Audio Book Review: The Tempest by William Shakespeare

This is a a wonderful and entertaining production.

The Tempest
by William Shakespeare
Published by AudioGO/ BBC Radio


William Shakespeare Audio Book
DRAMATIZATION
Reader: Full Cast
Running Time: 2hrs 55min

Genre: Dramatization, Classic
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Description:
BBC Radio has a unique heritage when it comes to Shakespeare. Since 1923, when the newly formed company broadcast its first full-length play, generations of actors and producers have honed and perfected the craft of making Shakespeare to be heard.
Raging storms and rich beautiful music combine to magical effect in this production of Shakespeare’s allegorical last play, where mystical forces work to restore harmony and order to an estranged community.
Revitalised, original, and comprehensive, this is Shakespeare for the new millennium.

Review:
It has been many years since I read Shakespeare’s Tempest (or any of his works). It always seemed like a stormy drama to me - and so it is!

This tragic-comedy is set on a remote enchanted island, where the wizard Prospero, the exiled Duke of Milan, plots to restore his daughter, Miranda, to her rightful place. Prospero uses illusion and skillful manipulation to conjures up a storm, the tempest, to lure to the island his usurping brother Antonio and a co-conspirator, Alonso, King of Naples. Prospero sets up to reveal Antonio’s treachery and during the process his bound servant, Ariel aids in the secret love encounters of Miranda and Alonso's son, Ferdinand.

This audio production gives this much more flare and charm than a simple reading. I got more of the love story in this version along with the political machinations and power struggles. I enjoyed the dramatization although I have to admit it was a little bit hard to follow along while I was doing chores. I think this would be perfect to listen to with the text to follow along or at least in a setting where one appreciates the program for itself without trying to do other things that might distract (like my chores did).

Audio Notes: The voices, musical background and sound effects were well done and added to the program for me. I enjoyed this method of re-experiencing a classic work.

I received this and Of Poseidon from SYNC YA May 30 – June 5, 2013.

Mailbox Monday March 10, 2014

Welcome to Mailbox Monday.
Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs.  This Meme started with Marcia at A Girl and Her Books (fka The Printed Page) and after a tour of hosts has returned to its permanent home at Mailbox Monday.
Thanks to the ladies sharing hosting duties: Leslie of Under My Apple Tree, Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit and Vicki of I'd Rather Be at the Beach.
Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

This Mailbox post covers two weeks (Feb 24 - March 9) but I haven't picked up that many review books. I have two books, one I failed to list a few weeks back and one selected for Ladies Book Club March read.  I still have many author requests to consider and reply to.
Additionally there were a handful of Kindle titles I purchased and many free Kindle books.


Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

Selected at NetGalley

The Long Road: A Postapocalyptic Novel (The New World Series)
by G. Michael Hopf

This is the second book in this series picking up after The End.

Selected for Ladies Book Club March Read

Unwilling Warrior, Seasons of Redemption Series #1

by: Andrea Boeshaar

The War Between the States has Valerie Fontaine frightened about her future. She never suspects she'll be thrust into the middle of it. Benjamin McCabe's got a noble dream of photographing the Civil War - and he never expected to fall in love with a New Orleans socialite.

When Valerie's father is arrested on charges of treason, Ben secures a way for her to leave the city and travel to his family's home in Jericho Junction, Missouri where she'll be safe.Can Valerie adjust to life on the prairie and remain true to her promise to wait for Ben no matter what the cost?

Won

None.

Purchased

Kindle purchases:

Everly Gray Adventures 1-2 & Novella (Romantic Mysteries) (The Everly Gray Adventures)

Charles, L.j.

February 24, 2014

Purchased:	February 24, 2014
Price:	$0.99
	View Product Page

Serial Thrillers: 4 Bundled Thrillers: Keeping Counsel, Beyond Malice, Character Witness, The Mentor

Forster, Rebecca

March 3, 2014

Purchased:	March 3, 2014
Price:	$0.99
	View Product Page

The Seducer: A Novel (Get Connected Romances)	Hunter, Madeline	March 3, 2014
I have this series in print but maybe getting ebook will read faster.	Purchased: March 3, 2014 Price: $1.99 View Product Page

Legendary Detective at the World's End (Volume 1)

Purchased:	March 4, 2014
Price:	$0.99
	View Product Page

Broken Wings (Blackbird & Confessor #1)	Jacobs, Mara	March 6, 2014
	Purchased: March 6, 2014 Price: $0.99 View Product Page

Free

Plus I downloaded another 64 free Kindle titles - about 30 week one and 34 week two.  Titles found linked through Bookbub, Bookfun, Free Par-tay, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.

It's Monday What are You Reading? March 10, 2014.

This meme starts at Book Journey!

What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

I had a good week reading though little time to keep up with reviews.  I posted two reviews, one with giveaway and a special giveaway with Friday Pick! Got most of the usual memes. :-)

I only did a little visiting - lots of room to improve this week!
Thanks as always to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:

• It's Monday What are You Reading? March 3, 2014.

• Audible Book Review: Four Blood Moons: Something Is About to Change by John Hagee; Christianity, Prophetic; my rating 4.5.

• Book Review and Giveaway: R Is for Rebel: ...and Royalty, Relatives, Reality, and Running from love... (Unruly Royals)
  by Megan Mulry, Contemporary Romance, British; my rating 4.0. 

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway March 7, 2014. PLUS extra eBook Giveaway. Open Worldwide. Ends 3/13/14.

• A Group of February Winners.

• Sharing Beyond Books #141 Comment Giveaway 3/8/14; Open Worldwide. Ends 3/15/14.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement March 9, 2014.

Finished Reading:

1. Audio/MP4

Silver City Massacre
by Charles G. West
Narrated by: Jim Meskimen
I enjoyed this old western tale.
Reviewing through Audiobook Jukebox
Click on book title for full description.

2. eBook/Kindle

The Memory of Sky: A Great Ship Trilogy
by Robert Reed
Definitely imaginative! Reading through Net Galley.
Click on book title for full description.

3. Print

The Gunsmith's Gallantry, Ladies Shooting Club Series #2
By: Susan Page Davis
More in Ladies Shooting Club Series
This is a fun series.
We had a good discussion at Ladies Book Club.
Click on book title for full description.

Line Edits/Releases:
Working on several releases.

Enter the bi-monthly drawings at eTreasures Publishing Facebook page.
This week's giveaway link:  Annie's Special Day by Clara Bowman-Jahn.
Check for the new giveaway every two weeks.

Currently reading:
1. Audio/MP4

A Blind Goddess
Author: James R. Benn
Narrator: Peter Berkrot
This is starting with a lot of interest. I selected this through Audiobook Jukebox.
SUMMARY
March, 1944. US Army Lieutenant Billy Boyle, back in England after a dangerous mission in Italy, is due for a little R&R—and a promotion. But the now-Captain Boyle doesn’t get to kick back and enjoy his leisure time because two upsetting cases fall into his lap at once.
The first is a personal request from an estranged friend: Sergeant Eugene “Tree” Jackson, who grew up with Billy in Boston, is part of the 617th Tank Destroyers, the battalion poised to make history by being the US Army’s first combatant all–African American company. But making history isn’t easy, and the 617th faces racism at every turn. One of Tree’s men, a gunner named Angry Smith, has been arrested for a crime he almost certainly didn’t commit and faces the gallows if the real killer isn’t found. Tree knows US top brass won’t care about justice in this instance and asks Billy if he’ll look into it.
...© 2013 by James R. Benn

2. eBook/Kindle

The Long Road: A Postapocalyptic Novel (The New World Series)
by G. Michael Hopf
I was glad to see that I had selected
this at NetGalley too
so I could continue the adventure.
Book Description
Publication Date: October 30, 2013
The End was just the beginning of the new world…
Only six weeks have passed since a super-EMP attack devastated the United States, but already, life has changed dramatically. Most of America has become a wasteland filled with starving bands of people, mobs and gangs. Millions are dead and millions more are suffering, with no end in sight.
For Gordon, Samantha, Sebastian, Cruz and Barone, the turmoil and chaos they dealt with in the early weeks after the attack will seem trivial in comparison to the collapse of society that plays out before their eyes. Uncertainty abounds as they all travel different paths in search of a safe place to call home. The only thing that is definite is that The Long Road will take its toll on all of them.

3. Print

Desperately Seeking Suzanna
by Elizabeth Michels
I am just a couple pages in on this and enjoying. Reviewing for Sourcebooks.
Her Cinderella Moment
Sue Green just wanted one night to be the pretty one. But a few glasses of champagne and one wild disguise later, she's in some serious trouble. Who knew the devastatingly handsome face of Lord Holden Ellis would get in the way of her foot?  And how exactly did all that high-kick dancing start in the first place? At least she blamed it all on her new persona--Suzanna. So Society's most eligible bachelor will never find out the truth.

All Holden wants is the truth. Who was that vixen who seduced him so thoroughly, then disappeared? The only one who seems to have any answers about Suzanna is Miss Sue Green. She's promised to help him find his mystery woman, but in truth she's not being all that helpful. And in truth, the more time Holden spends with Sue--witty, pretty, and disarmingly honest--the more he realizes he may have found exactly what he's been looking for all along...

I am up to date with my daily Bible reading. :-)

Line Edits: We are now finalizing formatting for two ebook re-releases, as well as working on a new children's release.

I am continuing to enjoy reading books from my own TBR. :-) I didn't get done the number of reviews I planned this week. Now my backlog is six so I plan on at least four this week... maybe five.

March Scheduled - nothing dated but I plan to look for some book hops.

Sourcebooks:
Desperately Seeking Suzanna by Elizabeth Michels (reading)

NetGalley: I Might look this week for some more titles.
The Long Road: A Postapocalyptic Novel (The New World Series) by G. Michael Hopf (reading)

Authors
 Many requests to field and reply to.

AudioBook Jukebox 
   A Blind Goddess by James R. Benn (reading)

From TBR Collection - TBD
Won Book - TBD
Free Kindle/Nook or Smashwords - TBD

Sunday Words of Encouragement March 9, 2014

No sermon notes this morning. We started off with praise worship and then went to our choir song which was Jesus Never Fails. From there the service spun off into an anointed healing worship service. We have a wonderful Pastor who is sensitive to the movement of the Spirit and encouraged the depth of the service. One teenage girl gave her heart to the Lord and several people experienced release of pain, including a beloved sister who has chronic pain due to fibromyalgia.  Thank you Lord for blessing us!

This is a great version of this song,
although I have to say I do love our soloists at church.

Verses for Today:
Hebrews 13 (NIV)
5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
“Never will I leave you;
    never will I forsake you.”
6 So we say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
    What can mere mortals do to me?”

Thank you Lord for making your presence known to us this morning. Help me be more faithful to seek you each morning and to lift up those who need salvation and healing to your remembrance.

Sharing Beyond Books #141 Comment Giveaway March 8, 2014

Hello again on Saturday night and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB!
Thanks to everyone who commented last week.

The largest group of us have Kindles of several varieties. There are also those with Sony and Nook. There are several commenters who do not have kindle or other ereaders available in their countries. Q- to those of you with Kindle Fire or Paperwhite --- do those read to you like the older generation? I haven't found the answer to that question yet.

~~~~

The Winner from SBB #140 comments is: #18 Natasha who can make a GC choice if international or book choice from the ARC/Review titles, Christmas titles or Love titles - all linked near the end of the post.  Please let me know your choice by completing the (new) WINNER FORM.

WEEK #141 (One Question.)

Q1. Mary P asks:  Do you go to the theatre to watch plays, musicals and productions??

A: I don't go on a regular basis but I have been to theatre in Philadelphia when young and numerous times in West Palm Beach at the Kravis Center. Here in North Florida we have been to plays at Chipola College and some quaint local productions at nearby communities.

Image found at Chipola.edu

Thanks to those who are sending in Questions. DON'T BE SHY! Surely everyone has a Q or two you'd like to ask. Input suggestions in this Suggested Question Form. At the end of each month I draw from the suggestions I used during the month and that person will get a book choice or GC. I thank everyone for submitting questions. Thanks for sending in questions! We still have a supply of questions but from the same people so hopefully others will send more in -- even if they are duplicates I'll weed through or try to modify to use. 

Your turn to share:

Q1. Mary P asks: Do you go to the theatre to watch plays, musicals and productions??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the Valentine and "Love" books, the Christmas Giveaway Books (this is the new link), or the June 2013 Newly Updated ARC/Review List.

SBB Rules:
a) Must be a follower.
b) Share a comment on either of the two questions above.
Open internationally and an international winner may get a smaller book or a $5.00 GC if I decide the mailing is too much.

I will pick a Comment winner from all comments made through Saturday March 15, 2014 at 5 PM  central.