The Birds by Daphne du Maurier

I've seen the movie version of 'The Birds' starring Tippi Hedren and made by the legendary filmmaker, Alfred Hitchcock, decades ago now. I really don't remember that much about the movie version of 'The Birds' aside from its basic premise.

In recent years, I discovered that the movie version of 'The Birds' is based on the short story written by English author, Daphne du Maurier. As a side note, I read Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier last year. I wasn't too impressed with Rebecca, which is billed as one of Daphne du Maurier's finest, if not more famous works of fiction.

Not to be deterred by my first experience reading something written by Daphne du Maurier, I decided to give the audio version of 'The Birds' a try and I wasn't disappointed with it. 'The Birds' is a tightly written short story, which gives off very creepy vibes with regards to social isolation and separation from society due to large groups of birds that will aggressively attack and kill all those that leave their homes. These birds will even try to find their way inside homes to attack. The psychological and emotional toll on people due to the fear caused by being cut off from the world, access to food, social interactions, not knowing what's going on, etc. makes this story all the more horrific. 

I saw parallels between this short story with that of the covid-19 pandemic. During the covid-19 pandemic, people were told to shelter in place, stay home to save lives, etc. There was loads of fear and isolation during the pandemic. Granted a pandemic caused by a virus is very much different from an attack by aggressive birds that will kill you, but the fear and isolation in 'The Birds' was captured well by the author and gave the same vibe as dealing with the fear, isolation, etc. we felt during the pandemic.

Click on the above link to listen to the audio version of 'The Birds' I listened to for FREE through YouTube.

I am giving 'The Birds' by Daphne du Maurier a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell

If memory serves me correctly, I first read The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell in middle school for an English class as a required reading assignment. I enjoyed reading this classic, short story at the time, but had forgotten the ending of this story all these decades later. 

So, I was thrilled to stumble upon the free audio version of The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell on YouTube last week. I promptly listened to it and enjoyed the storyline and ending once again! The Most Dangerous Game has a captivating storyline and I can understand why it was given the O. Henry Award.

If you enjoy classic, suspense/action adventure type of stories, then The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell is most definitely the read for you!

I've added the edition of The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell I listened to on YouTube as I enjoyed the narrator for this short story.

Below is the plot summary for The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell, which I discovered on Amazon's website:

“The Most Dangerous Game”, also published as “The Hounds of Zaroff”, is a story by Richard Connell, first published in Collier’s on January 19, 1924. The story features a big-game hunter from New York City who falls off a yacht and swims to what seems to be an abandoned and isolated island in the Caribbean, where he is hunted by a Russian aristocrat. The story is inspired by the big-game hunting safaris in Africa and South America that were particularly fashionable among wealthy Americans in the 1920s. The story has been adapted numerous times, most notably as the 1932 RKO Pictures film The Most Dangerous Game, starring Joel McCrea and Leslie Banks, and for a 1943 episode of the CBS Radio series Suspense, starring Orson Welles. It has been called the “most popular short story ever written in English.” Upon its publication, it won the O. Henry Award.

I am giving The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell a rating of 5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes by Anita Loos

I've watched the 1953 movie version of 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes' starring Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell, but I never realized the movie was based on the novel of the same name and written by Anita Loos.

I happened to come across the unabridged audio version of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes by Anita Loos for FREE on YouTube recently and decided to listen to it. It seems like one can find many classic novels in audiobook form to listen to for FREE on YouTube.

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes by Anita Loos is a definite period piece and is considered a 'comic novel'. It is written as a series of diary entries, which I found fun. According to Wikipedia, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes by Anita Loos was first serialized in Harper's Magazine during the spring and summer of 1925. I also learned from Wikipedia that in November 1925, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes by Anita Loos was republished by Boni and Liveright in book form and it became the second bestselling novel of 1926.

So, what did I think of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes by Anita Loos? It was a fun, easy peasy read. I enjoyed listening to Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and found the narrator to be delightful! Yes, this novel was funny throughout. However, at times, I felt some of the lexicon to be rather repetitive at times. I would recommend this book if you want to read a bestselling 'comic novel' written during the 1920s!

Below is the plot summary for Gentlemen Prefer Blondes by Anita Loos I discovered on Chirp's website:

One of the most popular novels released in the 1920s on the hedonistic Jazz Age, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes was declared the great American novel by Edith Wharton. Told from the point of view of a blonde flapper named Lorelei in the form of her diary, this novel follows her adventures around the world in search of a gentleman companion who can elevate her position within society. As Lorelei cycles through multiple men, she discovers things about herself and the way that she lives her life in retrospection—while also chronicling her changing moods and petty disputes with her brunette companion, Dorothy. Hilarious and a true classic, this revered novel transcends decades and continues to be relatable in this day and age.

I am giving Gentlemen Prefer Blondes by Anita Loos a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Funny Bunnies by Ann Omasta

While I was on vacation the week of April 16th, I listened to the unabridged audio version of Funny Bunnies by Ann Omasta for free via Ann Omasta's YouTube Channel. Click on the above link to listen to the above novella for free as well.

Funny Bunnies is the third installment of 'The Pet Set' series and is a contemporary romance novella. Listening time is approximately an hour and 12 minutes.

I've read a couple of other things written by Ann Omasta before with mixed feelings. I think that Funny Bunnies may be my last read by her. Funny Bunnies is narrated well enough, but the storyline was not that exciting, nor engaging enough to captivate me. In fact, the storyline was rather boring and too simplistic. The dialogue and interactions between characters was dull as well.

Below in the plot summary for Funny Bunnies by Ann Omasta that I found on Amazon's website:

Hope Montgomery has no doubt that she is the right person to become the next mayor of her beloved town, Nestlebrook Cove. She and her sweet pet, Honey-Bunny, won’t let anything stand in their way––especially not the current mayor––as they sway voters to their side.

Mayor Michael Snow loves his town, his job, and his country. He has big plans for growth in his thriving community, and he’s not going to let Hope or her cute little cottontail rabbit stop him.

Hope and Michael are vying for the same elected position. Neither is willing to admit to the dazzling spark of attraction simmering just beneath the surface between them. Will they find a solution that makes them both happy? The town’s snuggly bunnies may have to insist on it.

I am giving Funny Bunnies by Ann Omasta a rating of 1 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

How to Find Free, Full-Length Audiobooks on YouTube!!

 I am an avid audiobook lover and have listened to over 40 audiobooks alone this year so far! 

Yesterday, I stumbled upon a short YouTube video that discusses how to find and listen to FREE, full-length audiobooks on YouTube. 

So, if you're an avid audiobook listener like myself, then check out the above YouTube video to discover where to find free audiobooks on YouTube. 

Traveler Food & Books Restaurant in Union, Connecticut

I think I've found my next book related destination in Union, Connecticut, USA!! 

It's called Traveler Food and Books. It's a restaurant and a bookstore. When you order and eat a meal at their restaurant, you may choose three used books to take with you for free!! How cool and exciting is that??

Traveler Food and Books has been open for business since 1970. They also have a bookstore located in their basement with more books for sale as well.

Check out the video above for more information.