best audio version?

[TXBRITGAL]

Mum and I have at least 2 copies of each of this beloved series... 3 actually if one includes kindle. For Christmas I wanted to start getting her a set of very good (well spoken...ie not horrid acting) audio CDs. Then she can fall in love with the prose all over again on the drive to and from work, or around town. She always gets angry while at work for during her 20 min. Break or end of lunch, she gets in the mindset of: :::shaking arm and hand::::::: "how dare u make me put my book down!!!". When we find books that are truly parts of our hearts (such as this wonderful series) its rather hard to put down. We are originally from England. My dad (her husband) was 1/2 Scottish. His father had the full brogue still. My dad grew up in England so he had Scottish ways (like with money was frugal ) but sounded English. Mum also had a amternal nanny from Ireland I don't recall meeting
So we are Celtic mutts I suppose: ) .. I would love to find a audio CD that plays in America where she can listen to her Gabaldon books and get swept away. This way she should have more time with them than on mere break eh? Any suggestions? Personally I have never tried books on CD as I refer reading. Yet I see the appeal on a long drive. Email me at txbritgal@gmail.com many thanks!!! Keryn

[Dee]

you could do 1 of 2 things - you could buy the CD's that are currently available in the US - narrated by Davina Porter who is brilliant - or you could look at getting an audible subscription, which will be cheaper in the long run - these audiobooks place on most ipods/mp3 players, and i find are easier to use

[Sally]

Davina Porter's reading is brilliant. You can actually SEE the characters. Just make sure you get the unabridged version. Nothing is more frustrating than having your favorite books cut up.

[[deleted user]]

I agree that Davina is a fabulous narrator and really does this series justice. I would like to add that Blackstone has just launched and audio store like audible. Blackstone have offered 2 free books when you sign up and it may be worth looking in to. MP# is so much easier than the enormous amount of discs you would get from CD. Enjoy :)

[Dee]

i don't think the outlander books were done by blackstone - Audible is showing Recorded books as the producer

[Judy]

Keryn, if you are interested in a subscription as Dee mentioned, try audible.com. It is considerably cheaper than buying the CD's and they have all the Outlander books unabridged. Most of them cost one credit for which I pay 14.95 for one per month. There are other levels of subscriptions to choose from,too. Just be on alert that they do have at least one of the books in abridged so check the "unabridged only" block and it won't pop up.

[Terri]

I was listening to Fiery Cross on my way to work and the part at the end of the gathering gave me goose bumps and made me cry. I use audible. The credit for 14.95, so I am collecting them one book at a time.

[Fawn]

I have an audible.com account and LOVE it. It has allowed me not only to get all of the Outlander books, but with my points I have gifted many to family and friends. Unabridged and Davina Porter all the way! I don't think you could do better than Davina Porter.

[Jeanie]

I have all of them, including the "Lord John" series via Audible. They're absolutely wonderful and worth every penny I paid for them! Davina Porter & Jeff Woodman are marvelous!!

[Mistelle]

I have enjoyed Davina Porter's narration so much that have downloaded many other books she has narrated. She is wonderful! She certainly sets the bar high for me with other narrators.

[Heather in FL]

I absolutely love Davina Porter. Before I listened to Outlander, my favorite was Rosalyn Landor... she does Lisa Kleypas' historicals. She's really good as well.

[Teresa]

As an avid audio book listener, it has taken me quite awhile to get used to other narrators after listening to Davina Porta read the Outlander series. It is rare to find someone who can not only convincingly read both men and women, but also do so many different accents (highland, lowland, french, irish, english, chinese, etc, etc.), AND in so many different voices that there is no doubt who is speaking. She is an exceptional talent.

[Judy]

Teresa wrote: "As an avid audio book listener, it has taken me quite awhile to get used to other narrators after listening to Davina Porta read the Outlander series. It is rare to find someone who can not only co..."

You are so right! Davina Porter is the best!

[Auntchata]

I got my audible account set up and my first book is Outlander. Davina Porter is awesome!!!! She brings the story to life. I love hearing all the Gaelic words pronounced properly!! When I read the book(twice!) I looked up the words but didnt know how they sounded. Now I know!! Hearing it makes the movie in my head more real than ever!!! Pretty sure audible.com is my new favorite thing in the world!!!

[Terri]

I know I love it , but I started with Echo lol

[Heather in FL]

Auntchata wrote: "I got my audible account set up and my first book is Outlander. Davina Porter is awesome!!!! She brings the story to life. I love hearing all the Gaelic words pronounced properly!! When I read the ..."

I think that's one of the things that drew me in. I honestly think the length of the books put me off at first, but listening to them (while it took me forever!) didn't make it seem so daunting. It really is nice to hear how it should sound. I remember looking up how to spell one of the names so I could include it in a review (Laoghaire)... I'd have NEVER known it sounded like Ms. Porter pronounced it. Never in a million years, lol!

[Judy]

Auntchata wrote: "I got my audible account set up and my first book is Outlander. Davina Porter is awesome!!!! She brings the story to life. I love hearing all the Gaelic words pronounced properly!! When I read the ..."

I'm so glad you found it! I love it and I love to spread the joy.

[Eileen]

I have read the series at least 3 times and was wondering if i should try the audio version for round 4 while waiting for book 8. I don't know how much time i have to listen vs. read..... but i am tempted after reading all these reviews

[Heather in FL]

I cannot recommend Davina Porter and this series highly enough. She really brings every character to life. For me, I listen in the mornings when I'm getting ready for work and on my (very short) commute. I listen while I'm doing chores where I can't be holding a book. I listen while I'm working on my crafts. I listen when I exercise (haven't been real good about that lately). Each installment of the Outlander series is really, really long, but it's such a great series and, like I said, Ms. Porter really brings it to life.

[Eileen]

Heather, i see a vsriety of ways to buy the audio products. What do you have? I looked at Barnes and Noble but I guess they are too old to be carried in the store

[Heather in FL]

I have Audible. I have the two-credits-per-month plan because for a while, I was blowing through them. Outlander slowed me down a bit. It's nice that the Outlander series is all 1 credit a piece. Game of Thrones is maybe just a bit longer, but they're all two credits. For me, it's a good value, and Audible has a great delivery system. Audible also frequently has great sales (either heavily discounted or 3-for-2 offers, etc.) and offers for reduced-priced credits.

[Anita]

I have to agree with all the praises for Davina Porter's reading. She's amazing. I just don't see how anyone can do all those voices so well.

[Lotte]

Heather, the beginning of your comment really shocked me: "I cannot recomment..." - till I got to the ending of the sentence "... highly enough!" Fully agree with you! Eileen, give it a try! E.g. with Audible. You can even listen for several minutes of each recording, to have an idea whether you liked the voice of the reader. And something else: stick to the unabridged recordings, only. For Fiery Cross and its 55h 34min will be cut down to unbelievable 8h 30 min, this must lose all its meaning.

I think you are in the US, aren't you? Then you will be lucky and get all the Outlander versions unabridged. We, the rest of the world, still have to wait for 2015 to have ABOSAA this way as well. (The reason for all this was on DG's blog, I still think it a bit unfair on us Europeans - and also the Australians, I think -, but we have to put up with it and wait. We are quite good at that by now.)

[Heather in FL]

Sorry... didn't mean to throw you, Lotte! I absolutely love Davina Porter. She is the bar with which I judge all other narrators now. I don't think anyone can beat her.