Audible Book Recommendations - Post yours here

[dordale]

Robert--I agree with you...it would be nice if audible provided feedback about it's reviewers...but I'm just glad that they've added reviews! It wasn't so long ago that audible didn't include any form of customer feedback at all!

I still find myself going to Amazon to get more reviews for books I might be interested in, but it is nice to see reviews on audible's site that I know refer to the audio book version!

dordale

[BigD]

Sigh...I WISH audible had a good review system. The best I've found was to do an advanced search and sort by rating. But then you have to sort (by eye) by the number of reviews. Anyone can go in and give it a high rating, but when 400 people rate it and it's still up at 5 stars - well, it's got to be good.

Or so I hope.

Unfortunately, that doesn't filter out the types of book that I just don't like. For example: DaVinci Code. It's got great and high ratings, but it's just not my type of book. Same with Left Behind. Not for me.

This is how I just stumbled on "Across the Nightingale Floor" by Lian Hearn. Wow. I am on book 2 and really enjoy it.

I wish the reviewers were listed by current reviews of recent books. Say - each reviewer had a list of reviews of the SAME books. A few best sellers from each section and some popular older books. (DaVinci Code, Middlesex, The Company, The Corrections, The Life of Pi, Dude, where's my Country) stuff like that. Then you can compare each reviewer - what they like and don't like - to your own personal tastes. Equally. That would be nice - for me at least.

I wonder if I can add "better review section" to my wish list in audible!
Denise

[Compact]

not sure if they sell this, but listened to "Peter Kay - Top of the Tower" yesterday and found it very funny.
(Northern english comic/tv guy so not sure if all humour will transfer to US)


But good quote from the start of this topic..
[QUOTE]
I still haven't read the Hitchhiker's Guide, but it is definitely on my to do list!!
[Quote]

Made me laugh, was sure if he was meaning he was going to read it or listen to it.

[jaypod]

Fast Food Nation. I will never eat fast food again after that book. Scary what these companies do.

[Roadkill]

My recommendation:

Salmon of Doubt: Hitchhiking the Galaxy One Last Time

If your a fan of Douglas Adams and the hitchhiking guide, you should definately read (or listen to) this book. It is a compilation of many of Adams short storys and radio transcripts that he had left on his Macintosh computer when he died. Also contained in this is the unfinished book Adams was in the process of writing when he passed: The Salmon of Doubt, which is awesome, and it's a shame it couldn't have been finished.

[inventme]

Enders Game, by Orson Scott Card

Phenomenal Sci-Fi book!

[CarbonRods]

Originally posted by parannoya
I've read a lot of positive comments on Terry Pratchett books. So I downloaded my first one yesterday and will check it out.

parannoya, have you listened to it yet? Did you like it?

CR

[Podunk]

yeah, I got "The Colour of Magic." I had no idea what to expect. I liked it okay, but not as much as Adams Hitchhiker series, which are similar type of humor. I'll probably listen to another one soon. The chart linked above is really cool.

BTW, have you been listening to the FREE series of dispatches from the Everest Climbers? They are short but really interesting. Only a couple minutes so easier to just stream them.

[CarbonRods]

Originally posted by parannoya
BTW, have you been listening to the FREE series of dispatches from the Everest Climbers? They are short but really interesting. Only a couple minutes so easier to just stream them.

No... I didn't know about them, so thanks for pointing them out. I'll check them out this weekend.

CR

[david1951]

Just a tip - if you are starting on Terry Pratchett, the first two books in the Discworld series ('Colour of Magic' and 'The Light Fantastic') while amusing, are not all that well written (Pratchett had still to get into his stride).

DON'T BE PUT OFF!

The other books are just fabulous. I usually recommend that people who haven't tried Pratchett start with something like 'Mort' or 'Equal Rites'.

[Podunk]

OK, thanks. I 'll grab another one soon. I'll try one of those. I had heard similar comments about "Colour of Magic" but it seemed like a logical place to start. I like that one OK but just maybe not enough to justify all the hoopla.

[david1951]

IMHO, Pratchett (once he really got going) is one of Britain's best writers .

He somehow manages to combine ludicrous fantasy with characters who have real depth, themes covering deep and important issues (some of which can make you weep), with page-turning plots - and yet manages to have you laughing hysterically at the same time. Walking along listening to him generally gets me some very odd looks as I burst out laughing (mind you, Neal Stephenson's 'Snow Crash' is getting me the same response).

To quote Shakespeare (who was talking about another clown):

"He uses his folly as a stalking horse
And beneath the presentation of that
He shoots his wit."

Another tip - the Discworld books move between different sets of characters, and each set has a different flavour. Some may appeal to you more than others.

There's the books around the wizard Rincewind - Colour of Magic, Light Fantastic, Sourcery, Eric, The Last Continent, Interesting Times. These, to my mind, are the weakest set (though the last named is still pretty good).

Then there's the set around the Witches, including an amazing character called Granny Weatherwax - Equal Rites, Wyrd Sisters, Witches Abroad, Lords and Ladies, Maskerade, Carpe Jugulum. These are excellent, particularly the last, which has some very grim moments.

Then there's the ones circling around the personified Death (who rides a pale horse - called Binky): Mort, Reaper Man, Soul Music, Hogfather.

And then one ones about the City Watch, which are almost in a jokey Film Noir style, featuring Captain (later Commander) Vimes and Corporal Carrot, who's a six-foot seven dwarf. These include real mystery story plots (among many other things) - Guards Guards, Men at Arms, Feet of Clay, The Fifth Elephant, Night Watch. The latter is almost not humorous at all, but very moving.

And then an assorted set: Pyramids, Moving Pictures, Small Gods, Jingo, The Truth, The Thief of Time.

All of these books share the same basic background, and there's lots of cross-over between the sets of characters, particularly the wizards, who turn up in a lot of the books.

Lately Pratchett has been taking some interesting turns - almost out of the Discworld canon but not quite - with a more serious aim, I think. The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents, The Wee Free Men and Monstrous Regiment.

Not all of these are so far available as audio books, of course, but many of them are.

[jjob80]

I'm brand new to Audible, having subscribed to get the $100. off the mini. I've only been a member for one month but I am in the process of listening to Middlesex and it is very good. I also got Da Vinci Code, good, but compared to the narration for Middlesex, it doesn't compare. It's obviously very personal, as far as what books you like, but when you listen to 13 plus hours, the quality of the narrator plays an important part. Now if only I would finally get the mini Ipod so I don't have to burn all those CDs!

[jennsutherland]

I've listened to several audio books now, and there are definitely thosethat stand out, and those that aren't as good. Current favorites include:

American Gods - Neil Gaiman, one of my fave books, and now a wonderful audio book
Small Gods - Terry Pratchett, one of my fave of the Discworld series

-js

[sahmad88]

I have only been a member for a few months, but here is what I have gotten so far:

I really liked:
Lies and the Lying Liars who tell them - Al Franken. Hysterical look at the conservative media. Also great since it is read by Al Franken.

Eragon - Christopher Paolini. Lots of fun. I am really looking forward to more in this series. Great fun fantasy.

The DaVinci Code - Dan Brown. Very good historical fiction. And despite what other people have said, I really enjoyed listening to this narrator. Audible has really good samples of their stuff, so you can essentially try before you buy. Since it is such a personal thing if you will like the narrator out or not, try listening first.

Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card. One of my favorite books I have read, and now one of my favorite to listen to.

Snow Crash - Neal Stephenson. Another good sci fi book. At first I didn't care for this narrator, but then he grew on me. Great story.

I am listening to right now:
The Diamond Age - Neal Stephenson. I am only about an hour into this one, but so far I don't care for the narrator. It is making it hard for me to stick with it.