What are we listening to? (audiobooks) - Page 208

ApK · Yesterday, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paperbackstash

I am re-reading Jaws in audio but I have to say it's rather boring in this format. I preferred it reading. Of course it's a time when the movie is far superior for most people

I had the same issue with Jurassic Park - loved the book, but the audio wasn't the same

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catlady

Interesting. When I reread Jaws as an audiobook a couple of years ago, I thought it was much better than I'd remembered. Not in the same league as the movie, but pretty good.

I don't think I ever eye-read Jurassic Park, but I thought the unabridged* audiobook was excellent. I found it almost as different from the movie as the book "Wicked" was different from the Broadway musical**, but excellent.

ApK

* I mention the unabridged version, because I accidently got, and listened to, the abridged version once, and it was awful.
** I loved the musical "Wicked." I found the book depressing, and a bit of a slog at times. It was thought provoking, but I was glad at how they changed it for Broadway!

CRussel · Yesterday, 07:13 PM

IME, if a particular book is less successful as an audio book than as a regular book, the most likely culprit is the narrator. Not all narrators are created equal (!), but even the very best narrators sometimes have duds, or books that they just aren't a good fit for. Saying you found a book less successful as an audio book should, therefore, include the name of the narrator(s). And I'd say it should include whether the book was abridged or unabridged but I rather doubt any of us here opt for unabridged by choice.

SeaBookGuy · Yesterday, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ApK

I don't think I ever eye-read Jurassic Park, but I thought the unabridged* audiobook was excellent. I found it almost as different from the movie as the book "Wicked" was different from the Broadway musical**, but excellent.

ApK

* I mention the unabridged version, because I accidently got, and listened to, the abridged version once, and it was awful.
** I loved the musical "Wicked." I found the book depressing, and a bit of a slog at times. It was thought provoking, but I was glad at how they changed it for Broadway!

I have not seen a production of Wicked, but after the incredibly grim (audio)book I'm not inclined to seek one out!

taosaur · Yesterday, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ApK

I started, then soon abandoned, "Consider Phlebas," the first of the Culture novels by Iain M. Banks.

I've read the first three Culture books all out of order: Use of Weapons first, which was very dark but fascinating, not least of all for the world building; then Consider Phlebas, which is kind of jarringly episodic, and I actually put down for a while; then The Player of Games, which had me hooked from beginning to end; then I finished Consider Phlebas, which ended up also being very satisfying, if more uneven throughout than the later books. The rest are definitely on my TBR list, but I can see how a lot of people would bounce off hard.

I'm still blazing through Stirling's Emberverse/Change series.

ApK · Today, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

I have not seen a production of Wicked, but after the incredibly grim (audio)book I'm not inclined to seek one out!

The musical is re-written as a family-friendly musical (with some really good music and

Spoiler:

If you liked the general idea of Elphaba's story in the book, and like Broadway musicals, I highly recommend the play.

ApK

pwalker8 · Today, 01:32 PM

Finished up the White Wolf. Another very solid offering. Just the Swords of Night and Day to go in the series.

Started The Oblique Approach by David Drake and Eric Flint. I loved the paper/ebook, but so far I'm not loving the audiobook. The narrator has a Rod Stirling/Charlton Heston style voice, but IMPO, the book ( it's the first in a series) requires someone who is more of a voice actor, with a wide range of voices and most important, more of an over the top performance.

Yesterday, 07:13 PM	#3107
CRussel (he/him/his) Posts: 11,218 Karma: 69770676 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sunshine Coast, BC Device: Oasis (Gen3),Paperwhite (Gen10), Voyage, Paperwhite(orig), Fire HD 8	IME, if a particular book is less successful as an audio book than as a regular book, the most likely culprit is the narrator. Not all narrators are created equal (!), but even the very best narrators sometimes have duds, or books that they just aren't a good fit for. Saying you found a book less successful as an audio book should, therefore, include the name of the narrator(s). And I'd say it should include whether the book was abridged or unabridged but I rather doubt any of us here opt for unabridged by choice. Last edited by CRussel; Yesterday at 07:15 PM.

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Today, 01:32 PM	#3111
pwalker8 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,059 Karma: 68178314 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Device: iPad Pro, iPad mini, Kobo Aura, Amazon paperwhite, Sony PRS-T2	Finished up the White Wolf. Another very solid offering. Just the Swords of Night and Day to go in the series. Started The Oblique Approach by David Drake and Eric Flint. I loved the paper/ebook, but so far I'm not loving the audiobook. The narrator has a Rod Stirling/Charlton Heston style voice, but IMPO, the book ( it's the first in a series) requires someone who is more of a voice actor, with a wide range of voices and most important, more of an over the top performance.