Books vs. E-books vs. Audiobooks

I have several bookshelves full of books. Books, I've been collecting since my early teens. I honestly haven't added a single book in at least a year. And even then, it was probably something I found at the free library at a local bus stop, where you can take or swap books and other things, or leave books and other things you no longer want for other people to browse through. 

Why? Because I have a Kindle app on my phone. Had it for at least six or seven years. I had an actual physical Kindle before the app, so the app itself would be for like four years or so. But I've been reading e-books for about seven years. And then I found audiobooks. Those were something I was avoiding like the plague at first, for some reason. A reason I no longer remember. But, I have an office job (most days), and I'm the only one in the room (most days). And well, what am I supposed to do while working? So I listen to audiobooks while I work. If my colleague can listen to the radio, then I can listen to an audiobook. And the problem is that 99% of the books in my bookcase are in Czech. And all of my e-books and audiobooks are in English. So, obviously, I have duplicates. The question is, what should I do with the physical books that I also have as an e- or audiobook? I'm thinking of just offering them to my relatives because I'm honestly starting to think it's pointless to keep them if I have them on my pc and phone to listen to/read anytime. 

Anthony Horowitz - Alex Rider: Skeleton Key

 I've read this book before and now I've read it again. Alex Rider, the teen spy is at it again. This time, Blunt sends him to work with the CIA on a mission that takes them to Cuba or thereabouts. What was supposed to be a vacation for him and a cover for two CIA operatives soon turns into a nightmare when the two agents are killed and Alex is kidnapped by a Russian general, Sarov. 

It is now up to the teen to save the world. Again. In an epic trip that spans the world and ends in the freezing city of Murmansk, Alex races against the clock to save the world from being thrown into chaos. 

I've been a fan of the Alex Rider books since I've read them when I was still in school. Back then, I would devour them like there was no tomorrow. Though I did do a stupid thing back then when I started the 8th book and then peeked at the last page. And thinking that it was the last book, I put it down and started reading fanfiction instead. It was several years later that I realized there were more books after the 8th one. 

And now I'm re-reading all of them, in audiobook format. Skeleton key was very easy to listen to and follow the plot. I've always been a fan of Horowitz's writing style and I've read most of his "for teens" books. Only, I'm 28 and it seems like the books are not just for teens. Several years ago I would have classified them as such, but honestly, they are for anybody who liked spy novels. If you enjoy James Bond and are not discouraged by the fact that these books feature a teenage hero, you will like them. I'm sure of it. 

Skeleton Key is the third book in the series of twelve. I would suggest starting from the beginning even though knowledge of the previous books is not strictly necessary. You can enjoy Skeleton Key even without reading the other books. I can't say this for sure as I did read the previous books, but it does seem like all the books provide the necessary information for you not to be lost when previous events are mentioned. 

If you have already read this book, feel free to share your opinions in the comments and if you didn't but decide to, feel free to come back and share later, okay?

~AnnElfwind 

Written on the 9th of July, 2021

Drizzt - Book 2 and 3

 

I've been reading some more Drizzt books. I finished book two and three and started book four. So far, we're still in the territory I know. I've read these books before. But it's been a while and definitely don't remember them all that well. Apart from those, I have finished re-reading. 

So, in book two we see Drizzt after several years of living alone (with Guen) in the caves outside and away from the city of Drow elves. Well, if you can call it living. I've always said there's a difference between living and surviving and this is definitely the latter. 

One day, Drizzt follows a bunch of svirfnebli to their home. There, he meets Belwar, the svirfnebli he met during an expedition when he was still living with the drow elves. The svirfnebli let him stay in their city and he does. For a while anyway. 

Because his family, his drow family decide to use Zaknafein's corpse to make a lean mean killing machine. Staying in the svirfnebli city becomes too dangerous for the svirfnebli and he leaves. Belwar goes with him. They travel even deeper into the tunnels and caves. They come across a new friend. A pech in the body of a hook horror. 

R. A. Salvatore - Forgotten Realms - Homeland

 

Guess what? I got myself all the Legend of Drizzt books in the audiobook version. That's like... Almost forty books. I've read the first few a long time ago in Czech as actual books. Back then, I had no clue about audiobooks and they were not really common yet anyway. But now, I'm watching D&D on youtube and getting back into some other things, and voila. I feel like reading some Drizzt. So I got myself the whole collection and here we go. I usually listen to audiobooks while I'm at work. When I'm alone in the office. 

Drizzt is a dark elf - a drow. And he doesn't fit in. He has an actual functioning moral compass. The only other drow that has similar views and beliefs is his biological father, Zaknafein Do'Urden. Unfortunately, he dies at the end of the first book. Bummer. He's my second most favorite character. So, Drizzt learns how to fight from him, then learns other things from the academy. 

All in all, the whole first book is just showing us how Drizzt doesn't fit in the typical Drow society and how evil they actually are. Their goddess, the spider queen Loth, is pure evil. Honestly, I've always liked these books. Though, as I first read them in Czech, I keep thinking back to what the translation of certain names was and honestly, I mostly can't remember. 

Eoin Colfer - Artemis Fowl

 And no, I'm not talking about the movie. Even if it was the reason I decided to re-read the books. 

I've read the books as a kid and they were great. I don't think I've read them (back then) more than once, but they stayed with me. When I got a little older, better at English, I started reading fanfiction and among those were stories featuring Artemis Fowl. The ones I read most of were crossovers, mostly with Harry Potter, which, now that I think about it, has even more potential. What with Colin Farrell playing Artemis' father. The potential for fanfics just went from great to infinite. Or close to it 

Lily Morton - Black and Blue #1: The Mysterious and Amazing Blue Billings

 

Levi's boyfriend cheated on him and his mother died. Thankfully, he inherited a house in York and can start a new life there. Not so thankfully, the house is haunted. Doors opening, windows opening, lights flickering... Think a hunting phase in Phasmophobia. 

And then he meets Blue Billings. An almost homeless man who does Ghost walks for a living. Basically touring York and the sites of killings. 
It also turns out that Blue can actually see the ghosts. And that he's not the only one in York who can. And then the two of them start to try to unravel the mystery of the house Levi inherited. And at the same time, they start to fall for one another and end up in a relationship together. Which, not really a shocker, considering this is a BL novel. 
Still, it's well written and worth a try. It seems to be the first book in a series. Which, good. At least I have some inspiration as to what to look for when I finish all the books I currently have. Oh, and I didn't actually read this book. I listened to it in an audiobook format. That way, I could listen to it at work. At least during the days, I'm alone in the office. When my colleague is there with me, she turns on the radio. And considering she doesn't speak English and does not know about my preference for reading BL, she probably wouldn't like my choice of books anyway. 

Josh Lanyon - Murder takes the high road

 Well, it's been a while since I've written anything. It won't seem like it to you, because I pre-schedule my posts. So there are still several to be posted before you actually see this at the time I'm writing it. I haven't been writing anything lately because I've managed to get my Minecraft to work again. And I've been playing that. Also, I recently got back into the habit of listening to audiobooks. And that's the reason I'm writing this. I finished one just two days ago. And it was really good. 

Written by Josh Lanyon (never heard of him until now), the book is titled Murder takes the high road. And yes, as the name suggests, it's a murder mystery. Though until about the last third of the book or so, it is meant more in the fun way as the whole thing takes place during a bus tour about a murder mystery author. 

Unless I misheard the narrator, the whole thin gis neatly set into the Scottish Highlands and the bus tour is supposed to end in the authoress's castle. 

The main character, Carter, is attending the tour despite the fact that his ex is there also, and with a new boyfriend to boot. At first, he's only there to annoy the crap out of Trevor (the ex), but then he starts to enjoy it. He makes friends with the other occupants and seems to be the only one actively (though somewhat unknowingly) participating in the staged mystery that is part of the tour. 

Things take a bad turn after they reach the castle where they are supposed to stay for several days while having a chance to talk to the authoress. I do not wish to spoil the plot of the novel. Up until now, I haven't said anything specific as to the whole plot. But let's just say that the staged mystery becomes a proper murder mystery. I won't say who or why or how, if you want to know that, you have to read or listen to the book. I got it from audiobookbay and you can too.