Audiobooks discussion
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Name your top 3 favorite AudioBooks---GO!
John wrote: "Many thanks, Al! For those who can't get a hold of that edition, my cousin read the print book and loved it."Our state's library system has the Frank Muller version of Motherless Brooklyn on CD. I've put it on my long, long list of library books on CD to listen to someday. :)
Alan wrote: "John wrote: "Muller's reading remains my all-time, number one favorite audiobook..."Hi Big John,
Based on yours and Holly's recommendations, I went hunting for the old audiocassette version narr..."
Hi Alan. Do you record your cassette tapes to CD and then to MP3 for your Sansa?
I have quite a few books on audiocassette tape that I bought from the library sales, but just listen to them on my tape player and in my old Ford truck. I wouldn't mind having them on my iPod but don't know what to do to convert them. I don't even know anyone any more who owns a tape player.
Cherie wrote: Hi Alan. Do you record your cassette tapes to CD and then to MP3 for your Sansa?I have quite a few books on audiocassette tape that I bought from the library sales, but just listen to them on my tape player and in my old Ford truck. I wouldn't mind having them on my iPod but don't know what to do to convert them. I don't even know anyone any more who owns a tape player. ..."
Hi Cherie,
How you would approach transcribing the cassettes depends on a few things in your system:
1. Does your tape player have RCA Audio Out jacks on the back (usually Red for the left channel, White for the right channel)? Better yet, what's the make and model of your tape player?
2. Does the CD player in the old Ford recognize MP3 CD's, or just Audio CD's? Can you see the make and model number on the front panel of the player?
I hear what you're saying about not knowing anyone with a tape player. When I first set out to do this, I found that many new tape players on the market don't have RCA Audio Out jacks.
Believe it or not, I wound up using an old Karaoke Machine because it was the only reasonably priced thing I could find that had a cassette tape player AND those output jacks.
And anyone who says I use the Karaoke functions is a liar. I'm a prime example of why Quasimodo was a bell ringer and NOT a member of the choir.
Alan Mintaka
These books were especially wonderful in audio:(1) Heft, by Liz Moore (narrated by Kirby Heyborne, Keith Szarabajka);
(2) Beautiful Ruins, by Jess Walter (narrated by Edoardo Ballerini);
(3) We Need to Talk About Kevin, by Lionel Shriver (narrated by Barbara Rosenblat).
I don't think Audible carries the version narrated by Rosenblat anymore, which is too bad - it's out of this world. I was riveted to my iPod through all three of these audiobooks.
Hi Alan, I did not want you to think I did not read or appreciate your response to my question.
I forgot to look at my tape player last night after I got home to see if it has RCA Audio Out jacks on the back. My Ford only has a tape player - no CD. My tape player is actually a portable combination CD/tape/radio player.
Thanks,
Cherie
Cherie wrote: "Hi Alan, I did not want you to think I did not read or appreciate your response to my question..."
That's never a problem with me. I have to replace a toilet tank. Now THAT'S a problem !!!
Cherie wrote: "I forgot to look at my tape player last night after I got home to see if it has RCA Audio Out jacks on the back. My Ford only has a tape player - no CD. My tape player is actually a portable combination CD/tape/radio player..."
It sounds like you're all set as far as playing old cassettes and CD's go. You can play them with either your portable combination CD/tape/radio player or in your Ford's cassette player.
Given all that, why do you want to transcribe cassettes to MP3? Do you have a portable MP3 player, or are you thinking of getting one?
"With aplomb," said the plumber,
Alan Mintaka
Regarding listening to cassettes - I have a number of books on cassette I got when my library sold them off at 1.00 a book (regardless of number of tapes in the book, what a deal). I still have a tape player in my car and I had already gone through a couple of Walkman type cassette p;layers. Then no longer make those small players but I went on ebay and bought a couple more Walkmans so I am all set. I also have a portable CD player, but I never liked that format, CDs are cumbersome and fragile and you can't transfer from car to home & keep your place. However, since joining Audible with an ipod, my cassettes are gathering dust! I felt guilty that I had about 15 unheard books after the Nov & Dec sales at Audible so I suspended my membership for 3 months to catch up. But compared to this group I am an amateur!
Alan wrote: "Cherie wrote: "Hi Alan, I did not want you to think I did not read or appreciate your response to my question..."
That's never a problem with me. I have to replace a toilet tank. Now THAT'S a p..."
ha ha ha I can do plumbing but the audio techie stuff is a litle harder for me.
My CD/tape player has no RCA jacks.
I was interested in converting the tapes because then my daughter could listen to the books I have and I could listen on my iPod. She has an iPod too, but no tape player - only CD player in her car and at home.
I am also thinking about putting my Ford out to pasture and getting a newer car. I think '92 was the last year for cassette tape players. I think the guys at Car Toys will roll on the floor laughing if I ask them if they have any old tape players in stock any more. (It was hard enough to find the CD/Tape/Radio player I bought and it is 3 or 4 years old. It just killed me that I could not listen to all of the cassette music tapes that I used to listen to on my Sony Walkman after it quit working. That is why I bought the new one - then I started buying books on cassette tape because they were less expensive and I could pick them up at sales.
Robin wrote: "Then no longer make those small players but I went on ebay and bought a couple more Walkmans so I am all set. I also have a portable CD player, but I never liked that format, CDs are cumbersome and fragile and you can't transfer from car to home & keep your place..."I agree, Robin - about the CDs. I never thought about buying up old Walkmans (Walkmen??). Unfortunately the tapes outlasted the players.
I just hate the investment we have to keep making in buying new devices for the new formats in music, video and audio. I still remember getting rid of our old Beta Max player and tapes when we converted over to the VHS format. Darn - I think I still have an old reel to reel tape player out in my garage and old phonograph records in the cabinet in the living room. And all of the kids movies on VHS that I have in an old trunk. They lasted so much longer than the CDs and now we are going to have to buy Blue Ray. Arggggg. I am a dinosaur! Just ignore me and I will slink away...
Cherie wrote: "Alan wrote: "Cherie wrote: "Hi Alan, I did not want you to think I did not read or appreciate your response to my question..."
That's never a problem with me. I have to replace a toilet tank. N..."
My mother-in-law had well over 100 audiobooks on cassette. I found a cassette type walkman at dollar general and small radio/player at goodwill. There are a variety of cords and adapters available, you could find one with an RCA adapter on one end and a headphone jack on the other, so you can continue to listen to your cassettes in your new car.
My favorite 3 audiobooks (because I loved the book and the narrator)1. Daughter of Smoke & Bone - I read it first, then bought the audiobooks. Kristine Hvam was a great fit.
2. Code Name Verity - amazing story and great narrators (one of my favorites)
3. The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom - It's a middle grades book but Bronson Pinchot nailed it and made it fabulous!
Great Narrators & pretty good books
*Edoardo Ballarini did a great job with Beautiful Ruins! The story was good, but the narrator kept me interested during the slow parts.
*R.C. Bray was fantastic with The Martian - Half-way through, I put aside all other books just to finish listening to this.
I would say my top 3 ish would be .....1. The Help not really a book that I would have picked up but I'm so glad I did, the narration was amazing and I would say it is the best I have ever listened to.... and I listen to a lot lol.
2. The Darkest Minds A YA book that had me jumping up and down waiting for the next one in the series.
3. Flat Out Love A very recent read for me, again a YA book which I have read a lot of recently, good narration.
I've remembered a couple more haha although again they are YA but don't let that put you off.4. Wonder Made me cry, and want to hug everyone.
5. Hopeless and Slammed both Colleen Hoover, both brilliant.
6. The sea of tranquility another really good read with a twist.
7. Life as we knew it My 1st audio book that holds a special place in my heart, don't eat while you are reading it you'll feel guilty. (narration is a bit whiny at the beginning but keep with it)
8. Tell the Wolves I'm Home an absolutely beautiful book that made me sob my eyes out.
Have a look at my audiobook shelf for more books and reviews if it helps My Audiobook shelf .
In recent memory:1. Ender's Game - I had tried to read the hard copy and just couldn't do it. But the audio version grabbed me immediately.
2. Burial Rites - amazing narration.
3. Red Sparrow - this one's a sleeper and way better than you would expect. I saw that it is in the finalists for an award somewhere for the audiobook. Check it out. It's a sleeper.
4. Ready Player One
5. Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang
6. Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President
7. The Good House is really funny and entertaining with an edge.
8. A House in the Sky is just an amazing story unlike any other. Contemporary woman experiencing third world capture and prison. Not at all ingratiating or dramatic. She is quite self aware and it is interesting from beginning to end.
Ooh, just three? That's tough. Here are a few of mine:1. Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire (it's often marketed as just The Duchess since that awful movie version came out).
2. Persuasion (there are many good readers but I have the Greta Scacchi version)
3. All of the Discworld novels read by Stephen Briggs
4. Emotionally Weird
5. The Harry Potter series read by Stephen Fry. My favourite is probably Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
These are all books I've read more than once because I liked both the narration and the book so much, but there are so many more, I could list dozens, and I could never pick one favourite.
I could hug you, Briar Rose. Stephen Fry's Harry - unbeatable. Emotionally Wierd - fantastic. Greta Scacchi? Reading the telephone directory she'd be great - reading Persuasion she's peerless. I'm off now to find Georgiana - haven't heard this - but you 'n me, Briar Rose? Clearly aural twins!
I've noticed quite a disparity between narrators who seem to be 'big' in the US, and narrators who are 'big' in the UK. For example, Jim Dale seems to be the favoured Harry Potter narrator in the US, whereas Stephen Fry's cornered the market in the UK. Lots of narrators mentioned here of whom I've never heard, and can't find on the UK site, which is a shame. I don't really understand why Audible can't be an international audio-service, but I'm guessing it's to do with economics rather than technology.I've downloaded from the UK site for about ten years and have a pretty extensive collection, so this was a tough choice. I finally narrowed it down to these, which I've listened to time and time again. In no particular order:
Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall narrated by Simon Slater. I suspect he's what we call in the UK a Marmite narrator - you either love him or you hate him. I love him, and in this novel he captures the humour and complexity of Thomas Cromwell with great skill.
Laura Wilson's Stratton series - a bit of a cheat because there are now five in the series. If I must narrow it down it'd be the first one - Stratton's War. Love Sean Barrett's narration - he captures the character of Stratton effortlessly - so I not only know how Stratton sounds but what he looks like, how he thinks, all his strengths and weaknesses ....
Charles Dickens' Nicholas Nickleby, narrated by the peerless Alex Jennings. It could easily have been another Dickens - any other Dickens really, because I'm a huge fan - but Jennings swung it for me.
Other favorite narrators are: Neil Pearson - though he seems to only do abridged versions, which I don't really like; Tanya Moodie - who I've only just discovered and will be seeking more of and Juliet Stevenson who makes all kinds of c**p sound wonderful.
Joy wrote: "I don't know if we can even get the Stephen Fry version of Harry Potter in the US. I never heard of it until coming here."Stephen Fry is the version I'm familiar with, he did a great job with the narration. The set was given to me as a gift so I don't know where it was purchased.
Phantom of the OperaIn a Sunburned Country - Bill Bryson
.
Can't Wait to Get to Heaven - Fannie Flagg
I also enjoy listening to the Dalai Llama
Susan wrote: "I could hug you, Briar Rose. Stephen Fry's Harry - unbeatable. Emotionally Wierd - fantastic. Greta Scacchi? Reading the telephone directory she'd be great - reading Persuasion she's peerless. ..."Yay! Glad to find an audio soulmate. I haven't read any of the books on your list but Wolf Hall has been on my TBR for a while, and now I'm off to find the rest!
J. wrote: "Joy wrote: "I don't know if we can even get the Stephen Fry version of Harry Potter in the US. I never heard of it until coming here."Stephen Fry is the version I'm familiar with, he did a great ..."
I understand they're quite difficult to get in the US, but you can try ebay. YouTube and SoundCloud have sections of them if you want to check them out and see if you like them before buying.
Off topic:Anyone that enjoys Harry Potter and a good laugh should go look up 'A Very Potter Musical' & 'Wizard People, Dear Reader'. I think they can both be found on youtube. 'Wizard People, Dear Reader' is a bit slow to get going, but it has some good laughs.
I am the only person it seems with almost no interest in Harry Potter at all. (sigh)
Haha. I was the same way John, I didn't listen to any of the books until the series was well over. I listened because I like to listen to books before my children do and I had to admit that the writing wasn't half bad. I was expecting Twilight levels of stupid, but was really impressed.
I've heard both HP narrators, and while both are excellent, I prefer Fry. But then, I'd listen to Fry recite his laundry list.HBJ
John wrote: "I am the only person it seems with almost no interest in Harry Potter at all. (sigh)"I never warmed to it either, though I did finish the first book. I thought it was too derivative and cliched, starting with the irascible uncle who forbade magic and his spoiled-a** little brat of a son, Dudley. Of course. Dudley.
The relentless "Goofy Disney Names" and terms tried my patience too. Dumbledor, Muggles, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin (who turns out to be a werewolf! Can you imagine??), Lord Valdemort, the magic Pensieve (makes you think, doesn't it?), Severus Snape, Hogwarts, and of course, the game Quidditch.
To paraphrase what J. said, I found "Supernova Levels of Stupid."
1. "The Way of Kings" (series)by Brandon Sanderson2. "Daughter's of Smoke and Bone"(series)
by Laini Taylor
3. "The Stand" by Stephen King
Bettina wrote: "1. "The Way of Kings" (series)by Brandon Sanderson2. "Daughter's of Smoke and Bone"(series)
by Laini Taylor
3. "The Stand" by Stephen King"
Bettina, I agree - I loved The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson. This was the first Sanderson book that I read/listened to, and I only bought it because it was on clearance for $10 or so AND was 36 CD's long. I hoped that it would good, took the plunge, and haven't looked back. If you haven't listened to the Wheel of time series, the same narrators also appear to have done that whole series. I'm going to start the fifth book soon, and Sanderson writes the last three books in the series.
John wrote: "I am the only person it seems with almost no interest in Harry Potter at all. (sigh)"I don't think she's the greatest writer, but her world is so fun to visit and the audiobooks make great comfort reads. I only would have read the series once if it hadn't been for the audiobooks.
Huh? I wouldn't normally post but no one mentioned Pillars of the Earth & World Without End by Ken Follett and narrated by John Lee?Ditto all the Harry Potter with Jim Dale.
Also, any Isabel Allende narrated by Blair Brown, especially Ines of My Soul.
My favorite narrator is Scott Brick but he hasn't yet narrated a straight up masterpiece that I've been able to find.
1. Harry Potter narrated by Jim Dale.2. The Vorkosigan books narrated by Grover Gardner
3. The Curse of Chalion narrated by Lloyd James.
John wrote: "I am the only person it seems with almost no interest in Harry Potter at all. (sigh)"I would only listen to Harry Potter, if it was free and Audible was giving me 4 free credits for a review LOL
Erica wrote: "John wrote: "I am the only person it seems with almost no interest in Harry Potter at all. (sigh)"I would only listen to Harry Potter, if it was free and Audible was giving me 4 free credits for a review LOL ..."
If Audible bites with some kind of offer, you might want to consider bargaining for more credits. I know that if I had to force myself through the exercise, I'd consider the work to be worth a lot more than 4 credits. I'd have to spend a week of back-breaking effort just on trashing the Uncle Vernon and Dudley scenario.
This blasphemy addiction can be a curse sometimes.
My top three are1. His Dark Materials read by Philip Pullman
2. The Book Thief
3. All the Harry Dresden Books
Dave wrote: "Huh? I wouldn't normally post but no one mentioned Pillars of the Earth & World Without End by Ken Follett and narrated by John Lee?"Glad you posted those Dave. I agree. For me:
1) Outlander series (at least I gave 5* to the 5 I've read so far)
2) World Without End and Pillars of the Earth
3) A tie between SOOOOO many others ... but I'll just choose one because it's not been mentioned and for me it was a 5* read: Nevil Shute's A Town Like Alice.
The entire Aubrey-Maturin series of Patrick O'Brian, narrated by Patrick Tull. (ANYTHING narrated by Patrick Tull.) And all the James Joyce, narrated by Donal Donnelly (hand-picked by the Joyce estate, and a brilliant choice). And David Mitchell's Black Swan Green, narrated by Kirby Heyborne. (As well as Heyborne's piece of the Cloud Atlas narrative - the crucial sixth segment, the hinge of the six interwoven tales, told by six first-person narrators in 11 chapters...and itself a brilliant audio book, marred only by the flat, droning presence of Scott Brick...)
Paul wrote: "The entire Aubrey-Maturin series of Patrick O'Brian, narrated by Patrick Tull. (ANYTHING narrated by Patrick Tull.) And all the James Joyce, narrated by Donal Donnelly (hand-picked by the Joyce es..."I also love Patrick Tull, he did all the Brother Cadfael series, How Green Was My Valley, Dickens novels, and I think Rumpole. My husband (who never listens to audiobooks) and I (who thought I couldn't enjoy naval battles) spent most of a year going through the whole Aubrey/Maturin series on audio and wished there were more. I don't think I would have gotten as engaged if I had been reading them on paper.
Yes, he was great as Rumpole.
John wrote: "I am the only person it seems with almost no interest in Harry Potter at all. (sigh)"John - I read them, but have no desire to listen to them. I did watch a Jim Dale video on You Tube and it was pretty funny and an example of why others are so enamored.
Cherie
Paul wrote: "The entire Aubrey-Maturin series of Patrick O'Brian, narrated by Patrick Tull. (ANYTHING narrated by Patrick Tull.)..."I recently found the Aubrey/Maturin books and have listened to the first five, but all narrated by Simon Vance. I am almost done with the sixth, but am going to take a break before going on. I am not sure if I can give up on Simon but I'm interested in giving Patrick Tull a try because you all seem to like him so much.
Tull is great as Rumpole, but my favourite narrator is the late Sir Leo McKern, who narrated about a dozen of the Rumpole stories over many years.Most of them are abridged, sadly, but still well worth it if you can find them. They are available in cassette only, I think, but you find them on eBay quite often.
HBJ
Cherie wrote: "I don't think I can give up on Simon Vance." You shouldn't. He's brilliant: one of the gold-standard narrators. So too is Tull, whose only weakness is in American voices. Every country national has an ear for his own country dialects - Tull doesn't do US regions very well. But I have a special place in my heart for him: Master and Commander was my first audio book, and I was shocked at how absolutely engaging it was. I invariably read/listen/read/listen, going from walks to the easy chair to the car to the reading stand by the bed. With Patrick Tull, I preferred narration over the printed word, a qualitatively different reading experience, because I learned that, in the hands of a master voice actor, the printed page becomes a stirring radio drama (and I've loved radio drama since my early childhood). So I've listened (and read) nearly all of Dickens with Patrick Tull (and Simon Vance - brilliant!), most of Orwell, occasional one-outs of other authors...frankly, I'd listen to anything he narrated. Vance as well, Frederick Davidson (David Case - War and Peace, for God's sake...), too. Simply superb.
Paul wrote: "Cherie wrote: "I don't think I can give up on Simon Vance." You shouldn't. He's brilliant: one of the gold-standard narrators. So too is Tull, whose only weakness is in American voices. Every cou..."
I had to grin about your comment about the American voices. I really have been laughing at Simon Vance doing the American voices in the sixth book. It started in Desolation Island when Lousia Wogan is introduced. Her southern accent just makes me laugh!
I finished The Fortune of War last night and I am already missing Jack and Stephen.
I liked both Rules of Civility and Gone Girl; however, you'll see soon that others definitely didn't care for the latter book at all!
The MartianDon Quixote
10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works--A True Story
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, Barrayar by Lois McMaster Bujold and Frederica by Georgette Heyet
Testimony by Anita ShreveMe Before You by Jojo Moyes
Tell No One by Harlan Coben
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Hey Big John and Holly,
I got to thinking that I might try to search for it as a rare book using AddAll.com. This is a mega-search engine that polls online rare book sellers such as Abebooks, Biblio, etc, as well as their UK counterparts.
It's mostly used to search for rare print copies, but I greased the search by entering Frank Muller as keywords, along with Jonathan Lethem and Motherless Brooklyn as author and title, respectively.
I got three reasonably priced hits from the same seller with listings at difference online marketplaces.
For anyone searching for rare audiocassette editions like "Motherless Brooklyn", I suggest the AddAll rare books mega-search engine. In the Advanced Search, just add the name of the narrator to the keyword list and select "Any Binding" for the binding. It's another good place to look for rare cassette editions besides the Amazon marketplace sellers.
Now then, here's a link to the AddAll search results for "Motherless Brooklyn", narrated by Frank Muller. Give it 10-20 seconds to generate the hit list (I told it to poll all available online rare bookstores:
AddAll Search Results: Motherless Brooklyn by Jonathan Lethem, keywords Frank Muller
Good hunting,
Alan Mintaka