Snow & Audiobooks - Bev Russell, Library Director

(This column appeared in the December 9, 2007, Star-Herald)

 

While driving across Nebraska, audio books are my salvation. I found over the years that certain types of books keep my attention better than other types. Usually, mysteries, suspense, and thrillers will keep me involved the most. I also like to listen to biographies, history and political books, but my husband is not a big fan of these so I compromise and only enjoy these when he is not along. As long as we don’t listen to country and western music the whole time, I can give a little.

I always grab several audio books before a trip because occasionally a disk might be damaged, or a book just does not appeal to me. Our last trip across the state was during Thanksgiving week. On this road trip my talent as a selector of audio books seemed to be lacking. None of the three books, which I selected "Invisible Prey" by John Sandford, "Potshot" by Robert B. Parker, and "The Afghan" by Frederick Forsyth, will ever be listed on my personal audio books hit parade.

I selected John Sandford’s book because I had never read any of his novels and wanted to experience his writing style. I frequently select authors, who I have never read, for that reason. Anyway, the reader of "Invisible Prey" did a wonderful job. He kept us involved and anticipating the outcome of the mystery. On the other hand, the language and detailed descriptions of torture were just too much. I am no prude. My family and friends can attest to that but hearing certain words and listening to brutal descriptions of murder apparently are not my cup-‘a-tea. My husband even wanted to know what I was thinking when I selected that book. We did listen to the whole thing probably because the reader did such an excellent job. However, if you are like me and do not find this type of writing enjoyable, then "Invisible Prey" probably is not a book for a long Nebraska road trip.

"Potshot" by Robert B. Parker was another story. We inserted it in the CD player as we were leaving Omaha in snow and blowing conditions. The action in the book starts slowly, and I could not keep my attention on it. Also, we left later than expected because of major car difficulties. Blowing snow, mechanical problems, and a late exit from town may have been too much of a distraction. In all fairness, I should probably give "Potshot" a second shot.

The third book was "The Afghan" by Frederick Forsyth. I really enjoy reading Forsyth books so I thought this would be a big hit. Forsyth, of course, writes international suspense thrillers. His plots are complex. In "The Afghan" the action takes place all over the globe. A listener must pay close attention to get the gist of a Forsyth novel. If you do not concentrate, you are lost. A reviewer commented that "a global smattering of Afghani, Arabic, Pakistani, British, Indonesian and other names can cause a bout of verbal vertigo." He recommended listening to the first CD twice just to get your bearings. "The Afghan" was a difficult book to follow, and a poor reading did not help matters either. Again, the reviewer described the performance as having "all the enthusiasm of a distracted Oxbridge tutor." If the same fellow who read "Invisible Prey" had read "The Afghan", my listening experience might have been better. As it was, we listened to the book all the way home but did not finish it.

Listening to a book can be a very different experience from reading a book. In some ways I felt like Goldielocks as we drove along. This book is too harsh. This book is too slow. This book is too complicated. At least on this trip across Nebraska, I never found one that was just right.

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