What are we listening to? (audiobooks) - Page 73

pwalker8 · 01-11-2015, 07:57 AM

I get the weekly emails for changes to threads that I've posted on. It just seemed more logical to me to have it with the what are you reading thread rather than put it in it's own forum.

issybird · 01-11-2015, 09:21 AM

I'm listening to The End of the Innocence, the story of the 1964-65 New York World's Fair. This book is a lot of fun, I think especially if you have New York connections or memories of the fair, but in any case for its account of the fair's weirdly warped take on progress and tolerance at a time of great social upheaval.

The narration is good, but not great. The book's tone tends toward archness and the narrator overemphasizes this, IMO, with a consciously droll voice. I'd prefer it if he let the humor speak for itself.

CRussel · 01-13-2015, 06:06 PM

I've been listening to Wen Spencer's Elfhome series that just became available on Audible. The first book in the series is Tinker, Narrated by Tanya Eby. When I first started listening to the books, I was a bit unsure about Ms. Eby's narration, but I've decided I like it.

These are fun books with a character (Alexander Graham Bell, aka "Tinker") who is a young scrap yard owner in a Pittsburgh that has been transported to Elfhome. But once a month, Pittsburgh experiences a "shutdown" and translates back to earth. OK, a somewhat different premise, I admit. But Tinker is such a great character, and the writing is excellent, and somehow it all just works. I'm quite glad that these books are now available on Audible, and it's a delight to listen to them.

Currently reading #3, Elfhome, with one more on the horizon.

pwalker8 · 01-13-2015, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRussel

I've been listening to Wen Spencer's Elfhome series that just became available on Audible. The first book in the series is Tinker, Narrated by Tanya Eby. When I first started listening to the books, I was a bit unsure about Ms. Eby's narration, but I've decided I like it.

These are fun books with a character (Alexander Graham Bell, aka "Tinker") who is a young scrap yard owner in a Pittsburgh that has been transported to Elfhome. But once a month, Pittsburgh experiences a "shutdown" and translates back to earth. OK, a somewhat different premise, I admit. But Tinker is such a great character, and the writing is excellent, and somehow it all just works. I'm quite glad that these books are now available on Audible, and it's a delight to listen to them.

Currently reading #3, Elfhome, with one more on the horizon.

Thanks for the review. I noticed those were on audible. Read the first way back when, liked it and for some reason, didn't read the rest. I have 5 of her books in ebook format, so I guess I need to move them to the to be read stack.

melmac · 01-13-2015, 09:36 PM

Recently finished Stormfront by John Sandford which is 7th in the Virgil Flowers series it was enjoyable as usual but I feel it wasn't quite as strong as other books in the series. I was going to move straight onto Deadline but instead have opted to begin Midnight Riot by Ben Aaronovitch. It took me a moment to get used to the narrator but it's off to a great start and I think I'm going to really like it.

CRussel · 01-13-2015, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melmac

Recently finished Stormfront by John Sandford which is 7th in the Virgil Flowers series it was enjoyable as usual but I feel it wasn't quite as strong as other books in the series. I was going to move straight onto Deadline but instead have opted to begin Midnight Riot by Ben Aaronovitch. It took me a moment to get used to the narrator but it's off to a great start and I think I'm going to really like it.

Oh, you're in for a treat. And while the narrator isn't a familiar voice, I think he's absolutely perfect for these books.

taosaur · 01-13-2015, 11:43 PM

I picked up The Life of Pi on sale at some point and am giving it a go now, but so far it seems like empty pretense. The prose is overwrought and the 'character' reads very much like a white guy borrowing other people's cultures for novelty. It probably doesn't help that the narrator is a white guy doing (for the majority of the novel) an Indian accent. It has been fairly effective as a sleep aid, though.

issybird · 01-14-2015, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taosaur

It probably doesn't help that the narrator is a white guy doing (for the majority of the novel) an Indian accent.

I'm snickering at this. The narrator of my current listen about the New York World's Fair chose to do imitations of JFK and LBJ when the book quoted them, a very poor choice IMO. I cringed. A neutral voice would have been better.

Catlady · 01-19-2015, 11:03 AM

I really enjoyed Paula Hawkins's The Girl on the Train; it pretty much lives up to the hype it's been getting--it is a Hitchcockian thriller reminiscent of Rear Window. Three unreliable narrators tell the story, and the audiobook employs three different voice actors, who were distinctive enough that I didn't get confused.

Now I'm listening to The Good Girl, by Mary Kubica, which has been on my radar for a long time. This is another one with three narrators, three voices. I'm not far enough along to know where it's going, but it's certainly holding my interest.

CRussel · 01-19-2015, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRussel

I've been listening to Wen Spencer's Elfhome series that just became available on Audible. The first book in the series is Tinker, Narrated by Tanya Eby. When I first started listening to the books, I was a bit unsure about Ms. Eby's narration, but I've decided I like it.

These are fun books with a character (Alexander Graham Bell, aka "Tinker") who is a young scrap yard owner in a Pittsburgh that has been transported to Elfhome. But once a month, Pittsburgh experiences a "shutdown" and translates back to earth. OK, a somewhat different premise, I admit. But Tinker is such a great character, and the writing is excellent, and somehow it all just works. I'm quite glad that these books are now available on Audible, and it's a delight to listen to them.

Currently reading #3, Elfhome, with one more on the horizon.

Finished Elfhome, moving on to Wood Sprites, the fourth in the series. I'm really enjoying the narration, now that I've been listening to it for a while.

Lin2412 · 01-21-2015, 04:40 AM

Hello, I'm usually not the usual audiobook lover (that would mostly be my sister) but I read a while back that there was an autobiography recommendation that's best for audiobooks, because it's being read by the author himself. I've forgotten the title though.....

Anyway, the last one I listened to was Bear, Otter, and the Kid by TJ Klune because of my sister's persuasion. I did like it, but I wanted to hear autobiographies. Hahaha.

WT Sharpe · 01-21-2015, 01:17 PM

As Norton was taking me for a walk around the neighborhood this morning, I finished Humorous Ghost Stories selected by Dorothy Scarborough (read by LibriVox Volunteers) and started Confessions of an English Opium-Eater by Thomas De Quincey (a LibriVox audiobook read by Martin Geeson).

For the most part, the Ghost Stories were only so-so, and only mildly Humorous, but I did enjoy "A Shady Plot" by Elsie Brown. Perhaps this reveals in me more of a preference for contemporary authors than I was knew I had, for this was the only author in the book who wasn't selected by Dorothy Scarborough (1878–1935), but was instead a student of the reader of that selection (Mike Pelton), and was used with the author's permission.

Tarana · 01-21-2015, 06:52 PM

I'm currently alternating between audios for Starship Grifters by Robert Kroese and Reaper Man (Diskworld 11)by Terry Pratchett. Both are great books, but Diskworld books always require more attention because so much happens in such short time periods. Starship Grifters is humorous science fiction. I thought it was pretty funny and you can certainly see the Star Wars references. There are probably other references I didn't catch, but it's ok.. worthy of the fast read that it was.

badgoodDeb · 01-21-2015, 07:20 PM

Isn't Diskworld humor frequently visual, requiring reading of the words? I've never listened to any of his stuff read aloud. I gather you still find it worthwhile?

Lin2412 · 01-22-2015, 04:12 AM

I started listening to TJ Klune's Tell Me It's Real (it's been a long time coming, but I've finally embraced the glory of audio-loving), it's hilarious! The main character is like the best friend you wish you had, he describes things with a blatantly foul mouth, but at the same he's so endearing (as with the other characters). So far, so great.

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01-11-2015, 07:57 AM	#1081
pwalker8 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,196 Karma: 70314280 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Device: iPad Pro, iPad mini, Kobo Aura, Amazon paperwhite, Sony PRS-T2	I get the weekly emails for changes to threads that I've posted on. It just seemed more logical to me to have it with the what are you reading thread rather than put it in it's own forum.

01-11-2015, 09:21 AM	#1082
issybird o saeclum infacetum Posts: 21,336 Karma: 234636059 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New England Device: Mini, H2O, Glo HD, Aura One, PW4, PW5	I'm listening to The End of the Innocence, the story of the 1964-65 New York World's Fair. This book is a lot of fun, I think especially if you have New York connections or memories of the fair, but in any case for its account of the fair's weirdly warped take on progress and tolerance at a time of great social upheaval. The narration is good, but not great. The book's tone tends toward archness and the narrator overemphasizes this, IMO, with a consciously droll voice. I'd prefer it if he let the humor speak for itself.

01-13-2015, 06:06 PM	#1083
CRussel (he/him/his) Posts: 12,296 Karma: 80074820 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sunshine Coast, BC Device: Oasis (Gen3),Paperwhite (Gen10), Voyage, Paperwhite(orig), iPad Air M3	I've been listening to Wen Spencer's Elfhome series that just became available on Audible. The first book in the series is *Tinker, Narrated by Tanya Eby. When I first started listening to the books, I was a bit unsure about Ms. Eby's narration, but I've decided I like it. These are fun books with a character (Alexander Graham Bell, aka "Tinker") who is a young scrap yard owner in a Pittsburgh that has been transported to Elfhome. But once a month, Pittsburgh experiences a "shutdown" and translates back to earth. OK, a somewhat different premise, I admit. But Tinker is such a great character, and the writing is excellent, and somehow it all just works. I'm quite glad that these books are now available on Audible, and it's a delight to listen to them. Currently reading #3, Elfhome*, with one more on the horizon.

01-13-2015, 09:36 PM	#1085
melmac Wizard Posts: 1,399 Karma: 5573651 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Perth AU Device: Sony PRS650, Sony T3, Kobo Forma	Recently finished Stormfront by John Sandford which is 7th in the Virgil Flowers series it was enjoyable as usual but I feel it wasn't quite as strong as other books in the series. I was going to move straight onto Deadline but instead have opted to begin Midnight Riot by Ben Aaronovitch. It took me a moment to get used to the narrator but it's off to a great start and I think I'm going to really like it.

01-13-2015, 11:43 PM	#1087
taosaur intelligent posterior Posts: 1,562 Karma: 21295618 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ohiopolis Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2, Samsung S8, Lenovo Tab 3 Pro	I picked up The Life of Pi on sale at some point and am giving it a go now, but so far it seems like empty pretense. The prose is overwrought and the 'character' reads very much like a white guy borrowing other people's cultures for novelty. It probably doesn't help that the narrator is a white guy doing (for the majority of the novel) an Indian accent. It has been fairly effective as a sleep aid, though.

01-19-2015, 11:03 AM	#1089
Catlady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,419 Karma: 52613881 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, AGPTek Bluetooth Clip	I really enjoyed Paula Hawkins's The Girl on the Train; it pretty much lives up to the hype it's been getting--it is a Hitchcockian thriller reminiscent of Rear Window. Three unreliable narrators tell the story, and the audiobook employs three different voice actors, who were distinctive enough that I didn't get confused. Now I'm listening to The Good Girl, by Mary Kubica, which has been on my radar for a long time. This is another one with three narrators, three voices. I'm not far enough along to know where it's going, but it's certainly holding my interest.

01-21-2015, 04:40 AM	#1091
Lin2412 Grand Sorceress Posts: 456 Karma: 12931465 Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Florida Device: Kindle	Hello, I'm usually not the usual audiobook lover (that would mostly be my sister) but I read a while back that there was an autobiography recommendation that's best for audiobooks, because it's being read by the author himself. I've forgotten the title though..... Anyway, the last one I listened to was Bear, Otter, and the Kid by TJ Klune because of my sister's persuasion. I did like it, but I wanted to hear autobiographies. Hahaha.

01-21-2015, 01:17 PM	#1092
WT Sharpe Bah, humbug! Posts: 39,072 Karma: 157049943 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Chesapeake, VA, USA Device: Kindle Oasis, iPad Pro, & a Samsung Galaxy S9.	As Norton was taking me for a walk around the neighborhood this morning, I finished Humorous Ghost Stories selected by Dorothy Scarborough (read by LibriVox Volunteers) and started Confessions of an English Opium-Eater by Thomas De Quincey (a LibriVox audiobook read by Martin Geeson). For the most part, the Ghost Stories were only so-so, and only mildly Humorous, but I did enjoy "A Shady Plot" by Elsie Brown. Perhaps this reveals in me more of a preference for contemporary authors than I was knew I had, for this was the only author in the book who wasn't selected by Dorothy Scarborough (1878–1935), but was instead a student of the reader of that selection (Mike Pelton), and was used with the author's permission.

01-21-2015, 06:52 PM	#1093
Tarana Wizard Posts: 4,040 Karma: 38840460 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Minneapolis Device: PWSE, Voyage, K3, HDX, KBasic 7 & 8, Nook Glo3, Echos, Nanos	I'm currently alternating between audios for Starship Grifters by Robert Kroese and Reaper Man (Diskworld 11)by Terry Pratchett. Both are great books, but Diskworld books always require more attention because so much happens in such short time periods. Starship Grifters is humorous science fiction. I thought it was pretty funny and you can certainly see the Star Wars references. There are probably other references I didn't catch, but it's ok.. worthy of the fast read that it was.

01-21-2015, 07:20 PM	#1094
badgoodDeb Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,553 Karma: 64462893 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Harrisburg outskirts Device: Palms, K1-4s, iPads, iPhones, KV, KO1	Isn't Diskworld humor frequently visual, requiring reading of the words? I've never listened to any of his stuff read aloud. I gather you still find it worthwhile?

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01-22-2015, 04:12 AM	#1095
Lin2412 Grand Sorceress Posts: 456 Karma: 12931465 Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Florida Device: Kindle	I started listening to TJ Klune's Tell Me It's Real (it's been a long time coming, but I've finally embraced the glory of audio-loving), it's hilarious! The main character is like the best friend you wish you had, he describes things with a blatantly foul mouth, but at the same he's so endearing (as with the other characters). So far, so great.