I’m here to tell you audiobooks rock! What? You already knew that? Well, duh! I’ve always been a late bloomer.
It started with Stephen Fry reading Harry Potter. Not only a gorgeous voice, but so many voices. How a man with a dark velvety baritone makes himself sound like a fourteen year old girl, let alone a squeaky house elf, is beyond me, but he does. I heard in an interview with him and J.K. Rowling that the recording engineers keep a special CD with snippets of all the different voices he does, as a reference. There must be hundreds.
I’m in awe of these vocal artists - because they are artists, in every sense of the word. Lord John and the Private MatterScots, Irish, slum London and, of course, Lord John’s mellifluous oh-so-English tones. He’s fabulous, but OMG, I was gobsmacked to discover he’s American! WTF? How did does he do it? by Diana Gabaldon is read by Jeff Woodman. He does a complete range of accents -
I’m pretty good at detecting accents. For example, I can still hear Sam Worthington’s Aussie accent in Avatar. Kinda cute coming from an eight foot tall blue guy.*snicker* But Woodman had me completely convinced. Brilliant. Just like High Laurie in House. DD wouldn’t believe me when I told her he was the quintessential Englishman. Had to find the evidence on YouTube!
Then there’s Nigel Planer reading Terry Pratchett. I lurve Terry Pratchett, and even though I’ve read them all before, there’s something so indugent and well, cuddly, about being read to. A throwback to childhood, I guess. As some of you have intuited, I suck at housework because I hate it. Actually, I dislike pretty much any kind of routine. So I’ve been listening to Men at Arms as I clean up the kitchen (DD is on a baking jag) or trudge through my exercise program or drive to work. It really helps. Though I laughed so hard at Janet Evanovich’s Visions of Sugar Plums, I nearly drove up a telegraph pole once.
Ellora’s Cave have just started a new line of audiobooks. You can check it out here. Look at the upper right hand corner of the Home Page for the direct link. Wow. I can’t imagine anyone reading my books aloud, except I think I’d want it to be a man. Can’t decide whether to blush or go jump My Beloved’s bones.
Do you listen to audiobooks? Do you enjoy them? What about erotic romances though? I suspect I’d be too embarrassed to listen. Which is pretty dumb really, because visuals/movies don’t bother me - quite the reverse, actually! heh heh
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I’m more of a visual person than an auditory one. If I can see it, then I can almost always remember it, but if I only hear it, it’s not as likely to stick. That being said, I prefer to read a book rather than listen to it. For me, it’s a far richer experience…
The only exception is a long road trip - especially a monotonous one I’ve travelled before -then a book on tape helps lesson the boredom of it, but only if I have to drive. If I’m a passenger, then I’d rather have a book in hand.
Hi Denise,
I agree with Devon, they would be handy whilst on long trips.
Once I listened to The Hobbit on (5) cassettes while I was working on a canvas. Talk about hands free. I loved it. I know there are other audio books out there but I didn’t know there would be any “hot” romantic versions.
Imagine the art work that could be created with the visual flowing from an Erotic audio
MAry
I discovered audio books when I started walking. I was so bored, ‘just walking’, that DH found me an ipod, and DS kindly loaded on a brilliant recording of Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens. And wow. It had the right effect of making me - le gasp - look forward to my walks! Since then I’ve devoured several more audio books walking, and most lately the unabridged version of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice in the car. It’s surprising how much you drive. I mean, 17 hours worth of P&P went by in 2 weeks, and that’s not including driving to work. That’s just local driving and such. So yes, Denise, I’m a recent-ish convert as well. I’m waiting for Oliver Twist from the library, can’t wait to start. Don’t know if I could listen to erotica, um, hoo, probably not.
Especially in the car! Would be as bright as the red lights! LOL…
I have heard a few on audio books & the car is the best place to hear them. The latest was Neil Gaiman reading his own The Graveyard Book - fabulous.
I think I may give the Harry Potter books a try Denise
I luuuuuuuuuuuuuv audio books and have been listening to them for a long time. In the U.S. version of the Harry Potter audiobooks, Jim Dale narrates the series. He is also British and is so talented. There is much debate on the Amazon.com audiobook thread about who is the better narrator. I honestly can’t imagine how anyone can manage that many voices. I have all of the HP audio series but I wanted to get at least one of them narrated by Mr. Frye so I could compare.
I have tons of audio and have turned many of my co-workers into audiophiles as well. The Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J R Ward is amongst our favorites. J D Robb’s ‘In Death Series’ is also very popular. The narrator Susan Erickson does an amazing Roarke! I could go on and on. I’m known as the ‘Librarian’ in my office. I’d rather read or listen to a good book than almost anything…. ALMOST ANYTHING:twisted: I always have something new to recommend. Janet Evanovich’s Stephnaie Plum series is great for a laugh. C J Critt and Lorelei King narrate the unabridged versions and they are wonderful. I’ll stop ranting now
I forgot, another great series is Karen Marie Moning’s Highlander series, narrated by Phil Gigante. His take on the Scottish accent will have you hunting for a man in a kilt
Denise, I can just hear him narrating Gift Of The Goddess Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm…..
Interesting, Devon, research on learning bears out what you say. It’s better to both see and hear - but especially to do. OTOH, I’ve found that I enjoy some books more because of the ‘acting’ aspect of the reading. For example, while I think J.K Rowling is amazingly creative, when reading, I wanted to get to her pages with a blue pen and edit, edit, EDIT! With Fry reading, I’m so entertained, just by his skill, that I don’t notice Rowling going on and on and on…
Oh Mary, you’ve got to try it and let us know.
*snork*
Malvina, sounds like your boredom threshold is as low as mine. I’ve listened to most of Harry Potter either walking or driving. Speaking of which, I must get hold of the next one. I’m up to #6. Oh my lord, I love public libraries!
I think they’re great in the car, Eleni. No frustration in traffic jams, just entertainment!
Oh, Donna, THANKS for the recommendations! I’ll chase those up. And yes, I had Lorelei King reading one of the Plum series. There was a Christmas dinner where she did about nine different voices, including the niece who thinks she’s a horse and Grandma with - and without her teeth! It was awesome!
I work in an office that allows employees to use heaphones. I listen to an audiobook everyday instead of music. It’s great. It really helps the day go by quickly and I get to employ my favorite hobby while being employed.
I definitely have more recommendations. Stephanie Laurens infamous ‘Cynster’ series, narrated by Simon Prebble is a must for those interested in historical romance. James (Spike of Buffy the Vampire Slayer) Marsters narrates Jim Butcher’s Dresden File series - more wizardry with another Harry. Charlaine Harris’ Sookie series narrated by Johanna Parker is such a great lead in for True Blood fans. OK; I’ll stop here. 
Will do Denise.
I will put it on the must try soon list.
It’s the list that is much shorter than the have to get around to soon list
That is MUCH shorter than the To do one day list
Which is a bit shorter than the when I’m old and decrepit and can’t get out of the wheel chair list….
And on and on and on……….
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