In the North of the Seven Kingdoms Eddard Stark is the lord of Winterfell and strives to govern his land with a stern, but just hand. He struggles to teach his heir, Robb, to be an honourable leader and set an example for his other five children. When a dead mother dire wolf is found, and her six puppies are adopted by each of his children, Eddard Stark realizes that the motto of his house is becoming a reality. Winter is coming.

To the North of Winterfell, a giant wall of ice exists to protect the people of the seven kingdoms from the Barbarian “Wildlings” and other Northern threats. Eddard Stark’s bastard son Jon leaves his family to join the Watch on the Wall, and discovers a deadly threat to the safety of the entire Seven Kingdoms.

In the East, an exiled prince plots his return to the Westeros. He is slowly gathering every tool at his disposal to return to his murdered father’s seat and reclaim the Iron Throne that is rightfully his. Prince Viserys and his younger sister Daenerys make an allegiance with a powerful, nomadic tribe of mounted warriors in an effort to begin building an army.

With threats mounting from the North and the East, the Stark family must decide with whom their allegiance lies as the struggle for the Iron Throne begins. George R.R. Martin’s characters will completely consume you as you watch them mature and grow through the series.

Is the narrator any good? Because A Game of Thrones is filled with such a rich and diverse cast of characters, a talented and adaptable narrator is required to portray the many personalities. Roy Dotrice brings each character to life and makes them instantly recognizable by their accent, or the cadence of their voice. He is consistent throughout the entire audiobook and makes each of his characters distinct.

The verdict? The plot of A Game of Thrones is so unique and unpredictable that it captivates the listener from the first chapter through to the last. Pairing Roy Dotrice’s excellent performance with George R.R. Martin’s fantastic writing creates a listening experience that you can lose yourself in whether you’re stuck in gridlock, or on a 12 hour flight. I couldn’t stop listening to this audiobook and was so relieved that there were five more books in the series, as I didn’t want it to end. Whether or not you are a fan of epic fantasy, I highly recommend A Game of Thrones.

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A Game of Thrones: Book 1 of A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin is a post from: Audio Book Downloads

What’s it about?

Walter Isaacson conducted more than 40 interviews with Jobs over two years — as well as 100+ interviews with Jobs’ family members, key colleagues from Apple and its competitors — and the result is an extraordinary and definitive account of arguably the greatest innovator of his generation.

Is the narrator any good? Dylan Baker gives a solid, professional reading of this book and his voice is well suited to the subject.

The verdict? Steve Jobs was a complex individual, and Walter Isaacson has done a brilliant job of capturing his essence (warts and all). While listening to this audio book I would one moment be enthralled with his creative genius, the next horrified with how much of a jerk he could be to his colleagues and even his family. But love him or hate him, there is no doubt the story of Steve Jobs is fascinating.

Tied in with this story are many thought-provoking themes: open vs. closed systems, engineering vs. art, family vs. work. There are also many business lessons:  focus on the product; make the product simple to use; focus on excellence at every turn; and be one or two steps ahead of the competition. In summary, this is a compelling portrait of a flawed genius. I highly recommend this audio book.

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Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson is a post from: Audio Book Downloads

Back on earth, Billy Pilgrim lives a mundane life as an optometrist, who struggles at suppressing his maddening obsession with telling the world about his outer space time travels.  Vonnegut’s fatalism is expressed by the fact that Pilgrim’s life and death proceed as planned, despite the fact that he is fully aware of what he is to expect from each event and decision.  Throughout these distant moments in Billy Pilgrim’s existence, he is repeatedly sent back to re-live World War II and the Dresden bombing.

Is the narrator any good? Ethan Hawke adds another facet to this audio book that’s already bouncing with turns and twists.  Mr. Hawke’s voice is lively and morphs into every complex character within the book.  He convinces you that he’s German, that he’s an American from Indianapolis, or that he’s even the sound of birds after a massacre.  Throughout the book, Vonnegut includes a lot of traditional limerick to help express his characters’ point of view, which Mr. Hawke reads on key, with melody and all.

The verdict? Slaughterhouse-Five is a rare book.  It’s funny, yet has its extremely poignant and poetic moments.  Having a talented actor like Ethan Hawke read this audio book highlights the wonderfully subtle mood changes that occur throughout this masterpiece.  As I was listening to this audio book, I couldn’t help but pause it at times, think, and go back to enjoying this cerebral ride.  If you are interested in a literary work that trespasses into every genre without delicate grace, but a very unique and brash character, I highly recommend the Slaughterhouse-Five audio book experience.

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Slaughterhouse-Five or The Children’s Crusade: A Duty Dance with Death by Kurt Vonnegut is a post from: Audio Book Downloads

What’s it about? 

Enzo begins his story with his first meeting with Denny Swift, a young race car driving bachelor.  His blunt and witty narration, paired with his pure heart, immediately captivate you and keep you spellbound for the entire book. As Denny meets his future wife, gets married and discovers the joy of a new baby, Enzo acts as a loyal and unwavering force for Denny. He is an integral part of the family, and celebrates their triumphs and mourns their losses with startling perspective.

When a devastating sequence of events leaves Denny reeling and clinging to the threads of his life, Enzo is the lone driving force to persevere and fiercely defend Denny as he tries to reclaim his family and career. The world of auto racing acts as an undercurrent throughout the book as Enzo discovers that the same principles required to succeed in racing are required to succeed in life. The reader is taken on a life-altering tour through the faithful and ever-observant perspective of a loyal friend. The story leaves you uplifted, satisfied and deep in personal introspection.

Is the narrator any good? Christopher Evan Welch has an edgy, masculine voice that perfectly conveys the attitude and emotion in Enzo’s voice. He is also the narrator of the Oscar winning movie Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

Enzo’s wry brilliance is nicely articulated by Welch’s tone and emphasis. There are many facets to Enzo’s character, as he is ruled by selfless canine devotion at some times, and bitterness for his lack of opposable thumbs at other times. Welch adapts his performance wonderfully to each of the intricacies of Enzo’s colorful personality.

The verdict? Although told in the first person voice of a dog, this story doesn’t become exaggerated and cute. Garth Stein provides an honest and gritty look at the human condition, with an underlying optimism that ultimately prevails. The story is colored by Enzo’s staunch loyalty that will have you alternately cheering and weeping. His sense of humor highlights the absurd moments in life that we take for granted and will leave you with a smile on your face. Because the perspective of a dog isn’t jaded and world-weary, the reader is able to get a clairvoyant look into the significance of our routine actions and decisions.

This audio book has altered the way I approach my life and even my relationship with my dog! I often catch myself trying to emulate Enzo’s mantra, “That which you manifest is before you”. It is a great listen from start to finish.

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The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein is a post from: Audio Book Downloads

Aibileen Clarke is a 53 year old black maid who has recently lost her only child and pours all of her energy and love into the upbringing of the white daughter of her employer. The death of her son has planted a bitter seed of resentment towards the white population of Jackson that she struggles to hide.

Minny Jackson is Aibileen’s fiery best friend who refuses to be oppressed into the subservient role occupied by so many of her friends. Her sassy attitude has earned her nothing but trouble in the town of Jackson.

Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan is a debutante from one of the most prominent white families in Jackson. She has recently graduated from university and is struggling to find a balance between her dream to be a writer, and the desire to conform to the traditional interests of her friends in the Junior League.

An opportunity arises for these three women to work together to express their frustration and discontent with the commonplace social injustices they experience every day. The three points of view complement each other perfectly for a deeply engrossing, heartbreaking and uplifting story.

Is the narrator any good? Jenna Lamia, Bahni Turpin and Octavia Spencer do an extraordinary job of adding another dimension to the already exquisite characters of these three Southern women. Their accents are impeccable and transport you into the deep South, where you begin to form an intimate relationship with Aibileen, Minny and Skeeter. Each voice is distinct, and perfectly suits the personality of each character. I believe this audio book is a much richer experience than simply reading the text, as the multiple narrators add so much depth and passion to the book.

The verdict? The Help is truly a unique audio experience. The coupling of a captivating storyline and the enthralling and emotional narration creates an exceptional listening experience. By the end of the book I felt I had formed a relationship with each of these women and was emotionally invested in each of their stories. Kathryn Stockett takes on a sensitive issue with poise, honesty and a great sense of humour. There were times when I burst into laughter while listening to this book, and other times when I was moved to tears. The rave reviews are well deserved. This is one book that must be experienced through the medium of an audio book.

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The Help by Kathryn Stockett is a post from: Audio Book Downloads