Pastoralia

Pastoralia: stories / George Saunders, read by the author, 188 pgs.

A new audio version of a book originally published in 2000, this collection of stories read by the author is perfectly done.  It is hard to pick my favorite...perhaps the one about the male stripper who is haunted by his dead aunt who is trying to help him make money by marking women who will pay him for sex or the guy who is in an exhibit playing a stone age man.  You get it, all relatable stuff, right?  Saunder's reading is droll and perfect for the stories. 

Norse Mythology

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman  304 pp.

Neil Gaiman's love of Norse Mythology comes to life in his retelling of many of the stories of the Gods and their exploits from the creation story through to Ragnarok, the end of the Gods. Included are many of the most popular stories including one of my favorites where Thor dresses as a bride to retrieve Mjollnir, his stolen hammer. Gaiman brings the Gods to life with his lively prose. Listening to the author read this book only adds to the enjoyment of these age-old stories. Previously blogs were written by Patrick, Christa, Joshua, Rob, and Kara.

Believe Me, a Memoir of Love, Death and Jazz Chickens

Believe Me, a Memoir of Love, Death and Jazz Chickens by Eddie Izzard  348 pp.

This memoir by the award winning actor, comedian, and marathon runner is amusing, intriguing, occasionally rambling and confusing, and loaded with footnotes. I listened to the audiobook which is read by Izzard. He designates what is and isn't a footnote and occasionally adds extra material that isn't in the print book. Some of the extra material includes times when he pauses to Google on his phone a detail, date, or location left out of the print book. The book opens with the death of his mother when he was just a child and follows a not quite linear trajectory through his school years, his early attempts at performing, and his ultimate success. There is much discussion of what Izzard refers to as his alternative sexuality, but without sordid "tell all" details. Of course, I needed to find the print book to peruse the collection of photos that can't be seen via audiobook.