1kjuliff
From childhood we’ve all listened to audio stories. Our parents read to us from books before we could read.
Before there can be reading, there has to be writing, and it has taken centuries for the invention of writing and all those things that go into mass distribution of readable books.
We all have heard of the Gutenberg printing press, but have you heard when the space delimiter was first in wide use? Without it stories were transcribed with all the words running together. Impossible for silent reading as the story teller had to decipher what the letters meant as they spoke.
So even after writing as we know it, people needed the space symbol.
And after all that we needed mass education so that people could read by themselves.
It all came together in the 18th century.
But we all could hear fiction and non-fiction - by listening, though this was not available to all. The non-sighted had to wait till after 1801 when Braille - enabling touch-reading - was invented.
And then came “talking books” in 1935.
So even now, if we include developing countries, we have many people relying on audio for learning and entertainment.
When I was in my thirties I had no idea I’d become severely visually impaired, and I volunteered to be a “reader” in Melbourne at the Royal Society for the Blind. Purely for altruistic reasons. I read computer programming texts. It was tiring and meant using a reel to reel recorder. Not fun.
Even now you can borrow such “Talking Books” that have been digitized onto CDs and then transferred to streaming technology.
This thread is about ALL things audio. Did you ever need to have a book read to you post age four? Why do you read audio? Do you? What do you think of the way audiobooks are changing? Do you prefer professional narrators or celebrities such as Colin Firth narrating? Do you like having authors read their own works?
What irks you about audiobook? What technological advances would you like to see?
What scenes in books have you noticed where people read to other people? People like Mister Collins in P&P.
Why do you listen to audio books? Do you multi-task? Do you think with changes in tech that novels as we know them will change? Will we have “written for audio” books? How can texting and email be translated to words without emojis? How has tech changed the syntax of newer novels, and can we even hope to translate them to audio?
And what of the professional narrator who is monolingual? Does it annoy you when they mispronounce short bursts in a second language that occasionally occur in books.?
Can you recommend audio books to avoid? How important is the human narrator in audiobooks?
With the introduction of characters of different ages and sexes narrated by different narrators, audiobooks verge into theatrical plays.
Why am I curating this thread? Let’s just say I’ve looked at books from both sides now, and I want to feel I’ve progressed from the 30 year old me, who changed tapes and attempted to read textbooks for programming in C.
Plus of course I’m interested and indeed honored to be part of the LT community, and want to give back what I’ve learned about All Things Audio.
Through January it will be open house so I can get feedback on what people want from this thread. That will help me add structure if needed.
Thank you for reading,
Kate
Before there can be reading, there has to be writing, and it has taken centuries for the invention of writing and all those things that go into mass distribution of readable books.
We all have heard of the Gutenberg printing press, but have you heard when the space delimiter was first in wide use? Without it stories were transcribed with all the words running together. Impossible for silent reading as the story teller had to decipher what the letters meant as they spoke.
So even after writing as we know it, people needed the space symbol.
And after all that we needed mass education so that people could read by themselves.
It all came together in the 18th century.
But we all could hear fiction and non-fiction - by listening, though this was not available to all. The non-sighted had to wait till after 1801 when Braille - enabling touch-reading - was invented.
And then came “talking books” in 1935.
So even now, if we include developing countries, we have many people relying on audio for learning and entertainment.
When I was in my thirties I had no idea I’d become severely visually impaired, and I volunteered to be a “reader” in Melbourne at the Royal Society for the Blind. Purely for altruistic reasons. I read computer programming texts. It was tiring and meant using a reel to reel recorder. Not fun.
Even now you can borrow such “Talking Books” that have been digitized onto CDs and then transferred to streaming technology.
This thread is about ALL things audio. Did you ever need to have a book read to you post age four? Why do you read audio? Do you? What do you think of the way audiobooks are changing? Do you prefer professional narrators or celebrities such as Colin Firth narrating? Do you like having authors read their own works?
What irks you about audiobook? What technological advances would you like to see?
What scenes in books have you noticed where people read to other people? People like Mister Collins in P&P.
Why do you listen to audio books? Do you multi-task? Do you think with changes in tech that novels as we know them will change? Will we have “written for audio” books? How can texting and email be translated to words without emojis? How has tech changed the syntax of newer novels, and can we even hope to translate them to audio?
And what of the professional narrator who is monolingual? Does it annoy you when they mispronounce short bursts in a second language that occasionally occur in books.?
Can you recommend audio books to avoid? How important is the human narrator in audiobooks?
With the introduction of characters of different ages and sexes narrated by different narrators, audiobooks verge into theatrical plays.
Why am I curating this thread? Let’s just say I’ve looked at books from both sides now, and I want to feel I’ve progressed from the 30 year old me, who changed tapes and attempted to read textbooks for programming in C.
Plus of course I’m interested and indeed honored to be part of the LT community, and want to give back what I’ve learned about All Things Audio.
Through January it will be open house so I can get feedback on what people want from this thread. That will help me add structure if needed.
Thank you for reading,
Kate
2markon
Thanks for setting this thread up Kate! I was surprised that recorded books were around as early as you said (1935), but it makes sense with gramaphones. I am old enough that read-along books had 45 records in them when I was a child.
I am always interested in finding good books to listen to. But what makes it a good book to listen to? I think it's a magical mix of good writing, interesting characters or themes (or topics in nonfiction), and a voice that is easy to listen to. (A voice that grates makes it impossible to listen.)
I used to listen to nonfiction in my car on my commute home. It was a good length to listen (45-60 minutes.) I could remember/summarize to myself what I had heard, and add to it the next day. My favorite nonfiction audiobook is Robert Macfarlane's The old ways: a journey on foot, narrated by Roy McMillan.
I now have a much shorter commute, and listen to more fiction, because I listen at night on the way to sleep. I need a narrative so I can track what's going on, and find my place the next day. Mysteries seem to work well for me on audiobook. I'm currently listening to a series by Peter Grainger featuring DCI Smith, whose boss hopes he is nearing retirment. It's a police procedural, with good character development. Narrator Gildart Jackson does a good job.
I've also enjoyed Adjoa Andoh's narration of Ann Leckie's Imperial Radch universe, and both narrators of Louise Penny's Three Pines series, Ralph Cosham & Robert Bathurst. I've enjoyed Jayne Entwhistle's narration of the Flavia de Luce series, but I so associate her voice with Flavia that it has been hard to listen to her read other books.
I wish I could listen to audiobooks while I clean, but I usually pay so much attention to the cleaning that I lose track of what I'm listening to. I can listen while I walk, but I haven't done so well at walking this year, though I have added in more exercising this month. I also can listen while I cook, or fold laundry. If I try to just sit and listen, I fall asleep.
I like professional narrators rather than authors reading books. Some authors read well, and some don't. I also like straight reads better than dramatizations. The dramatizations often seem over the top to me.
I am always interested in finding good books to listen to. But what makes it a good book to listen to? I think it's a magical mix of good writing, interesting characters or themes (or topics in nonfiction), and a voice that is easy to listen to. (A voice that grates makes it impossible to listen.)
I used to listen to nonfiction in my car on my commute home. It was a good length to listen (45-60 minutes.) I could remember/summarize to myself what I had heard, and add to it the next day. My favorite nonfiction audiobook is Robert Macfarlane's The old ways: a journey on foot, narrated by Roy McMillan.
I now have a much shorter commute, and listen to more fiction, because I listen at night on the way to sleep. I need a narrative so I can track what's going on, and find my place the next day. Mysteries seem to work well for me on audiobook. I'm currently listening to a series by Peter Grainger featuring DCI Smith, whose boss hopes he is nearing retirment. It's a police procedural, with good character development. Narrator Gildart Jackson does a good job.
I've also enjoyed Adjoa Andoh's narration of Ann Leckie's Imperial Radch universe, and both narrators of Louise Penny's Three Pines series, Ralph Cosham & Robert Bathurst. I've enjoyed Jayne Entwhistle's narration of the Flavia de Luce series, but I so associate her voice with Flavia that it has been hard to listen to her read other books.
I wish I could listen to audiobooks while I clean, but I usually pay so much attention to the cleaning that I lose track of what I'm listening to. I can listen while I walk, but I haven't done so well at walking this year, though I have added in more exercising this month. I also can listen while I cook, or fold laundry. If I try to just sit and listen, I fall asleep.
I like professional narrators rather than authors reading books. Some authors read well, and some don't. I also like straight reads better than dramatizations. The dramatizations often seem over the top to me.
3WelshBookworm
Whoa! Too many questions all at once! But I'll try - I'm a big fan of audiobooks, not because of any visual impairment, but because I live an hour from a large metropolitan area and I do a lot of driving back and forth.
Did you ever need to have a book read to you post age four?
Yes. My parents (mostly mom) read to my every night from a very early age. Beginning at about age 5, my mom began reading chapter books, mostly classics, and in retrospect I think she probably simplified the language and left out a lot. I remember, for example, The Swiss Family Robinson and when I picked it up to read for myself a few years later, the old-fashioned language was nothing like I remembered. But anyway, this habit was special to me, and I was even deeply hurt when my mother said at age 7 that I could read by myself now, and she wasn't going to do it anymore.
Why do you read audio?
As I said, I commute a fair amount and it seemed a good use of the time! I decided to track print vs. audio last year (meaning 2023) and I was very surprised that audiobooks were fully half of my reading. Well, I work in a public library, and contrary to popular opinion we do not get to read all day, but I am on the computer constantly, reading lots of book related things (like LibraryThing posts), so by the end of the day I really don't want to sit and read print! (I'd rather sit and watch TV - ha ha. Or do genealogy or something else. Or I'm driving to a choir rehearsal an hour away, and then it is audiobooks.)
What do you think of the way audiobooks are changing?
Are they? Do you mean the format? I don't listen to very many books on CD any more. I use Libby or Chirp or Audible and connect to my car radio via Bluetooth. It's really much easier - no changing disks, and I can speed up the narration. Some narrators are so. very. slow.
Do you prefer professional narrators or celebrities such as Colin Firth narrating?
Well, I kind of think actors ARE professional narrators. I adored listening to Joanne Frogatt reading Wuthering Heights for example. Of course, she is from Yorkshire, so she nailed the Yorkshire dialect. One of my pet peeves is narrators who mispronounce place names or other things. Or narrators who plainly are not from the country involved. For heavens sake, if it's set in Ireland, get an Irish narrator. I hate fake accents. And don't get me started on books set in Wales. I'm fluent in Welsh, and the way names and places are mispronounced just makes me cringe. Some books lend themselves to multiple narrators and that can be a lot of fun.
Do you like having authors read their own works?
In general, authors are usually not very good readers. And if someone is not a good reader, I will give up and go find the print book.
What irks you about audiobook? What technological advances would you like to see?
Well, other than pronunciation and dialect issues, I hate the fact that as e-audiobooks become more and more popular I have endure LONG waiting lists on Libby. And I certainly can't afford to purchase everything I want to listen to. I try to save my Audible points for things that I know I will listen to more than once - favorite authors and series. The other thing I hate is that the Bluetooth often disconnects in my car, and it is a major pain to get it set up again. It usually involves having to delete the phone from my car. Delete SYNC on the phone. Restart both, and then add it all again. And sometimes that doesn't even work, and it takes a number of tries. You would think technology would be more reliable than that.
What scenes in books have you noticed where people read to other people? People like Mister Collins in P&P.
Can't say I have, but up until maybe the 20th century, all books were meant to be read aloud. I really hated Pride and Prejudice until I listened to it on audio. Then it just came alive for me.
Why do you listen to audio books? Do you multi-task?
Except for driving and listening, no, I don't multi-task.
Do you think with changes in tech that novels as we know them will change? Will we have “written for audio” books? How can texting and email be translated to words without emojis? How has tech changed the syntax of newer novels, and can we even hope to translate them to audio?
Change is inevitable. And some things just don't lend themselves to audiobook format. I listened to Rowling's The Ink Black Heart with all of its transcripts of online chat. I got through it, but it wasn't ideal. How should a narrator read LOL for example... To be fair, I heard ebook readers complaining bitterly about that book as well. The chat transcripts were too small to read. And then there are graphic novels. And nonfiction if it has illustrations, maps, genealogy charts, etc.
And what of the professional narrator who is monolingual? Does it annoy you when they mispronounce short bursts in a second language that occasionally occur in books.?
Already answered this.
Can you recommend audio books to avoid? How important is the human narrator in audiobooks?
Probably already answered this, too.
Good idea for a thread. I look forward to more discussion on audiobooks!
Did you ever need to have a book read to you post age four?
Yes. My parents (mostly mom) read to my every night from a very early age. Beginning at about age 5, my mom began reading chapter books, mostly classics, and in retrospect I think she probably simplified the language and left out a lot. I remember, for example, The Swiss Family Robinson and when I picked it up to read for myself a few years later, the old-fashioned language was nothing like I remembered. But anyway, this habit was special to me, and I was even deeply hurt when my mother said at age 7 that I could read by myself now, and she wasn't going to do it anymore.
Why do you read audio?
As I said, I commute a fair amount and it seemed a good use of the time! I decided to track print vs. audio last year (meaning 2023) and I was very surprised that audiobooks were fully half of my reading. Well, I work in a public library, and contrary to popular opinion we do not get to read all day, but I am on the computer constantly, reading lots of book related things (like LibraryThing posts), so by the end of the day I really don't want to sit and read print! (I'd rather sit and watch TV - ha ha. Or do genealogy or something else. Or I'm driving to a choir rehearsal an hour away, and then it is audiobooks.)
What do you think of the way audiobooks are changing?
Are they? Do you mean the format? I don't listen to very many books on CD any more. I use Libby or Chirp or Audible and connect to my car radio via Bluetooth. It's really much easier - no changing disks, and I can speed up the narration. Some narrators are so. very. slow.
Do you prefer professional narrators or celebrities such as Colin Firth narrating?
Well, I kind of think actors ARE professional narrators. I adored listening to Joanne Frogatt reading Wuthering Heights for example. Of course, she is from Yorkshire, so she nailed the Yorkshire dialect. One of my pet peeves is narrators who mispronounce place names or other things. Or narrators who plainly are not from the country involved. For heavens sake, if it's set in Ireland, get an Irish narrator. I hate fake accents. And don't get me started on books set in Wales. I'm fluent in Welsh, and the way names and places are mispronounced just makes me cringe. Some books lend themselves to multiple narrators and that can be a lot of fun.
Do you like having authors read their own works?
In general, authors are usually not very good readers. And if someone is not a good reader, I will give up and go find the print book.
What irks you about audiobook? What technological advances would you like to see?
Well, other than pronunciation and dialect issues, I hate the fact that as e-audiobooks become more and more popular I have endure LONG waiting lists on Libby. And I certainly can't afford to purchase everything I want to listen to. I try to save my Audible points for things that I know I will listen to more than once - favorite authors and series. The other thing I hate is that the Bluetooth often disconnects in my car, and it is a major pain to get it set up again. It usually involves having to delete the phone from my car. Delete SYNC on the phone. Restart both, and then add it all again. And sometimes that doesn't even work, and it takes a number of tries. You would think technology would be more reliable than that.
What scenes in books have you noticed where people read to other people? People like Mister Collins in P&P.
Can't say I have, but up until maybe the 20th century, all books were meant to be read aloud. I really hated Pride and Prejudice until I listened to it on audio. Then it just came alive for me.
Why do you listen to audio books? Do you multi-task?
Except for driving and listening, no, I don't multi-task.
Do you think with changes in tech that novels as we know them will change? Will we have “written for audio” books? How can texting and email be translated to words without emojis? How has tech changed the syntax of newer novels, and can we even hope to translate them to audio?
Change is inevitable. And some things just don't lend themselves to audiobook format. I listened to Rowling's The Ink Black Heart with all of its transcripts of online chat. I got through it, but it wasn't ideal. How should a narrator read LOL for example... To be fair, I heard ebook readers complaining bitterly about that book as well. The chat transcripts were too small to read. And then there are graphic novels. And nonfiction if it has illustrations, maps, genealogy charts, etc.
And what of the professional narrator who is monolingual? Does it annoy you when they mispronounce short bursts in a second language that occasionally occur in books.?
Already answered this.
Can you recommend audio books to avoid? How important is the human narrator in audiobooks?
Probably already answered this, too.
Good idea for a thread. I look forward to more discussion on audiobooks!
4kjuliff
>2 markon: I need a narrative so I can track what's going on, and find my place the next day
I find exactly the same problem and am constantly bookmarking audiobooks at night, as I tend to fall asleep. I bookmark before I go to sleep in order to be able to find my place the next day.
I recently read Ladies’ Lunch which is an almost impossible audio read, having no sections at all - all one chapter. Even with bookmarking I lost my place far too often for the book to make sense.
I agree with you about straight rather than dramatized narrations.. and yes if I just read I tend to fall asleep. But I’m disciplining myself now and will force myself to break at the end of a chapter.
Thank you for your thoughtful contributions, Ardene. I don’t remember the read-along books. I was surprised too at the early date of “recorded books”. I did some research for the first post, and learned a few surprising Pieces of information - like the introduction of the space character and its implications.
I find exactly the same problem and am constantly bookmarking audiobooks at night, as I tend to fall asleep. I bookmark before I go to sleep in order to be able to find my place the next day.
I recently read Ladies’ Lunch which is an almost impossible audio read, having no sections at all - all one chapter. Even with bookmarking I lost my place far too often for the book to make sense.
I agree with you about straight rather than dramatized narrations.. and yes if I just read I tend to fall asleep. But I’m disciplining myself now and will force myself to break at the end of a chapter.
Thank you for your thoughtful contributions, Ardene. I don’t remember the read-along books. I was surprised too at the early date of “recorded books”. I did some research for the first post, and learned a few surprising Pieces of information - like the introduction of the space character and its implications.
5kjuliff
>3 WelshBookworm: Sorry, I didn’t expect all answers at once - I was just throwing out some ideas. Out there. But I appreciated reading your answers. Re What do you think of the way audiobooks are changing? I didn’t mean format, but I meant changes like having multiple narrators, celebrity readers … probably I’m more aware of these changes as I have access to the old “Talking Books” series that’s now digitized. I use it when the hold times are so long and I really want a particular book.
Weirdly I hate buying an audiobook and I never balked at buying paperbacks. It doesn’t feel the not that I’m one of those “I need the smell of paper” people. But it’s I suppose like buying a digital record. I’m a vynal sort a gal.
How does say LOL? Very funny lol. I have heard it used in normal. English sentences. I wonder what the Spanish is for LOL.
Yes an Irish book read in a fake Irish accent is truly a terrible thing. I’m Australian but I don’t have that o ver-the-top Aussie accent and don’t see why a book written by an Australian should be narrated by one if it’s not set in Australia or has any Australian characters.
Oh no - now you’ve given me an idea of another question! 😊
Weirdly I hate buying an audiobook and I never balked at buying paperbacks. It doesn’t feel the not that I’m one of those “I need the smell of paper” people. But it’s I suppose like buying a digital record. I’m a vynal sort a gal.
How does say LOL? Very funny lol. I have heard it used in normal. English sentences. I wonder what the Spanish is for LOL.
Yes an Irish book read in a fake Irish accent is truly a terrible thing. I’m Australian but I don’t have that o ver-the-top Aussie accent and don’t see why a book written by an Australian should be narrated by one if it’s not set in Australia or has any Australian characters.
Oh no - now you’ve given me an idea of another question! 😊
6kjuliff
A Do not buy or put on long hold - get the text version if possible.
A Labor of Lunch
Ladies’ Lunch
By Lore Segal
I have reviewed this book on my personal CR thread, but parts are relevant here. There’s a link to the full review at the end of this post.
I suspect this is a wonderful book. It’s beautifully written, and the human narrator does a pretty good job. But whoever did the audio editing needs to be fired.
A good book spoiled. It’s read as one long chapter with no visible chapter headings (though the chapter names are read) showing on the screen - not even numbered ones. It’s all one long chapter called “Opening”.
I had bookmarked regularly so I’d find my place in the audiobook, should I be distracted or fall asleep while reading at night. Still audio readers rely on chapter headings showing on the screen. I know there were physical chapters as I heard the reader say them, but in the same tone as the surrounding text so that they were mostly missed. Or if heard, disappeared immediately.
I was losing track of the characters, as there were many flashbacks both in time and place. Even now, I don’t even know if I actually heard all the stories, if they even entered my brain in any meaningful way.
I cannot recommend this audiobook.
And for those interested in my full review - Kate’s Up and Down Year 2023 - Ladies Lunch
7kjuliff
How should emojis be represented in audio?.
Thanks to WelshBookWorm for brining this up. Now we have LOL being written as a word in at least one popular book, emojis, like text messages are bound to make their way into fiction.
Should the narrator just pronounce them in characters L-O-L? is after all LOL is now entering spoken conversation. Next it will be, or has it yet, been included in dictionaries.
I wondered about translation so asked a native Spanish speaker, and Google Translate, how to say LOL in Spanish. The answer - JaJaJa - pronounced HaHaHa.
Interesante!
Thanks to WelshBookWorm for brining this up. Now we have LOL being written as a word in at least one popular book, emojis, like text messages are bound to make their way into fiction.
Should the narrator just pronounce them in characters L-O-L? is after all LOL is now entering spoken conversation. Next it will be, or has it yet, been included in dictionaries.
I wondered about translation so asked a native Spanish speaker, and Google Translate, how to say LOL in Spanish. The answer - JaJaJa - pronounced HaHaHa.
Interesante!
8WelshBookworm
The narrator of The Ink Black Heart read it as a word "loll" rather than an acronym. Drove me crazy. I tend to think it to myself as letters "ell-oh-ell" rather than "laugh-out-loud", but interested what others do. I love the Spanish. When I'm texting, or sending an email, I tend to spell out ha ha ha, rather than use LOL personally.... but I'm old. Ha ha ha!
9kjuliff
>8 WelshBookworm: Ha! Agree about pronouncing “lol” phonetically. It sounds ridiculous. I have been going with the “ha” as I just can’t bring myself to say LOL. But if I did I’d spell it out too. Weirdly I’ve seen posts on Facebook where people use lol indiscriminately - as if they don’t know what it means. They seem to use it for emphasis - “It’s like I went to a movie lol”.
10kjuliff
Happy New Year to all in the eastern hemisphere. For those visiting this topic for the first time - please post your views on audiobooks in general >1 kjuliff: or on particular ones. Let other members know, good or bad. The narrator can have such an effect on how one understands a book, let’s help each other out by reporting back. One-liners welcome.
11kjuliff
Should the human narrator emote?
I’m reading Stasiland and it’s narrated by a Canadian actress Danica Fairman. Ms Fairman has put her heart and soul into reading this book. Pity! She should stick to movies.
Chapter names are announced in a jaunty tone which is disconcerting given the subject matter. Conversations are acted rather than read, and this is especially disconcerting when they are between males and females. I was particularly annoyed with her “man voice” when she speaks as Karl-Eduard von Schnitzler the FDR Black Channel TV presenter. Here Fairman she uses a voice that’s a cross between a BBC 1950s radio announcer and Adolph Hitler having a tantrum.
I’m reading Stasiland and it’s narrated by a Canadian actress Danica Fairman. Ms Fairman has put her heart and soul into reading this book. Pity! She should stick to movies.
Chapter names are announced in a jaunty tone which is disconcerting given the subject matter. Conversations are acted rather than read, and this is especially disconcerting when they are between males and females. I was particularly annoyed with her “man voice” when she speaks as Karl-Eduard von Schnitzler the FDR Black Channel TV presenter. Here Fairman she uses a voice that’s a cross between a BBC 1950s radio announcer and Adolph Hitler having a tantrum.
12labfs39
>11 kjuliff: How odd. I'm listening to Apeirogon and having a tough time. I started over again at one point because I thought perhaps I just wasn't attending properly, but I'm still having trouble. For one thing, the chapters are very short, sometimes just a single sentence, so it feels disjointed when read. Second, it's read by the author, and his Irish brogue is jarring when speaking Arabic or Hebrew. Finally, (and this is on me), I am having a hard time keeping the names straight, and I am unable to leaf back to remind myself, nor can I write them down, as I'm usually driving when listening, and I would have no idea how they are spelled. Part of this issue is because I have a tad of CAPD (cognitive auditory processing disorder). One symptom is that it's hard for me to understand what people are saying. When watching TV I usually have the closed captioning on to compensate. But this isn't possible with audiobooks, obviously. I think in future it will be important for me to sample the audiobook first and avoid readers like McCann, even though he is a good reader otherwise.
13arubabookwoman
Having just read Apeirogon (which I rated 4 1/2 stars) I do not think it would be possible to "get" it as an audio book. Several years ago I asked on my thread what kinds of books people think work on audio, and which do not. For me usually nonfiction works on audio, and I usually love "reading" classics (especially big Victorian tomes) on audio. Maybe it's because these classics were intended to be read aloud--instead of watching TV people sat around in the evening reading Dickens out loud. Much of the newer fiction plays with structure and narrative techniques that I think could be difficult, if not impossible to convey on audio.
14labfs39
I have not listened to a lot of adult audiobooks, but I listened to a ton when my daughter was younger and I had to drive her to and from school, 45 minutes away. My favorite was Brian Jacques, whose audio productions of his books were amazing. I listened to The Color of Water last year, and I thought the two readers ( JD Jackson and Susan Denaker)—one male, one female to mirror the alternating chapters told in McBride's and his mother's voices—were excellent.
15kjuliff
>12 labfs39: Yes accents and reading out names not in one’s native language are hard, and it’s the rare narrator that can handle them correctly.
I listed to Apeirogon as I have no choice, but had no trouble with it, apart from the names. The Irish didn’t bother me as I listen to a lot of Irish novels.
I think that, because I’m forced to audio, I’m getting practice and so am becoming acclimated. I have always had prosopagnosia (trouble remembering faces) though not sight problems till four years ago, , so have problems, like you, with movies. I’m much sharper with audio.
I listed to Apeirogon as I have no choice, but had no trouble with it, apart from the names. The Irish didn’t bother me as I listen to a lot of Irish novels.
I think that, because I’m forced to audio, I’m getting practice and so am becoming acclimated. I have always had prosopagnosia (trouble remembering faces) though not sight problems till four years ago, , so have problems, like you, with movies. I’m much sharper with audio.
16kjuliff
>13 arubabookwoman: That’s a good point about how newer books play with structure and technique, rendering them difficult to reproduce in audio. Though I had no problem with Apeirogon as an audio book and cannot imagine it in print.
I read some Edith Wharton short stories last December and they came across so well in audio. As you point out, classics were meant to be read out loud so lend themselves to audio.
One trend that I think is ruining some audio books, is having professional actors (cf professional narrators) narrate them. Some try to act the character parts in conversation. It’s off-putting - I don’t want my books interpreted by a third party.
I am a member of BARD which is NYC’s library for the visually impaired. Many books are available that were recorded over 5 years ago (Talking Books) and they are read “straight” by either volunteers or professional narrators. I’ve chosen to read quite a few older books using such versions, even though they are available in 21st century audio form in my local library or commercially. It’s quite a relief to hear books read without emotion that some of the current narrators use.
I read some Edith Wharton short stories last December and they came across so well in audio. As you point out, classics were meant to be read out loud so lend themselves to audio.
One trend that I think is ruining some audio books, is having professional actors (cf professional narrators) narrate them. Some try to act the character parts in conversation. It’s off-putting - I don’t want my books interpreted by a third party.
I am a member of BARD which is NYC’s library for the visually impaired. Many books are available that were recorded over 5 years ago (Talking Books) and they are read “straight” by either volunteers or professional narrators. I’ve chosen to read quite a few older books using such versions, even though they are available in 21st century audio form in my local library or commercially. It’s quite a relief to hear books read without emotion that some of the current narrators use.
17dchaikin
>13 arubabookwoman: I wonder what I missed. Like Kate, I listened to Apeirogon and didn't seem to have any issues - except that I found the presentation a little dry.
18arubabookwoman
>16 kjuliff: >17 dchaikin: Maybe I'm imagining it all wrong, but Apeirogon consisted of so many short section, or chapters (or as I've seen them described somewhere, "shards") I just wondered how it would flow on audio. There are 1001 sections, with the two long sections in the center, and then of course there is a fair amount of repetition, as well as the bouncing around among topics. I admit I don't listen to much audio (as I said mostly the big classics), and am not a sophisticated listener (my mind wanders), but I don't think I would have gotten much out of Apeirogon on audio.
I followed the discussion between you (Dan and Kate) about The Bee Sting, and as I recall you didn't care for it that much Dan. I kept wondering if that was because you listened to it on audio. But again that may just be my audio-inexperience projecting.
I followed the discussion between you (Dan and Kate) about The Bee Sting, and as I recall you didn't care for it that much Dan. I kept wondering if that was because you listened to it on audio. But again that may just be my audio-inexperience projecting.
19arubabookwoman
>16 kjuliff: My daughter-in-law who lives in Queens is legally blind and she also gets Books on Tape, I suspect BARD. They will be here for a visit later this week, and I will have to ask her.
20kjuliff
>19 arubabookwoman: BARD is the name of the app. It’s the app form of the cassette player. The interface design is almost identical.
21dchaikin
>18 arubabookwoman: Regarding The Bee Sting, it's possible the audio damaged the book for me. But I actually thought the audio was well done, and that my issues were with the book itself. :)
22kjuliff
>18 arubabookwoman: >17From memory I think Dan didn’t like the ending of The Bee Sting. I didn’t think his views had anything to with audio, but then I experienced the audio version too.
I felt that the structure of Apeirogon was handled well by McCann - one of the advantages of having the author narrate the book.
I suspect that listening to audiobooks is an acquired skill. I remember before I needed audiobooks I didn’t think of “reading” them. But certainly some books do not lend themselves to audio, and some have been ruined by them. In the case of Stasiland I feel like screaming at the narrator. What on earth does she think she is doing?
I felt that the structure of Apeirogon was handled well by McCann - one of the advantages of having the author narrate the book.
I suspect that listening to audiobooks is an acquired skill. I remember before I needed audiobooks I didn’t think of “reading” them. But certainly some books do not lend themselves to audio, and some have been ruined by them. In the case of Stasiland I feel like screaming at the narrator. What on earth does she think she is doing?
23dchaikin
>22 kjuliff: fwiw, I had issues with the opening four sections of the Bee Sting. I liked the closing section and ending.
24kjuliff
>23 dchaikin: Oh, I thought your initial reaction to the ending was annoyance, and then on reflection in your review you warmed to it?
I finished The Bee Sting today. I’m so annoyed at the end cut. 🙂 I need to think about it more.
What did you think of how it was narrated - assuming you read in audio?
I finished The Bee Sting today. I’m so annoyed at the end cut. 🙂 I need to think about it more.
What did you think of how it was narrated - assuming you read in audio?
25dchaikin
>24 kjuliff: oh. Right. That’s sort of a different kind of like/dislike. That’s my way of saying I was into it enough to feel some real anger for how it ended (well, annoyance, and only momentary). I wasn’t clear.
I liked the audio production. I thought it was very well done.
I liked the audio production. I thought it was very well done.
26kjuliff
>25 dchaikin: Yes I thought so too. Did you have audio for Prophet Song?
27dchaikin
>26 kjuliff: no. I got a hard copy for that.
28kjuliff
I was thinking of getting an audio of At Night All Blood is Black but apparently the narrator pronounces the author’s and every Sengalese name incorrectly. A pity as so many LT readers recommended this novel. Here’s an excerpt from an Audible reviewer.
Sounds nitpicking but narrator use ‘African accent 101’ which I found distracting knowing a francophone Senegalese accent I recommend a physical copy & hope narrators receive more guidance
This is of course just one review, but I played the sample and concur.
Sounds nitpicking but narrator use ‘African accent 101’ which I found distracting knowing a francophone Senegalese accent I recommend a physical copy & hope narrators receive more guidance
This is of course just one review, but I played the sample and concur.
29kjuliff
It’s weirdly quiet in here. I was hoping that I’d get some members posting both good and bad experiences about listening to books.
I’m currently reading The Best Minds: A Story of Friendship, Madness, and the Tragedy of Good Intentions !by Jonathan Rosen and narrated by the author. I think I’ll be giving it 4.5 stars. It’s exquisitely written and narrated and I’m learning a lot about modern and post-fiction, the Beats, Hippies, philosophy, psychiatry, western philosophy, New Rochelle, . Berkeley and more. Some of the topics covered I thought I knew but obviously not.
Listen to this book!!!
I’m currently reading The Best Minds: A Story of Friendship, Madness, and the Tragedy of Good Intentions !by Jonathan Rosen and narrated by the author. I think I’ll be giving it 4.5 stars. It’s exquisitely written and narrated and I’m learning a lot about modern and post-fiction, the Beats, Hippies, philosophy, psychiatry, western philosophy, New Rochelle, . Berkeley and more. Some of the topics covered I thought I knew but obviously not.
Listen to this book!!!
30dchaikin
I’m working on Ann Patchett’s novel, Taft. It’s odd in that it’s a white author using a black narrator, which is almost a no-no today in the shadow of American Dirt. It wasn’t considered a big deal in the 1990’s, but I still find it a little awkward. Also the reader is the person who read The Color of Water. He’s very good, but my brain associates his voice with James McBride. So part of me has placed Queen’s raised James McBride as a bar manager in Memphis, TN. Despite all that, I’m finding it entertaining and easy listening.
31mabith
This year I had so much trouble with an audiobook. The author is originally from my city and was coming to the local book festival, so I wanted to read her book. The narrator did not bother to look up how to pronounce a local place name (the county and the prominent river) which comes up constantly in the book. They pronounced it incorrectly, but then they kept changing their incorrect pronunciation to other incorrect pronunciations, at least four times. Some of them boggled the mind as to why a native English speaker would go with that. It was so incredibly frustrating. Just pick a version and stick to it, lady!
Relating to changing trends in audiobooks, it seems books are read slower and slower and slower now. For older audiobooks you get the occasional too-slow reader but it wasn't a common problem I had when getting books on tape for years. Now it's a plague upon the industry and I sometimes wonder if the publishers are slowing down a reader and setting an already slowed down version at 1x speed. Maybe making a book seem longer makes someone more willing to buy it (worth the money, etc...).
Relating to changing trends in audiobooks, it seems books are read slower and slower and slower now. For older audiobooks you get the occasional too-slow reader but it wasn't a common problem I had when getting books on tape for years. Now it's a plague upon the industry and I sometimes wonder if the publishers are slowing down a reader and setting an already slowed down version at 1x speed. Maybe making a book seem longer makes someone more willing to buy it (worth the money, etc...).
32kjuliff
>31 mabith: it’s so annoying when an author or narrator can’t bother even to pronounce the area or local environment features that figure in their book. Verges on the insulting in the case you mention where the narrator actually came to your city’s book festival. I’m sort of used to it, being Australian. You wouldn’t believed how many people can’t pronounce Australia!
Re the speed of audiobooks. Many people adjusts them. Your audio reader should have a speed option somewhere. I suspect you’re right about the money motive.
Re the speed of audiobooks. Many people adjusts them. Your audio reader should have a speed option somewhere. I suspect you’re right about the money motive.
33kjuliff
>30 dchaikin: I recently read some Edith Wharton short stories narrated by a man. He did a good job in all aspects, but it just annoyed me.
What I find even worse though is when a narrator of either sex, tries to put on the voice of a character of the opposite sex in conversations. This happened all the time in Anna Funder’s Stasiland. To top it off she put on angry German man voices when speaking as leaders of the Stasi. So unnecessary. So off-putting. So cringy.
What I find even worse though is when a narrator of either sex, tries to put on the voice of a character of the opposite sex in conversations. This happened all the time in Anna Funder’s Stasiland. To top it off she put on angry German man voices when speaking as leaders of the Stasi. So unnecessary. So off-putting. So cringy.
34Ameise1
I'm a little late to the party. I always listen to audiobooks (in German) when I'm travelling on public transport. I can't complain about the narrators, on the contrary, I'm very happy.
At the moment I'm listening to Mordsand.
At the moment I'm listening to Mordsand.
35kjuliff
>34 Ameise1: Welcome. To All Things Audio. Listening on public transport is ideal for listening to Audiobooks. It’s interesting you’ve had no problems with any of the narrators. Perhaps the German ones are just better. We have a few French readers here. Do you find French audio narrators to be uniformly good.
I do find there’s a been a change over the years, with the earlier audio books in English changing from straight reading, to more children’s bed-time animated styles.
I do find there’s a been a change over the years, with the earlier audio books in English changing from straight reading, to more children’s bed-time animated styles.
36JoeB1934
For those of you who don't have access to many audio books I did a search for other libraries where, for a fee a non-resident can become a card holder.
I did that last year with Brooklyn for $50
I asked the DPL about non-residents and he said no, but he knew Brooklyn and some others do.
Then he gave me a link to some that do.
It is: https://bookriot.com/out-of-state-library-cards/
In scanning it Fairfax county seems to have the most audiobooks on the list.
Another link that might help is https://www.9thstreetbooks.com/how-to-get-a-library-card-online
I subscribed to Fairfax today and it will cost $27 for one year.
InfoQuest of LT answered my question about library access and it has even more options for you
https://www.librarything.com/topic/356953#n8348254
I did that last year with Brooklyn for $50
I asked the DPL about non-residents and he said no, but he knew Brooklyn and some others do.
Then he gave me a link to some that do.
It is: https://bookriot.com/out-of-state-library-cards/
In scanning it Fairfax county seems to have the most audiobooks on the list.
Another link that might help is https://www.9thstreetbooks.com/how-to-get-a-library-card-online
I subscribed to Fairfax today and it will cost $27 for one year.
InfoQuest of LT answered my question about library access and it has even more options for you
https://www.librarything.com/topic/356953#n8348254
37JoeB1934
I have found that it is faster to obtain a print book when an audio book is available. I did some research and found there is a pricing problem with how a library can distribute an audio book.
After all a library can buy a single audio book, but what are the constraints on how many 'loans' they can make? More and more readers are switching to audio and the industry is really struggling with the licensing issue.
After all a library can buy a single audio book, but what are the constraints on how many 'loans' they can make? More and more readers are switching to audio and the industry is really struggling with the licensing issue.
38markon
>37 JoeB1934: Yes, I also find many books are more quickly obtained in hard copy. In addition to the pricing issue, libraries saw electronic circulation go through the roof during COVID, and it hasn't come back down. When we opened the branch I work in in 2010 our shelves for physical holds were full, with 4 shelves each section. Now we use only 2-3 shelves in each section, and usually 1-2 shelves at the beginning of the week.
39kjuliff
>36 JoeB1934: Great info there Joe!
>38 markon: it was during the Covid year that NYPL reduced its hold time for E and Audio books, down to 3. From what you say it doesn’t look like it will increase any time soon.
>38 markon: it was during the Covid year that NYPL reduced its hold time for E and Audio books, down to 3. From what you say it doesn’t look like it will increase any time soon.
40kjuliff
How can a 13 hours audio book turn into a 3 hours one? Publishers greed or gimmick; I hope it’s not going to be a trend.
I’m talking about the “Centennial Edition” by Penguin HighBridge Audio of Howards End, narrated by Emma Thompson. The things people will do for money. “Badly done, Emma. Badly done”
I’m talking about the “Centennial Edition” by Penguin HighBridge Audio of Howards End, narrated by Emma Thompson. The things people will do for money. “Badly done, Emma. Badly done”
41markon
>40 kjuliff: Argh! It's been awhile since I read this one, but it's not possible you could condense this down to three hours.
42AnnieMod
>40 kjuliff: Abridging books so they fit onto tapes (or in a radio program slot as in the BBC readings) is not new or uncommon. These days with the digital files, I see it less and less but it is still happening (less and less except for the bbc radio - they are still always doing it). :)
43kjuliff
>42 AnnieMod: Ah so that’s the source of that abomination!
44AnnieMod
>43 kjuliff: Possibly. They are not the only ones doing it but they do it a lot.
When I see a celebrity read audiobook, I always triple check that it is not abridged. Not that non-celebrities don’t get hired for that as well but it looks like these days, it is a lot more common with a celebrity read.
When I see a celebrity read audiobook, I always triple check that it is not abridged. Not that non-celebrities don’t get hired for that as well but it looks like these days, it is a lot more common with a celebrity read.
45kjuliff
>44 AnnieMod: I haven’t come across it before. But then I haven’t listened to a book read by a celebrity. It would put me off.
46raidergirl3
Some celebrity narrators I’ve like- Tom Hanks read The Dutch House; Maura Tierney read Hello Beautiful; Bronson Pinchot read Searching for Stars on an Island in Maine (just on a quick thinking)
Some narrators I always enjoy - Cassandra Campbell, Kate Reading, Julia Whelan, Marin Ireland. I prefer female narrators more often for some reason.
Sometimes I like the accented narrator, especially when it adds to the vibe of the setting. And sometimes the accent is too much, and I’m never quite sure why. Just like some authors write in a way that ‘matches my brain’ some narrators do as well.
Sometimes I have liked the author as narrator - Ann Patchett, Dave Grohl
Just a few thoughts. I majority listen to audiobooks because I like being able to do something like walk or play phone games that don’t require thoughts.
Some narrators I always enjoy - Cassandra Campbell, Kate Reading, Julia Whelan, Marin Ireland. I prefer female narrators more often for some reason.
Sometimes I like the accented narrator, especially when it adds to the vibe of the setting. And sometimes the accent is too much, and I’m never quite sure why. Just like some authors write in a way that ‘matches my brain’ some narrators do as well.
Sometimes I have liked the author as narrator - Ann Patchett, Dave Grohl
Just a few thoughts. I majority listen to audiobooks because I like being able to do something like walk or play phone games that don’t require thoughts.
47kjuliff
>46 raidergirl3: Thank you for your thoughts. I often like the author reading their own novel. I also prefer women narrators - certainly when the author is female.
Accents can be a problem. With an Irish writer narrating their own book it’s mostly good, but with books set in Africa or when the main characters are from different African countries it can be a real problem, especially if one is unfamiliar with the accents, or if the narrator is unfamiliar with the accent they are using. Better no accent than a bad one.
I’ve forgotten the name of the book, but it was a story of three men, each from a different country or ethic group in West Africa. I think the three accents were probably each correct but I couldn’t differentiate, and it was essential to the storyline that you knew which character was speaking. Some books just can’t carry across to audio.
Accents can be a problem. With an Irish writer narrating their own book it’s mostly good, but with books set in Africa or when the main characters are from different African countries it can be a real problem, especially if one is unfamiliar with the accents, or if the narrator is unfamiliar with the accent they are using. Better no accent than a bad one.
I’ve forgotten the name of the book, but it was a story of three men, each from a different country or ethic group in West Africa. I think the three accents were probably each correct but I couldn’t differentiate, and it was essential to the storyline that you knew which character was speaking. Some books just can’t carry across to audio.
48kjuliff
I tried to listen to Trespasses but the Irish brogue was too strong and I had to give up. I looked up the narrator Brid Brennan, and see she’s from Northern Island. It’s a harsher accent. I have no problem with Dubliners.
49kjuliff
This may interest those who like mysteries. It will be out on audio on Jan 30th. Everyone on this Train is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevens. Sounds enticing. Paraphrased from The NY Times.
This mystery takes place in Australia in the middle of a crime writers’ festival on board an opulent train traveling through the Australian desert from Darwin to Adelaide. Think “Murder on the Orient Express,” but where every character (and suspect) writes in a different genre category.
Four Fiendish Tales of Murder
This mystery takes place in Australia in the middle of a crime writers’ festival on board an opulent train traveling through the Australian desert from Darwin to Adelaide. Think “Murder on the Orient Express,” but where every character (and suspect) writes in a different genre category.
Four Fiendish Tales of Murder
51kjuliff
>50 Ameise1: can you get the The Seventh Cross in Switzerland? It’s unavailable on audio in the US. :(
52rv1988
One of the things that I've been enjoying lately is the return of serialised audio fiction. We have gone from Charles Dickens selling novels, chapter by chapter in magazines, to radio adaptations of classic novels, to email newsletters from authors, to podcasts. I started listening to some fiction podcasts (audiodramas) last year, and I was genuinely pleased to see the very high quality of writing and production. Some of them have been a pleasure to listen to; others, not so much, but that is how it is with print books as well.
I posted a recommendation for one such audiodrama called 'Modes of Thought in Anterran Literature' on my thread, but if anyone is interested, I'll can share some more recommendations here as well.
I posted a recommendation for one such audiodrama called 'Modes of Thought in Anterran Literature' on my thread, but if anyone is interested, I'll can share some more recommendations here as well.
53Ameise1
>51 kjuliff: Kate, my local library has an audio copy. So I got it and downloaded it to my mp3 player.
Yes, there are several places where you can buy this audio.
Yes, there are several places where you can buy this audio.
54kjuliff
What a difference a narrator makes! I didn’t finish either version of At Night All Blood is Black but got further with a “straight” read by Ray Foushee than the “performance “ by Dion Graham. I couldn’t finish either book because of the extreme violence, and I suspect this is a book to be literally read, rather than listened to. This makes it even more important that it is able to be listened to without the injection of someone other than the author’s feelings.
55kjuliff
I should have seen it coming - virtual voice. Now audiobooks are coming out with computer-generated voice. I don’t mean that dull reader that you can get for newspaper articles and Whisperync or whatever it’s called for Kindle books. This is a new AI genrerated thing.
56markon
>55 kjuliff: I am not excited about virtual voice. I prefer real talented human readers getting paid to read to me.
57kjuliff
>56 markon: Me neither.
58janoorani24
I started reading audio books in 2002 when I had a job in Virginia, but lived in Maryland. It was sixty miles one way -- so two to three hours a day sitting in my car, depending on the traffic. I used to get them on cassettes from the library, or rented them from Recorded Books Direct. Now almost all of my audio reading is from Audible. Since I still mostly listen while I'm driving, it can take me a long time to finish a book as my commute has shrunk to about a half hour one way, three days a week, checking out books isn't practical because of the time limit.
A lot of the audio books I listen to are those where I've read the print book and know I'll like, but I always listen to the sample first to see if I'll like the narrator. But a lot of my favorite books are those I've only listened to. The narrator can make all the difference. For example, The Wandering Inn by Pirate Aba, narrated by Andrea Parsneau is really good. She does the voices of the various characters really well. Another favorite is I Am Spock written and narrated by Leonard Nimoy. I was amazed at his effortless back and forth between his Nimoy voice and his Spock voice.
I look forward to reading other's thoughts about audio books on this thread.
A lot of the audio books I listen to are those where I've read the print book and know I'll like, but I always listen to the sample first to see if I'll like the narrator. But a lot of my favorite books are those I've only listened to. The narrator can make all the difference. For example, The Wandering Inn by Pirate Aba, narrated by Andrea Parsneau is really good. She does the voices of the various characters really well. Another favorite is I Am Spock written and narrated by Leonard Nimoy. I was amazed at his effortless back and forth between his Nimoy voice and his Spock voice.
I look forward to reading other's thoughts about audio books on this thread.
59kjuliff
>58 janoorani24: Thanks for your input. Yes I think it’s essential to listen to the sample first.
What do you think of audio books where they have multiple narrators to read parts of novels about specific characters? I’ve noticed some audiobooks having as many as five narrators.
What do you think of audio books where they have multiple narrators to read parts of novels about specific characters? I’ve noticed some audiobooks having as many as five narrators.
60dchaikin
>58 janoorani24: I’m the same way, half hour commutes, minus days i work from home. I like ten-hour audio books because that’s roughly a two-week listen. But, since I’m paying, I lean towards longer audiobooks. 🙂
61kjuliff
>60 dchaikin: If I’m paying with points I choose longer ones. Shorter ones I’ll use ny CC. I should work out a points per minute criterion to make the choice more efficient/logical.
62janoorani24
>59 kjuliff: What do I think of audio books with multiple narrators? The first time I remember listening to one with multiple narrators was The Poets' Corner: The One and Only Poetry Book for the Whole Family by John Lithgow. Lithgow is the narrator and provides an introduction to each poem and reads most of them, but has other actors read some. In my opinion, this makes it essential to listen to this book rather than read it on paper. Here is an excerpt from my review:
I highly recommend this book in audio format. Almost all of the poems are well selected, and the readings are outstanding. This is one you could listen to over and over again, and not get tired of. The only poets I didn’t enjoy were Whitman and Gertrude Stein. I’ve never liked Whitman, and though I had never read a Stein poem before, the example given here (something she wrote and dedicated to Picasso) doesn’t incline me to want to read any others of hers. I really enjoyed the selection by Hart Crane (To Brooklyn Bridge) – I don’t remember ever reading any of his poems before. Other memorable readings: Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll, The Tyger by William Blake, if everything happens that can’t be done by E. E. Cummings, and There is No Frigate Like a Book by Emily Dickinson. Two of my favorite poets, Edna St. Vincent Millay and Marianne Moore are included, but neither of Lithgow’s selected poems were favorites of mine. In fact one of my quibbles with the book is that, while all the other poets get two poems read, Millay only gets one! The other major quibble I have is that Robert Service wasn’t included. The poems are arranged alphabetically by the authors’ last names, and I waited for most of the book to hear some fabulous voice read The Cremation of Sam McGee only to be disappointed by the questionable choice of Gertrude Stein. Of course, I do realize that Lithgow couldn’t include everyone, but I don’t understand why he included her.
The other book I've listened to with more than one narrator that I remember are the WWW series by Robert J. Sawyer. These were some of my favorite books and the multiple voices made them better.
So I guess, overall, I enjoy books with multiple narrators.
I highly recommend this book in audio format. Almost all of the poems are well selected, and the readings are outstanding. This is one you could listen to over and over again, and not get tired of. The only poets I didn’t enjoy were Whitman and Gertrude Stein. I’ve never liked Whitman, and though I had never read a Stein poem before, the example given here (something she wrote and dedicated to Picasso) doesn’t incline me to want to read any others of hers. I really enjoyed the selection by Hart Crane (To Brooklyn Bridge) – I don’t remember ever reading any of his poems before. Other memorable readings: Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll, The Tyger by William Blake, if everything happens that can’t be done by E. E. Cummings, and There is No Frigate Like a Book by Emily Dickinson. Two of my favorite poets, Edna St. Vincent Millay and Marianne Moore are included, but neither of Lithgow’s selected poems were favorites of mine. In fact one of my quibbles with the book is that, while all the other poets get two poems read, Millay only gets one! The other major quibble I have is that Robert Service wasn’t included. The poems are arranged alphabetically by the authors’ last names, and I waited for most of the book to hear some fabulous voice read The Cremation of Sam McGee only to be disappointed by the questionable choice of Gertrude Stein. Of course, I do realize that Lithgow couldn’t include everyone, but I don’t understand why he included her.
The other book I've listened to with more than one narrator that I remember are the WWW series by Robert J. Sawyer. These were some of my favorite books and the multiple voices made them better.
So I guess, overall, I enjoy books with multiple narrators.
63kjuliff
>62 janoorani24: Thanks for that comprehensive answer re multiple readers. I’ve never tried listening to poetry on audio but am inspired now.
I’m also interested in Robert J. Sawyer and the WW1 trilogy. I’ve not heard of him and am definitely going to look further into his works.
Marking your post as a favorite so I can refer to it later.
I’m also interested in Robert J. Sawyer and the WW1 trilogy. I’ve not heard of him and am definitely going to look further into his works.
Marking your post as a favorite so I can refer to it later.
64Nickelini
I used to be a huge fan of audiobooks but gave up on them in 2014 because of the clumsy Overdrive app. I knew technology had changed, but I was happy listening to podcasts instead. Recently my daughter has been quite excited about the Libby app, and so I finally took time to download it.
I'm in a stage of life where sitting and reading a book is a rare treat, which means I'm reading a fraction of what I read in other years. But I do have time to listen, so since I downloaded Libby a few weeks ago, I've read two books. This doesn't cut into my physical reading time at all.
Looking at what I have coming this year, I predicted I'd probably get to 20-30 books in 2024. But thanks to audiobooks, I might get to 50 or even 60. Also, I have boxes of unread books that I do not have shelf space for, so I'm going to focus on finding audio copies of books in physical TBR, and listening to the audiobook instead. That way I can sort the book out of the box into the "read again" shelf or give it away. I'm also using it for books that are on my "to buy" list.
So far in January:
Interior Chinatown - on my "to buy" list -- loved this, might suggest it for a future book club read
Women Talking - in my "to read" boxes -- moved this one to the read again shelf
I love coming back to audiobooks. But I still like podcasts too
I'm in a stage of life where sitting and reading a book is a rare treat, which means I'm reading a fraction of what I read in other years. But I do have time to listen, so since I downloaded Libby a few weeks ago, I've read two books. This doesn't cut into my physical reading time at all.
Looking at what I have coming this year, I predicted I'd probably get to 20-30 books in 2024. But thanks to audiobooks, I might get to 50 or even 60. Also, I have boxes of unread books that I do not have shelf space for, so I'm going to focus on finding audio copies of books in physical TBR, and listening to the audiobook instead. That way I can sort the book out of the box into the "read again" shelf or give it away. I'm also using it for books that are on my "to buy" list.
So far in January:
Interior Chinatown - on my "to buy" list -- loved this, might suggest it for a future book club read
Women Talking - in my "to read" boxes -- moved this one to the read again shelf
I love coming back to audiobooks. But I still like podcasts too
65janoorani24
>63 kjuliff: The full titles of the Robert J. Sawyer books are WWW: Wake, WWW: Wonder and WWW: Watch. The WWW refers to the world wide web, and they are science fiction books. I enjoyed them a lot, but they may not be everyone's cup of tea with the recent controversy about artificial intelligence. The narration is great, and there are some very interesting characters. At first I wondered what the connections were between some of them, but it all makes sense by the end. If you like science fiction and don't mind sitting through three fairly long books, I think you'd enjoy them.
66kjuliff
Thanks for all the tips. I really need them as my sight continues to fade. It’s not age-related, but they suspect it’s inherited. I can get free audio books from the NYC BRAILE and Talking Books library.
My big problem now is I can’t see what I type, hence the typos.
Right now I’m listening to the brilliant Elizabeth Von Armin’s The Enchanted April narrated by Jennifer Mendenhall. I think the Audible version has a different narrator, but I really like Ms Mendenhall’s crisp narration. Nightly recommended. Incredibly evocative.
My big problem now is I can’t see what I type, hence the typos.
Right now I’m listening to the brilliant Elizabeth Von Armin’s The Enchanted April narrated by Jennifer Mendenhall. I think the Audible version has a different narrator, but I really like Ms Mendenhall’s crisp narration. Nightly recommended. Incredibly evocative.
67kjuliff
For Audible members in the US, The Discomfort of Evening by Marieke Lucas Rijneveld is free at the time of posting. However, though brilliantly written, it’s not for the faint-hearted.
This book won the 2020 International Booker prize. I will be reviewing it on my thread Kate Jumps Puddles in 2024, once I have recovered.
This book won the 2020 International Booker prize. I will be reviewing it on my thread Kate Jumps Puddles in 2024, once I have recovered.
68kjuliff
Britney Spears is perfect and her nasal voice with a Southern accent and just the right touch of vocal fry is perfect. Which is why I was so surprised to hear Michelle Williams, an actress who is also perfect, read the audio version of Britney’s memoir with a bit of a drawl but mostly very proper English. Each “what” had its own introductory “hhh” sound: “h-what.”
Can We Please Put an End to Overperformed Audiobooks?
An interesting read.
Can We Please Put an End to Overperformed Audiobooks?
An interesting read.
69rv1988
>68 kjuliff: An interesting read, thanks. Although this is less common among professional narrators as it is (apparently) among actors, I have noticed a trend towards it. A mystery book that I had attempted last year had the adult female narrator attempt to speak like an pre-teen girl, but I think she was trying to give the girl a deeper voice, like Miley Cyrus. Unfortunately, the result was a weird sort of gurgling that she struggled to maintain, because of which I couldn't finish the book. She could have simply read the book, though, without doing the voices. Of course, there are very talented people who do voices well, but I also think a well-read narration without voices is perfectly acceptable, and sometimes, preferable.
(edited for grammar)
(edited for grammar)
70JoeB1934
I have always used Libby for my audio books, but sometimes I can't avoid doing an e-book read like Kindle. I don't own a Kindle so I'm always looking for a way to read an e-book.
Just in case there are others here that have confronted the same issue, I have discovered that there is a Libby app on Overdrive that runs on my laptop and from it you can do all the audio, as well as e-books there. You can search your libraries and check-out everything you want with an easy way to flip from pure audio to e-books. I still use Libby on my iPhone but the laptop Libby syncs all the time.
Just in case there are others here that have confronted the same issue, I have discovered that there is a Libby app on Overdrive that runs on my laptop and from it you can do all the audio, as well as e-books there. You can search your libraries and check-out everything you want with an easy way to flip from pure audio to e-books. I still use Libby on my iPhone but the laptop Libby syncs all the time.
71Treebeard_404
WelshBookWorm, you might be just the person to help me. One of my absolute favorite audiobooks is Among Others by Jo Walton. The story is told through the POV of a young Welsh girl in the '70s. The narrator has (to my American ear) a marvelous Welsh accent.
I would dearly love to find some more audiobooks delivered in a Welsh lilt. Do you (or anyone else) have any recommendations?
I would dearly love to find some more audiobooks delivered in a Welsh lilt. Do you (or anyone else) have any recommendations?
72kjuliff
Audible USA has a number of public domain books available, free to members. While it is possible to obtain these books by other means, it should be better if you want to read them in audio, to use Audible to take advantage of its interface.
Unfortunately many of the books such as some by William Trevor and Elizabeth von Arnim are presented in reverse chapter order. If you are t averse to reorganizing manually, then it might be worth while.
I’m currently looking at listening to Love and Summer.
Unfortunately many of the books such as some by William Trevor and Elizabeth von Arnim are presented in reverse chapter order. If you are t averse to reorganizing manually, then it might be worth while.
I’m currently looking at listening to Love and Summer.
73kjuliff
>71 Treebeard_404: I don’t think welshbookwoman is reading this topic. Probably better off checking her thread..
74labfs39
This is probably something others are familiar with, but I just learned that my Spotify account comes with 15 hours of free audiobook listening time per month and there are over 200,000 selections to choose from. It wouldn't be worth joining just for the audiobooks, but if you are already a member, it might be worth checking out.
75raidergirl3
>74 labfs39: I didn't know that! Just had a peak around - tons of books. Thanks for the heads up
76kjuliff
>74 labfs39: I had no idea - I’m not a member but have thought about it. What’s the range like Lisa?/
77labfs39
>76 kjuliff: I think you can search on https://www.spotify.com/us/audiobooks/, but a quick glance at Fiction & Literature brought up everything from classics to things like Tom Lake, The Mountains Sing (which I loved in print), Lessons in Chemistry, Wolf Hall, Demon Copperhead, Heaven and Earth Grocery Store, Yellowface, etc. There are also sections for Mystery & Thriller, Biography & Memoir, Sci Fi & Fantasy, Self-Help, and Science & Nature.
78WelshBookworm
>73 kjuliff: I'm reading it. Been thinking about the question, and hopefully will write a reply tomorrow...
79kjuliff
>78 WelshBookworm: Oh thanks Laurel. I hadn’t noticed any of your posts here, but I’ve been very vague lately. I look forward to your answer.
80WelshBookworm
>71 Treebeard_404: Dan, that is a very good question. I have often been very frustrated listening to audiobooks set in Wales, where the narrator is clearly NOT Welsh and can't even pronounce the place names correctly. Roger Clark who narrates the Evan Evans books by Rhys Bowen, for example. I really know of only a handful of actual Welsh narrators, although there are some British narrators that are quite good with accents. Among Others if it is the one narrated by Katherine Kellgren - well she is American, although she does put on a nice sing-songy sort of Welsh accent. It's not exactly Welsh to my ear, but I could listen to it. You might try The Mabinogion - the one narrated by Gwyneth Keyworth. She has also narrated some romances and a children's book The Summer of the Dragon. She is from Aberystwyth and speaks fluent Welsh. Another romance reader is Claire Morgan. She narrates a number of Iris Gower's books set in Swansea. I tend to like mysteries and thrillers, so you could look for Chloe Angharad Davies, Tamsin Kennard, Gwen Watson, Elain Llwyd, Rebecca Travers, Deryn Edwards. Tom Mumford, Sian Phillips, Angharad Rees, Iestyn Arwel, Andy Cresswell, Tim Dalgleish, and Joseph Tweedale. I like Colin Jones, but I don't think he is Welsh - maybe the West Countries? But he has narrated a lot of books, especially history and non-fiction. Malk Williams does a very passable south Walian accent, though I believe he is from just across the border.
81Treebeard_404
>80 WelshBookworm: Excellent! Thank you so much for the suggestions.
82kjuliff
To all audio readers - there are several free Audible USA books by William Trevor available free for members. Other public domain books will also be showing up there. Please post here if you can recommend any. Tia.
83rv1988
In case any one has not come across this yet, there's a blog called Open Culture which has compiled a list of 700 (!) free and open source audiobooks available online. Dropping the link below, in case anyone wants it. It does include some impressive narrators, such as Leonard Nimoy reading Isaac Asimov, Kate Beckinsale reading Pride and Prejudice, and so on.
https://www.openculture.com/freeaudiobooks
https://www.openculture.com/freeaudiobooks
84labfs39
>83 rv1988: Fantastic. Thank you for sharing!
85kjuliff
>83 rv1988: Thanks so much. Such a valuable resource.
86markon
>83 rv1988: Thanks for this - I will be checking it out next time I need an audiobook.
87leamos
I participated in a research study earlier this week about print disability, and I was really glad that the PhD candidate included audiobooks as a valid form of reading - in fact, many of their questions were about audiobooks. It's really lovely and validating to know that someone out there is taking print disability seriously.
88dchaikin
>82 kjuliff: >83 rv1988: thanks!!
89markon
For those interested, the 2024 Audie Awards (best audiobooks in the USA) were awarded this week. List of awards, including finalists, is here.
90dchaikin
>89 markon: so heavy on movie and music stars. Town Lake is on there, read by Meryle Streep. I think she’s a fantastic actress. But I decided not to listen to that book, because I didn’t like how she read it. Maybe I’m just feeling grouchy….
91kjuliff
>90 dchaikin: I prefer professional narrators to actors. A novel is a novel, not a film script. It’s the nature of an actor to act, and that involved interpretation of the parts, which the writer intended for the end user (the reader).
92janoorani24
I'm listening to Paris in the Present Tense by Mark Helprin. Helprin is one of my favorite authors, so I was looking forward to it, especially since it's narrated by Bronson Pinchot, however, it is annoying me so much I may have to stop. For some reason Pinchot is narrating the characters, who are French, with French accents. This would be okay, it they were speaking English to an English-speaking person, but the dialog is between two French speakers. So they wouldn't have accents, right? Does anyone else get annoyed by narrators speaking with an accent when the dialog is between characters who are presumably speaking the same language? I'll listen a bit longer, but I'm not sure I can listen to 14 hours of Pinchot reading an English-language book with a French accent.
93dchaikin
>92 janoorani24: that might drive me a little crazy too
94kjuliff
>92 janoorani24: That’s so strange. I think translated books should be read in the same accent as the narrator’s. But your post reminds me of my daughter wanting, at the of thirteen to learn French “in order to have a French accent”.
95kjuliff
This short story is interesting. Hostel by Fiona McFarlane, an Australian writer. Not yet published as a book.
Plot sounds interesting.
In Fiona McFarlane’s story, an Australian woman imagines telling her husband the story of a couple she used to know in Sydney, who repeatedly told their own story, about a girl they once met, a young backpacker from Switzerland, who had fought with her boyfriend and took refuge for a night in their home while they were expecting their first child. Story after story is peeled back, and at the center of the onion is a horrific act, the details of which remain unknown to the reader. With this controlled approach to revealing and withholding information, McFarlane questions the appeal of true-crime narratives, our voyeuristic approach to tragedy, and, as she says in an accompanying interview, “the ripple effects” of violence “in the lives of people who are one or two or five or fifty steps removed” from it. - Deborah Treisman, New Yorker
Click to listen
Plot sounds interesting.
In Fiona McFarlane’s story, an Australian woman imagines telling her husband the story of a couple she used to know in Sydney, who repeatedly told their own story, about a girl they once met, a young backpacker from Switzerland, who had fought with her boyfriend and took refuge for a night in their home while they were expecting their first child. Story after story is peeled back, and at the center of the onion is a horrific act, the details of which remain unknown to the reader. With this controlled approach to revealing and withholding information, McFarlane questions the appeal of true-crime narratives, our voyeuristic approach to tragedy, and, as she says in an accompanying interview, “the ripple effects” of violence “in the lives of people who are one or two or five or fifty steps removed” from it. - Deborah Treisman, New Yorker
Click to listen
96kjuliff
For fans of Nabocov, Laughter in the Dark is available free for members on Audible US right now. I read this book in text form many years ago - it’s a real page-turner - but I think it’s due for a re-read.
97dchaikin
>96 kjuliff: i loved it. (But didn’t use audio)
98Treebeard_404
This may be old news to many on this list. But just in case...
I have found a company, Libro.fm, that does for audiobooks what Bookshop.org does for dead-tree books! You pair your account with an independent bookstore (preferably a local one), and the profit from the sale goes to that store. As with Audible, you can set up a credit purchase plan for $15/credit/month.
Of course, the selection is not as large. But I can still resort to Audible if I have to have something that Libro does not offer.
I have found a company, Libro.fm, that does for audiobooks what Bookshop.org does for dead-tree books! You pair your account with an independent bookstore (preferably a local one), and the profit from the sale goes to that store. As with Audible, you can set up a credit purchase plan for $15/credit/month.
Of course, the selection is not as large. But I can still resort to Audible if I have to have something that Libro does not offer.
99rv1988
I listened to Laura Lippman's book, Sunburn, on my commute, and while the book itself is predictable nonsense, the audiobook narrator, Susan Benett, is very good. Looking her up, I see she's narrated many contemporary thrillers and mystery novels. If you're into those, she's a voice to look out for. She's also done some books readers here might be familiar with - Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird, Mariana Dahvana Headley's retelling of Beowulf The Mere Wife and so on. I'm very picky about narrators, but I liked her delivery - very measured, paced, and well-spoken.
100dchaikin
>98 Treebeard_404: thanks. Good to know!
101janoorani24
I’ll have to check out her reading of Bird by Bird. That’s one of my favorites.
102JoeB1934
I have been using Audible to obtain audio books that I can't find anywhere else. I just finished a terrific book O Caledonia that I want my granddaughter to read. I apparently can't loan any of my books to her unless we add her to our Amazon Family plan.
Do any of you have a solution to this problem?
Do any of you have a solution to this problem?
103kjuliff
>102 JoeB1934: Yes it does seem a pity one can’t appear to loan the occasional book fro, Audible. I’ve ⭐️ed this topic in case anyone knows how to do this.
104kjuliff
For Audible subscribers USA - Perumal Murugan’s Estuary is currently free. Perumal Murugan’s book Pyre was longlisted for the International Booker last year and I expect Estuary will at minimum make the shortlist this year.Remember, you read the prediction here, first.
105kjuliff
A Narrator Problem
While trying to read Enlightenment I kept thinking I was listening to A God in Ruins. The commonality: Same narrator.
Alex Jenning is a clearly-spoken English narrator, but his reading voice is just a little too distinctive. True, he’s much better than Cassandra Campbell, American narrator of This Strange Eventful History who seems to think that French people in France speak English in bad French accents. But Jennings still injects himself too much into the novels so that they take on the same vibe.
Narrators are not film directors. A good narrator should speak clearly, but should not inject herself into the book.
While trying to read Enlightenment I kept thinking I was listening to A God in Ruins. The commonality: Same narrator.
Alex Jenning is a clearly-spoken English narrator, but his reading voice is just a little too distinctive. True, he’s much better than Cassandra Campbell, American narrator of This Strange Eventful History who seems to think that French people in France speak English in bad French accents. But Jennings still injects himself too much into the novels so that they take on the same vibe.
Narrators are not film directors. A good narrator should speak clearly, but should not inject herself into the book.
106kjuliff
Probably the last post 🎵📪. I feel that this short thread deserves a tidy end. So here’s a holiday gift - Audible is having a huge sale. Many many books are selling at $2 to $3 USD. And not el cheapos, but books normally selling between $8 and $18. I just bought Baumgartner and Scaffolding for a few dollars.
Thank you to all who did not contribute to this thread. It made my life so easy. Officially handing over to dchaikin to destroy. x
Thank you to all who did not contribute to this thread. It made my life so easy. Officially handing over to dchaikin to destroy. x
107dchaikin
Ok, your last line paragraph at least made me smile. Entertaining enough that I’m adding another post after your mic drop. Maybe an audio thread will have a 2025 life ??
108kjuliff
>107 dchaikin: Well Dan, you know I cannot bear to let you have the last word.
110labfs39
>106 kjuliff: Thanks for the tip about the Audible sale. I'll check it out. My last audiobook, Heaven and Earth Grocery Store, I listened to for free with my subscription to Spotify. Not a knockoff narrator either.
