All Ears Audiobooks discussion
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Who are your favorite narrators/readers?
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Some of my other favorite narrators are Barbara Rosenblat (love her dry wit), John Lee, Simon Vance, and Davina Porter. Hmmm... I must have a preference for a British accent! And of course Scott Brick - I've never met the man, but that voice! Wow, he sounds like just the type of guy your mother told you to stay away from.
I am trying to listen to the rest of the Bartamaeus Trilogy read by Simon Jones and he takes some getting used to. I listened to the first book 'The Amulet of Samarkand' and thought the story was great, but couldn't get into the readers voice.He has these wierd inflections in his voice that really lend to the story, but fall into the low register and I have to turn it up and listen at kind of an uncomfortable level to catch everything. I really like the story, but it's hard to adjust to him.
I just got a new set of earplugs for my iPod that block out most sound and that helps a bit when I am listening in the car. So far, so good with the second book 'Golem's Eye'. Wish me luck!
I listened to 'The Book Thief' read by Allan Corduner and LOVED it!!! I cannot say enough about how much I loved the book. When I checked it out from the library, the librarian held it to her bosom and said 'this book will change your life' so I knew it had to be good. I was not disappointed. At first I thought it would be morbid since Death is the narrator, but I fell in love with the characters and rooted for their successes and cried as they died.I really loved the reader's voice, so I looked for other books he had read and stumbled upon the Septimus Heap series. I just finished listening to Books 1-4 (Magyk, Flyte, Physik, Queste) and am now anxiously awaiting for the last book Syren to come out. Sooooo good!! Although my mother read the first book and said she got lost because there are so many characters, I didn't find that to be a big problem. It's a personal choice I think.
Anyway, Allan Corduner also reads 'Inkheart' that I listened to years ago and I really enjoyed that one as well. I am now on a quest to find more books read by Mr. Corduner and am hoping for more pleasant surprises.
I feel a little guilty about participating in this group because I am such an intermittent user of audiobooks, usually reading off the page except on long drives, but 'The Book Thief' was a life-changer for me and I wanted to give props to Markus Zusak, its author. Also, I originally read the book last year on the recommendation of Lilly at All Ears! Kristen, your comments may prompt me to listen to Corduner on my next long drive (probably Thanksgiving). I also loved 'Inkheart' but noticed Corduner doesn't do the second volume (Brendan Fraser does, which could be good). However, I have wanted to get into the 'Septimus Heap' series and after looking him up, found out that Corduner does the Garth Nixon 'Keys to the Kingdom' series but it looks like only on MP3.
Mod
Hi, Lars. Your comments are always a welcome contribution to this group! And what a great recommendation of the Garth Nix Keys to the Kingdom series. Corduner does narrate the whole series (Monday through Saturday - waiting for Sunday ..) and it is available in cd too! Kristen - I think you would like this series - strong young adult fantasy, although a bit bizarre. As far as the Inkheart series, I think Corduner only narrated the last one in the trilogy - Inkdeath, so if you have only listened to Inkheart, it's a chance to get more of that great British narration! Kristen, you are not alone waiting for Syren. We already have a wait list for that book. I called the publisher and they said early November, so not too far off! I think that this one is read by Gerard Doyle though, the voice behind the Eragon series. In fact, my son and I are listening to Eldest together - and loving it!
I haven't listened to the Keys to the Kingdom series but i really enjoyed Garth Nix's Sabriel. Tim Curry narrated it and he did a very nice job. Speaking of young adult fiction - i'm going to put in a plug here for Victoria Hanley. Okay, so Victoria is a friend to our family... but I do enjoy her books! And they have won awards and are published in something like 20 countries - which says something. Seer and the Sword, The Healer's Keep, The Light of the Oracle and her latest Violet Wings. I haven't gotten to Violet Wings yet, it just came out a month ago, but i can say that the others are great fun.
I'm a young adult librarian and listen to a lot of teen fantasy audiobooks. Some of my favorite narrators include those doing the following books or series:Artemis Fowl (all time favorite narrator: Nathaniel Parker)
A Great and Terrible Beauty
Keys to the Kingdom
Montmorency: Thief, Liar, Gentleman?
Pirates by Celia Rees
Sabriel
Skulduggery Pleasant
The Wee Free Men
Golden Compass (this one is full cast but the author performs the narrator and is amazing. I don't usually like authors reading their own works...hint to Tamora Pierce...but he's got a great voice and performs well)
You can see that I tend toward male British readers, but I don't like Jim Dale. Great voices, but he performs the emotions wrong. For example, the text will clearly say that Harry said something morosely and Dale will be all perky saying it. Distracting for me.
A few adult audiobook narrators I love:
Maisie Dobbs series
Number One Ladies' Detective Agency
Tales of the Otori: Across the Nightingale Floor
Jordan - Number One Ladies' Detective Agency - Liset Lecat - she's marvelous - totally spoiled me for reading them, i'd rather listen to her!
donna
Mod
Hi Lars,
Are you kidding? We LOVE you commenting on your audiobook listening. (Also thoroughly benefit from reading your personal blog on Good Reads.) There are so many people who are just like you... Avid readers who see the opportunity to extend their reading through listening on road trips. Readers who appreciate that being read to is one of the greatest pleasure known to man (Ok, a little hyperbola here:-) And that road trip listening, i.e., extended listening time without interruption, is reading time found that is normally lost.
Truth told, I'm the only avid listener in our household. My kids and husband are "readers," but when it comes to road trips, we're all on the same page. Knowing that we'll be entertained by an audiobook creates positive energy around getting off on the trip. Also, there is something very calming about listening together. We tend to get along better when we share a good yarn. At the risk of sharing too much information, audiobooks appear to have the medicinal effect of alleviating motion sickness for my 2 kids and me. Who wouldn't listen?
Thanksgiving will be here before you know it. Look forward to your listening comments then.
Mod
Artemis Fowl (all time favorite narrator..."
What a wonderful job you have. Goodness gracious, you are a gold mine of great recommendations. Thank you for taking the time to jot down some of your favorites. Can't wait to track down some of your recommendations that I haven't tried, which is about half of them! Re Artemis Fowl, too bad the publisher changed the narrator to Enn Reitel in Book 6, The Time Paradox. Although the story was great (a strong comeback from Book 5), changing narrators took the wind out of the series' sail for me.
Mod
Number One Ladies' Detective Agency - Liset Lecat - she's marvelous - totally spoiled me for reading them, i'd rather listen to her!
Like you, I have had a bit of a "thing" for Lisette Lecat's unique voice and intonation. I highly recommend Don't Let's Go To The Dogs Tonight: An African Childhood by Alexandra Fuller. Non-fiction. Lecat's narration is mesmerizing..
Lilly, your comments about audiobooks really resonated. I don't think it's exaggerating to say that 'being read to is one of the greatest pleasure known to man.' In my work with kids, I've seen that because of that, audiobooks can open up new worlds, not to mention develop skills that are applicable to all sorts of learning (and now, I see, to alleviate motion sickness!). I don't think many teachers and resource specialists place enough value on audiobooks (or for that matter, reading aloud to kids beyond the third grade). You've made me think about writing (at some point) a short essay for my web site (lars4learning.com) about that. I find myself more and more against the idea that audiobooks are just an aid for struggling readers and that those types of readers should "read along" as they listen--which is they way many educators use them. Really, audiobooks are another, equally important, avenue for content. The kind of 'literacy' involved--the listening and focusing skills--should be respected in its own right, independent from the skills involved with decoding off the page. That's how we got our stories until relatively recently in human history. Kids who enjoy listening to a book should be able to enjoy it!
Mod
Hi Lars,
Since I have 2 kids in high school, I've become particularly sensitive to reluctant readers in this age group. Here's an idea I've been playing around with for students on financial aid at my kid's high school...
Summer Listening Idea for reluctant middle and high school readers:
* Since audiobook listening tends to broaden a person's exposure to reading, and reluctant readers are closed off from that exposure, I'm attracted to the idea of loading ipods with an array of books (fiction/non-fiction) and loaning them to students over the summer (90 days.) In order to participate the student must agree to at least try listening to each book. Even if they only get through an hour of a book, they will have gained some sense of the genre and authors "voice." If the book clicks for them, keep listening! If the book really clicks for them, consider grabbing the physical book and read a chapter, or if reading is "working better" for the student, switch from listening to reading the rest of the book.
Just something I've been working on...
Lilly
Mod
Artemis Fowl (all time favorite narrator..."
Jordan - What a great list! And I agree with Lilly - what a fantastic job. Thanks for posting the titles - I'll definitely have to check them out.
Mod
Lars - I LOVE your comments. I wish I could bottle them up and give them out to every customer who walks through our doors. Way too often we get parents who will say with their children in tow -'I need an audiobook for my son. He has problems with reading. Nope - no audiobook for my other kids. They read just fine.'
Absolutely, audiobooks help with reading fluency and developing reading skills. But as you so aptly phrased "...Really, audiobooks are another, equally important, avenue for content. The kind of 'literacy' involved--the listening and focusing skills--should be respected in its own right, independent from the skills involved with decoding off the page.... Thank you for being such an advocate! And PLEASE - let us know if you do post something on your website - we'd love to see it!
Lilly at All Ears Audiobooks wrote: I highly recommend Don't Let's Go To The Dogs Tonight: An African Childhood by Alexandra Fuller"OOOh good book. I read that a few years ago with a book group and totally enjoyed it. Might be fun to revisit as an audiobook if Lecat is narrating!
on the topic of reading vs. audio - one thing i've noticed is how my brain works differently between the two. When i read, i read. Nothing else exists. There can be music on in the background and i don't hear it. I am totally submersed.
When i listen to an audio book i can do other things - like drive a car or complete my morning routine. And i know i'm getting the story because i can recite quotes from the audio books and tell you in great detail the plot lines.
It would seem to me that both disciplines are important - why not have kids, and adults, experience both manners of learning.
Some people are visual learners, some auditory. My husband can get us anywhere with sketchy verbal instructions, but give me just a glance at a map and i can do the same thing. Audiobooks are a treat for him because being told the story makes it easier for him to understand. Just how his brain is wired.
I started listening to audiobooks to make use of the "dead" time in the car. I don't like what's on the radio and don't enjoy listening to music in the car. What i discovered is that I actually had an easier time listening to books that are demanding, such as Omnivore's Dilemma or Einstein, than i would have had reading them. And suddenly classics that i found stiff and boring as books that i read, suddenly have a new life and are much more fun as an audio book.
Audiobooks will never replace my reading habit, but it's wonderful to have the choice!!
Mod
one thing i've noticed is how my brain works differently between the two. When i read, i read. Nothing else exists. There can be music on in the background ..."
Donna - I completely relate to your experience of reading vs. listening. It's fun and fascinating to observe one's own particular information intake quirks. Loved hearing about yours!
Like you, when I read, I become totally immersed in the book. I have been known to startle when someone interrupts me, or at the very least have a difficult time transitioning out of the book to give that person my attention. However, traditional reading is time consuming for me. Since I read slowly, and my 50+ eyes get tired, it takes me a while to get through a book - probably only about 25% faster than listening. I have found the best environment for me to read beside in a silent, comfortable space is while riding public transportation. It seems to take all of my focus to decode the words on the page and then make sense of them.
Although I listen more than I read these days, last weekend, I read That All Cape Magic by Richard Russo, a short, easy, entertaining read. Although I loved escaping into the story, I was acutely aware of how I isolated myself from my family. I gave off the signal of "don't bother me, I'm reading" in spades as I sat in bed engrossed in my book. I was a bit relieved to finish the book so I could return to my own reality again.
When I listen, although engrossed, I don't have to isolate myself and stay connected to reality. I like to drive, pick up the house, walk the dog while listening. Strange enough, my comprehension is as high or higher when I listen than when I read. It seems that decoding the spoken word and then making sense of it still leaves room for a fairly broad range of physical activity like driving, walking, mindless clean up. I'll go so far as to say that physical activity helps anchor the story or information for me. Something to do with being tactile.
Kristen wrote: I am trying to listen to the rest of the Bartamaeus Trilogy read by Simon Jones and he takes some getting used to.I agree--I listened to the first several in the "Charlie Bone" series by Jenny Nimmo that were read by Simon Russell Beale--and they were wonderful! The sixth one (and I think subsequent ones) is done by Simon Jones and I really did not care for his voice. I did listen to the whole book as I love the series, but I found myself being much less attentive and irritated at times with his voices.
Cheryl
WOW!!! Lots of comments to respond to--Great!I just finished the Bartamaeus Trilogy and LOVED them--the last book is the best one by far! Simon Jones sounded better the more I listened, but he is interesting to listen to and sometimes annoying still. I guess that is the price to pay for a good story.
I am actually on Lady Friday which is the 5th book of Garth Nix' Keys to the Kingdom series. I couldn't find them at the library and someone gave me the books so I am reading them all. Great series, but I think I'll finish reading the series before I listen to the audio books. I have to say that Garth Nix has some VERY interesting ideas... The last book talked about some military tactics that were amazing to me, like a moving puzzle. So, so good!
I have listened to Number One Ladies' Detective Agency - Liset Lecat and LOVED her voice. I could listen to anything she reads and will definitely have to add Don't Let's Go To The Dogs Tonight: An African Childhood by Alexandra Fuller to my to-read list.
Now I'm listening to Charlie Bone and enjoying it just as much the second time around.
Lilly at All Ears Audiobooks wrote: "Lars wrote: "I feel a little guilty about participating in this group because I am such an intermittent user of audiobooks, usually reading off the page except on long drives, but 'The Book Thief' ..."Lilly, been meaning to reply to this for a while but got caught up in work, etc., but I wanted to make sure you know that I wholeheartedly endorse your summer reading/listening idea. I recently put up an essay on my website about what makes a classic (it's a decision by adults) and that kids need the chance to find what will be the next classics: choices. Your idea is all about letting kids have those choices, and thus really owning the experience. The next one of my essays is probably going to be about valuing listening to books as much as we value reading them. Whenever I do that, I hope to incorporate youir idea (and to mention All Ears!).
OK...I am now an official fan of Alan Corduner after listening to 'Magyk' (the first Septimus Heap) on the Thanksgiving pilgrimage to SoCal (and back), thanks to Kristin and this discussion group! He's great.Connecting to another topic mentioned in this group, I'm working on an essay about the value of audio books for my website , lars4learning, so keep an eye out. In the meantime, though, check out another advocate, Neil Gaiman, in his great NPR piece on the same subject, 'Heard Any Good Books Lately?' (www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php... you already haven't.
Mod
Re Alan Corduner, There's some subtle humor in the Septimus Heap series that I thought Corduner captured well. Makes it more fun to listen to...
I'm also a fan of Alex Jennings reading of the The Dark is Rising Series by Susan Cooper. Classic British reading of the story. Quite gripping!
Lars, thanks so much for the NPR link to Neil Gaiman's piece on books read aloud. Gave me goosebumps.
Speaking of NPR, I listened to part of an interview with Nick Hornby (High Fidelity, Long Way Down, Slam, most recent book, Juliet, Naked) Sunday morning. Hearing about his early work life, especially a stint with Samsung in London was pretty dang funny. He also mentioned that he tended to like female authors. Ann Tyler's writing in particular, inspried his writing voice. I started listening to The Amateur Marriage last night with renewed interest. (Blair Brown's voice/tone seems well suited to the story.)
On the topic of authors as their own readers, there are two excellent ones which stand out for me. One is Shalom Auslander reading his Foreskin's Lament: A Memoir. This autobiography is a highly personal tale of the grappling with abuse, tradition, faith, and insecurity. Shalom, who read a good bit of this book on NPR's This American Life and does other tales for them, is an excellent story teller. His own voice capped with his wife's and child's make this book a must listen even more than a must read. I don't believe another reader could have done it justice.
The other example, for similar reasons, is Richard Dawkins and his wife reading his book The God Delusion. His inflections, his invested emotion, his occasional slips into vitriol, and his befuddled exasperation with irrational believers are clear in his own voice. He loves this book and this topic: it shows.
Mod
I listened to The God Delusion a couple years ago and while I liked much of the information and ideas Dawkins presents in his book, I remember feeling disappointed and put off when he slipped into his "vitriol" preaching of his views. I wasn't so interested in being convinced of his passion for his own beliefs, but in understanding his reasoning. So, for me, he is a great narrator when he's able to hold his personal feelings in check.
Scott Brick-In Cold BloodWilliam Hurt-Hearts in Atlantis
Full Cast Audio-Sleeping Freshman Never Lie
Full Cast Audio-Dunk
Full Cast Audio-Misfits
Jack Gantos- Joey Pigza books
This discussion drove home the fact that my taste in a narrators is typically an American male. My kids may influence me because they reject the British narrators everytime, which sadly narrows the audios of fantasy and some sci-fi. I find the most appealing narrators seem to be the voice of someone who you could hear in ordinary life, or as if they went through a casting director. I am suprised I cannot think of an American female narrator I would list, but my audio book listening is by no means exhaustive.
I have listened to audiobooks for years. I started listening to them when I would drive back and forth from college (a 6 hour drive one way). The narrator is key to keeping your interest and keeping you from falling asleep. I have continued to listen to books because it kept me sane when I was commuting and now has become a distraction when I quit smoking. (I loved smoking while I drove.) Why do I mention all this history? Because of the many years (about 18 yrs., WOW!) I have been listening to books, I have found many favorites. 1) Jim Dale is my absolute favorite. I have listened to the Harry Potter books numerous times because of him and I will continue to listen to them over and over.
2)George Guidall - reader for a few of the "Cat Who..." Series by Lillian Jackson Braun, as well as "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman.
3)Neil Gaiman himself is a fabulous author/narrator.
4)Lenny Henry - narrator of "Anansi Boys" - I don't think I would've loved this book as much without his narration.
5)One of the best books I listened to by Stephen King was narrated by Anne Heche - "The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon."
6)Frank Muller - excellent narrator of "The Green Mile" and many other books by King and John Grisham. I think he made "The Green Mile" so magical to listen to. I couldn't check them out of the library fast enough (this was pre-audio books membership).
7)Lori Petty - narrator for most the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. I still hear her voice in my head when I read them over.
8)Martin Jarvis - just recently became aquainted with him while listening to "Good Omens" by Terry Pratchet and Neil Gaiman. I love english accents, but he also does so many fabulous voices.
9)Brendan Fraser - he surprised me when I listened to "Inkspell". I didn't think I would like him and I certainly didn't think he would have many voices, but he did and made me wish he narrated that whole series.
10) I also really liked the narrator for the Goldie Bear Series by Diane Mott Davidson. I don't know her name, but she was great and I was disappointed when they changed her after several books. I know there are probably more, but those are the ones that have always stuck out in my memory.
All Ears Audiobooks
Books mentioned in this topic
Foreskin's Lament (other topics)The God Delusion (other topics)
Example: Jim Dale narrates all the Harry Potter books and I love listening to his voice. He also does all the narrations for 'Peter and the Starcatcher' books that are great! If you haven't heard of these books, they are a pre-quel to Peter Pan written by JM Barry's son Dave Barry and they are just as magical as the original.