Audible Book Recommendations - Post yours here

[robert]

The Book Thief, 5+Stars

Had to "go to" Australia, but found an excellent


Warning: Spoilers. Read the book first. No answer to the question posited above.

Reading Guide

And

Author's Comments on writing and background of The Book Thief.

 

[arsolot]

Blood Meridian

I was just now browsing around on NetLibrary and looked at the newest books available there. I found that Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian is now available as an audiobook. This is, for me and I believe for any other audiobook listener interested in McCarthy, very good news.

I read this book in print form a while ago, and am very interested in an audio version. Incidentally, I read it with a Spanish-Engish dictionary close by!

I'll likely post my thoughts on this after I've finished listening to it.

 

[robert]

Cormac McCarthy's, The Road has just been awarded a well-deserved Pulitzer prize for fiction.

 

[Newwriter]

Hi Folks, I'm a new lounger from England. If you want to get a good feel for English historical novels like the Cadfael series by Ellis Peters or say some Anthony Trollope novels look for anything narrated by Stephen Thorne. To me he is the master narrator, even surpassing Inglis's Lord of the Rings. He has a wonderful knack of making you feel time and place.

Happy Reading / Listening everyone

 

[robert]

4+*A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseni (Kite Runner)

I liked it, but rank it 4+* vs 5* for The Kite Runner. Each is a betrayal and atonement story in classic literature style. However, A Thousand Suns atonement is not as convincing or compelling as the one in Kite Runner. ... Suns setting is also Afghanistan and full of the abominable treatment of women and the impact of war and subjugation -- saga of two women struggling against difficult odds to ultimate triumph -- one of which involves the ultimate sacrifice. Although more about the women, and a book that women may rank higher, it is also the story of two men -- one brutal and controlling, the other allows his fear of public embarrassment to overcome his love and responsibilities. There is a lively discussion on Amazon.com bulletin board at the book listing -- don't read prior to doing the book. A Muslim sounding (name and unenlightened attitude*) man accuses the author of being a tool of the CIA and US government. Although I disagree, I owe him my thinking through what is the message of this book -- In any case, a mark of a good book that keeps me continuing to think about it for days following completion.

Remarkable writing of this, his second, book by a medical doctor

Available on audible.com

*of course, there are enlightened Mulims

 

[robert]

4+*The Glass Castle, Jeannette Walls

4+*The Glass Castle, Jeannette Walls
Evocative and moving non-fiction memoir by Jeannette Walls, gossip columnist for MSNBC. A story of siblings surviving and succeeding in spite of a dysfunctional family. Walls conveys her story without rancor or recrimination and demonstrates love and affection for her totally irresponsible parents. Incredibly better than J R Moehringer's The Tender Bar or Augusten Burroughs Running with Scissors -- both of which I recommend avoiding. Some what similar to the setting and tenor of Baldacci's Wish You Well, even though Wish You Well is anything but a dysfunctional family. Then there is James Frey's A Million Little Pieces which, given the controversy over truth, I cannot bring myself to read.

I felt impelled to get a glimpse of the real Jeannette Walls and found this somewhat satisfying Comedy Central video interview.

 

[chadhugo]

I just got my iPod and was happy enough with loading my entire music collection on it, but just discovered audible.com and now am blown away by how many books I can get on the thing.

Anyone have any favorites that they can recommend? I just bought Pure Drivel by Steve Martin. Laughing my a%#$ off.

Jo

http://www.audible.com

Does this cost though???

 

[robert]

Free Teaching Company Lectures - origins English and 19th cent US Xmas Celebrations

Click here for post describing and link to free download site.

 

[VixenofVenus]

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas - 4.75* out of 5*

There are many versions of this book out there, and many versions of the Audiobook as well. I listened to the one from Audible.com over the last month and I loved both the book (which I read in HS) and the narrator. It's worth the $12 or so to get from Audible.

 

[writerpatrick]

I'm currently working through a reading of Beowulf on my Podcast Ping podcast. I'll be posting part 5 on Thursday. The podcast can be found at http://podcastping.blogspot.com/.

 

[robert]

Louis de Bernières, Birds without Wings -- 5*

Narrator: John Lee
Length: 22 hours and 47 min. (Unabridged -- 2 credit book. Also available abridged if you are so inclined :-( .)
Release Date: 08-18-2004

Long, excellent, well-written, and absorbing story. The lyrical lines include (approximately): "There will always be an empty spot in my heart in your shape and I hope that you will also always have an empty spot in your heart that is the shape of me." Set at the beginning of the 20th century in a small coastal village in what is now Turkey and centered on the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire. Has a fair amount of history -- pure history for maybe an hour or less of the audio book -- otherwise the history is woven in with the characters and a compelling story. de Bernieres, a Brit, creates many fascinating and multifaceted characters that are intriguing and interesting. It is called a prequel to de Bernieres earlier book, Corelli's Mandolin, which is unfortunately not available on audible.

Some reviewers find the book slow for the first 100 pages. I did not. It is a great audio book and read by one of my favorite narrators -- John Lee. Be careful of reviews -- lots of plot spoilers.

I have just discovered audible.com RSS feeds and now have two of them coming into my Yahoo home page. Cool.

Page with all the feeds on it: http://www.audible.com/adbl/store/rssFeed.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes

New and notable at audible: http://feeds.feedburner.com/AudibleRssFeeds-NewNotable

NYT best sellers on audible: http://www.audible.com/images/common/btn/site/rss.gif

You can set up so that you get both the title and short summary on yahoo home page.

 

[robert]

Louis de Bernières, Birds without Wings -- 5*

Narrator: John Lee
Length: 22 hours and 47 min. (Unabridged -- 2 credit book. Also available abridged if you are so inclined )
Release Date: 08-18-2004

Long, excellent, well-written, and absorbing story. The lyrical lines include (approximately): "There will always be an empty spot in my heart in your shape and I hope that you will also always have an empty spot in your heart that is the shape of me." Set at the beginning of the 20th century in a small coastal village in what is now Turkey and centered on the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire. Has a fair amount of history -- pure history for maybe an hour or less of the audio book -- otherwise the history is woven in with the characters and a compelling set of related stories. de Bernieres, a Brit, creates many fascinating and multifaceted characters that are intriguing and interesting. It is called a prequel to de Bernieres earlier book, Corelli's Mandolin, which is unfortunately not available on audible.

Some reviewers find the book slow for the first 100 pages. I did not. It is a great audio book and read by one of my favorite narrators -- John Lee. Be careful of reviews -- lots of plot spoilers.

I have just discovered audible.com RSS feeds and now have two of them coming into my Yahoo home page. Cool.

Page with all the feeds on it: http://www.audible.com/adbl/store/rssFeed.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes

New and notable at audible: http://feeds.feedburner.com/AudibleRssFeeds-NewNotable

NYT best sellers on audible: http://www.audible.com/images/common/btn/site/rss.gif

You can set up so that you get both the title and short summary on yahoo home page.

 

[SGW]

War of the Worlds Full Cast Recording

I hope it's OK to post this since I wrote it --

If you have a new iPod and you're looking for an old time radio experience, the adaptation of H.G. Wells War of the Worlds is available for under $10 on audible.com and iTunes.

I was commissioned to do a radio-style drama set in the period of the original novel. This version from Thayne Multimedia is believed to be the first adaptation that is set in the 1890s.

It was recorded in England with a full British cast and features great music from a Greek composer so it is truly an International production.

Give it a try by searching War of the Worlds or Sidney Williams on iTunes or Audible.

 

[ThaPoet]

If you saw the film you are in for a surprise because the film is not even remotely like the book, and don't expect to visit the Galapagos Islands! I love the books and have bought the first seven books in the series. The technical terminology is a bit daunting, but my enjoyment of the books is rarely diminished when I just ignore it.

You may find this URL useful.

CR

Which narrator did you like; Simon Vance or Patrick Tull?

 

[robert]

Gods in Alabama by Joshilyn Jackson 3.5+*

Light, fun, surprise ending, you will have a love-hate relationship with lead character, and crammed full of Southern. Not literary, but enjoyable. 8:06 hours.


Don't read the reviews or the Amazon Publisher's Weekly Editorial Review and
many of the individual reviews. Most of them have plot spoilers.

From Bookmarks Magazine
Critics agree that Jackson has scored big in her first outing, a comic novel that combines salty blue-collar humor with an engaging first-person voice. Jackson navigates through what could have become clichés of Southern types and instead offers memorable, often humorous characters and situations that keep the story humming along. The author also has a few surprises up her sleeve when it comes to plot and character, including moral ambiguity. Don’t expect Jackson’s debut novel to end like the usual "coming home" story or mistake it for just another "chick-lit" offering.
Copyright © 2004 Phillips & Nelson Media, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

 

[icerew]

Bill bryson - Short history of nearly everthing

Bill bryson - Short history of nearly everthing

16 hours worth of listening... this audiobook is a god send if ur kipping in a 16 bed dorm at a hostel and Bazzinda above u is snoring his ### off!

Just plug the phones in, wack bill on... 2minutes later...... ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZz

 

[iAMbuzz]

The Kite Runner & Love in the Time of Cholera

 

[robert]

Heaven's Net is Wide by Lian Hearn 4*

This prequel to the Otori Trilogy is as much fun and fast moving as the others. Well written and engaging fantasy fun set in medieval Japan.

Across the Nightingale Floor
Grass for his Pillow
Brilliance of the Moon
Harsh Cry of the Heron

and now, prequel Heaven's Net is Wide

Listen to them in order for best effect. However, those of us who read the first four will find that listening to the prequel later ties together some loose ends and no spoilers.

 

[blackaltis07]

Choke by Chuck Palahniuk. Absolutely hilarious and really thought provoking. Chuck personally does the reading too, which makes it difficult to listen to his other books read by someone else. My favorite book.

 

[litlphoenix]

looking for herman hesse

Does anyone know where I can download "Narcissus and Goldmund" by Herman Hesse as audiobook. I can't find it anywhere, free or paid download.