Audible Book Recommendations - Post yours here

Parannoya--I also love Bill Bryson's Walk in the Woods!!

I still haven't read the Hitchhiker's Guide, but it is definitely on my to do list!!

Some other audible books that I can throroughly recommend:

Memiors of a Geisha (unabridged)--by Arthur Golden
Lion's Game (unabridged)-by Nelson Demille
The Secret Life of Bees (unabridged)-by Sue Monk Kidd
Catch Me if You Can (unabridged)-by Frank W. Abagnale

Another audio book at the top of my list is The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. Unfortunately this title isn't available from Audible (at least it wasn't last time I checked).

dordale :)

Dordale,

Did you listen to Bryson's "In a Sunburned Country?" The description of cricket on the radio is priceless.

Catch Me If You Can- yeah that was a really good one too.

Parannoya--

I did listen to In a Sunburned Country--and I agree with you about his description of listening to cricket on the radio.

Bill Bryson is one of those very rare authors that can make me laugh outloud with frequency while reading or listening to his books!

dordale :)

Snow Crash and The Diamond Age by Stephenson are both excellent and very well narrated. But Cryptonomicon tends heavily toward the pedantic, even the sophomoric, when it strays (all too often) from narrative into critique.
Dreamcatcher is wonderful and excellent narration.
Seabiscuit is exciting.
PD James' stuff is great but very British (with a new one posted just now)
Oryx and Crake--well worth persevering through the dystopia
Life of Pi--incredible
Walter Mosely's stuff is all wonderful.
Alanna by Tamora Pierce is nice, and well done, though it is teen fantasy
A Day No Pigs Would Die is also wonderfully done

Having maxed out on length allowed for post, this post now contains only a sample of what you will find in Robert's Complete Audio Book Recommendation List (click here) (http://audiobookrecommendations.blogspot.com/) or on link 7 in signature below). The titles are sort of literary or non fiction -- few mysteries, fantasies, or page-turners. One sci-fi.

Partial List of Really Liked Audio Books (4-5 stars):

5+*Reading Lolita in Tehran UA Azar Nafisi
Click here Interview with author (http://www.identitytheory.com/interviews/birnbaum139.php) A true account of seven young women gathering in authors home once a week as their lives intertwine with discussion of literary characters of forbidden Western literature.

5+*Washingtons Crossing UA David Hackett Fischer. National Book Award nominee. Non-fiction reads like excellent novel. Follows Washington & the Continental Armys increasing competence & effectiveness in the first crucial year of Revolutionary War. Newly discovered material brings understanding to many of institutions & practices developed then & now taken for granted.

5+*The Kite Runner UA Khaled Hosseini. Novel about friendship & betrayal, redemption, the price of loyalty, & the bonds between fathers & sons. Set in recent Afghanistan.

5+*Balzac & the Little Chinese Seamstress UA Dai Sijie. During Cultural Revolution, narrator & best friend exiled to the countryside for "re-education," find their meager distractions are a violin, the daughter of local tailor, & forbidden stash of classic literature. Surprise ending elevates the seamstress importance.

5+* Life of Pi UA Yann Martel A realistic, rousing adventure & a classic meta-tale of survival. Winner of 2002 Booker Prize. Best book I read in 2003.

5+*The Otori Trilogy UA Lian Hearn, Books 1-3,:
Across the Nightingale Floor, Bk 1 New York Times Notable Book of the Year, one of Book magazine?s best novels of the year, & one of School Library Journal?s Best Adult Books for High School Readers. Medieval Japan with magic thrown in. Brilliant! Finely developed characters & plot! The three books flow seamless from one to other, must begin with book one. Medieval Japan warlords fight & intrigue with a young contender. Modicum of magic & fantasy thrown in.
Grass for His Pillow, Bk2
Brilliance of the Moon: Tales of the Otori, Bk3 Book Browse Link to author Lian Hearn (http://www.bookbrowse.com/index.cfm?page=search) pseudonym of noted female Aussie playwright&author of children's books. Click here for a (Fascinating) Conversation With Lian Hearn (http://www.sfsite.com/07b/lh180.htm)

5-*Cloud of Sparrows UA Takashi Matsuoka. Much like the Otori Trilogy w supernatural powers limited to visions of future.

5+*No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency UA Alexander McCall Smith. Enigmatic Botswana lady detective. Warm, clever, and fun.

5*Bel Canto UA Ann Patchett Opera's most revered soprano mesmerizes the guests with her singing at a party for a visiting Japanese dignitary. Perfect until terrorists take party. Love, great singing (Bel Canto), endurance, and surprise ending.

5*The Heart is a Lonely Hunter UA Carson McCullers
This novel written in and of the 1930's is as fresh as it was when the author wrote it in 1940 at age 23. Wonderfully real characters, including the main 4, placed artfully in depression era GA mill town. Not a page turner or all happiness.

5*The Cider House Rules UA by John Irving "Gardner serves up the beautiful prose and fascinating characters with considerable aplomb." (AudioFile)

5*The Known World UA Edward P. Jones, African American, first novel. 2004 Pulitzer Prize Fiction Winner. More than blacks owning blacks -- complex story of American slavery that involves good people, bad people, & wonderful & terrible things happen. "Property" are slaves. Well-developed, easy to identify with characters. Story line woven in elaborate time warps & beautiful language.

5* Pompeii UA, Robert Harris. Historic Fiction about the eruption from viewpoint of the engineer of the aqueduct.

5*The 9-11 Commission Report - National Commission Final Report. "We Have Some Planes" Chapter accounts for every step of the four hijacked planes -- gripping &, in & of itself, worth the price. Goes on to describe the organization of the plot. Non-fiction surpassing most suspense writing. Well-written & narrated. Fitting & permanent reminder of those who were lost. free m4b file at http://www.freeclassicaudiobooks.com/ & in pdf at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/911/ -- includes maps & end notes.

5*The Piano Tuner A Daniel Mason. 18th century adventure of piano tuner going to Burma to tune a grand for an eccentric British Officer. I wish I had gotten UA.

5*Angelas Ashes UA, - Frank McCourt. Pulitzer Prize-winning story of how Frank endured. Irish immigrant parents in US, later raised in the slums of Limerick, Ireland. Well read by author

5*Heart of Darkness UA dark Joseph Conrad classic.

5*The Bonesetters Daughter UA - Amy Tan. Mother & daughter discover themselves backward from modern San Francisco to mother?s tumultuous times in a village in china.

5*Dont Lets Go to the Dogs Tonight UA Alexandra Fullers poignant and delightful autobiographical remembrance of her white-African childhood. Beautifully narrated & told with sharp insight into herself, family, Africa & the people who inhabit it, & dramatic changes occurring during transition from colonial to native rule.

5*John Adams UA David McCullough

5*The Namesake UA Jhumpa Lahiri enriches the themes that made her Pulitzer Prize-winning Interpreter of The Maladies an international bestseller: the immigrant experience, the clash of cultures, the conflicts of assimilation, &, poignantly, the tangled ties between generations...--BookBrowse.com

4++*The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time UA Mark Haddon Endearing & poignant glimpse, with heart-stirring grit of daily life, into the life of a 15 year old boy afflicted with an autism-like condition. Written from the boys viewpoint. Well narrated (same as Life of Pi). Pathos, humor, reality, & insight.

4++*Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell UA Susanna Clarke
"Harry Potter" for adults is more Austen than Rowling, a witty social commentary and fantasy tale of good vs. evil. Clever, endlessly intriguing, rich, luxurious epic story of two unusual magicians with faux history of magic woven into 19th century England history has feel of being written (and narrated) 200 years ago. Large supporting cast of beguiling D_ickens and Austen character types. -- Adapted from a review by Greg Changnon The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 12/26/04

An engaging must-read, do not let its languorous beginning pace or 32 hour length discourage you -- it eventually unfolds briskly.

4++*Alexander Hamilton UA Ron Chernow provides thorough insight into the life and times of Hamilton. Hamiltons difficult childhood, his prodigious intellectual writings and incredible accomplishments, and all his many shortcomings are fluidly described in 35 hours of captivating audio.

4++*Follow Your Heart A Susanna Tamaro. Not audible. Death encroaching, Italian grandmother write letters of love, confession and advice to estranged granddaughter living in US. Relives past and reveals secrets.

Complete list of Robert's Audio Book Recommendations (click here) (http://audiobookrecommendations.blogspot.com/)

I would like to share and receive advice on how to find good books at Audible.com. It seems that I spend an inordinate amount of time looking for good books. Ultimately there is an ample supply at Audible, but distinguishing between the good and bad is not easy. The publisher's write up is a beginning, but obviously slanted to make you choose that book.
I would agree with earlier posters -- if you think you would like a book, buy the unabridged edition. Almost every time I have selected an abridged version, I feel shortchanged. There are exceptions for very wordy authors, long works which you read long ago and may just want a refresher on, but for the most part if a book is worth reading, it is worth reading in its entirety.

One place to begin is prize winning books. Audible does a very poor job of telling you which books are prize winners, but you can go to "Award Winners" link on the left side of an audible page and get (only books available from Audible):

Awards Categories:
Audie Awards | Booker Prize | Edgar Awards | Grammy Awards |
National Book Awards | National Book Critics Circle Awards | PEN/Faulkner Awards |
Pulitzer Prize | Tony Awards

Also this link to American Book Prizes:

http://www.birdingonthe.net/litlists/amfict2.html

Link to all Award Winning Books:Alphabetical listing of award winning books. When click on link to book it gives the award in SOME descriptions, but at least a comprehensive list of award winning books.

http://www.readinggroupguides.com/f...ard_winners.asp

Book Awards: Links to book awards by Award and Year. Unfortunately, have to go to link to get each year?s winners:

http://www.bookreporter.com/features/awards.asp

An award Winning book is not guaranteed to be good or that you will like it. I personally disliked American Pastoral, which is the 1998 Pulitzer winner, so much that I could not finish it. I passed it over several times, but let the prize sway me. Likewise, Young Man From Atlanta was a drama Pulitzer winner in 1995, but just average in my mind (it is, after all, very much a matter of personal taste). On the other hand Killer Angels and John Adams are two of my favorites.

The Book Report Network recommendations:

http://www.readinggroupguides.com/f...ide/best_of.asp

So, caveats:
1. Read several reviews from several places, including reader/listener reaction to the book. You may learn that the narrator is poor or that the book has too much detail on unrelated matters, etc.
2. Click on Hear Sample link directly under the Audible Jacket cover to learn if the narrator is good and get to a flavor of the prose.
3. Create a wish list of books you think you want to buy in the future. I paste and click reviews and story descriptions into an email to myself and file them in a folder called "Wish List" so that I can easily refresh myself on the book. Make some notes in the email so that you will remind yourself what attracted you.
4. Make a list of your wish list in priority order.
5. Download enough books on your iPod to have other books that you wish to read available in the event that you make a selection that you don't like.
6. Discuss your reading with friends and acquaintances and write down what they like if they also mention books that you have read and like.
7. Visit book stores and browse the best-seller racks. Being a best seller is no guarantee, especially those paperbacks marked MM (mass market) on the price tag and which are selling for under $10.
8. While you are at the book store, look at their audio selection. Some logic to that book store audios will at least be popular. (Added 12-26-03)

Go to the following links to get reviews -- professional and amateurs alike -- at these sites (anyone know other sites?)

1. Audible for its description of books and reader reviews and length of book, and if abridged or unabridged.

2. Bookbrowse at http://www.bookbrowse.com/index.cfm
look at media reviews and reader evaluations, and perhaps there will be an excerpt. You will likely find the author's bio (insight) and sometimes an interview with the author (more insight). Don't read the reader's guide reading until after you have read the book so that you don't spoil the ending for yourself. You may want to subscribe to the Bookbrowse weekly email that informs you of current reviews. look for reviews,recommended reading lists, and suggestions.

3. Booksense (the independent booksellers' site) http://www.booksense.com/ look for reviews,recommended reading lists, and suggestions.
2004 Booksense.com Book of the Year award winnersand finalists at:

http://www.booksense.com/bsby/2004/index.jsp#tradefic

Most of the winners and finalists are available at audible and the ones I have listened to are excellent!

and Reading Group List from book sense, another list of extraordinarily good books:

http://www.booksense.com/bs76/readinggroup/index.jsp

also contains a large number available at audible.com

4. Amazon.com. Look for reader reviews and average ranking, Amazon's description, the Amazon sales ranking of the book. Also Amazon has a page that lists its top reviewers, as voted by site visitors ranking of their book reviews at this page of their site: Amazon Top Reviews (click here) (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/cm/top-reviewers-list/-/1/A1NPNGWBVD9AK3/ref=cm_cr_top_dp/102-2433503-5470531#A1NPNGWBVD9AK3) The top 50 reviewers are listed on the opening page and you can go deeper into the list if you click a link. Look at the reviewer lists and the books and and reviews they have done and pick those who have similar tastes to yours (bookmarking them) and use this as lists for researching audible books. The problem is that many of the books reviewed will not be available on Audible.

5. Barnes and Noble

6. Time Warner Books: http://www.twbookmark.com/index.html You will find reading guides and excerpts there. New to me, so just exploring this one.

7. Reading guides:
for guides, recommendations, and more.
The Book Report Network
www.Bookreporter.com
www.AuthorsOnTheWeb.com
www.ReadingGroupGuides.com
www.Teenreads.com
www.Kidsreads.com
www.authoryellowpages.com/

8. New York Times Book Reviews (click here) (http://www.nytimes.com/pages/books/index.html) I downloaded Pompeii immediately when Audible announced it was available because I knew about it ahead of time. You can subscribe to NYT Book email Subscribe to New York Times Newsletters (click here) (http://www.nytimes.com/email.) . Free, but requires registration. You can also read sunday book review free, but requires registration, on line. Look for NYT notable books in book section (not infallible) and research them.

9. ReadingGroupGuides.com (http://www.readinggroupguides.com/index.asp) For more guides

Copy and paste the Audible description page into an email and copy and paste all the pertinent information that you find useful or interesting from the other sites into the same email. Perhaps highlight key information like "narrator mumbles or has difficult accent, or boring, or whatever. Perhaps add your own notes about what appeals to you and what turns you off about the book. E-mail it to yourself and move it into a single folder for follow up. I am also keeping a 'rejected book' folder for those books/audios that I don't like after checking them out. There are so many books that I get them confused and like having a central repository that I can look to about what I liked and didn't like.

Subscribe to Audible Ultimate Listener Plan (click here for Thread) (http://www.ipodlounge.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=13888) (unless you are grandfathered in at a lower price) and pay $120 up front for 12 books which you can buy over a one year period. (If you read your 12 before the year is up, you just buy another 12 when that happens. That way you can go thru the evaluation process less often and fill your ipod less frequently and have fresh audios at hand for any need to fill your time. They will tell you about this plan and put you on it if you email customer service. BTW, I have had very good response from Audible customer service. I use the live chat mostly, but also email them.

Would love to hear how others select books and to see your lists.

Keep some short selections (3-4 hours or short stories) on hand for short trips and listening with someone else. Also, it is not against the rules to continue to listen to a book after you exercise, drive, wait in the doctors office, etc.

A couple may want to have a total of three books going at one time -- one for each to listen to alone, and one together.

Download quality children's books for children or grandchildren for trips or bed time. Better to read aloud to them if you can, though.

Happy reading/listening. Hope you found this helpful

Ooh! Fun thread and I'm getting good ideas. Do you find that about a week before your new subscription comes due you're perusing the sight trying to decide what book to get? It's like a present every month!

Books I loved:
Life of Pi
The Drawing of the Three (listening to it right now, excellent)
Me Talk Pretty One Day
The Devil Wears Prada
The Green Mile
The Secret Life of Bees
My Losing Season (outstanding)
Catch Me If You Can
21 Dog Years (absolutely hilarious, even went and saw the play)
Timeline (forget the movie, read or listen to the book)
The Red Tent
Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot
Skipping Christmas
The Fourth Hand
A Painted House
White Oleander
Drowning Ruth
'Tis
Angela's Ashes
Educating Esme
I Rant, Therefore I am
The Hobbit
Hearts in Atlantis
The Pleasure of Finding Things Out
Beach Music
The Shipping News
Open House
On Writing
Blessings
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (all I can say is, 42)

Didn't Finish:
Dirty Girls Social Club
A Wrinkle In Time (I will finish it as I love the book, but some authors just should not read their own books...I find her voice SO irritating)
The Measure of a Man (self serving, boring)
Logan's Run (not nearly as good as I remember it when I was a kid)
Mr. and Mrs. Bridge (I'm sure it's good, but it didn't keep my interest and it wasn't loud enough)
The Salmon of Doubt (while I love the Hitchhiker books, not all of the essays in this collection should have been published...many were boring, some were offensive <to me, at least> and I don't think Adams would have been happy to have had them published without polishing)
Lucky; a Memoir (didn't finish her book "The Lovely Bones" either)
Don't Know Much About History

Looking forward to listening to:
Eragon
The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
The Buffalo Soldier

Looking forward to getting back to:
A Beautiful Mind (fascinating)
Fierce Invalids from Warm Climates
The Star Trek ones (the sound is amazing, like a TV show just about...why I haven't finished them is beyond me)
Lord of the Rings The Fellowship of the Ring (which is no longer available)

Im getting great ideas here!
I loved The Night Listener! by Armistead Maupin. It was one of the best books I've heard so far.
Besides that I also loved Middlesex, and The Bonesetters Daughter by Amy Tan.

I will be checking out your suggestions too.
thanks
Elaine

Should we voluntarily limit posts to this thread to lists?

I humbly suggest that we limit posts to this thread to how to find good books, lists of books we like and dislike, and observe a tight limit to review or commentary. It seems reduntant to other sites to have detailed review material here.

Each of us can investigate recommended books based on our reading of the recommenders' apparent tastes, check sites reviews, read or listen to excerpts, and make our decision according to our own tastes.

Liking a book is very much an individual thing. A coincidence of mutual likes and dislikes suggests that one can check out the books on that person's list and have a high yield rate.

Robert.

While I did enjoy reading this book, I have to agree with your criticisms. The plot is very contrived and one must remember that this is, after all, fiction. The book reviewers, in my opinion, were overly enthusiastic about this novel as it has weak points as you have mentioned.

This looks like fun. :D

Books I loved, loved, LOVED :D

Blackbird by Jennifer Lauck
The Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd (just finished this one)
Ellen Foster, by Kaye Gibbons
Memoirs of a Geisha, by Arthur Golden
Holes, by Loius Sachar
Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt (dumb me purchased the abridged version, listened to it, got sucked right in and HAD to hear the unabridged version)

Books I liked a lot

Alias Grace, by by Margaret Atwood
'Tis, by Frank McCourt
Into the Forest, by Jean Hegland
Girl with a Pearl Earring, by Tracy Chevalier
Drowning Ruth, by Christina Schwarz
Gap Creek, by Robert Morgan
White Oleander, by Janet Fitch

Books I liked

My Brother Sam Is Dead, by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
Tuck Everlasting, by Natalie Babbitt
Star Girl, by Jerry Spinelli
The Little Friend, by Donna Tartt
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, by Ann Brashares
Icy Sparks, by Gwyn Hyman Rubio

Books that were "meh" :rolleyes:

A Virtuous Woman, by Kaye Gibbons
Bridget Jones's Diary, by Helen Fielding
Skipping Christmas, by John Grisham
Trans-Sister Radio, by Chris Bohjalian
Williwaw!, by Tom Bodett
Wish You Well, by David Baldacci
Into Thin Air, by Jon Krakauer

Books that were a waste of credit, time, and hard drive space :mad:

Are You Somebody?, by Nuala O' Faolain
Gal: A True Life by, Ruthie Bolton
Lost!, by Donn Fendler
Mandy, by Julie Andrews
Hooking Up, by Tom Wolfe

What I'm listening to right now

Oryx and Crake, by Margaret Atwood

Waiting to be listened to

Empress Orchid, by Anchee Min (just downloaded it. this is next on my list)
Child of My Heart, by Alice McDermott
Don't Know Much About History, Part 1 by Kenneth C. Davis
Don't Know Much About History, Part 2 by Kenneth C. Davis
Don't Know Much About History, Part 3 by Kenneth C. Davis (apparently I don't know much about history yet :D)
Falling Angels, by Tracy Chevalier
Standing in the Rainbow, by Fannie Flagg
The Nanny Diaries, by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus
Mother of Pearl, by Melinda Haynes

I've read a lot of positive comments on Terry Pratchett books. So I downloaded my first one yesterday and will check it out.

Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons by Dan Brown
Still Life with Crows Lincoln Childs
The Firm, Street Lawyer, Painted House all by Grisham
The Dark Tower series by the one & only Stephen King
Odd Thomas Dean Koontz
Hichiker's Guide, Restaurant At The Far End of the Universe by Adams

A mere starting point my friends. Many more to be had!

I Love My iPod!

Maria Puzo.

an absolute must!

Robert--I agree with you...it would be nice if audible provided feedback about it's reviewers...but I'm just glad that they've added reviews! It wasn't so long ago that audible didn't include any form of customer feedback at all!

I still find myself going to Amazon to get more reviews for books I might be interested in, but it is nice to see reviews on audible's site that I know refer to the audio book version!

dordale :)

not sure if they sell this, but listened to "Peter Kay - Top of the Tower" yesterday and found it very funny.
(Northern english comic/tv guy so not sure if all humour will transfer to US)

But good quote from the start of this topic..
[QUOTE]
I still haven't read the Hitchhiker's Guide, but it is definitely on my to do list!!
[Quote]

Made me laugh, was sure if he was meaning he was going to read it or listen to it.

My recommendation:

Salmon of Doubt: Hitchhiking the Galaxy One Last Time

If your a fan of Douglas Adams and the hitchhiking guide, you should definately read (or listen to) this book. It is a compilation of many of Adams short storys and radio transcripts that he had left on his Macintosh computer when he died. Also contained in this is the unfinished book Adams was in the process of writing when he passed: The Salmon of Doubt, which is awesome, and it's a shame it couldn't have been finished.

Originally posted by parannoya
I've read a lot of positive comments on Terry Pratchett books. So I downloaded my first one yesterday and will check it out.

parannoya, have you listened to it yet? Did you like it?

CR

Originally posted by parannoya
BTW, have you been listening to the FREE series of dispatches from the Everest Climbers? They are short but really interesting. Only a couple minutes so easier to just stream them.

No... I didn't know about them, so thanks for pointing them out. I'll check them out this weekend.

CR

OK, thanks. I 'll grab another one soon. I'll try one of those. I had heard similar comments about "Colour of Magic" but it seemed like a logical place to start. I like that one OK but just maybe not enough to justify all the hoopla.

I'm brand new to Audible, having subscribed to get the $100. off the mini. I've only been a member for one month but I am in the process of listening to Middlesex and it is very good. I also got Da Vinci Code, good, but compared to the narration for Middlesex, it doesn't compare. It's obviously very personal, as far as what books you like, but when you listen to 13 plus hours, the quality of the narrator plays an important part. Now if only I would finally get the mini Ipod so I don't have to burn all those CDs!

I have only been a member for a few months, but here is what I have gotten so far:

I really liked:
Lies and the Lying Liars who tell them - Al Franken. Hysterical look at the conservative media. Also great since it is read by Al Franken.

Eragon - Christopher Paolini. Lots of fun. I am really looking forward to more in this series. Great fun fantasy.

The DaVinci Code - Dan Brown. Very good historical fiction. And despite what other people have said, I really enjoyed listening to this narrator. Audible has really good samples of their stuff, so you can essentially try before you buy. Since it is such a personal thing if you will like the narrator out or not, try listening first.

Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card. One of my favorite books I have read, and now one of my favorite to listen to.

Snow Crash - Neal Stephenson. Another good sci fi book. At first I didn't care for this narrator, but then he grew on me. Great story.

I am listening to right now:
The Diamond Age - Neal Stephenson. I am only about an hour into this one, but so far I don't care for the narrator. It is making it hard for me to stick with it.

Originally posted by CarbonRods
Historical :confused:

I guess it depends on your definition of historical fiction. When I think of those words, I think of fiction (not true) set in historical settings or using historical figures. But it is fiction. Not non-fiction.

By the way, it isn't available on audible.com, but if you did enjoy The DaVinci Code, you might like The Eight by Katherine Neville. The Eight doesn't try to make a point about about anything like The DaVinci Code tries to make you think about what you thought was true, but it is another fiction book that uses many historical figures as figures in its story.

I cannot believe that no one has suggested "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them" - Al Frankin.

Either that, or my search feature is on the fritz.

EDIT: Well, my search feature was on the fritz, but it is a good book nonetheless.

bordeaj--

Cool--I purchased and downloaded Paranoia about a month ago--just haven't gotten around to listening to it yet...I'll bump it up to next in line on my listening list!

dordale :)

Loved:

Me Talk Pretty One Day - David Sedaris - Made me laugh out loud many times.
The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd
Can You Keep a Secret? - Sophie Kinsella LOVED it. Like Bridget Jones, but better.
The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold - This book had me in tears so many times.

Liked:

The DaVinci Code (unabridged) - Dan Brown - I found it predictable, or I should have went in the crytology field.. Fun listen though.
White Oleander - Janet Fitch - Oprah needs to narrate more books!
Hey Nostradamus - Douglas Coupland -

Wouldn't recommend:

The Funny Thing Is... Ellen Degeneres. - HBO special with the same material was more enjoyable. I felt like she was trying to fill time, example: the chapter where she gave a tour of her house. Waste of time.

Didn't finish:

A Short History of Nearly Everything (unabridged) - I like it, It's just too much to take in :)
David Sedaris Live at Carnegie Hall - Picked this right after I listened to Me Talk Pretty.. as much as I loved MTPOD, it was TOO much Sedaris to take in at once.

My current book is Sleeping Beauty by Phillip Margolin. It has my attention.. not really sure what I think of it yet though.

Originally posted by robert
I am about to listen to "Master and Commander: Aubrey/Maturin Series, Book 1' (Unabridged) by Patrick O'Brian.

If you saw the film you are in for a surprise because the film is not even remotely like the book, and don't expect to visit the Galapagos Islands! I love the books and have bought the first seven books in the series. The technical terminology is a bit daunting, but my enjoyment of the books is rarely diminished when I just ignore it.

You may find this URL (http://www.patrickobrian.com/) useful.

CR

My number one recommendation would have to be: Life of Pi.
It is one I could not put down. I've greatly enjoyed other books, but I've had to take breaks from the books and stop listening. With Pi, I listened as often as I could.

Originally posted by bigman606
The Company by Robert Littell - great story about the CIA spanning over 40 years. Highly recommended.

Just bought it. From an amazon review, it says Littell bashes CIA and praises KGB. Hmm, so much for unbiased novels about spys.

Originally posted by CarbonRods
If you saw the film you are in for a surprise because the film is not even remotely like the book, and don't expect to visit the Galapagos Islands! I love the books and have bought the first seven books in the series. The technical terminology is a bit daunting, but my enjoyment of the books is rarely diminished when I just ignore it.

You may find this URL (http://www.patrickobrian.com/) useful.

CR

Agreed. The movie tries to take elements from a number of novels in the series - mostly The Far Side of The World - and encompass them in a single film. A mistake IMHO, for a series with so very much character depth, but it's an entertaining film nonetheless.

In comparison, though, the Aubrey/Maturin books, as narrated by Patrick Tull, have been the singularly most entertaining novels I've ever read or listened to. Just since January, I've listened to all but the last two, which must be over 200 hours of audio books so far.

Unfortunately, Audible doesn't have every novel in the series as of right now (6/1/04), and I had to borrow a copy of "The Wine Dark Sea" from my library as read by Richard Brown. Well, I'll try not to overstate it, but in comparison to Patrick Tull, his reading was barely worth listening to. For a group of novels that includes many rough characters, Brown came across as far too "dainty" throughout the text. If this book ever becomes available as read by Tull, I will definitely listen to it again. His mastery of accents, inflections, subtlety, and giving each character a singular identity are unparralleled in my experience.

Going back to the movie, it was a grave disappointment for Stephen Maturin's character to not speak with an Irish accent, though visually, I believe Paul Bettany looked the part perfectly.

Anyone who will take the time to understand the technical terms from the Age of Sail, will enjoy the series immensely. O'Brian is Historical Fiction at it's finest.

Originally posted by AMRivlin
(My first Audible book, I heard a radio ad for Paranoia checked it out at BN then went home and ordered. I listened to the 12 hours in 3 days, oops) It was pretty good, slightly predictable and slightly not. I would compare it to a Crichton "Prey" or another recent thriller. Nothing deeper than what was written. (Spoken)

Regarding Scott Brick, some people hate the guy, I found him "audible" but I am sure there are better. He is a bit matter of fact adding an edge authors don't have. However, he must be good since lots of books have his voice and authors have to authorize the narrator.

I just used a credit on a 40 hour book with Brick narrating, so you can tell I don't hate him yet. :P

I have way, way too many hours of audible books and I really liked Scott Bricks readings (some more than others), esp that in Paranoia. As you say he certainly does add an edge to some of his readings the author may not have intended...and his smarta** reading of Paranoia was one of his better turns. I can see how some may have a problem with his interpretations, though. Sometimes I get very tired of readings that are too straight.

I'm a new Audible.com user and found this thread quite helpful.

Currently reading Douglas Adam's The Hitchiker's Guide to The Galaxy and enjoying it immensely. Hilarious, hysterical book... don't be turned off by the Sci-Fi label, because I dislike Science Fiction and love this book. Great narrator, too.

Oh no...now I'll have the next Gunslinger, the New Xenocide AND the next Otori book! Busy month coming up...can't wait!!!

Denise

Where did you get Five People You Meet in Heaven on audio? I haven't seen it on Audible.

I enjoyed The Lovely Bones very much.

Alison, I bought The Five People You Meet In Heaven on CD at walmart and ripped it to my Ipod.

I listened to Tuesday's with Morrie and it was such a great book I couldn't resist picking up his new book.

Kmcl3667

Thanks Denise, :D Today's my renewal date for audible and I had that on my wish list for a couple of months now. Hmmmm I think it just got bumped to my buy list. Thanks for the heads up!!!

kmcl3667

OK, I"m in. I just downloaded "The Gunslinger ."

It better be good! :)

I got a used copy of Five People You Meet in Heaven off of Ebay and listened to the whole thing over the weekend. I thought it was a good story, plus I'm a fan of music and sound effects added to my audio book :) Good recommendation.

My recommendation: Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris. His sense of humor and delivery just crack me up. Funny stuff.

Now I need to reread this thread... I really need to take advantage of the $9.95 deal!

Robert -

I had not read that post before for now. I just converted the CD's to MP3.. but I'll be sure to review that thread again if I purchase another CD audiobook.

Originally posted by BigD
I just finished the most recent Gunslinger book. Ick, ick, ick, ICK.

I swear, King's shrink told him to go home and deal with his alcohol demons or something.

Oh well, I hope the last one is better. My favorites are 1 and 4 because they had a clear and stated purpose. This one had a clear and stated purpose that THEY DON'T accomplish. And they don't even fail at it - he just doesn't get that far.

Ack! That was the worst one for me.

D

I do agree that they didn't get very far in this one, but I thought it was great! I also thought that the way he worked himself into the story was brilliant. On the other hand, I hate cliff-hangers and dread the wait till August.

I am going to listen to Salem's Lot next since it's now available at Audible and Callahan has become such a big character in the DT saga. I had read that book way back in the 70's when it first came out so I don't remember a whole lot about it.

My favorites in the DT series so far have been #2, #3 and #6. I didn't enjoy #1 and #4 as much so it just goes to show you that everyone's mileage will vary. I loved this most recent one a lot and have to say it's one of my favorites, but like everyone else I really want the last one to be the best of all.

Fpr those of you who enjoy science fiction, a group to which I do not belong, This link seems to offer some books of interest and links to other similar lists


Science Fiction book recommendations site link (http://www-users.cs.york.ac.uk/~susan/sf/sfbooks.htm)

From the site:

SF is the only literature judged by its worst examples
-- Bob Shaw
And The Eye of Argon is surely one of the very worst...

I'd just like to put a word in for "Shadow Divers" by Robert Kurson. My father-in-law (ocean engineer, sub diver and deep water pipeline developer) is loving it. My husband is loving it and so am I. It has a good "these guys are nuts" quality to it. And it has made us all laugh out loud on more than one occasion.

Denise

Originally posted by parannoya
Great topic. <snipped>
1. A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson (as well as other's by Bryson).
2. A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
3. Car Talk Subscription- forget about cars, those two clowns are absolutely hysterical!
4. SeaBiscuit-Laura Hillenbrand
5. The Company- Robert Littell (historical fiction / espionage)
6. A Beautiful Mind-Sylvia Nasar
7. Catch Me if You Can- Frank W. Abnagale
8. eBoys-Randall Stross
9. Ava's Man- Rick Bragg
10. Fierce Invalids Home from Hot Climates-Tom Robbins
11. Longitudes and Attitudes-Thomas Friedman
12. The Lexus and the Olive Tree- Thomsas Friedman
13. Rich Dad, Poor Dad- Robert Kyosaki

I look forward to hearing recommendations of others?

:P

I'm with you on the Bill Bryson! His Australia book, "In a Sunburned Country", slayed me. Almost got into an accident, laughing until I cried on the morning commute. Ditto Douglas Adams, hilarious.

On the Friedman books, I'm curious--can you really listen to Longitudes w/out hearing his previous book, whose name escapes me, darn it...? He won a Pulitzer for the earlier book, which was a pretty thorough background of Middle East poli-history in the 20th century. I was holding out for Audible to get it before reading the newer one. AH! From Beirut to Jerusalem, that's it!

T.

Definitely second Parannoya's recommendation of A Walk in the Woods...My husband and I listened to this one together a few years ago...it had both of us in tears, we were laughing so hard.

Unfortunately, audible only has the abridged version...I recommend the unabridged version if possible. Although, the abridged version is read by Bryson himself, which I'm sure would be a treat.

dordale :)

arsolot...

Mother Tongue is available in audio format--books on tape has it--only in cassette format though. I enjoyed this book very much--I first listened to it, and then I read it. Some of the passages in the book don't translate very well into audio format, but still well worth a listen.

I also read A Short History of Nearly Everything, and I did enjoy that book quite a bit as well.

But, I have to admit A Walk in the Woods is one of my all time favorite Bryson books...it really had me in stitches.

dordale :)

Here's some of the Audiobooks that I own...

--Fiction--

Harry Potter: And The Sorcerers Stone - J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter: And The Chamber of Secrets -J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter: And The Prisoner Of Azkaban - J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter: And The Goblet of Fire - J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter: And The Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling

Anthem - Ayn Rand
The Fountain Head - Ayn Rand
Atlas Shruged - Ayn Rand

The Silmarillion - J.R.R Tolkien
The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien
The Fellowship Of The Ring - J.R.R. Tolkien
The Two Towers - J.R.R. Tolkien
The Return Of The King - J.R.R. Tolkien

The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy - Douglas Adams
The Restaurant at the End of the Universe - Douglas Adams
Life, the Universe and Everything - Douglas Adams
So Long, And Thanks For All The Fish - Douglas Adams
Mostly Harmless - Douglas Adams

--Non Fiction--

Mein Kampf - Adolf Hittler
My Life - Bill Clinton
A History Of The Roman Empire Vol. 1
A History Of The Roman Empire Vol. 2

The Devil in the White City by Eric Larson

Thoughts?

Worth a credit?

to kill a mocking bird
where the red fern grows
vurt
you can google for the authors
:-P

I just joined Audible.com and bought two books, Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy and the restaurant at the end of the universe, both by douglas adams.

however, much to my dismay, they don't have The Catcher in the Rye. I emailed them about this, and they said the publishing company won't give them the rights to sell the book.

:(

Terminator Three
TheDaVinci Code

John

I just signed up for audible last friday. So far, I have only read, err... heard one book- Jon Stewart's "America". I highly recommended it, especially to anyone whose is a fan of The Daily Show. It is absolutely hilarious.

Currently, I am listening to "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them" by Al Franken. Up next is "In a Sunburned Country" by Bill Bryson.

I just signed on Sunday and love it! I tried one book before, Fast Food Nation, and I was hooked! They are having a 9.95 sale on every book and I got my 2 free ones and 3 more at 9.95 (a HUGE savings).

I recommend anything by Carl Hiaasen! I have 2 more waiting to be heard. I have the books but to listen is so much easier!

Lisa

Did you get the "The Hippopotamus" from Audible? I can't find it in search, under hiipp or the author.

'k, thanks.

So Robert, how did you like the Harry Potter audiobooks?

hi! i'm new to the audio book action...so i have few questions. is audible.com the best site to join? how do you bookmark on your ipod so you don't loose your place? will audio books get mixed in with my music when i use the shuffle feature?

thank you!

Originally posted by i_am_petro
hi! i'm new to the audio book action...so i have few questions. is audible.com the best site to join? how do you bookmark on your ipod so you don't loose your place? will audio books get mixed in with my music when i use the shuffle feature?

thank you!

Bookmarking is automatic whenever you pause or stop the ipod from playing a book. You can then move onto music, another book, whatever you want. When you come back it just picks up where you left off. I have never had a book get mixed into a group of songs when I use the shuffle feature.

thanks again for the advice! ;) i'm all signed up and such...

as far as recommendations, i can recommend books i've read, but i can't speak to the quality of the recording. these are some of my recent favorites...

1. me talk pretty one day - dave sedaris
2. memiors of a geisha - arthur golden
3. lies and the lying liars that tell them - al franken
4. the partly cloudy patriot - sarah vowell
5. the romanov prophecy - steve berry

*i checked and audible carries them all.

does anyone know a place or service to get free audiobooks? i heard someone saying something about it but i dont know where

anyone know a place to get free audiobooks? i dont really want to pay the outragous prices at audible.com.