Now Hear This!

from Mary

 

Do you like audiobooks?

 

I do. I am absolutely crazy chunked double-roasted

about them. This last year, my library plunderings changed from mostly book books to near 100% audiobooks. I've checked out books on CDs for the car for a long time. But, as the library's PlayAway collection gets bigger and bigger, I find I'm becoming more and more addicted to them. If you haven't seen one, they look like this:

 

 

Very easy to slip in your pocket and go. You provide your own AAA battery and earbuds. What a great invention!

Here are a few of my favorite audiobooks, from CDs and Playaways, that you might enjoy.

 

This is actually my current read. It's a Vicky Bliss book with all the adventure and wit you'd expect from her and Elizabeth Peters/Barbara Michaels. Read by the undisputed Queen of Narration, Barbara Rosenblat.

 

 

 

Drum roll ... this is my all-time favorite audiobook -

 

 

If there was an award for Most Entertaining Book of the Century, this would be the winner. Funny, great storytelling from two masters, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman -

- and to top it all, the most incredible, enjoyable narration ever from the actor Martin Jarvis.

 

And for a brilliant series to listen to, I loved The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo books that everyone raves about -

 

 

- narrated by one of the best-known audio narrators in the world, Simon Vance.

 

Do you have an audio recommendation for me? Sometimes I search the library online site by narrator to find other books done by the ones above. Would love to hear of more.

 

Happy Listening!

Comments

[Sandi]

I don't listen to many audiobooks, but I really enjoyed The Girl Who Stopped Swimming, written AND read by Joshilyn Jackson.

[Mary]

That was a good book. I didn't hear the audio though. Some writers can do that well. Must check that one out.

One I forgot to mention above was The First Rule, written and narrated by Robert Crais. He did a great job! I'm loving the newer Joe Pike books.

Thanks, Sandi!

[Julia Frank]

My all time favorite audio book is The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon. The reader is able to convey an enormous range of characters through their varied accents, particularly Yiddish accents. I could visualize the gruff policeman, the Hasiddic Rabbi, the young toughs, the tough women, just by listening to their voices. I was riveted, for hours. It is long book...

[Donna Andrews]

Martin Jarvis reading anything by P.G. Wodehouse.

[Judy Bobalik]

I finished 350 books last year. 330 were audio books. I get them from the library and load them into iTunes and then transfer to my iPod.

I love George Guidall, Scott Brick, Gerard Doyle reading Adrian McKinty's Dead I Well May Be and the next two books was brilliant. Donada Peters,Orlagh Cassidy reading Jacqueline Winspear's books.

[Mary]

Oh, Julia, I loved the Yiddish Policemen's Union too - the story and the narrator. Can't think of his name right now, but he starred in Crossing Delancy. I'm crazy about Michael Chabon.

Also crazy about Wodehouse. And Martin Jarvis narrates some? thank you, Donna. I know what I'm checking out on the next library trip. :)

Judy! Wow, that's alotsa books. Me and iTunes synching do not work. Nor Overdrive. That's why I do the PlayAways. I can get audios to my computer but they don't want to come out an get squished into those tiny boxes. It's not rocket science, but dang. :)

[Hank Phillippi Ryan]

Oh,LOVE audio books! So perfect for car trips..there have been times--Jonathan and i sit in the driveway, when we arrive home, to finish a chapter or a book! (We did that with Les Miserables..sitting in the front seat, crying...)

And isn't it funny, listening as authors, how much the hearing the book highlights the repetition and the problems? Ver-ry instructive....

[Nancy Jo]

Love The #1Ladies Detective Agency series read by Lisette LeCat. It took a little while to get used to the accent, but I wouldn't have it any other way now. Just finished listening to Dick Van Dyke's memoir, read by him; also loved Alan Alda's never have your dog stuffed, read by him; Oh, so many books, so little time!

[Mary]

Ooh ooh ooh ... thank you, Nancy Jo. Netflix has the #1 Ladies Detective Agency DVDs so I've seen a few of those and loved them. That adorable little boy, Wellington, makes me cry.

Speaking of crying, HANK ... :) girlfriend, you gotta quit torturing yourself with those musicals. :) Kidding. I'm one to talk. I haven't even seen Les Mis. GASP.

You're right about noticing off-kilter parts when hearing a book. I think Donna has said she reads her own books aloud as she writes to spot things like that. Very smart.

BTW, the Yiddish Policemen's Union narrator is actor Peter Riegert.

[Karen]

Love audiobooks - especially with a long commute to work each day. Also listen on my mp3 player as I cook, clean, mow the lawn - just about anything that doesn't need a lot of thought. I agree about #1 Ladies Detective Agency - it's an absolute joy to listen to. Enjoyed Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody series. Really like Terry Pratchett's discworld series. Also Colin Bateman's Mystery Man series and Spencer Quinn. Currently listening to Louise Penny's Three Pines series which is fabulous! But, it is the narrator that makes listening so enjoyable.

[Elaine Viets]

Any audio book read by Barbara Rosenblatt. She's brilliant. The Harry Potter audio books are wonderful. The narrator worked on more than 200 separate voices.

[Mary]

Karen, I wish I could get my hands on more Pratchett audios. My library does have Dog On It by Quinn, so I've listened to it. Loved it. Chet. Plain and simple. :) I'm a sucker for a dog book. Bateman - haven't read anything by him. Thanks!

Why haven't I thought of Harry Potter. Thank you, Elaine. That must be one talented narrator.