shannon Hale
Read by Katherine Kellgren

Publication date: 29 May 2007 by Bloomsbury Publishing

Audiobook released June 2008 by Macmillan Audio

ISBN 10/13: 0446574503 | 9780446574501
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Audible

Category: Adult Fiction
Keywords: Romance, Jane Austen, chick lit
Format: Hardcover, paperback, eBook, audiobook
Source: Library

Synopsis:

Jane Hayes is your typical single female living on her own in NYC. Except Jane has a secret. She’s in love with Mr. Darcy. Particularly with the Colin Firth version of Mr. Darcy in the BBC miniseries of Pride & Prejudice. While she realizes that Mr. Darcy is not a real person, he is the standard by which she judges all men and, not surprisingly, she has had trouble finding someone to meet her high standards. 

When Jane’s aunt passes away, she leaves in her will an all expenses paid trip for Jane to Pembrook Park, a Jane Austen themed vacation package. Jane decides that this will be a good opportunity for her to live out her Jane Austen fantasy after which, she would put Mr. Darcy behind her and move on with her life. 

Thuy's Review:

I really wanted to like this book. The premise sounded great. As a bit of an Austen groupie myself, the idea of finding romance at a Jane Austen retreat sounds like my dream come true. Unfortunately, Austenland reads like bad chick lit. 

Let’s start with Jane. Unfortunately, I never connected with her. I felt like I should have since we live in very similar circumstances, but she was dramatic and whiny most of the time. Somehow through the course of the book, she gives up her Darcy obsession and opens herself up to the possibility of a real romance. Perhaps her evolution was too subtle for me, but I am still not sure how or why she changed. She was able to stop hiding her Pride & Prejudice DVD so that means something, right? 

Throughout the book there are little snippets about Jane and her previous “boyfriends.” I say boyfriends in quotation marks because this list includes men that Jane has only been out with once or, in one case, knocked on his door with the intention of asking him out. It’s a ridiculous list, with each boyfriend more hilariously awful than the next. I think we’re supposed to believe that, with a list of relationships as awful as these, it’s no wonder that Jane has taken up with the fictional Mr. Darcy. But as a whole, the list is too over the top to be believable, as are Jane’s expectations of these “boyfriends.” 

Out of all the characters, though, I liked Jane the most. She was annoying at times but she could be funny. Mrs. Charming was the stereotypical older woman, desperate for love and attention. (I just saw that Jennifer Coolidge is playing Mrs. Charming in the film adaptation. Real original, people). Mrs. Wattlesbrook was mean and petty. She practically hated Jane just because she wasn’t rich. And of course, we have the prickly Mr. Darcy character played to a tee by Mr. Nobley. None of these characters were very likable or original. 

I also had problems with Pembrook Park itself. I thought it was going to be a fun, themed vacation where Jane Austen enthusiasts came to feel a little closer to Austen and her books. Instead, it was a place where lonely women with money went to find some romance.  Like Jane, I had a real problem reconciling what was real and what was just acting and, therefore, nothing seemed sincere. I am also just sick of all the movies and books that depict single, successful women as unsatisfied with their lives because they need a man/husband to make it complete. They will go to crazy lengths to find their happy endings and, and in this case, are willing to pay a large sum of money for just the illusion of it. 

It’s funny that Jane goes to Pembrook Park to rid herself of her Darcy obsession. While she says that she has moved on and is ready to have a real relationship, she gets her happy ending with a man who is just like Mr. Darcy. In the end, I am not sure if she changes at all. 

Katherine Kellgren narrates Austenland and, while it’s obvious that she is very talented, I wasn’t a huge fan of the audiobook. I think it’s because she has a tendency to do “voices” in her narration. She has an actual, distinct voice for each character. Unfortunately since I didn’t like any of the characters, the voices only added to my irritation, especially the snooty British ones. This is Kellgren’s fault but has more to do with my own issues with the book.

As you can see,. this book just wasn’t for me. If you’re looking for a light read and are a fan of chick lit, you may enjoy this. I’ve heard that Hale’s other books for children/YA are much better and I am willing to give them a try.

 

---

Visit the author online at www.squeetus.com and follow her on Twitter @haleshannon

Fool Moon - Audiobook Review

Fool Moon (The Dresden Files #2) by Jim Butcher
audiobook read by Jim Marsters

Publication date: 09 January 2001 by Ace/Roc

ISBN 10/13: 0451458125 | 9780451458124
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Indiebound

Category: Adult Urban Fantasy
Keywords: Urban fantasy, paranormal, mystery, murder, werewolves
Format: Mass market paperback, eBook, audiobook
Source: Library

From Goodreads:

Business has been slow. Okay, business has been dead. And not even of the undead variety. You would think Chicago would have a little more action for the only professional wizard in the phone book. But lately, Harry Dresden hasn't been able to dredge up any kind of work—magical ormundane.

But just when it looks like he can't afford his next meal, a murder comes along that requires his particular brand of supernatural expertise.

A brutally mutilated corpse. Strange-looking paw prints. A full moon. Take three guesses—and the first two don't count.

Thuy's Review:

In this second installment to The Dresden Files, Harry finds himself in yet another sticky situation. When a slew of murders occur on the full moon with paw prints found next to the mutilated bodies, Harry is hired by the police to help find the killer before the next full moon and killing spree. The investigation leads him down an unexpected path and Harry finds himself caught between the law, the mob, and more than one pack of supernatural creatures that want him dead.

This time, Harry finds himself tangled up with werewolves in a complicated plot that has him playing both sides. Harry is the same as ever – sarcastic and just trying to pay the bills. He’s also got this pesky sense of honor that gets him into a lot of trouble. Sometimes I feel like he plays the part of the martyr a bit much and he has enough angst for most of Chicago. At one point, Murphy calls him on his hero complex, which is priceless. But I like that Harry tries to do the right thing, even though it’s not always the smart thing. The werewolf plot was interesting but there were too many different kinds of werewolves to keep track of. They all kind of blended together at one point. And is it just me or is the idea that a person can turn into a werewolf with the aid of a belt somewhat unromantic?

I was glad to see that Murphy was back on the case. She’s tough as nails and I love her. She and Harry have a complicated relationship that gets even more so in this book. Susan also makes an appearance and Marconi is never far when there’s trouble. We don’t see much of Bob in this one but I hope to see more of him in the next book. The action is non-stop and there’s a really bloody battle in the book. It’s clear that Butcher isn’t afraid to kill characters. The ending kept me on the edge of my seat as I waited to see who would live or die.

I liked Fool Moon though not quite as much as Storm Front. It was still very enjoyable though and I am going to pick up the next book in the series. James Marsters once again rocks my socks as the narrator. He’s become Harry Dresden to me and I can’t imagine anyone someone else reading it. Another entertaining installment in the series and looking forward to the next.

---

Visit the author online at www.jim-butcher.com and his blog

Storm Front - Audiobook Review

Storm Front (The Dresden Files #1) by Jim Butcher
audiobook read by James Marsters

Publication date: 02 February 2003 by Ace/Roc

ISBN 10/13: 0965725502 | 9780965725507
Goodreads | Amazon | Buzzy Media

Category: Adult Urban Fantasy
Keywords: Urban fantasy, paranormal, wizards, magic
Format: Mass market paperback, eBook, audiobook

From Goodreads:

My name is Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden. Conjure by it at your own risk. I'm a wizard. I work out of an office in midtown Chicago. As far as I know, I'm the only openly practicing professional wizard in the country. You can find me in the yellow pages, under Wizards. Believe it or not, I'm the only one there.

With rent past due and a decent meal becoming an issue of some importance, Harry needs work, and soon. A call from a distraught wife, and another from Lt Murphy of the Chicago PD Special Investigation Unit makes Harry believe things are looking up, but they are about to get worse, much worse. Someone is harnessing immense supernatural forces to commit a series of grisly murders. Someone has violated the first law of magic: Thou Shalt Not Kill. Tracking that someone takes Harry into the dangerous underbelly of Chicago, from mobsters to vampires, while he himself is under suspicion of the crimes. One thing is certain, if he can't stop whoever is on this killing spree, Harry will be the next victim.

Thuy's Review:

I first read Storm Front a couple of years ago after hearing some really great things about it. I remember liking it and thinking that I would probably read the rest of the series someday, but I was in no hurry to do it. Fast forward a couple of years and I still hadn’t gotten around to any of the sequels. But it still drew my eye whenever I was in the bookstore and I finally decided to give the series another try. This time, I decided to go back and re-read Storm Front as an audiobook. So many people told me that the series was truly awesome in audio. After hearing that James Marsters (Spike in Buffy) was the reader, I was sold.

Harry Dresden is a down on his luck wizard who’s just trying to make a living, but he can’t seem to catch a break. After a couple is find with their hearts blown out Harry finds himself in the midst of some very dark magic. Unfortunately he’s the only professional wizard in town and suddenly becomes the number one suspect.

Harry is socially awkward, dry, shrewd, and a little bitter, but he’s also extremely likable. He just wants to get the job done and not get killed in the process. He’s also clever and has an innate sense of honor and justice. I think part of Harry’s appeal is that he’s an underdog, and I love a good underdog. And James Marsters is a wonderful narrator for the series. With his unhurried voice with just a hint of sarcasm, he perfectly embodies what I think Harry Dresden would sound like.  The mystery wasn't the most original but I still had fun watching Harry put the clues together.

Storm Front also has a great cast of secondary characters. Bob the snarky spirit stuck in a skull cracked me up and I really like Murphy, Harry’s long suffering friend and police lieutenant. I know this is only the first book but I am really hoping that something romantic happens between Harry and Murphy down the road. Don’t tell me if it happens, though! I want to be surprised.

All in all, I thought this was a solid intro the the series and a thoroughly fun read. I enjoyed getting to know quirky cast of characters and I am definitely going to read (or listen) to the next book in the series.

---

Visit the author online at www.jim-butcher.com and his blog