Sometimes I can get into the audiobook when the book book doesn’t click with me. I read the first few pages, and I think this would be one of those. It’s well written, there’s just a lot of details and some cultural context that I’m not too familiar with. That can happen with translated books. It’s part of the charm, I think, but it takes a little more effort to read. Plus it’s just a complex story.

Somehow the narration makes it easier for me to really get into it. As long as the narrator is good, and this guy is. His voice is a little stiff, but it kind of fits with the book. It’s growing on me.

I think it’s the descriptions. I got an audio book of the first volume and it seemed like the descriptions went on for ages, but not a whole lot happened. Normally I love fantasy, but so far I can’t warm up to this series.

David Copperfield. I read it in one day when I was a kid and had nothing else to do. Bleak House was a slog too, but it had some nice turns of phrase that stuck with me.

And at the risk of insulting a classic, One Hundred Years of Solitude. I get that it’s supposed to be a critique on society and inspired by the author’s life. I just found it bleak.

Have you read Outlander? I think she does time travel well and it’s interesting, at least if you’re interested in that kind of historical fiction.

Oh, totally! I think I’ll check it out, sounds right up my alley. Kind of like the London above and London below of the tech world.

Are there shallots or garlic in it? Looks really good. Bet it’d be good with a crusty layer of panko on top too.

Have you read any of Voices from the Valley yet? The summary sounds interesting. I always like to get a peek into other people’s work. Just wondering how much detail the book goes into.

The first time is always hard, but it’s a neat feeling, isn’t it? I don’t even really mind that I don’t understand everything. I’m just happy I can understand something.

Duerrnmatt has some things that could make it challenging for a first read, too. But there’s so much fun stuff to read in German.