What audiobook are you listening to lately?
I have 2 MP3s so I have them loaded with different books. One is "The Pilgrim's Progress" which was a gift from a friend and you would think the reader is Lauren Bacall. It isn't but the voice is startlingly similar, practically identical. I like to pretend it IS her, but then I'm weird.
On the other one I have Librivox books. Currently listening to "Further Chronicles of Avonlea." Interesting collection, because the stories were published without LM Montgomery's permission. Those of us who know her work recognise them as jotted stories that were often expanded and reworked in her books. But I can see why she didn't want them published. They are rather rough and not her usual standard. And obsessed with matchmaking, marriage and babies as the be-all and end-all of a woman's existence.
Yes!! I'm so glad you started this thread, Yabbit. I'm addicted to Audiobooks. :)>>>We definitely need a review thread specific to Audiobooks, because the reader makes all the difference.
Recently completed (all unabridged CD versions):
- The Good Body, Eve Ensler: Amazing, inspiring, empowering, hillarious, LOVED IT! Yes, yes, we all know NS is a fan of Eve Ensler. I may be a little biased. Still, I've recommended this one to friends and they loved it as well. Great, quick listen (only three CDs), highly recommended.
- Autobiography of a Yogi, Paramahansa Yogananda: This book is supposed to be a classic yogic text, but to be honest I wasn't all that impressed. The text itself was so-so, and the British reader was okay at first but over time his voice got incredibly obnoxious. If want to read this book, I suggest the good ol' fashioned hard copy version.
-The Road, Cormac McCarthy: Pretty good. The reader didn't WOW me or anything, but he didn't ruin the book either. He had a very mellow, calming voice.
- Oryx and Crake, Margaret Atwood: Four stars. I liked it, but I think some of her others have been better (Handmaid's Tale, for instance). The reader wasn't distracting, but he didn't make much of an effort to give the characters distinct voices. I think I would have rather read a hard-copy version on this one.
- Ender's Game, Orson Scott Card: Fun read, engaging reader. The person who recommended it to me set pretty high expectations, so to be honest I was a little let down. It was good, but not anything I'd write home about.
- Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Robert Pirsig: Very, very good. I had to read the book along with the audio on this one though, as it was some pretty heady stuff and the audio seemed too fast for me to fully digest the text. I'm an auditory learner, so it was nice to have both of them side by side.
- Stranger in a Strange Land, Robert Heinlein: FANTASTIC!!! I think the reader for this one was one of the best I've heard so far. I know this is a classic sci-fi, but I just got around to reading it a few months ago. Now I understand why it's so beloved. I highly recommend it (audio or hard copy)!
Looking forward to hearing others' recommendations! Oh, and for those of you who haven't unearthed this hidden treasure... There are TONS of free audio books and lectures available at http://www.archive.org/details/librivoxaudio
The same reader who did PP is also the reader of Pride and Prejudice. On that recording she sounds even more like Bacall.
You're right, NS, the reader makes all the difference. I was disappointed in some of the children's classics on Librivox (particularly several of the Oz books) because the reader has this really weird intonation and a kind of squeaky voice that becomes irritating after about 5 minutes. If you want to hear what I mean, check out their "Ozma of Oz." Yeergh. I don't know how that got past the editorial staff. (If she talks to kids in that voice normally, I'm surprised she's still alive. Kids aren't stupid.)
Thank you for sharing my opinion of the Autobiography of a Yogi. I read it many years ago and was underwhelmed, even then.
For those who speak French, go to www.audiocite.net
It's kind of a French Librivox.
I'm reviving this thread because audiobooks don't really fit on the "What are you listening to today" thread and I can't be the only audiobook listener on VW.
I finished "Ten Little Indians" and am now listening to Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World." For those who have enjoyed it you might try Ira Levine's book "This Perfect Day."
My coworker loaned me The Millennium series by Stieg Larsson (we're pretty much all commuters in the office). I am in passionate love with the story and am so sad Stieg Larsson isn't alive to write another book.
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo: The first book is more Blomkvist's story. Journalist Mikael Blomkvist works on an investigative research assignment and is assisted by investigator Lisbeth Salander.
The Girl Who Played with Fire: The last two books are more Salander's story. In Part 1 of Salander's story, she is accused of killing someone associated with a story on which Blomkvist is working.
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest: In Part 2 of Salander's story, Salander and Blomkvist work together to clear Salander's name.
HH, I found the SL website and they say that another book may come out posthumously. He had written most of it and left outlines and fragments of the rest, but there's a powerstruggle going on between his life partner and his father over who owns the rights to what.
I read that. I also read that Larsson didn't really talk to his family, so I totally get why his partner would look out for his interests. The popularity of the series pretty much guarantees its release, but I hope it can be done in keeping with Larsson's implied wishes.
Currently listening to the Narnia books, read by the likes of Michael York and Vanessa Redgrave. :o