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I know that I’m the one who picked this question, but I still think it is a very difficult one!
For people who were new to audiobooks, I would probably recommend “The Help,” because I think that is a fantastic introduction to audiobooks. The multi-voiced cast is fabulous, and I think their narration really adds to the story. I’d also definitely recommend the “Harry Potter” audios as a good way to ease into audiobooks. I listened to and loved the Jim Dale versions, but I know people are crazy about the Stephen Fry versions as well.
For those already acquainted with audiobooks, I would recommend the following audios that I have loved:
“America, America” by Ethan Canin, narrated by Robertson Dean
“The Thirteenth Tale” by Diane Setterfeld, narrated by Ruthie Henshall and Lynn Redgrave
“So Cold the River” by Michael Kortya, narrated by Robert Petkoff
“Paper Towns” by John Green, narrated by Dan John Miller
“Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand” by Helen Simonson, narrated by Peter Altschuler
“The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot, narrated by Cassandra Campbell and Bahni Turpin
“Bad Things Happen” by Harry Dolan, narrated by Erik Davies
“When You Are Engulfed in Flames” by David Sedaris, narrated by David Sedaris
Added:
“The Little Stranger” by Sarah Waters, narrated by Simon Vance
I’m also loving “Feed” by Mira Grant right now, which is narrated by Paula Christensen and Jesse Bernstein, but I guess I can’t recommend it for sure until I finish.
What audiobooks do you recommend? I’m always happy to add to my wishlist!
If you wrote a post on this or any of my other discussion topics today, Thursday June 24th, please leave your link in the Mr. Linky before midnight Central time (US) and you will be eligible to win a prize.
I know that some of us covered this on Monday, but I’m still curious about just where everyone listens to audiobooks.
When I first started listening to audiobooks, it was car-only. Really, I just wanted something to take my mind off of my commutes. I was a big NPR fan, but for some reason I didn’t find ALL THINGS CONSIDERED quite as interesting as MORNING EDITION, so I’d drive to work listening to NPR, and drive home listening to an audiobook.
Next, it was the gym. Yes, music got me pumped up to move, but after a few minutes I would be bored, bored, bored. I need plot to keep me interested in, well, pretty much anything, so I started bringing my audiobook with me on the bike and the elliptical.
Then it was those long, boring times when I was really doing a deep scrubbing of some room.
Now, as long as I have at least 5 minutes during which I will be doing something that does not involve me reading, writing, or listening to other words, I stick those ear buds straight into my ears: when I’m driving, working out, taking a walk, cleaning, folding laundry, drying my hair, coloring my hair, straightening my hair….
When do you listen to audiobooks?
Note: Mr. Linky seems to be down, please leave your links in the comments
Bad Things Happen by Harry Dolan, narrated by Erik Davies
If you posted an audiobook review today, Thursday June 24th, please leave your link in the Mr. Linky before midnight Central time (US) and you will be eligible to win a prize.
Synopsis:
The mysterious David Loogan comes to Ann Arbor, Michigan to lead a quiet life and recover from his past. Unfortunately, he gets drawn into a working relationship with Tom Kristoll, publisher of the literary magazine Grey Street, which is devoted entirely to mysteries, who makes him an editor of the magazine. Oh, and he also gets drawn into a more intimate sort of relationship with Tom’s wife.
In pretty much every Grey Street story the same formula appears: ‘plans go wrong, bad things happen, people die.’ When this same formula begins appearing in Loogan’s own life, things get messy.
Thoughts on the story:
Here’s where I admit that I listened to this back in JANUARY of 2010 and am just not writing the review in June. Oops. Clearly I can’t tell you anything really detailed about the plot, since it has been six months. But here’s what I can tell you: if this book hadn’t been spectacular, I wouldn’t be bothering to write ANYTHING about it 6 months later. I love, love, loved this. It was this fun sort of gritty crime drama that had the potential to be a little cheesy but totally wasn’t.
Thoughts on the audio production:
As much as I enjoyed the story, probably the thing I loved most about this audio was the narrator. Erik Davies has this sexy sort of gritty hardboiled voice that just kept me absolutely enthralled. He was absolutely perfect for the story.
Overall:
I highly recommend this, especially in audio!
Note: Mr. Linky doesn’t seem to be working properly today, please leave links in the comments
Buy this book from:
Powells: Audio/Print*
A local independent bookstore via Indiebound: Audio/Print*
Amazon: Audio/Print*
This review was done with a book borrowed from the library.
* These links are all affiliate links. If you buy your book here I’ll make a very small amount of money that goes towards hosting, giveaways, etc.
So, at the beginning of Audiobook Week I was approached by the developer of the Audio Footnote app for iPhones. Basically, this app allows you to record voice notes while you’re listening to an audiobook with your iPhone. Eric, the developer, says:
Notes are saved and sorted by the program you were listening to, the date recorded and your place in the book.
Sounds pretty interesting! Eric offered me a free evaluation copy, but I don’t have an iPhone, so it wouldn’t do much good.
We decided that, since I couldn’t use a copy of this app, maybe one of you can.If you listen to audiobooks on your iPhone, use the google form below to enter this contest.
If you wrote a post on this or any of my other discussion topics today, Wednesday June 23rd, please leave your link in the Mr. Linky before midnight Central time (US) and you will be eligible to win a prize.
Here’s something quick and easy for the middle of the week, just a short meme. Just copy/paste (and obviously change the answers to your own).
Audiobook are you currently reading/you read most recently: Feed by Mira Grant
Impressions?: LOVE. Like, hope for terrible traffic jams so I can keep listening love it.
How long you’ve been listening to audiobooks: I’ve done a little listening on and off in the past, but I started really getting into audiobooks last January or so, so about 18 months.
First audiobook you ever listened to: First one was some listen/readalong thing when I was super little. A couple of years ago I downloaded a couple of books from Librivox: ”Pride and Prejudice” and “The Little Princess”. My listening fizzled there, though, when I got to bad narrators, since all Librivox narrators are volunteers. At the beginning of my REAL audiobook listening, “The Historian” by Elizabeth Kostova was my first title, and I listened to it on a driving weekend away with my husband before our baby was born.
Favorite audiobook title: So difficult! For sheer amazing audiobook experience, probably “The Help.” I could probably listed 10 other ‘favorites,’ though.
Favorite narrator: Honestly, I’m not really sure. I have loved Erik Davies, Robert Petkoff, and Robertson Dean, though. There are lots of female narrators whose work I think is fabulous, but I really love me some sexy-voiced men.
How do you choose what to listen to versus read? Sheer luck, really. Usually it is based on what I’m trying to fit into my reading schedule that my library happens to have in audio. I try to avoid plots with non-linear chronological structure, though, because I find I don’t do well with them.
bermudaonion (Kathy)
Beth F
Sandy
Stephanie
Michelle
I know that I’m the one who picked this question, but I still think it is a very difficult one!
Bad Things Happen 
We decided that, since I couldn’t use a copy of this app, maybe one of you can.If you listen to audiobooks on your iPhone, use the google form below to enter this contest.
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