FREE/BARGAIN — Audiobooks

[tubemonkey]

Christmas Stories 2022 v1 -- Assorted Stories -- updated 04 Dec 2022

Tis that time of year to compile a collection of free/inexpensive Christmas stories. Vol 1 will include all Christmas stories except A Christmas Carol. Due to the sheer volume of that perennial classic, it'll be the subject of Vol 2. Both posts will be linked in the OP.

Master Index

• Christmas Stories 2022 v1 -- Assorted Stories (this post)
  
• Christmas Stories 2022 v2 -- A Christmas Carol

Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. A feast central to the Christian liturgical year, it is preceded by the season of Advent or the Nativity Fast and initiates the season of Christmastide, which historically in the West lasts twelve days and culminates on Twelfth Night; in some traditions, Christmastide includes an octave.

• Spoiler:

================================================== ==========

Audible (authors)

• FREE -- Christmas Bonus (series) -- Nick Alexander -- 1.4 hrs --> details
  
• FREE -- Christmas in Kitchen (bk 7.5) -- Nalini Singh -- 19 min
  
• FREE -- Cricket on the Hearth -- Charles Dickens -- 3.6 hrs
  
• FREE -- Gather ‘Round the Sound -- multiple -- 1.2 hrs --> details
  
• FREE -- Most Wonderful Tales of Year -- multiple -- 1.8 hrs --> details

================================================== ==========

other Sources (authors)

• FREE -- A Child's Christmas in Wales -- Dylan Thomas -- 25 min --> details
  
• FREE -- Adventure of Christmas Pudding -- Agatha Christie -- 1.4 hrs --> details
  
• FREE -- Holmes' Christmas Quest -- Kris Griffin -- 5.5 min --> details
  
• FREE -- Santaland Diaries -- David Sedaris -- 7.5 min
  
• FREE -- The Bird's Christmas Carol -- Kate Douglas Wiggin
  
• FREE -- The First Christmas Tree -- Henry Van Dyke -- 55 min
  
• FREE -- The Gift of the Magi -- O Henry -- 20 min -- full cast (WOUB Radio)

================================================== ==========

Collections (authors)

• FREE -- Christmas Stories (22 titles) -- multiple (LibriVox)
  
• FREE -- Christmas Stories (25 titles) -- multiple (Storynory)
  
• FREE -- Dickens' Christmas Stories (5 titles) -- Charles Dickens -- 2.1 hrs
  
• FREE -- Greatest Christmas Short Stories (29 titles) -- multiple (LibriVox) -- 7.1 hrs
  
• FREE -- Children's Book of Christmas Stories (35 titles) -- multiple (LibriVox) -- 7.7 hrs

================================================== ==========

Old Time Radio Shows (dramatizations)

• FREE -- OTR Christmas Programs -- YouTube search to hundreds of shows

================================================== ==========

The Night Before Christmas -- Clement C Moore (disputed)

• FREE -- A Visit from St Nicholas -- Lit2Go -- 3.3 min
  
• FREE -- The Night Before Christmas -- The Chipmunks -- 3 min
  
• FREE -- Twas Night Before Christmas -- Michael Scott -- 4 min
  
• FREE -- Twas Night Before Christmas -- LibriVox (9 titles)
  
• FREE -- Zelda's Night Before Christmas -- Big Finish -- 3 min --> details
  
• Synopsis
  • Spoiler:

    "A Visit from St. Nicholas", more commonly known as "The Night Before Christmas" and "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" from its first line, is a poem first published anonymously in 1823 and later attributed to Clement Clarke Moore, who claimed authorship in 1837. Some commentators now believe the poem was written by Henry Livingston Jr..
    
    The poem has been called "arguably the best-known verses ever written by an American" and is largely responsible for some of the conceptions of Santa Claus from the mid-nineteenth century to today. It has had a massive impact on the history of Christmas gift-giving. Before the poem gained wide popularity, American ideas had varied considerably about Saint Nicholas and other Christmastide visitors. "A Visit from St. Nicholas" eventually was set to music and has been recorded by many artists.

    A Visit from St. Nicholas
    
    Versions of A Visit from St. Nicholas generally attributed to Clement Clarke Moore; possibly by Henry Beekman Livingston
    
    The poem "Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas", also known as "The Night Before Christmas" from its first line, and first published in 1823, is largely responsible for the contemporary American conception of Santa Claus, including his appearance, the night he visits, his method of transportation, the number and names of his reindeer, and that he brings toys to children. Prior to the poem, American ideas about St. Nicholas and other Christmastide visitors varied considerably.
    
    The poem was published anonymously in 1823 by the Troy Sentinel. It was first attributed to Clement Clarke Moore in 1837 by Charles Fenno Hoffman in The New York Book of Poetry. Moore himself first claimed authorship in his 1844 book Poems. Circa 1860, the family of Major Henry Livingston, Jr. (1748–1828) discovered the claims of Moore's authorship, but waited until after Moore's death to publicly argue that Livingston had first composed the poem circa 1807.
    
    The last two reindeer names were Dunder and Blixem when the poem was first published anonymously on December 23, 1823. The editor of the 1825 McClure Almanac was the first to change Blixem to Blixen. When Moore later published the work as his own (Poems, 1844), the names were spelled Donder and Blitzen. In a number of later reprintings, Dunder/Donder's name is further simplified to Donner.
    
    — Excerpted from A Visit from St. Nicholas on Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

================================================== ==========

[tubemonkey]

Christmas Stories 2022 v2 -- A Christmas Carol -- updated 04 Dec 2022

Tis that time of year to compile a collection of free/inexpensive Christmas stories. Vol 1 will include all Christmas stories except A Christmas Carol. Due to the sheer volume of that perennial classic, it'll be the subject of Vol 2. Both posts will be linked in the OP.

Master Index

• Christmas Stories 2022 v1 -- Assorted Stories
  
• Christmas Stories 2022 v2 -- A Christmas Carol (this post)

A Christmas Carol -- Charles Dickens (1812~1870)

A Christmas Carol is a novella by Charles Dickens. It was first published in London by Chapman & Hall on 19 December 1843. The novella met with instant success and critical acclaim. Carol tells the story of a bitter old miser named Ebenezer Scrooge and his transformation into a gentler, kindlier man after visitations by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present and Yet to Come.

The book was written at a time when the British were examining and exploring Christmas traditions from the past as well as new customs such as Christmas cards and Christmas trees. Carol singing took a new lease on life during this time. Dickens' sources for the tale appear to be many and varied, but are, principally, the humiliating experiences of his childhood, his sympathy for the poor, and various Christmas stories and fairy tales.

================================================== ==========

Audiobooks (narrators)

• FREE -- A Christmas Carol -- 2.8 hrs -- Antonia Bath --> details
  
• FREE -- A Christmas Carol -- 3.0 hrs -- Paul Michael --> details
  
• FREE -- A Christmas Carol -- 3.2 hrs -- Kyle Munley (LibriVox)
  
• FREE -- A Christmas Carol -- 3.2 hrs -- Michael Fenton Stevens --> details
  
• FREE -- A Christmas Carol -- 2.9 hrs -- multiple

================================================== ==========

Dramatizations (narrators)

• FREE -- A Christmas Carol -- 54 min -- Jonathan Winters -- abridged
  
• FREE -- A Christmas Carol -- 59 min -- full cast (Orson Welles) -- abridged
  
• FREE -- A Christmas Carol -- 1.4 hrs -- Neil Gaiman --> details -- abridged
  
• FREE -- A Christmas Carol -- 3.0 hrs -- full cast (LibriVox)
  
• FREE -- A Christmas Carol -- 3.7 hrs -- full cast (WOUB Radio)

================================================== ==========

LibriVox (narrators)

• FREE -- A Christmas Carol (25 titles) -- multiple

================================================== ==========

Podcasts (narrators)

• FREE -- A Christmas Carol -- 2.2 hrs -- Alan Smith -- details -- abridged
  
• FREE -- A Christmas Carol -- 3.0 hrs -- Patrick Horgan

================================================== ==========

Reviews (narrators)

• FREE -- An Intro to A Christmas Carol -- 29 min -- David Timson

================================================== ==========

eBooks & other Sources

• FREE -- Google | iTunes | Kindle | Kobo | Nook | Proj Guten

• FREE -- A Christmas Carol -- original 1843 edition published by Chapman & Hall
  
• FREE -- A Christmas Carol -- 1920 facsimile edition published by Little, Brown & Co
  
• FREE -- other Sources ------- copies, collections, libraries, etc

================================================== ==========

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

When you logged in, did you do this?

Scrolling almost to the bottom allows you to enter a promo code.

As a former member, I had no issues getting both of these offers.

No, I did not go to My Account because I am not an existing member. To my mind, "existing member" means current member. [DELETION]

At this point I've deleted the email with the code anyway.

[Edit to delete nonsense, because I don't know how to do a strike-through!)

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Catlady

No, I did not go to My Account because I am not an existing member. To my mind, "existing member" means current member; they did not say "existing account."

At this point I've deleted the email with the code anyway.

Interesting, my emails said nothing about existing members. They both said "existing Audiobooks.com account holders".

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Interesting, my emails said nothing about existing members. They both said "existing Audiobooks.com account holders".

Sorry, I'm still half asleep and contradicting myself. Yes, that's what it said. I focused on the word "existing," which I interpreted at the time as "current."

[TrevorViking]

https://www.audible.com/ep/audiobook-deals

A couple sales continue.

Book of the day is Elvis and Me.

[tubemonkey]

Audible AU -- Editor's Extra -- exp 02 Jan 2023 @ 11:59 pm AEDT (4:59 am PT)

Take Control of Your Life -- FREE -- Mel Robbins/ M Robbins -- 10.1 hrs -- NF self-help

How to Silence Fear and Win the Mental Game -- members only

Mel Robbins is back! The international bestselling phenomenon and creator of The Five Second Rule and Kick Ass with Mel Robbins returns to help you tackle the single biggest obstacle you face: fear. This life-changing Audible Original features a powerful mix of one-on-one life-coaching sessions and a personal narrative with vital take-aways that you can start using immediately.

With humor and wisdom, Mel Robbins expertly tackles the fear of change, rejection, and being alone, as well as imposter syndrome and feeling trapped in the wrong career. Each session is a goldmine of discovery as Mel guides you to find your purpose, improve your relationships, and ultimately take control of your life. In these times of high anxiety, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed - that changes right now. If you want the tools to break free from fear and live to your fullest potential, this is a must-listen.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

[tubemonkey]

One Audiobooks -- Monthly Offer -- exp 28 Feb 2023 @ 11:59 pm PT

A Christmas Carol -- FREE -- Charles Dickens/ Paul Michael -- 3.0 hrs -- classics

A master of language, moral lessons, and capturing the beauty of the everyday, Charles Dickens also brings elements of magic and wonder to this tale along with, of course, the meaning and joy of the Christmas season. Expecting to be able to bask in the nostalgia of the holiday, the character of Ebenezer Scrooge exists in stark contrast and is instantly despised. Dickens chooses Scrooge as his protagonist to take his audience through the selfish and narrow-sighted distractions of this world. A cautionary tale with a heartwarming twist, A Christmas Carol was and is a beloved classic for good reason. This series, published by ONE audiobooks, seeks to produce Classic Christian titles read by well known and loved Christian audiobook narrators. ONE takes great care to cast these titles with readers who will provide an unmatched listening experience for these important works. Paul Michael brings his passion to every performance and is considered to be one of the top audiobook narrators in the industry.

Download Instructions -- MUST download if you wish to keep books after exp date

• Spoiler:

  from skinmaan
  
  ...if you claim one of their free titles it will only stay in your library for a few months. That's okay, though, because the titles they offer are DRM-free and can be downloaded to your PC for use in your favorite audiobook player.

  from One Audiobooks
  
  Most FREE offers on the ONE Platform are provided on a limited-time basis.

  Downloading tracks to your device
  
  The ONE App is primarily intended for use with an internet connection because the audio tracks are streamed directly to your computer or phone.
  
  We are currently creating native apps for iOS and Android devices that will be available later this year.
  
  Each track and also be downloaded individually within the ONE App player web page. The process works well using a desktop computer, but can be tricky on a phone. Every phone handles the process a little differently based on the user's settings, and we find that most people have a difficult time with files being out of order and/or having trouble finding the files.
  
  The following video explains downloading in more detail.

.

[tubemonkey]

Downpour -- exp 12 Dec @ 11:59 pm PT

• A Christmas Carol -- $1.99 -- Charles Dickens -- 3.2 hrs -- classics -- rental only
  
• A Town Divided by Christmas -- $4.99 -- Orson Scott Card -- 2.9 hrs -- fiction
  
• Save the Last Dance (book 3) -- $4.99 -- Shelley Shepard Gray -- 7.2 hrs -- romance

[TrevorViking]

https://www.audible.com/ep/audiobook-deals

Multiple sales continue.

Book o the day is The Change by Kirsten Miller.

[TrevorViking]

https://www.audible.com/ep/audiobook-deals

Multiple sales continue.

Book o the day is Survival of the Fastest by Randy Lanier.

[tubemonkey]

Audiobooks.com -- limited time

Black Friday Returns -- membership plans -- save up to $50

Treat someone special to the gift of audiobooks, or save big when you pre-pay for your own subscription.

Please note that because you are purchasing a gift in USD, this gift cannot be redeemed by a recipient in The United Kingdom or Australia. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

• $129.45 -- 12-mo membership -- save $50
  
• $69.70 --- 6-mo membership ---- save $20
  
• $34.85 --- 3-mo membership ---- save $10
  
• $14.95 --- 1-mo membership

[tubemonkey]

Alexa US -- Free on Alexa -- exp 15 Jan 2023 @ 11:59 pm PT

Harry Potter (book 1) -- FREE -- JK Rowling/ Jim Dale -- 8.3 hrs -- kids fantasy

"Alexa, read Harry Potter Book 1" -- streaming only (on Alexa-enabled devices)

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Turning the envelope over, his hand trembling, Harry saw a purple wax seal bearing a coat of arms; a lion, an eagle, a badger and a snake surrounding a large letter 'H'.

Harry Potter has never even heard of Hogwarts when the letters start dropping on the doormat at number four, Privet Drive. Addressed in green ink on yellowish parchment with a purple seal, they are swiftly confiscated by his grisly aunt and uncle. Then, on Harry's eleventh birthday, a great beetle-eyed giant of a man called Rubeus Hagrid bursts in with some astonishing news: Harry Potter is a wizard, and he has a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. An incredible adventure is about to begin!

Having become classics of our time, the Harry Potter stories never fail to bring comfort and escapism. With their message of hope, belonging and the enduring power of truth and love, the story of the Boy Who Lived continues to delight generations of new listeners.

Free on Alexa

“Alexa, what’s free from Audible?”

Ask Alexa what’s free from Audible to hear the current limited-time selection. Or, check below to ask for a title directly.

[TrevorViking]

https://www.audible.com/ep/audiobook-deals

Multiple sales continue.

Book of the day is The Librarian Spy

[tch65721]

Downpour Daily Steal 12/14/22
Crocodile on the Sandbank By Elizabeth Peters
Read by Susan O’Malley
The Amelia Peabody Mysteries: Book 1 - $3.95
https://www.downpour.com/crocodile-o...ndbank?sp=6792
If the number of holds at my library are any indicator Ms Peters seems quite popular.