Can someone explain the Genghis books by Conn Iggulden?  I see several titles that look like a series?  And maybe a YA one that is standalone?  But I can't figure out what order they go in. 

Also, I've just started listening to audio books when I am in the car.  I've been really hesitant about starting to listen to audiobooks because I so enjoy the tactile reading experience.  So I'm afraid I'll listen to something and be sorry that I wasn't reading it.  I've been picking audiobooks up at the library, choosing titles that I've heard of, am interested in, but they aren't high priority on my reading list or I wouldn't otherwise make time for.

The first one I listened to was The Memoir of Mary Queen of Scots by Carolly Erickson and I liked it.  The reader had a pleasant, natural British accent that fit the mood and setting of the book.  Great choice for an audiobook.

Now I'm listening to The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks.  I'm loving the story (and almost sorry that I'm not huddled up in my reading chair with it!) but the readers are getting on my nerves!   There is a male reader and female reader alternating chapters, depending on whose POV is dominant in that chapter.  The book is set in North Carolina and they are affecting cheesy Southern accents.  Now those of you not from the South might not realize that all Southern accents are not the same.  The Texas cowboy is very different from the refined Mississippi Southern Belle, who is very different from the North Carolina preppy country-clubber.  The accents they are using are just every stereotype of the South rolled into one...and they use it off and on.  Except for the girl who is supposed to have been raised in Manhattan and is visiting her dad for the summer...the accent they've given her sounds more like California Valley Girl. 

Anyway, the library has one of the Iggulden Genghis books on CD...I didn't realize it was a series, so I didn't notice which one it was.  But do you think those books lend themselves to audio books?  If I listen to it, will I wish I was reading it?

Currently, there are three:

1. Genghis Khan: Birth of an Empire (also published as Wolf of the Plains
2. Lords of the Bow
3. Bones of the Hills

I really enjoyed the first one and haven't read the others yet.

Christa --

According to Wikipedia, the series goes like this:

• Wolf of the Plains (titled Genghis: Birth of an Empire in North America)
• Lords of the Bow (titled Genghis: Lords of the Bow in North America)
• Bones of the Hills (titled Genghis: Bones of the Hills in North America)
• Ogedai: Empire of Silver (due this year)

with two more books planned.

I almost always have an audio book in the car. You're right, the narrator can make or break it. And, I have my quirks when it comes to choosing audio books. I often choose audios of books that I've already read and liked. Or, at the same time that I get the audio from the library, I also get the book -- so then I can read the parts that I might have missed while driving or read ahead if I get too impatient to listen. I tend to like to listen to books that are humorous as opposed to books that are more serious or that I need to pay close attention to. Probably my favorite audios are the Harry Potter series (terrific narrator), the Stephanie Plum series (by Evanovich), books by Bill Bryson. Somehow classics just don't appeal to me on audio -- seems sacriligious to listen to Dickens on CD. Part of the problem for me is that I don't drive long distances so am listening for only 15-25 min. at a time. Unlike physical books which I almost always finish (unless they're really, really bad), I often will start an audio and then change my mind -- but might still read the book if I haven't already.

ETA: Naturally Genie already beat me to the punch.

ETA(2): Hey, some of us are Valley Girls so be careful what you say!

I didn't say there was anything wrong with California Valley Girls!  It's just not consistent with the character being voiced. Totally. Dude.  LOL!

Thanks for the help from both of you!

Well, I totally blew by the audiobook question. Thanks, Deb!

I haven't listened to it yet, but I did buy the unabridged version of the first book, which is available at Audible. The snippet sounded fantastic. There's lots of action, so I think they are particularly suited to audio.

I read the first book and liked it a lot. I have book 2 to read as well.

Alice