OT: Recommendations for books on tape - YouLookFab Forum

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OT: Recommendations for books on tape

Kari

Veteran

I know there are others on the forum besides me who are voracious readers, but are any of you lovers of books on tape? (Or CD, I guess.)

I really couldn't get into the idea of books on tape until this year. I read very quickly and am the type who can stay up all night to finish an engrossing read, and the idea of having to keep pace to a reader didn't seem very intriguing. However, I recently checked out a CD of one of my favorite book series and discovered that the reader was AWESOME. It made me appreciate the novel in a completely new way. So far, the series I've tried out on CD (and loved both) were the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith, and Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody series.

The other benefit that intrigues me is that I can "read" while I'm doing cardio at the gym instead of dealing with a very small, fuzzy TV screen and finicky headphone jacks. How great is that? Given that I'm trying to go to the gym more often, this is a definite plus.

So the point of this post is - does anyone have a recommendations for books on tape that are especially good (in terms of the story and the narration?) I'm collecting recommended reads to add to my library checkout list.

(Or if you simply have any "good read" recommendations that aren't necessarily audiobooks, I'm always welcoming new suggestions.)

Book Club

29 replies

Latest reply was from marianne

crwilson

Veteran

I love listening to books, but unfortunately I have a really short audio attention span, which means that I have to listen to things that aren't that complex. With that in mind, here are a few things that I've enjoyed that I think would be great on tape (though I don't know if they're available):

Garden Spells (light read, only one book though)
Girl with a Dragon Tattoo series (you've probably already read them)
China Bayles series (Susan Wittig Albert - there are about a million of them)
Stephanie Plum series (Janet Evonovich - totally light, but I remember liking them when I listened to them on CD years ago)

There are quite a few books that I wanted to read coming out this Friday - like Sara Gruen's new novel about bonobos. Speaking of bonobos, I'm reading Bonobo Handshake, and it's great - and I think it would transfer well to the audio format.

Maya

Veteran

Kari...you are basically the living, breathing embodiment of one of the ad campaigns I worked on recently for an audiobook retailer. I can't say much more than that...but when you see the commercials on TV and the banner ads you will know! Exciting. Good to know we're on the right track.

Anyway, one of the books they are pushing in the advertising is The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest, which Christine touched on.

shana

Veteran

I learned to enjoy listening to books on tape back when I used to commute an hour each way to work! Nowadays, my husband & I will often listen to books when we take a long car trips. I prefer non-fiction - especially pop-economics type of stuff like Malcolm Gladwell (The Tipping Point, Blink, Outliers etc) and books like Freakanomics, Predictably Irrational, Nudge etc. But the thing is, I almost always read the actual book beforehand (and occasionally afterwards). I've never listed to a novel on cd...

Steph

Veteran

My favorite audiobooks are the Harry Potter series. Jim Dale narrates the US version and he is fantastic. I have heard good things about the narrator of the British version as well.

If you listen to your audiobooks on your ipod, you should check to see whether you can rent them from your local library. My library allows you to download from your home computer, for free!

RandomThoughts (Andrea)

Veteran

Well, Chuck Palahniuk is one of those authors you like or you really don't.

I really do.

I loved "Haunted" on CD. 14hrs worth of it!

Ana

(website)

Veteran

I really liked "John Adams" by David McCullough. I listened to that on CD on a cross-country trip and it was really interesting and well read.

I'm really interested in reading the Stephanie Plum series, I know they are making a movie of the first book soon. I've also heard great things about Amelia Peabody.

I just got a Kindle 3. Does anyone else have one of those? I love it! Not trying to hijack the thread, just curious. I haven't seen many people at school with one, but it's been so great for my literature classes, I don't have to carry around a bunch of paperback copies and make my backpack heavy.

Joy

Veteran

Another plug for the Stephanie Plum series. There are at least 2 readers and i like the first one best, but the 2nd is good too. She just took some getting used to. I like these books better on audio than reading them.
A friend said The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo books were great on tape when she listened after reading them. She said she then knew how to pronounce the names and it was easier to keep names and places straight on the audio.
I also especially like the Anna Pigeon books by Nevada Barr. They are mysteries set in different national parks.

Ana

(website)

Veteran

If anyone likes urban fantasy, I can recommend The Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher. They are a fun read. Also, I've heard good things about Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse series (the ones True Blood is based on).

If anyone likes Romance, let me know, I have a bunch of recommendations for that genre.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I have to second the Harry Potter series (especially if you are already a HP fan)- the best narration of any book on tape I have ever heard. Another kids series that *I* really enjoyed as much as my kids are the Lemony Snicket series- particularly the ones narrated by Tim Curry. The Lord of the Rings series is also pretty good.

Goldie

Not audio books, but I love the podcasts of This American Life, and The Moth. This American Life posts their shows for free weekly on iTunes, or you can get the archives for 99 cenrs. The Moth is a series in NYC and LA where people tell personal stories (ranging from about 7-20 minutes), and they have a podcast. Both are generally fun, interesting, and thoughtful.

Also Ana: my Kindle 3 arrived today! I had a first gen Kindle as a gift from my parents (well, their castoff when they upgraded to Kindle 2s!) which held up impressively until it very recently started having difficulties, so I'm excited to have a Kindle again -- I LOVE it! Also, if you have family members/friends with Kindles, you can get on the same account and share books, which is awesome.

Vani

Veteran

Kari, I'm a sucker for comedy on tape and I love anything Wodehouse or Stephen Fry. For older books like the Wodehouse classics Librivox is my go to resource. My last "read" The Club of Queer Trades was pretty entertaining. Guess where I was "reading" it ?

Kate

Veteran

I'm also a fan of the Harry Potter books on tape, and David Sedaris has some great ones too!

crwilson

Veteran

Oh I forgot about the Sookie Stackhouse series. I enjoyed all of them. This is a bit off topic - Goldie - how do you share books? I have a Kindle, and my sister has one too, and we've yet to figure out how to really share books.

shana

Veteran

Ana, I read all genres but I got hooked on romance after a beach vacation a couple of years ago. It's my guilty pleasure!!! I'm currently working my way through Team of Rivals by Doris Goodwin (as far away from romance as you can get!) and I promised myself I would indulge in some good romance once I finish so I would love to hear your recommendations! PM me!

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Shana, will do.

Natalie

I've really enjoyed listening to the other series by Alexander McCall Smith: 44 Scotland Street. I think there are 5 books in that series so far, and it doesn't show any hint of stopping. I love the descriptions of Edinburgh.

Inge

(website)

Ooooh Kari, I love questions like this;-) Great thread to try out the new Favorites feature!

Audiobooks are incredibly convenient, but "voices" are very subjective, so even if you love some books, you might not like them as much because the narrator of the audiobook gets on your nerves a little etc. (I have that with the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich).

I'm another fan of the Harry Potter audiobooks, but the British version with Stephen Fry, pretty please;-) And like Khris, I adore the Lemony Snickets.
The Amelia Peabody books are excellent if you like historical fiction with a bit of comedy relief thrown in. Very relaxing. Will have to try the audio version one of these days.

A few more suggestions:
- The Uncommon Reader, Alan Bennett (he reads the story himself, fantastic!)
- Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen (narrated by Emilia Fox, she does an incredible job)
- Right Ho, Jeeves, P.G. Wodehouse
- The Dorothy Parker Audio Collection
- The Long Goodbye, Raymond Chandler
- The Shipping News, Annie Proulx

Now I want to get some more audiobooks myself!

crwilson

Veteran

I'm so pleased to see other Wodehouse fans!

biscuitsmom

Veteran

No specific recommendations, except for 'the gift of fear' that I think ALL women should read, in this day and age. Its not a 'everyone is out to get you' type of book, but this book has some really down to earth and useful tips for everyone....regardless of your situation....I did want to suggest you check your library system first before you lay out any money for audio/regular books....they have a tremendous amount of recent and current books! My sister 9who is disabled) has literally gotten hundreds of titles of audiobooks thru the library.....

Kari

Veteran

Oh wow, this is a GREAT list! I knew I wouldn't be alone here... I'm tickled to find other P.G. Wodehouse fans, and I'm currently reading through the Sookie Stackhouse book series in print and watching the "John Adams" miniseries based on David McCullough's book. So many awesome suggestions. Thank you all! (Feel free to keep them coming - I'll just add them to my ever-growing list.)

I'm definitely a fan of the Stephanie Plum books in print. I've been reading them and buying each new book as it comes out since I was 15. Thanks for the recommendations - I'll have to check them out and see if the reader(s) can do justice to the voice I've mentally assigned to Grandma Mazur.
Maybe it's easier to start by listening to books that I've already read, although I find that I "read" the story much differently when I listen simply becuase I have to go more slowly.

Speaking of the romance genre, a few years ago I got hooked on Diana Gabaldon's "Outlander" series. I'd be a little intimidated to try audiobooks of that series, though, because they are VERY lengthy novels.

Maya, I don't have a TV and don't spent much non-YLF time on the internet, but I'll keep an eye out for audiobook ads to see if it might be one you've worked on! That's fun that I'm your target audience. Did your target audience members secretly read books under their desks when they were in elementary school, too?

Inge, I think you hit on the issue that led me to come to YLF for recommendations - it seems like an irritating voice or a poor reader could really kill the experience of enjoying an audiobook. Since I'm just dipping my toe into the waters (and since our local regional library system has a HUGE selection to choose from), I'm very glad to have so many recommendations. (Biscuitsmom, I'm definitely checking these out at the library - we're able to keep them as long as we can keep in-print books, so finishing them in time hasn't been a problem.)

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Kari, my friend and I are reading book 2 of the Outlander series right now! I read the first book a few years ago, and then last year my friend borrowed it and read it, so now we are both reading the second book at the same time so we can talk about it. We have to take long breaks between because the books are so huge!

I used to put books inside my textbooks and read them in elementary school, so it looked like I was reading the text, but secretly I was reading The Babysitter's Club, hee.

Patience

Veteran

Ha ha, Ana. I'm giggling as I can so see you doing that.
Inge, I just had to pop on and say I was watching the BBC Pride and Prejudice these past couple of weeks and it is a brilliant idea to get that audiobook. I'm going to do it right now.
Sorry, Kari, I don't have any suggestions but since I don't have much time to read with three kids, audiobooks are sounding good to me too. The ones I've gotten before were all non-fiction. If I ever decide to read Harry Potter, I might go that route.

Joy

Veteran

I introduced my sons to Jane Austen when they had to listen to P&P audiobook in the car on a long road trip. They were good flamily friendly books that we all enjoyed.

April

Veteran

Kari -- you'll laugh, but my son and I share a favorite series of books on tape: the "Ramona" books as read by Stockard Channing. The early ones (Ramona the Pest, Ramona the Brave) are the best, and Stockard Channing completely nailed the reading.

ETA: I haven't listened to them so I can't vouch for the reading, but if you're a mystery fan I have to put in a plug for anything by S.J. Rozan, since I know her.

biscuitsmom

Veteran

Kari, Im really glad to hear you're using the library...I think many people have a outdated view of it and its really suprising to see how many new or nearly new items they have! Enjoy....

Inge

(website)

Oooh that's fantastic Patience! I hope you were able to get the ones narrated by Emilia Fox, they remind me the most of the atmosphere in the BBC series with Colin Firth;-)

Lena

Kari, thanks for reminding me about Grandma Mazur - she's such a hoot! I crack up just thinking about her. I stopped reading the series around book no.10, and maybe I should pick them up again for those gray rainy days.

Another fan of the public library here. I kick myself a little bit for not discovering it earlier.

Kari

Veteran

Biscuitsmom, I'm totally hooked on the library. I actually live within walking distance of my local branch now, which is fantatsic. At least once a week I receive an email that a book, DVD, or CD I've requested has come in, and of course I have to browse the other shelves too in case anything else looks good - all in all, I'm here at least once a week.

April, I can't believe that Stockard Channing is the narrator for the Ramona series - seriously? I can imagine that she is fantasic. Her voice is so full of character. Ramona was 100% my hero when I was growing up (even though, as an older sister, I probably related more to Beezus.) I have no shame at all about loving to re-visit favorite reads from my childhood, so I'll happily add those to my must read list.

Inge, you beat me to it - I was going to ask who the "best" narrator was for P&P. I recently re-watched the BBC series as well (I guess I go through the book and movie every six months); there really isn't any other version that can hold a candle in my eyes.

Speaking of great BBC films, did any of you catch the version of Little Dorrit which aired in 2008? (It's the version starring Matthew McFadyen and Claire Foy.) It was absolutely fantasic. My entire family, papa included, got completely hooked and watched it episode by episode once it came out on DVD.

marianne

My son loves Ramona books. I wonder if the day will come soon when he decides they are too girly.
For listening during commuting and gym, I always preferred non-fiction. For a while I got hooked on lectures from the Teaching Company.