What are we listening to? (audiobooks)

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by melmac

Finished A Superior Death by Nevada Barr I'm really enjoying the character and scenery in these books. I find myself googling locations as they are not familiar to me, this can be difficult when you are listening to an audiobook as you have no idea how it should be spelt

Next up Invisible Prey by John Sandford, I'm 15 minutes in and already excited as they have mentioned Virgil Flowers! I'm a big fan of Virgil and I hope he makes a significant appearance.

Who's the reader on the Nevada Barr books. It might be time for me to pick them up again, and audio is a good choice for me right now.

[sakura-panda]

I'm getting ready to start listening to Written in My Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon, currently the last of the Outlander series books.

I've been listening to this series for a while (and at over 43 hours, will be listening to this one for the next few months); it will be strange to listen to some other story when it's over!

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by sakura-panda

I'm getting ready to start listening to Written in My Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon, currently the last of the Outlander series books.

I've been listening to this series for a while (and at over 43 hours, will be listening to this one for the next few months); it will be strange to listen to some other story when it's over!

Just thinking about the total number of hours involved in listening to this series boggles the mind. By my count, including the novellas, we're talking 376 hours, give or take an hour or two. That's 16 DAYS of continuous reading, or if you listen an average of two hours a day, every single day, that's 188 days. And I don't know about other folks, but I can't manage anywhere near 2 hours a day, day in and day out.

I admit, I gave out somewhere in the middle of the series. They'd managed to get to Virginia, if I remember correctly.

[sakura-panda]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Just thinking about the total number of hours involved in listening to this series boggles the mind. By my count, including the novellas, we're talking 376 hours, give or take an hour or two. That's 16 DAYS of continuous reading, or if you listen an average of two hours a day, every single day, that's 188 days. And I don't know about other folks, but I can't manage anywhere near 2 hours a day, day in and day out.

I admit, I gave out somewhere in the middle of the series. They'd managed to get to Virginia, if I remember correctly.

I started listening to the the first Outlander book three years ago. I average about 4 hours a week, because I only listen during my drive home and it's about 40 - 60 minutes long, depending on whether I drive straight home or have other places to go first.

I've accumulated a lot of other Audible books in the meantime, but I expect those to go relatively quickly, once I've gotten through this series. I'm a little sad to be so close to the end, but I'm ready to get into some other books too. I do not think I have been able to keep it up if I didn't take relatively short "breaks" by listening to the alternate the shorter side story Lord John books in between the longer main story novels.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Just thinking about the total number of hours involved in listening to this series boggles the mind. By my count, including the novellas, we're talking 376 hours, give or take an hour or two. That's 16 DAYS of continuous reading, or if you listen an average of two hours a day, every single day, that's 188 days. And I don't know about other folks, but I can't manage anywhere near 2 hours a day, day in and day out.

I was tempted to start the first book because of recommendations, but when I saw how many more books were in the series, all of them ginormous, I just can't do it. I'll occasionally read a classic that's in the 30+ hour range, because then I at least feel virtuous about reading a classic, but most of my books come in at 10-20 hours.

I definitely listen well over two hours a day on average; I'd guesstimate maybe four or five.

[melmac]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Who's the reader on the Nevada Barr books. It might be time for me to pick them up again, and audio is a good choice for me right now.

They are narrated by Barbara Rosenblat who I think does an excellent job

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by melmac

They are narrated by Barbara Rosenblat who I think does an excellent job

She's a good narrator, so that's encouraging. Maybe next month when I get new credits.

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by Catlady

I was tempted to start the first book because of recommendations, but when I saw how many more books were in the series, all of them ginormous, I just can't do it. I'll occasionally read a classic that's in the 30+ hour range, because then I at least feel virtuous about reading a classic, but most of my books come in at 10-20 hours.

I definitely listen well over two hours a day on average; I'd guesstimate maybe four or five.

Well the first book can certainly be read standalone. The narration is very well done, and the book is, within the limits of the genre, well written. There's rather more not completely consensual (by today's standards) sex than I was completely comfortable with, but that seems to be a requirement of the genre.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Well the first book can certainly be read standalone. The narration is very well done, and the book is, within the limits of the genre, well written. There's rather more not completely consensual (by today's standards) sex than I was completely comfortable with, but that seems to be a requirement of the genre.

I just don't think there are many stories that need some 33 hours to be told, and when I see that book one seems to be the shortest of the bunch, it gives me pause and makes me think the author must be extremely verbose. In 33 hours I could finally read Anna Karenina instead, and stop feeling guilty about not getting through it in high school.

[CRussel]

Yes, 33 hours does seem rather long, doesn't it? I understand your position, and even ascribe to it in most cases. The Outlander books could comfortably be 1/3 shorter, IMO, starting by removing all the rape scenes. And the lovingly described torture scenes. I think those two are what finally put me off them more than anything else.

Spoiler:

Yes, I know both of those things happened, especially in a country at war, and that the mores of today are not the mores of the 18th century. But describing them in loving detail is not a requirement or anything I enjoy, thank you. And I don't think I need to be reading anything that popularizes the concept that a rape victim really enjoyed it and wanted it.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Yes, 33 hours does seem rather long, doesn't it? I understand your position, and even ascribe to it in most cases. The Outlander books could comfortably be 1/3 shorter, IMO, starting by removing all the rape scenes. And the lovingly described torture scenes. I think those two are what finally put me off them more than anything else.

Oh, ick. I don't think this is for me.

[badgoodDeb]

Originally Posted by Catlady

Oh, ick. I don't think this is for me.

Admittedly, it's easier to skim/skip those scenes when reading it in book or ebook form. I'm another fan of the books, for their intriguing look at 18th century life. A lot of daily life is described.

But no, I wouldn't want to listen to them.

[CRussel]

Just finished listening to Phoenix Rising, by Ryk E. Spoor, and read by Madeline Powers.

This is the first in the Phoenix fantasy trilogy from an author I've come to quite enjoy. Spoor has a quirky sense of humour, and it comes through well in this book, both in the characters and the language. (Poplock Duckweed, the small frog adventurer?) The reading by Madeline Powers was initially a bit jarring, but that disappeared within the first hour at most, and I've come to think it's excellent indeed. Recommended.

[sakura-panda]

Originally Posted by badgoodDeb

Admittedly, it's easier to skim/skip those scenes when reading it in book or ebook form. I'm another fan of the books, for their intriguing look at 18th century life. A lot of daily life is described.

But no, I wouldn't want to listen to them.

Sometimes it's like reading a whole different book. I must have skimmed a lot of sections of these books and because I am finding a lot of "director's cut" scenes added that I don't remember ever reading before. It has been more emotionally exhausting listening to the books than it ever was for me to read them, but I do enjoy the details and the characters, so I continue on.

I listened to all of the Millenium Trilogy and I honestly think I would never have been able to read that one on my own. That's another one with a lot of unpleasant descriptions (to state it mildly) but whose overall story and character made it worthwhile.

I have been debating about reading the Game of Thrones books (because the TV show is so popular) but have not been able to decide between audio, ebook, or not at all. I would like to watch the show someday (although I have been recommended both that I should and should not watch it), and I feel that, as a reader, it would be better for me to somehow read the books first. (I felt the same way about Harry Potter, watching the movies after reading the books, and a big part of why I feel this way.)

Interestingly, it is easier for me to not listen to unpleasant parts in audio without missing huge chunks of the story, than it is for me to skip over only the bad parts when I'm reading to myself. That's part of the reason I consider listening to books that I might otherwise skip over.

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by sakura-panda

Interestingly, it is easier for me to not listen to unpleasant parts in audio without missing huge chunks of the story, than it is for me to skip over only the bad parts when I'm reading to myself. That's part of the reason I consider listening to books that I might otherwise skip over.

This is completely counter intuitive, and yet I completely agree. I can simply zone out of whatever I don't want to listen to, focusing on whatever else I'm doing at the time. (I rarely just listen to a book. I listen and knit, I listen and swim, I listen and cook, etc.)