CanadianContent discussion

Discussion for audiobooks

Unless is such a well-done Canadian audio book. I just loved it, both as a novel and in the way it was narrated.

Totally not Canadian but I really enjoyed the audiobook of The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto.

From a Canadian perspective the free podcasts of Terry Fallis are LOL funny!!!

I strongly suggest the Flavia de Luce series on audio. Jayne Entwistle's narration is superb and fits Flavia's personality perfectly.

Making my way through Sweetness in the Belly by Canadian Camilla Gibb in audio. It is also very well done.

Allison wrote: "Making my way through Sweetness in the Belly by Canadian Camilla Gibb in audio. It is also very well done."

Mount TBR, grow.

I'm listening to a British mystery that is very long and very dull
called A Line of Blood. I picked it because it was available on overdrive. The mystery aspect of the novel is very minor and most of the book is about the main character's reactions to his wife, his son...it is very very tedious and I wish there were more crime and mystery solving than naval gazing. The narrator also does the weirdest voices for women and his young son. Maybe men just can't do women's voice properly on audio but this one just grates on my nerves. As I force myself to complete everything I begin (I know I know)I still have eight hours to go
and it's like chalk on a blackboard right now.

Oh, @Alan, I feel your pain! I'm suffering through a terrible audio version of The Couple Next Door. The grating voice of a narrator can really wreck a story. I'm continuing too, because it's a book I've been wanting to read, but I've given up a number of times when the voices are too annoying -- or worse, like you say, the differing voices for men, women, youth... ugh! Fake accents are often bad too (33 Men -- great story, but nearly fell off my chair when the first Chilean accent came grinding out of my computer!)

I recently did Second Life in audio and actually thought to myself how well the narrator did, communicating differing characters without even once changing her voice. She was excellent.

Big Brother is a really well-done audio book. Alice Rosengard is the narrator, and she's great. I judge all audio book narrators against the wonderful Cassandra Campbell, and I'd say Alice Rosengard is just as good, at least in this book.

Here is a cool segment from The Next Chapter where author Susan Juby sings the praises of audiobooks, and lists a few of her faves: http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thenextchapte...

I've had my first experience with audiobooks. It went about as well as I expected it to which isn't a total success. I had Quantum Night on audio but also had the Kindle file. I thought I would try listening to it and did that for a dozen or so chapters. That was on a weekend when I could sit there with a colouring book and listen more carefully while not distracted. But I still went back to the Kindle book. The reader was ok, but changed his voice for some of the characters and for the female characters it was a bit jarring.

Then I saw a link on Twitter to The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead that BBC radio was streaming for free for a few weeks. I decided that might work. It wasn't a book I was planning to read or at least not in the immediate future but as it is Black HIstory month, and as the audio streaming was free, I thought I would give it a go. The book was in 10 chapters and since the credits had one entry for "Abridger" I assume the book was a bit condensed for the audio version. This was part of their series called Book at Bedtime and they generally only run 10 or 12 episodes per book.

This one i listened to at work though wasn't overly busy or was listening during lunch. I tried to concentrate on the reader but found my attention wandering. I'd read an email or look something up on the web. etc. The reader seemed quite good and he, too, changed his voice for various characters but when he did the female ones it wasn't so jarring. It was still more feminine sounding than his normal voice but it was more subtle and soft, maybe that's the word or maybe he was just better at reading overall. I think I could have followed it anyway whether these readers changed their voices or not. Do female readers lower their voices for male characters? Or do they assume the listener can figure it out themselves?

Anyway. It probably isn't a genre I will take on very often. I do find i get distracted. Some people like listening on the commute or while driving, I think that would actually make me sleepy! I can picture sitting in bed listening and I'd be out like a light.

Definitely worth an experiment, and i can use it for the audio book Bingo square. Sorted.

Heehee... @Diane, yes, often the narrators change their voices, whether they're male or female. I find that sometimes this works, and sometimes it just does not.

My first audio book was 33 Men. When the Spanish accent of the first miner came barrelling out of my speakers I nearly fell off my chair! I had no idea it was coming, and I was definitely surprised!

Right now I am listening to 'Til the Well Runs Dry. Narrator Bahni Turpin does a gorgeous job with a Trinidadian accent -- it makes me want to rush back just to hear it! I've heard this narrator with other books too, and she does a good job. I have actually learned to sometimes choose audiobooks based on the narrator, and have had great luck doing this.

Allison wrote: "Right now I am listening to 'Til the Well Runs Dry. Narrator Bahni Turpin does a gorgeous job with a Trinidadian accent -- it makes me want to rush back just to hear it! I've heard this narrator with other books too, and she does a good job. I have actually learned to sometimes choose audiobooks based on the narrator, and have had great luck doing this. .."

I agree! The narrator is so important. I also loved 'Til the Well Runs Dry. I should check if she has written anything else since then.

I listen to quite a few audiobooks, usually while doing the dishes, or commuting. I use Hoopla mainly, but occasionally make a purchase through Audible. I find they work well when the story is chronological, but I have more difficulty with stories that jump around in time.

Neil Gaiman reads his own books if you like his stories, I am currently listening to Stardust

I find there is a limited selection of Canadian titles on audio.

Our library can lend audio on Overdrive. I was thinking of trying one of Margaret Atwood's but since I've technically filled the Bingo square, I may or may not.

@ Diane - I hear you.

I know that people process information in different ways. I learned that from a boss who always turned his back to me when I came to him with an issue. I was annoyed and thought he wasn't listening until I learned later in communication processing differences that he processed information by listening. He turned his back to me so he wasn't visually distracted.

I knew very early in life that my best way of processing information was not by listening. I am a visual processor (write your proposal down, draw a flow chart, don't talk about it except for the big picture - I need to see details visually to process them). I also process by "doing/tactile/hands-on" learning - that's how I really learn the best and retain it for quite some time.

The long and the short of it is - I don't do well with audio books. I'm choosing Fifteen Dogs for my Bingo Audio Square. It's a re-read or re-listen whatever you call it for me and am looking forward to the author reading his own work.

Right now, I don't have another audio book planned but I could choose one for the out-of-my-comfort zone as to date listening to audio books just hasn't done it for me "yet." I suspect I would multi-task and miss stuff. My preference is to give my undivided attention when I read. Just a personal preference. Totally understand that some people seem to like to predominately listen to books. My guess is we likely have different processing information styles.

@Heather (Gibby) - I always find it frustrating how limited the Canadian choices are on audio. I spend a lot of time commuting between sites so like to use my time wisely - listening to a book (or the CBC). I find that I have to pick and choose on what i listen too - the narration is important and being able to follow it. Sometimes non-fiction is easier. I am listening to 12 Years a Slave and Other Slave Narratives now and not really liking the narration. The best audio i have listened to is The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto - the narration is awesome!!!

Ugh. I've been waiting for months to get the audio version of A House Without Windows from the library. And now it's here, and the narration is awful. I just can't listen to it. What a massive disappointment!

It gets better!!! Really it does. I was also very disappointed and nearly quit a few times. Maybe 1/3 of the way in it improves significantly. I think this reader needed more practice and then she got the hang of it. They should have re-done that first 1/3.

Alison wrote: "It gets better!!! Really it does. I was also very disappointed and nearly quit a few times. Maybe 1/3 of the way in it improves significantly. I think this reader needed more practice and then she ..."

Oh bummer! I returned it. Oh well. At 15 hours long, I just don't think I could have handled wading through one-third of it. I have two of her books on my shelf, so I'll read through those instead!

I too lament the limited choices for Canadian audio. I read every single Canadian book I can get in that format though, and I talk to authors and publishers about the value of audio for so many readers. They often seem surprised that it's not just for commuters, but also for people who have difficulty holding a book, sitting still, dyslexia etc. Keep talking about it - demanding it - and it will come.

Sometimes I come across books that I might not sit down to read, but turn out to be great listens. Recently I enjoyed Marni Jackson's Don't I Know You?

I don't read much non-fiction, but I enjoy a very wide range of fiction, and my first criteria is availability in audio.

I gave up on that one in audio format also. I do have it on my shelf as I have really enjoyed her other books

Nadia Hashimi's first 2 books, and her junior fiction are all on audio, and excellent -read them one way or another!! Allison you and your daughter might enjoy reading One Half From the East together.

Alison wrote: "Allison you and your daughter might enjoy reading One Half From the East together."

Thanks for the recommendation, Alison! I'll look out for it. She races through books so much faster than me that there is a big stack of books for our "Mother-Daughter Book Club" that I need to get to! I tried audio with her recently for a long drive, but it just didn't work for her. Too bad.

Also, I find that non-fiction on audio works really well. For many, I prefer it that way.

No-fiction generally work better for me but a few fiction audio have been amazing: Fifteen Dogs read by the author; for my re-reading of The English Patient audio worked as well. The reader has to be very aware of the beauty and nuances of language to make audio fiction work.
I am looking forward to Lincoln in the Bardo in audio. In an Overdrive author interview, George Saunders indicated that there were numerous (60) readers, many well-known actors, who perform some 166 voices. Sounds like fun. I might read the book first in order to enjoy the audio more.

If anyone is interested in the Saunders interview: http://overdrive.libsyn.com/ep-105-in....

Oh that's awesome, @Mary Anne! I've added my name to the long list of those waiting for the audio version from the library.

I am currently listening to Ape House by Sara Gruen and it is a good listen,

I never realized Sara Gruen was born in Canada before , so now I am using this for my Audio book selection on my bingo Card.

There's a new Audible version of The Handmaid's Tale out this week, narrated by Claire Danes and the ending of the original book has been extended with some serious hints that Atwood could be involved in a sequel. I'm not surprised since the tv series is going to start soon and if it does well, they'll want to do another one about the fate of Gilead and Offred. I wrote a blog post about it here https://readeratlargetvor.wordpress.c... that also has links to some sources on the net about the news. I don't know how I'd feel about Atwood writing a sequel though if there is one, it has to be her doing it. In some ways it would feel like selling out but ont he other hand, in the political climate these days it might be appropriate to revisit it. It certainly would be good to know Offred's fate.

Thanks @Diane - this has been on my reread list and I will see if I can get an audio version! I did not read you blog post yet as I see it has spoilers and after reading that book about 25 years ago, I want to be surprised all over again!

I love the idea of a sequel! I sure hope that I have the energy, spunk and even a fraction of Atwood's creativity when I am her age!!

❀ Susan wrote: "Thanks @Diane - this has been on my reread list and I will see if I can get an audio version! I did not read you blog post yet as I see it has spoilers and after reading that book about 25 years ag..."

I listened to Claire Dane's narration of The Handmaid's Tale a few years back and I thought she did it perfectly. Unfortunately, I haven't listened to the new version with the extended ending. I'd love to know what that's about!

Just came across this on twitter: http://www.newyorker.com/books/page-t...

Audible Canada has finally launched! It's easy to transfer an existing account. When you transfer or sign up, you also get a free audiobook - The Handmaid's Tale!

https://www.audible.ca/

I should also mention that there is a "Canadian Essentials" page.

https://www.audible.ca/ep/canadian-li...

Allison ༻hikes the bookwoods༺ wrote: "Audible Canada has finally launched! It's easy to transfer an existing account. When you transfer or sign up, you also get a free audiobook - The Handmaid's Tale!

https://www.audible.ca/"

Ah, found it. I just cancelled my Audible.com membership a couple days ago, after 9 years. I used to buy 24 credits in one shot so that it came to $9.56/book (US dollars), and I would often renew before my year was up, but this past year, after a full 12 months, I still had 13 credits left and I was at risk of losing them unless I renewed and obviously didn't want to renew with still 13 credits on my account so I bought 13 books in one shot, then cancelled my membership. I use the library far more often now. Audible was my back up for when I couldn't find the books I wanted at the library but with memberships at 5 libraries with Overdrive and 2 with RB Digitial, it's getter rarer that I can't get what I need at the library.

I understand what you mean @Louise. I use it as a backup for books not available from the library as well and it seems my library is getting better too. I have the one credit a month membership and usually have 2 or 3 left available at a time, so I'm not even using one a month.

I stick with the free books as I can usually get enough for commuting from the library with Overdrive and Hoopla. I don't understand audible - is the price per month for one book a month?

That is one option, the cheapest I believe. Or there is a more expensive annual membership wherein you get so many per year. It's done by credits so you can choose books as you want them.

Kobo has also started an audio book subscription service for 12.99, one "credit" per month = 1 book plus competitive pricing on other audio books. I don't know how competitive it is when the new Ken Follett is listed at 33.84 *your price* (18.99 ebook and that's ridiculous too). Good grief! Margaret Atwood's the Year of the Flood, and that's not a new book out, is 47!!! (12.99 ebook) Is this normal for audio book prices? Then they wonder why people illegally download stuff. wait lists at the library for new popular ebooks and audiobooks are long unfortunately.

Not sure about those books specifically, but it's certainly probable. The average audiobook is about $30. They are quite a bit more expensive as I guess you're paying for the audio production as well as the book.

I believe I paid $29.99 for Alias Grace on iTunes since it wasn't available from my library or Audible.

I saw that Kobo was doing that and it's a little cheaper than Audible Canada at $14.95 for one credit, but I'd still be hesitant to sign up. Audible has their system down pat and it's brand new for Kobo. There's nothing worse than being in the middle of a long drive and suddenly having problems with your audiobook app!

The *regular* price at Audible is always insanely high too, but nobody pays those prices. I won't even pay $14.95 for one book. I only used Audible when I could get mine for under $10 (that was in US). But now the availability of audiobooks thru libraries is expanding at an exponential rate! I know Toronto Public Library has both Overdrive and RB Digital, and I just noticed that the Montreal library has recently added RB Digital (on top of Overdrive) and my sister's library in San Diego which uses Cloud Library for both ebooks and audiobooks has also added RB Digital as well. I now have access to 4 Overdrives, 3 RB Digitals, and one Cloud library. I don't plan on ever paying for an audiobook again :-)

@ Louise - am curious how you borrow from Toronto. (Maybe I'm misunderstanding but it sounds like it's 1 of your 4 Overdrive Sources.) Is there a similar way I could borrow from Montreal or your other Overdrive Sources? I'm currently quite limited to my current library unless a book has been published for more than 1 year and then I can possibly get the book from Ontario's interlibrary loan.

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

Mj wrote: "@ Louise - am curious how you borrow from Toronto. (Maybe I'm misunderstanding but it sounds like it's 1 of your 4 Overdrive Sources.) Is there a similar way I could borrow from Montreal or your ot..."

My sister used to live in Toronto and still has her membership at TPL and now lives in San Diego with a membership there. We share each other's library membership #s and passwords so that we have a broader base to borrow from. A friend in Ottawa also shares her membership with me (when she needs to renew she calls me to find out what her membership # and password are, lol).

I've said it before and I'll say it again, since we can do all our electronic borrowing from home, I really wish all the Canadian libraries would consolidate into one big national library that every Canadian would have access to. I really hope that will become a reality one day. Til then I bug friends and family to share :-)

TPL is great. Their Overdrive collection is great. Thats the one I use too. And Hoopla for movies.

Rainey wrote: "TPL is great. Their Overdrive collection is great. Thats the one I use too. And Hoopla for movies."

While TPL usually has every book, there is always a huge waiting list despite them having many many copies. The Montreal library will have far fewer copies, and does have a smaller collection, however there is usually a pretty short waiting list, if at all.

If I use a popular book like Shari Lapena's new book A Stranger in the House:

Montreal has 4 copies, and 4 people waiting per copy
Ottawa has 3 copies, and 6 people waiting per copy
Toronto has 15 copies, and 7 people waiting per copy

For Fifteen Dogs:

Montreal has 3 copies, all 3 are available
Ottawa has 6 copies, and 1 person waiting per copy
Toronto has 30 copies and 2 people waiting per copy

Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI:

Montreal has 2 copies, both are out but no waiting list
Ottawa has 3 copies, 1 person waiting per copy
Toronto has 9 copies, 6 people waiting per copy

It's the same pattern for most books. Montreal always has the least copies, but the shortest waiting list. And I find nowadays, any new book that comes out gets added pretty quickly at all the libraries.

Thanks Louise and for your response and for your input as well Rainey.

Sounds like I need to find a friend or family member who lives elsewhere and is willing to share their library card.

I would like to listen to more nonfiction on audio but I don't know how it would work. Maybe in a memoir,but what about history and all of the footnotes or end notes which I love? I tried listening to Cleopatra on audio but without the visual recognition of the names I just couldn't make sense of who was who.

@Alan, I love non-fiction in audio. I tend toward science books (A Most Improbable Journey: A Big History of Our Planet and Ourselves and A Brief History of Creation: Science and the Search for the Origin of Life are two great ones I recently read) but I've done memoirs in audio too.

I get "more" out of the lyrical nature of fiction by looking at the words on the page, but I feel like with nonfiction I don't need as much that "art" side of reading, which is why it really works for me. Give it a go!