Audiobooks discussion

Aurelia here to say that we're celebrating summer by collecting everyone's summer-related audiobook recommendations this July and August. Beaches, armchair travel, road trips, heat in the city - you get the idea. I'm starting the discussion with my first-ever AFM blog post about armchair travel: http://www.audiofilemagazine.com/blog.... What about you?

We need to eat in the summer, primarily ice cream, which is why I'm recommending the new Sweet Spot: An Ice Cream Binge Across America by Amy Ettinger, read by Kathleen McInerney: http://www.audiofilemagazine.com/revi.... The author traveled the country eating frozen yumminess so that we would have an easier and more informed journey. Wasn't that kind of her?

I can't help it; I have to share Olivia Koski and Jana Grcevich's Vacation Guide to the Solar System: Science for the Savvy Space Traveler! in this thread on summer-listening. It's terrifically read by Kathleen McInerney, with Forewards read by the authors. Sound clip and review: http://www.audiofilemagazine.com/revi.... You may not be going to the Rockies this summer, but this way, you could hike on Mars instead!

Aurelia here with two more summer road-trip listens.

First, the classic Travels with Charley: In Search of America by John Steinbeck, beautifully performed by Gary Sinese. Here's the review: http://www.audiofilemagazine.com/revi....

Second, the thoroughly entertaining NPR Road Trips: National Park Adventures: Stories That Take You Away..., which you really should hear while actually on the road. Here's that review: http://www.audiofilemagazine.com/revi...

So, if you're planning to camp in the back yard this summer, you'll need a scary story to hear in the darkness (with a flashlight near just in case). This is Aurelia, recommending Stephen King's The Mist, read oh so evocatively by Will Patton. Sound clip and review: http://www.audiofilemagazine.com/revi.... Prepare to be deliciously terrified.

Some of us will be hitting the trail this summer, so here are a couple of modern classics to inspire and forewarn you about whatever backwoods adventure you have planned.

First, in case you need some cooling off, Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer, read by Philip Franklin: http://www.audiofilemagazine.com/revi....

Next, for those who need to find themselves as well as the path, Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed, read by Bernadette Dunne: http://www.audiofilemagazine.com/revi....

Third, my personal favorite for those really who want to get away (and are a lot braver than I), The Places in Between written and read by Scotsman Rory Stewart about his 2002 walk across Afghanistan: http://www.audiofilemagazine.com/revi....

Aurelia here with another 'Hit the Trail' title - with a twist. How about Tana French's shivery In the Woods? Steven Crossley does a bang-up narration. Here's the sound clip and review: http://bit.ly/InTheWoodsMystery. It'll entertain you while walking and give you guidance on what to beware of...

Bill Bryson's A Walk in the Woods is the classic hit the trail summer book, and this is a great version: http://bit.ly/AWalkInTheWoodsReview. Listen while you hike!

And because so many Bryson books are about walking about in odd places (such as America), and so many are beautiful narrated, here's a list of reviews, so you can pick the next one for yourself: http://bit.ly/BillBrysonAudiobooks.

It's hot and I'm stuck in the city. If you are too, I recommend Nicolas Obregon's Blue Light Yokohama, read by P.J. Ochlan. Here's the review: http://bit.ly/LightBlueYokohamaReview. A detective hunting suspects in a foreign hot city will cool you off. Really.

Hot, hot, hot - so let's dance! Aurelia here, suggesting Mark Kurlansky's Ready for a Brand New Beat: How Dancing in the Street Became the Anthem for a Changing America, performed by Stephen Howe. Sound clip and review: http://bit.ly/BrandNewBeatReview. Move those hips!

Summer in the city always reminds me of Virgil Tibbs of In the Heat of the Night, so I was delighted to see that another Virgil Tibbs mystery by John Ball, Then Came Violence, has been recorded by ace narrator Dion Graham. Here's the review: http://bit.ly/ThenCameViolenceReview. And for good measure, here's lots more from and about Dion, who has been a Guest Narrator here on GR Audiobook Group: http://bit.ly/DionGraham.

How about some some hot Chicago streets with James Patterson in The Black Book, given a great read by Eduardo Ballerini? Here's the sound clip and review: http://bit.ly/BlackBookReview.

Another archetypal summer activity - spooky tales told around a campfire. Let's start with a classic, Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes, read by Stefan Rudnicki, who does scary (and much else) brilliantly: http://bit.ly/SomethingWickedReview.

Meet Stefan and hear more of that gloriously baritone voice here: http://bit.ly/StefanRudnicki. Such a lovely smile. Such a way with terror.

Thought I'd offer a classic Stephen King for campfire-spooky stories. Full Dark, No Stars is the perfect title, don't you think? Here's the review: http://bit.ly/FullDarkReview. Hear that howling?

Sticking with scary, Hallie Ephron's You'll Never Know, Dear has it all, including disappearances, strange people, and downright evil. Also some goodness and an Earphones Award-winning narration by Amy McFaddon. Sound clip and review: http://bit.ly/YoullNeverKnowDearReview. Are you lighting a campfire this weekend?

Aurelia here with one more campfire-scary offering while there's still time. Tom Mison's lovely, spooky narration of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving. Sound clip and review: http://bit.ly/TheLegendOfSleepyHollow. I plan to stay well away from headless horsemen, but listen all the same. And you?

Aurelia here. I figure we're over campfires and are ready to set sail, even if it's just a backyard wading pool. So, how about scary sailing? Maile Meloy's engrossing Do Not Become Alarmed, which she reads herself (and won an Earphones Award for) is just the ticket. Sound clip and review: http://bit.ly/DoNotBecomeAlarmedReview

This is Aurelia with another scary sailing story to inspire or simply terrify you (in an entertaining way). The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket by Edgar Allan Poe takes you out on the high seas to experience everything wrought by waves and islands. Here's the review: http://bit.ly/ArthurGordonReview. Hold tight to the mast, that's my advice.

Listen to Alfred Molina's gorgeous performance of Treasure Island - sound clip and review: http://bit.ly/TreasureIslandReview - and you'll be setting sail on the best ocean adventure ever. Sure, take the kids along. But feel free to embark solo, if you want to chant 'yo-ho-ho' in privacy. I do.

This completely new fantasy retelling of The Mermaid's Daughter by Ann Claycomb is beautifully wrought by Shannon McManus, Alana Kerr Collins, Suzan Crowley, and Dominic Keating. Review: http://bit.ly/TheMermaidsDaughterReview. The ocean has many secrets...

Aurelia here to says that it's the dog days of summer, folks. So, I'm recommending Connie Willis's charming time-travel To Say Nothing of the Dog, read so well by Steven Crossley: http://bit.ly/ToSayNothingOfTheDogReview. It's not brand-new, but it's so good. Anyone else have favorite dog (or wolf) stories to suggest this week?

This is Aurelia with my second dog days of summer suggestion. Arthur Conan Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles, of course! I have three to suggest because when it comes to great performances, I can't decide. LA Theater Works full cast production, sound clip and review: http://bit.ly/BaskervillesLATheaterWo.... David Timson's marvelous rendition, sound clip and review: http://bit.ly/BaskervillesTimsonReview. And last, but so not least, the great Simon Prebble: http://bit.ly/BaskervillesPrebbleReview.

How about Jodi Picoult's Lone Wolf for the dog days of summer? Here's the review that convinced me: http://bit.ly/LoneWolfReview.

There's a dog on the cover, so you know Stephen Daisley's Coming Rain had to be part of summer's dog days list. Plus, Paul English's narration won an Earphones Award. Sound clip and review: http://bit.ly/ComingRainReview. It's hot in Australia in the summer, but it's the place to be.

I'm giving you Jack London's The Call of the Wild for Dog Days today because John Lee delivers an Earphones Award-winning performance and because, if it's hot where you are, this'll cool you right down: http://bit.ly/CallOfTheWildReview. Want the late, great Frank Muller reading instead? We have that too: http://bit.ly/CallOfTheWildMuller. Don't let the frostbite get you.

The ebook is free, not the audiobook.

Richard wrote: "The ebook is free, not the audiobook."

Aurelia here. Thanks for letting us all know, Richard. You may be able to find a free audiobook version on Overdrive from your library.

Richard wrote: "The ebook is free, not the audiobook."

But the audiobook is only .95 cents

https://www.amazon.com/The-Call-of-th...

You said:
AudioFile wrote: " I'm giving you Jack London's The Call of the Wild for Dog Days today because John Lee delivers an Earphones Award-winning performance and becau..."
Jack London gave us "The Call Of The Wild" which is now public
domain. You made it sound like you were providing the audiobook version "because John Lee delivers an Earphones Award-winning performance"
Do you work for Amazon or just shill for them?
FYI OverDrive is not free. My tax dollars allow my public library, the San Antonio Public Library to provide many fine works through OverDrive, RBdigital and purchases from the many publishers.
If you are acting as an agent of Amazon, please declare yourself.
I hear they have grocery stores now too.

Richard wrote: "You said:
AudioFile wrote: " I'm giving you Jack London's The Call of the Wild for Dog Days today because John Lee delivers an Earphones Award-w..."

Wow I'm not working for Amazon or Audible I was trying to help out sorry. Yes your tax dollars pay for your library's Overdrive so maybe you should use them to get this book.

MissSusie wrote: "Richard wrote: "You said:
AudioFile wrote: " I'm giving you Jack London's The Call of the Wild for Dog Days today because John Lee delivers an E..."

MissSusie,
I apologize if you took these comments to be directed at you. They are directed at AudioFile magazine, Aurelia in particular. This is a thread on their "Summer Sizzles".
The comments made by their different contributors all sound as though they are selling Amazon.
You don't work for Amazon do you?
At any rate, I am sorry if my arrow hit you by accident.

Richard wrote: "MissSusie wrote: "Richard wrote: "You said:
AudioFile wrote: " I'm giving you Jack London's The Call of the Wild for Dog Days today because John..."

Hi Richard,

AudioFile is an independent magazine that publishes audiobook reviews written by independent reviewers, as well as profiles of narrators and authors, and audiobook-focused blogs. Audiobooks are the passion of our small staff. Please do take a look: www.audiofilemagazine.com. We're not a subsidiary of Amazon or any other business. It's too bad that I sound to you like a shill for them. Actually, I'm a contributing editor for AudioFile and an audiobook addict, and in that position, I've been managing our presence here on Goodreads Audiobook Group, posting reviews that I think will interest the wide range of listeners here at GR and also hosting Guest Narrator visits.

On the topic of libraries and Overdrive, clearly I misunderstood your comment. You're right that Overdrive is a service for which libraries pay, just as they pay for most books, and that in most locations, taxes help support the libraries. In addition, I have a library card and contribute to my local library's annual fund drive, but borrowing a book or audiobook from the library still feels free to me. In addition to Overdrive and other such programs, our library has a good selection of CD and cassette audiobooks, which I borrow as well. I'd be interested in how you and other GR members get their audiobooks; selection, availability, and affordability are real and ongoing issues.