Originally Posted By jasmine7 Back before I started working from home, I used to listen to a ton of audio books from the library. They really helped to make the time fly. I've recently gotten back into listening to audio books while I work, and I was wondering if you guys have any favorite audio books or audio book performers. I'd also love any recommendations you have, too (I especially like sci-fi/fantasy books, non-fiction historical books [especially about English history or WWII, Vietnam, Civil War eras], but I'll read or listen to just about anything, except for mystery books). Among my favorite audio books are The Hundred Secret Senses by Amy Tan (one of my all-time favorite books), Piers Anthony's Incarnations of Immortality series (read by George Guidal), the early Sword of Truth books by Terry Goodkind, but my all-time favorite audio books have to be the Dragonlance Chronicles & Legends by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. They are read brilliantly by actor Peter MacNichol (he played Yanosch in Ghostbusters II, among other films). If you've ever read the Dragonlance books, you'll know that like many fantasy epics (think Tolkien's Lord of the Rings), there are tons of characters. Peter gives every character a separate and distinct voice, and his reading, especially of the last book in the Legends series, can be utterly hilarious and heartbreaking within moments of each emotion. They're really wonderful audiobooks, and I completely recommend them, if you can get your hands on them.
Originally Posted By RockyMtnMinnie I had a long drive so I downloaded The Poisonwood Bible to my Ipod and it was wonderful. I loved the reading in that beautiful southern voice. The problem was, the book was so wonderful, I got to my driveway and couldn't get out of the car, so I had to go to the bookstore and buy the book and finish reading it that night. I started reading a lot of people's entries on LP and Facebook in the wonderful southern voice after that audiobook. You guys sound so much better now.
Originally Posted By hightp I can heartily recommend all 7 of the Harry Potter books, read by Jim Dale. The storys are good (if you don't already know them) but the presentation by Dale is award worthy. I also like the Clive Cussler books (action/adventure) read by Scott Brick. The stories are typical potboilers and they all follow a similar pattern, but I find them enjoyable. Brick is very good as a narrator. I can borrow unabridged versions from the local library. I enjoy them so much that apart from the occasional traffic report, I havn't listened to the radio in my car in 7 years. I've learned a few things over the years of listening to audio books, one is that books read by the author usually aren't as well done as those done by a professional (actor or otherwise). (Steven King was one of the worst readers I've ever heard.) The other point, and I don't want to sound sexist, is that female narrators usually aren't as good as the male readers. The men usually do a better job at character inflections. That's not to say I won't listen to a woman reader, I do, I just like the male readers better.
Originally Posted By beamerdog >> books read by the author usually aren't as well done as those done by a professional (actor or otherwise)<< Obama is the exception. Someone passed along his book to me and I didn't expect to like it. Just finished the first CD and his voice is great.
Originally Posted By ecdc Here's some of my favorites, most available through your library. And if you're working at home, you can go register at Netlibrary.com and download some for free. Flags of our Fathers Reclaiming History An Unfinished Life The Great Bridge Shelby Foote's Civil War Narrative Team of Rivals Harry Potter His Dark Materials I've also discovered how much I enjoy radio dramatizations. I have the complete Adventures of Philip Marlowe and some fun Star Wars radio dramas that recreate the original trilogy. Great stuff for a commute or when doing mindless work. The BBC also did a Lord of the Rings radio drama.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb I enjoy Judy Kaye's reading of Sue Grafton's alphabet mysteries. But I guess she's a no go for you, LOL. I admit Stephen King has an odd voice, but the advatage of his readings is the inflections are acutate to the intent.
Originally Posted By jasmine7 Oh, thanks for all these awesome recommendations, guys (yeah, I forgot to add Harry Potter to my list, but I haven't listened to all of them yet, sooo it works ). Once I get through the big pile I have, I'll have to work my way to these. I agree about author-read books, but I'll throw Amy Tan's Hundred Secret Senses in as one of the exceptions. She really does an amazing job with it, and now when I read the book, her voice is the one I hear, especially for the character of Kwan. I love listening to her read it.
Originally Posted By smedley I've not heard of the Dragonlance Chronicles and Legends, but I am a fan of the Terry Goodkind books, I may have to pick up the first of the series, I am always looking for something new to read.. I have the Roald Dahl books on CD, yes I know they're kids books, but they're a fun listen to drive to
Originally Posted By alexbook I listen to a lot of audio books at work. I tend to go through a whole series. I've listened to all the Sue Grafton alphabet books. (I actually liked the other reader more than Judy Kaye, but I can't remember her name right now.) Lately I've been listening to Janet Evanovich's books. The Harry Potter books are excellent for audio. Also, Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events. Other fave children's authors for audio are M. T. Anderson and Eoin Colfer. Stephen King's books often make for good listening. So do John Grisham. I'll also try out the classics; I'm big on Dickens, especially. Some authors make good readers. I like Daniel Handler (Lemony Snicket), Douglas Adams, and Neil Gaiman. I don't care for Stephen King's voice, and Dave Barry is a surprisingly poor reader.
Originally Posted By avro_imagineer I was going to mention the BBC radio dramas (all books and original stories) for Sherlock Holmes but noted something from the OP.
Originally Posted By jasmine7 I'd like the Sherlock Holmes ones, Avro. I meant more that I'm not fond of modern mystery books. When I wrote the first post, I was thinking of how our library system has audiobooks separated by category, and there's always a huge mystery section at every branch. Oh, yeah, I love period stuff like Holmes.
Originally Posted By FiveBearRugs re: post #5; The BBC has released a lot of Doctor Who Audio Adventures as well; they appear to run between 45 minutes to 2 hours. I'm not sure if you can buy them here in the States. This brings to my next question: how long are each of the discs? 45 minutes? An hour? Or better yet, how many discs usually come in an audiobook set?
Originally Posted By JenniBarra Some of the audiobooks I've really enjoyed have been the type to employ full casts, for example, this is the case with a number of Jodi Picoult titles and the Dark Materials series. I think the Series of Unfortunate Events books are great, whether read by Tim Curry or Lemony Snicket (Daniel Handler) himself. I really enjoyed Sherman Alexie's The Absolutely True Adventures of a Part-Time Indian.
