Ranchero Audio
I'm not much of an audio book fan -- I'll read it myself, thank you -- but I just downloaded the audio version of Ranchero (read by actor David Carpenter), and it's funny and engaging in ways I never expected. Not the novel so much as Carpenter's performance of it. He's dead on, droll, and hilarious. Carpenter does all the voices, and they sound just like I heard them in my head when I was writing the book. I was expecting to be bored and a little put off, but I spent the last hour cackling at my own stinking novel. I couldn't be more surprised or gratified.
Bravo to David Carpenter! I might have to rethink my audio book aversion.
Bravo to David Carpenter! I might have to rethink my audio book aversion.
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Cynthia
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Dec 09, 2011 08:27AM
Would you ever consider reading your own? I use audio books in class for high school kids who are not skilled readers. Many kids (and the adults they become) just get it better when they hear something read to them. Some of my cognitively low kids can’t simultaneously follow along in a book (one activity at a time, please) so they just stare into space and listen. On occasion I’ll even get the rare but validating “the book was better than the movie.” It’s always a special treat, though, to hear an author read his/her own stuff, character voices and all....
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Cynthia wrote: "Would you ever consider reading your own? I use audio books in class for high school kids who are not skilled readers. Many kids (and the adults they become) just get it better when they hear som..."In a word, no. I'll leave it to the professionals. I'm just a lowly sheet rocker. rg
Just finished "Ranchero," and was trying to describe your writing to a friend. The best I could come up with was to say your style is like a combination of Carl Hiaasen and James Lee Burke. The book made me laugh out loud. That's a good thing, don't you think, since we could all use more laughter in our lives?
As for your view of audio, I'm glad you're reconsidering. Done well, an audio version of a book can greatly enhance the reading experience. Done poorly -- well, that's something else!
As an outreach librarian who picks books for about one hundred homebound patrons a month, I know how important a good narrator is. Many of my people depend on audiobooks because they can no longer see or even hold a book. It's only fair that they should be able to enjoy a well-produced recording done by a professional. I'm glad I can look forward to sharing "Ranchero" with my folks.
Thanks for a great read.
Kym Lucas
http://kymlucas.wordpress.com
Thanks for your kind words. I've changed my mind about audio books. I agree with you. A good one can be great fun. RG
