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AudioSynced: The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

March 15, 2010 |

There are books that come up that become required reading in a librarian’s life, and for me, one of the big ones was Garth Stein’s The Art of Racing in the Rain. A few local book clubs were reading it, and it never seems to be on the shelf at work. I decided I should take the time to see what it was about, and not only am I thrilled to have taken the plunge, but I could not find a better way to experience this one than through listening.

Enzo is a philosophic dog and the story is told entirely through his eyes. His owner, Denny Swift, is an aspiring race car driver. The story starts at the end of Enzo’s natural life, and it is a reflection of his experiences with Denny.

Denny’s a guy you cannot help but fall in love with. Perhaps this is precisely the motive behind using Enzo as the narrator, as we’re given a completely biased perspective, but this is one of the few books where the end of the story leaves me sadder for the person than the animal. Yep, I’m heartless.

But I digress. Enzo’s story is the story of Denny, as he navigates through his wife Eve’s crippling disease and eventual death, as well as the tough situation that Eve’s family puts Denny through afterward. There’s the subplot of Denny’s racing career, too, but it is just that: a subplot. And really, the story is this simple. I cannot give you much of a longer description of the plot.

The Art of Racing in the Rain is remarkable because of its simplicity, but it is brilliant because of Stein’s narrative decisions. Enzo is incredibly astute and offers his readers, whom he addresses head on, with quite inspiring insights into life and living. The metaphor here is quite simple, too: no race is one in the first lap, but many races are lost there.

What I really liked about this book was how simple and beautifully the metaphor worked, without once ever feeling overworked. This is a relatively short book — and on audio, it was only 6 discs — but it packs in a lot worth thinking about and discussing without developing an overly complicated story line. Throughout the book, I did feel myself jarred at what happened to Denny, but not because it was entirely surprising. My real surprises came because I hadn’t been paying enough attention to what was going on to sense the next step coming. In other words, I, too, caught myself getting too stuck into my ideas and beliefs instead of “living” the story.

Christopher Evan Welch narrates this book, and I think he is the perfect Enzo. If that name sounds familiar to you, you may remember him as the voice of Tails in the cartoon series of The Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog in the 1990s. What works is his slightly deeper voice — not baritone deep, but enough to sound slightly gruff and yet smooth simultaneously. He both reads with 100% emotion yet makes it feel emotionless, like a canine observer. It is easy to fall into the story and lose yourself. See my earlier comment about “living” the story.

The production and editing of this audio were spot on. There was just enough music at the beginning of each disc to help you drop into the story and the setting. I didn’t find any noticable production issues. This was a semi-voiced narration, too, which made for an interesting contrast. The dog-to-person transitions were natural and never forced.

The Art of Racing in the Rain is a book that will stand the test of time. There is a lot to dig into here, and I would venture to say it’s a modern classic. Book groups will find plenty to discuss here, but I can see literature classes having a lot to talk about. The writing is strong, but the messages are stronger. The narrative device gives rise to a lot of questions on perspective, especially in a story that involves scandal: can we believe Enzo?

This is a book everyone should read. I don’t think it’s one everyone will like, as Janssen herself was not a huge fan. I’m going to disagree with her though on a couple points (this rarely happens!) – I didn’t think the book was depressing, and I definitely didn’t think this was about a dog. The book is quite hopeful, and the focus, I think, is on humans and humanity. The dog’s the device, the race car if you will, that sets the story in motion. And don’t worry if you’re not a racing fan: it’s minimal. But do be aware there is a lot of swearing and quite a few moments that will make you blush…especially when you’re in your car driving in traffic at 7:30 a.m.

(P.S.: Does anyone else think these covers cater to entirely different audiences? The lighter blue with the script-like writing appeals to the younger readers, while the deeper blue with the more inquisitive-looking dog definitely appeals to the older readers. An interesting tactic!).

Filed Under: Adult, audio review, audiobooks, Reviews, Uncategorized

AudioSynced: Zeitoun

March 11, 2010 |

When I moved, I got a new public library. One of the things that they do I love is separate out their new audio books from the huge selection they own. They’re on the same shelves as the new fiction and non-fiction, making them stand out. Zeitoun, by David Eggers, was a book I’d heard about over and over last year since it ended up on a number of “best of” lists, but I hadn’t thought to pick it up. When I saw that it was available in audio and knowing what a great experience I had previously with a non-fiction audio book, I thought I’d give it a whirl.

I’m so glad I did.

Zeitoun is the true story of Abdularahman Zeitoun (who goes by Zeitoun), the owner of a small contracting service specializing in painting and roof repairs in New Orleans. The story takes place in the immediate wake of Hurricane Katrina and follows Zeitoun as he chooses to ride out the hurricane in his home so he can watch over it and his rental properties.

Zeitoun’s both a father and a husband to Kathy. Kathy and the children do not like Zeitoun’s decision to stay in the city and they decided they need to leave. If there is a mandatory evacuation, they think it is best to follow the orders, and they choose to head to Baton Rouge, where Kathy has family.

Eggers’s story gives the day-by-day details of Zeitoun’s time in New Orleans. Prior to the storm, he invested in a small paddle boat. As the water starts rising around him, he finds he can be quite helpful to others who have found themselves in the city and stuck. He helped an elderly woman find safety, and he took responsibility for feeding some neighborhood dogs left abandoned by their neighbor. And, as luck would have it, one of the Zeitoun rental properties managed to maintain phone service; Zeitoun is able to make daily phone calls to Kathy and give her the update on the city and on himself.

While listening to the story, it was at this point I immediately thought that Eggers had written a text much like the graphic novel A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge by Josh Neufeld. That, too, is a story of those who chose to stay in the city, rather than leave.

But I was so, so wrong.

What happens nearly a week after the storm wrecked havoc on the city is painful to hear. Kathy, accustomed to Zeitoun’s daily noon phone calls, suddenly stops receiving them. She has not heard from her husband in a number of days, and now that she is on her way to Phoenix (tired of her family in Baton Rouge), she is convinced Zeitoun has died. What would she tell her family? How would she ever be able to go back to the city?

It turns out that Zeitoun had not died. Rather, the Department of Homeland Security, in a hasty sweep of the city, had arrested him, stripped him of any and all of his rights, and locked him into a taunting high security prison for weeks. He was not told what for, nor was he given a single phone call. He was labeled a terrorist because of his skin color and religious beliefs, and he endured something far worse than the terror Katrina caused the city.

Zeitoun was a powerfully moving story that will stick with me for a very long time. I had not known about these stories of post-Katrina New Orleans, and it was absolutely painful and horrifying to find out these atrocities happened to innocent people. Although I am not ignorant about these sorts of abuses, it was not something I had expected to happen in the wake of a natural disaster in our own country. This is the sort of story everyone needs to read and become aware of.

Listening to this book on audio was perfect for me. The narrator, Firdous Bamji, delivers a wonderful voice to the story. It is not fully voiced, nor really semi-voiced audio. Bamji does offer us a bit of tone difference among the characters, but that is less for effect than simply for audio distinction (think more like a the fact we separate dialog on a page with new paragraphs to make it clear someone new is talking). He offers a nice, truthful rendering of how I would imagine Zeitoun’s life to sound, with his slight Syrian accent.

However, I had a huge problem with the production of this audio book. It was muffled and garbled, and the sound quality left a lot to be desired. On each disc, I had to readjust my sound and volume in the car, and immediately upon changing discs, I had to turn the volume way down or else I’d blow out my speakers. For such a well-received story and such a strong narrator choice, I was really quite surprised at the production weaknesses. Fortunately, the compelling story and sheer range of emotional investment I had in the characters — particularly Zeitoun — made me keep listening despite the flaws.

A fair bit of warning: aside from the anger and frustration one will feel with the central story here, there are a few other disturbing scenes. Zeitoun is made completely human and admirable in them. I won’t ruin them, but be prepared to cry a couple of times.

Zeitoun is worth the 9-disc investment. I think this is a story more powerfully told through audio than printed word, too. And in the end, prepare to feel both satisfied and unsatisfied. This is exactly the type of ending a book like this deserves.

Filed Under: Adult, audio review, audiobooks, Non-Fiction, Reviews, Uncategorized

What I’m Reading – Twitter Style

March 5, 2010 |

Welcome to what I’m reading, Twitter-style. Here’s a quick glance of what I’ve got a book mark in or have at the top of the pile for when I’ve got a book mark to put somewhere.

War Dances/Sherman Alexie: Alexie’s a favorite – audio is narrated by author, hope it’ll add a huge element to these short stories. New format for my listening needs.

Epitaph Road/David Patneaude: Post-apocalyptic thriller by debut ya author with interesting premise. Mixed reviews in blogosphere but hoping for unique dystopian take.

Government Girl/Stacy Parker Aab: Non-fiction memoir of an intern during the Clinton administration. She sounds kind of irritating herself, but the politics sound fascinating.

Dark Life/Kat Falls: Another debut author, another dystopia. Abby promises a thrilling & memorable read, and w/setting under water, I am 100% sold on this one!


Zeitoun/Dave Eggers: Non-fiction story of man who stayed in New Orleans during Katrina. Great story, characters but audio quality horrific, muffled, unpolished.

Shadow Hills/Anastasia Hopcus: Girl starts new school, meets mysteriously attractive new boy and falls in love. Sound familiar and overdone? Cliche and disappointing read.

It’s Not Summer Without You/Jenny Han: Second “Summer I Turned Pretty.” Lest you worry, I eat up sweet romances. Hope this sequel is as good as first. Perfect for spring/summer!

Filed Under: Adult, audiobooks, Non-Fiction, Reviews, Uncategorized, What's on my shelf, Young Adult

AudioSynced Round up — Inaugural Edition

March 2, 2010 |


Welcome to the inaugural edition of AudioSynced, hosted by Stacked and Abby the Librarian. This is your monthly stop for all things audio. If you didn’t get to participate this month, join in next month at Abby’s blog. All that you have to do is blog something audio related — a review, a discussion, or any news you have.

Reviews Around the Blogosphere:

  • Playing by the Book gives us a great review of Katie Morag and the Two Grandmothers by Mairi Hedderwick. Not only do we get a great review, we get to see all of the inspiration from the book and recording. And that display from the library is brilliant. She writes: “With illustrations playing such an important role in the Katie Morag books I was curious to see how an audio book could possibly do the printed books justice. And yet, and yet, this recording does transport you to Scottish island life, in a magical and unforgettable manner.”
  • Amanda at A Patchwork of Books offers up a variety of mini reviews, including A View from Yesterday and The Heretic’s Daughter on audio. She writes of the latter, “Listening to it, there were some moments I found my mind drifting away, but overall, the reader, the reading, and the overall story were very good.”
  • Janssen reviewed Susan Beth Pfeffer’s Moon series. Of the audio books for Life as We Knew It and The Dead and the Gone, she writes: “I found myself looking for excuses to listen to it (the laundry has never been so well-managed in my house).”
  • Elisabeth at YS Princess gives us her take on the first and second of Libba Bray’s “Gemma Doyle” series. She writes, “I have never heard a narrator with such amazing accents for all of her different characters. I was delightfully surprised that listening to this book on CD didn’t feel like I was listening to War and Peace, or some other Old English book.” She also offers up a review of Fairy Haven and the Quest for the Wand, which she says, “I found this audio book difficult to pay attention to. If I stopped paying attention even for what seemed like only a moment, I was really confused as to what was going on.”
  • Abby reviewed the 39 Clues audio books. She writes, “David Pittu gives a full-voiced performance and the number of accents he includes is impressive. These would make great family listens for road trips with the lively narration and the fast-paced plots keeping the interest of everyone in the car.”
  • The Book Lady’s Blog gives us a three-for-one review, to include Naked, Mennonite in a Little Black Dress, and Assassination Vacation. She writes, “You can’t go wrong with any of them.”
  • Kylee read and reviewed a cozy mystery — Joanne Fluke’s Cherry Cheesecake Murder. For those of you not in the know, they do have entire mystery series based in food, and this is one of the most popular. Of the audio, Kylee says, “I was expecting to miss out on the recipes that are in the books, but the unabridged is truly that! The recipes are on the audio, how cool is that?”
  • Right here at STACKED, I reviewed I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You, The Geography of Bliss, and Saving CeeCee Honeycutt. I had some issues with the first book’s narration, but I absolutely loved the second book and found the third an engaging, fully-voiced audio with perfect southern flair.

Looking for places to find more Audio reviews?

  • Reading with My Ears has such a wide variety of audio book reviews, but what stands out is how well the review covers audio-related issues apart from the plot. Haven’t tried an audio book before? This will guide you the right way, as this librarian has served on the Odyssey Committee and knows a thing or two about quality audio.
  • Audiobooker, part of Booklist Online’s blog series, covers not only audio reviews, but offers a lot more than that. Here you can get inside the studios, meet the readers, and much more. To learn more about the dirty work of audio books, this is the place to go.
  • Books for Ears covers a little of everything and does a good job of breaking down the author, title, and the reader, which as we know, can make or break the audio book.

How about where to find audio books?

  • Janssen offers a great overview of finding free downloadable audio books from your public library. Now, you no longer have the excuse of being unable to make it to the library – try it from home!
  • Playing by the Book started a resource page for audio books, which gives you some places to go to for free audio books (and some great resources on the value of listening).
  • Sterling Publishing is beginning a new program to offer free downloadable audio books of some of their greatest print hits. You can find out more about the program and get to downloading today (March 1!) by going right here.

Did you review or give audio books a spot light in the last month on your blog? Share your links in the comments, and I’ll add them to the roundup!

Filed Under: audio review, audiobooks, Reviews, Uncategorized

Don’t Forget: Get AudioSynced

February 28, 2010 |


Don’t forget to share your posts on all things right here by Monday! I’ve reviewed a few audiobooks and have another one in the pipe just for our first post.

Didn’t get an audiobook in in February? No fear! Abby will host this meme next month.

Filed Under: audiobooks, Uncategorized

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