Audio Books

[ray gower]

As there has been some comment upon these things, let us put it to the test.

Do the aural adaptations of books really match the originals (sexy voiced reader or not).
Or are they pointless frivolities for the terminally lazy?

 

[Bayleaf48]

I think that tyhey're good enough as sometimes they follow the book & some times they don't

 

[Highlander II]

Not sure where to vote on your poll, as I've only had the one audio book experience thus far, and the book was just as good as the audio!

However, if I have the chance to find another audiobook that is of interest to me, I'll give it a listen and let you know.


BTW - the book I listened to, was read by someone w/ a sexy voice, who just happened to 'throw himself' into the book and act all the parts too. (Almost like listening to a radio show, but w/ no sound effects)

 

[Bayleaf48]

Have listened to a couple & the best one was 'London's Burning' read by Richard Walsh as he played the character "Sicknote" & it followed the 1st book very well indeed

 

[Dave]

We just have a few to keep the kids occupied on long car journeys: 'Puffin 5 minute stories' & 'The Wizard of Oz'. I have a friend who swears by 'Harry Potter and the Philosphers Stone' for this, the children ask for it again and again, they are quite obsessed by it.

I've listened to a couple of 'Star Trek' books myself, and a few others, but I've never bought any. I would always prefer to read the book myself, I listened to them in the car, but (as I said in another thread), if you have to drive a lot for work (which I don't) it must be a good idea, as a constant diet of repeating pop songs, on the car radio, would wear you down.

 

[Highlander II]

<sighs> the radio -- that thing I never listen to anymore - esp since I got a cd player in m'car --- which is excellent for listening to "Storm Front" or whatever other CDs you have handy --



Still considering getting another audiobook - just not sure which one I want to try

 

[Bayleaf48]

Have a couple myself & may at some point get a few more aswell

 

[Rodders]

I am, as we say on the Chrons, "doing a Baylor".

I thought that i'd resurrect this thread as I've been thinking more of going down the Audio Book route as an alternative to TV in the evenings. I looked "Audible", but didn't initially realise that it was a subscription service, which i hate.

I've stuck to what i know and bought the audio book version of THHGTTG series read Stephen Fry (with the later books read by Martin Freeman). I'll download the Radio Drama's in a few months and really fancy getting some of the Dr.Who and Blake's 7 audio dramas, too.

Any comments or recommendations from other Chrons members?

 

[Mon0Zer0]

There are quite a few podcasts for sci-fi / fantasy audiobooks - they also accept submissions!

Escape Pod
Cast of Wonders
Podcastle

I adapted a HP Lovecraft tale here too:

Spine Tingling Audiobooks

 

[Vince W]

I have a couple of Banks' Culture books on audio. Some of the best narrating I've heard so far. I have the Complete Sherlock Holmes read by Stephen Fry and it's a treat. I have the unabridged Dune which is more like an audio drama, it's quite good.

Be sure to test out each book first as the narrator can kill a book. Several have for me.

My biggest problem with audio books is that I don't feel actively engaged like I do with reading and my mind tends to wander so I miss parts, have to go back and listen again. If this happens too often I get frustrated and give up on the book.

 

[tachyon]

I borrow audiobooks from my local public library through an app called "Libby" on my android smartphone. This is free and convenient but somewhat unpredictable as you never quite know what will be available or when. That being said it's an interesting new context for discovering books or authors you may have previously overlooked.

I have also had an Audible subscription - you don't need to maintain the subscription to access purchased audiobooks from the service, you can cancel the monthly payment and still download your books.

I find that some books work well in this format and some do not. The main benefit is you can listen while doing something else (driving and house chores mainly, for me.) This divided attention can make following the narration difficult with some books, with ohers I have no trouble keeping track of the story while attending to navigating the road or loading the dishwasher.

The narrator's performance is also something you don't really have to consider in a printed book. This can make or break the experience and I've abandoned books because I didn't like the narration.

Podcasts as per Mon0Zer0 above are another good option, they're also free (for the most part) and short fiction works well in audio format, though the narrator problem becomes more concentrated.

(I also read text primarily on my Kindle or smartphone, so paper books are actually somewhat of a rare indulgence. I still read the occasional paper book, but the majority of my reading is electronic these days - truly science fictional from the perspective of my childhood!)

 

[Rodders]

Podcasts is a good call. I've not listened to one yet, but i really like the sound of them.

Vince, the Unabridged Dune sounds very interesting. I do enjoy a good radio drama.

 

[Vince W]

It is, Rodders. The chap who reads Baron Harkonnen is perfect. The rest of the cast is very good as well. I love a good radio drama as well.

 

[AnyaKimlin]

I am currently doing an English degree whilst having issues with my sight and brain fog from an autoimmune condition.

My mum is about to go into eye surgery.

Audiobooks are fabulous and pretty much how I am reading at the moment. The unabridged version is the same as the physical book.

A particularly magical experience this year was listening to Tilda Swinton read Nan Shepherd's Living Mountain. It's beautiful.

The only downside is it takes so much longer. I used to get through a book in a couple of hours now it takes at least six.

 

[Rodders]

Thanks Vince, i'll add it to my list. (t's a little pricey, (£28), but i'll get it next payday.

I've never been able to get into the the sequels, so the audiobooks might be a great way to experience them. Have you heard any of those audiobooks at all, Vince?

 

[Vince W]

Thanks Vince, i'll add it to my list. (t's a little pricey, (£28), but i'll get it next payday.

I've never been able to get into the the sequels, so the audiobooks might be a great way to experience them. Have you heard any of those audiobooks at all, Vince?

No, I've never invested in the audiobooks of the sequels. I should look into that. Maybe at Christmas when Amazon has their annual audible membership drive I'll sign up once again to get two or three free books and then cancel. I hate the subscription model but the prices on all the platforms are ridiculous sometimes.

 

[paranoid marvin]

The radio adaptation of Lord of the Rings is magical. Also there are some marvellously audio recordings of M R James' work, particularly those read by Michael Hordern.

 

[Rodders]

Yeah, the LOTR adaptation has been on my radar for a long time and was the first thing i considered with the thought of cutting back on telly watching.

 

[Vince W]

Do get that one, Rodders. It's fantastic.

 

[Susan Boulton]

I listen to them all the time. I have over a 100 plus of them and re listen quite often.
I love the following;
Ben Aaronovitch series, Rivers of London, read by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith.
The Expanse series read by, Jefferson Mays,
John Scalzi's old man's war series, and the Head On series, the latter is read by Wil Wheaton of all people and I find he is a good narrator, and I have a few books done by him.
Have a few Andy Weir books,
Piles of Val McDermid's works.
Emma Donoghue's, Pull of the stars was superb, same with Widowland by C. J Carey.

Did not enjoy the Wolf Hall series in audiobook, it seemed to draw attention to certain aspects of the writer's style which after a bit started to annoy.

On the whole I love them, and listen to them a lot.