The event was fabulous. But I didn't get home till the wee hours of this morning. And never posted for Friday the 13th. ooops. Ironic, eh?
You know what helped my tired ass self drive back here ? A terrific audio book. Random House Audio Books asked if I'd like to review one of their titles. I have to admit I've fallen out of the habit of listening to audiobooks. Back in the (way back) darkroom days of black & white film, I discovered audio books as the perfect accompaniment to the task. I was a finicky listener- anything too literary and metaphor-laden needed too much concentration. Anything twee- like charming vignettes of life in Provence- made me feel like gagging. Mysteries totally worked. Lots of plot, one strong main character to bond with, entertaining.
Anyhoo, sorry, got lost in my old silver chemical fumes there for a moment. The lovely PR person sent me Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, which I am partially through ( it is 16 cd's of story). I cruised over the rainy dark roads lost in this fabulous Swedish mystery, read in sonorous tones. If you click the link above (you need to go to my blog for real, if you're using a blogreader, the clip is missing) you'll hear a snippet. Highly recommend. I woke up wondering how Lisbeth Salander was going to deal with her guardian and when she'd cross paths with the Vanger mystery & Blomkvist. (and do not tell me if you know)
To celebrate my renewed fondness for listening, Random House gave me a gem to give away: one brand spanking new copy of Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone unabridged audio cd recording to a randomly chosen comment on this post, open till midnight Wednesday November 18th.
Mention an audio book you recommend in your comment, if you can think of one. Or not. All comments will be entered.
Just remember to leave your email address or link to your blog, since I'm on Blogger a lot of the comments don't link back to you.
Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer. A true story that will chill you to the bone. I listened to it on a road trip to Texas and never noticed the (non)scenery.
ReplyDeleteI am on the waiting list for Girl with Dragon Tattoo at the library, so I can't tell you anything. I've been downloading books from our library - free audiobooks. If I don't like the reader, I just delete. Great for yard work, long drives etc.
ReplyDeleteI whole heartedly recomend The Help, by Kathryn Stockett. It's a wonderful book, and the southern voices almost drip out of the headphones :)
ReplyDeleteAmazon info about The Help
PS: You can donate the Harry Potter audio to your local library for me... if I win.
We have the BBC version of "Lord of the Rings" and it is always a favorite.
ReplyDeleteDebra in Seattle
foxbarlow AT comcast.net
"I'm Down" by Mischna Wolff - it's a memoir, and read by the author. Also Anna Deveare Smith's "Letters to a Young Artist" is excellent for so many people - not just young artists!
ReplyDeleteNutella Nut at gmail!
I agree! Mysteries are quite engaging as audio books. I also like to listen to knitting related audio books while I knit. I listened to Marley and Me as an audio book and really enjoyed it (except for the parts that made me cry!), so I would recommend that one.
ReplyDeleteI had a comment all wrote up and accidentally closed the window! DOH!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy Mary Higgins Clark, who writes mysteries. Her audio books are pretty well read by this lady who's name escape me right now (I think it's something like Jan Maxwell) and the voice is really soothing and capturing at the same time, which just adds to the story.
I loved the audiobook Animal, Vegetable Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. She reads the book herself and it is inspirational enough to encourage my family to make major lifestyle changes!! Also love her audiobook Prodigal Summer.
ReplyDeleteThe Amelia Peabody series - all mysteries in late 19th, early 20th century England/Egypt. Light but fun - easy listening. There are 18 of them - in chronological order. I'm on number 12 and I'm not tired of it yet.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on (re-)finding audiobooks. :) They keep me grounded and sane while driving in Mass. I've a few audiobooks to highly recommend. Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen; The Thirteenth Tale, by Diane Setterfield; Stiff by Mary Roach. I'm enjoying the Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon, just started the 5th book, The Fiery Cross, this morning. I'm on the wait list for The Help, by Kathryn Stockett. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, by David Wroblewski, is very good also, although the ending is, um, different. Enjoy!!
ReplyDeleteI have read all three Salander/Blomqvist mysteries. They just kept getting better and better! Loved them. I am just sorry that Stieg Larsson passed away so early, as I have read more novels with these two protagonists had been planned.
ReplyDeleteSorry can't recommend any audio books. I rarely listen to any.
Oh my. I am an audio book junkie and Jim Dale reading the Harry Potter series is my absolute favorite. I walk 3-4 miles a day listening to an audio book. I mostly borrow them from the library because they are so expensive.
ReplyDeleteAnd it is my birthday next week so please pick me!
oops - just saw you wanted an e-mail address
ReplyDeleteelweyu At hotmail
the Thursday Next series by jasper fforde! so much fun
ReplyDeleteor Tick-Tock by Dean Koontz - scary AND funny
cbast25 at yahoo dot com.
Right now I am listening to review lectures on tape (YAWN), but I highly recommend the Poisonwood Bible.
ReplyDeletepskeel@wm.edu
I'll definitely have to check out "Dragon Tattoo". I've also recently renewed my interest in audio books (for me, they are a great aid to getting housework done).
ReplyDelete(And, in case I'm a winner... ashleywarlick (at) gmail)
The audiobook I listened to most recently was Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. It was read by the author and was excellent! I need to get her new novel now...
ReplyDeleteI love the Goldie Schultz the caterer series of books on tape. They are read by Barbara Rosenblatt I think and are very easy to listen too. I like non-gorey mysteries most.
ReplyDeletefoolforknit AT gmail
I love the Dick Francis horsy mysteries on audio books. I'm not sure who the reader is, but I always borrow them.
ReplyDeletepopofra AT hotmail
I haven't listened to any audiobooks lately, please enter me in your wonderful giveaway - Thanks!
ReplyDeletekimberlybreid@hotmail.com
"Cat Dancing" by P.T. Deutermann. I actually was listening to it in the car and had to stop I got so wrapped up in it;-P
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize you wouldn't automatically get my email. I'm sorry. It's cynthibuckle@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteI recently listened to my first Jane Austen novel as an audiobook. The one I listened to was Emma and I found it to be a great guilty pleasure listen.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite audio books are the Cadfael mysteries. The reader is marvelous.
ReplyDeletemy gmail address is weyuker
From first word to last, I was fully immersed in The Time Traveler's Wife. I need to listen to more audiobooks while knitting, instead of watching reality TV!
ReplyDeleteChrissy at knittoday(at)hotmail(dot)com
The Kite Runner was just amazing on audio book.
ReplyDeletejerseyjessie AT gmail
Audio books are our friends! I listen to them in the car, while knitting, while walking, and to go to sleep to. I love Diana Gabaldon's books, Lee Child's Jack Reacher series, The Cat Who....series, James Patterson's Alex Cross books....
ReplyDeleteIf you like a quirky, tongue-in-cheek mystery, I recommend The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde. They're a conglomeration of fantasy and mystery with a literary detective named Thursday Next. My favorite character name: Jack Schitt. As I said, quirky!
ReplyDeleteI love the Amelia Peabody series. "The Beekeeper's Apprentice" by Laurie King is good. Of course there is always Agatha Christie. I'm listening to Hugh Fraser reading her right now.
ReplyDeleteI listen to books all the time - and that's how I fall asleep as well. I do have a few favorite readers including Jim Dale who reads Harry Potter.
ReplyDeleteI mostly listen to mysteries, many of my favorites have already been mentioned.
For a non-mystery, I was surprised how much I enjoyed listening to some of Jodi Picault's books.
purple22power AT gmail
I almost bought that book this weekend but have a couple more at home to read before (audiobooks are so much better, in my opinion)!!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I always tell people to get A Series of Unfortunate Events read by Tim Curry. He's a wonderful reader and does all the voices (who cares that it's a kids book!) and I'm currently working my wait through the HP's again online while I'm at work. :D
Oh! Also, Pride and Prejudice. Great one to listen to. I know it by heart. haha
I like the books by Daniel Silva about Gabriel Allon the art restorer/spy. I listened to The Secret Servant recently and really liked it.
ReplyDeletehotmail = dadofra
Slaughterhouse 5.... kept me awake during a hurricane evacuation a few years back.
ReplyDeleteHave never really listened to audio books, as I like to read soooo much, but need to try it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the contest!
vtcjan at yahoo dot com
I recommend Christine Feehan's Dark Series and thankyou for a wonderful giveaway we love Harry Potter.Hugs Darcy
ReplyDeletedarcysknottyknitter@gmail.com
One of the best series I have heard as an audiobook is the Across the Nightingale Floor trilogy by Lian Hearn. You can download it on iTunes and the two readers are wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI love listening to almost any audio book while I walk or workout in the fitness center at work. Among my favorites are the books by Dick Frances. I'm not sure who reads them, but he is very good.
ReplyDeleteMy husband thinks I'm addicted to audio books because I use them all the time including in order to fall asleep.
ReplyDeleteI loved A Thousand Splendid Cranes that I listened to recently.
bloglessinnj AT gmail DOT com
I forgot to leave my e-mail. It is
ReplyDeletetomknit AT gmail Dot com
i am an audiobook virgin! i have looked at them and thought of getting one to listen to while crafting...this one would be sweet!
ReplyDeleteI'm listening to True Compass right now and really enjoying it. I've got The Historian queued up next and I hear that's great. These are from the library, of course!
ReplyDeleteYou have some fantastic entries...
ReplyDelete"Inkheart" by Cornelia Funke. Fantastic listen, and very engrossing.
Also, I recently enjoyed the unabridged version of Jane Eyre. I have read that book (on average) two or three times a year since I was in the seventh grade. But when I listened to it on audio book recently, I really found whole new depths.
No entry into contest, please, because I already have that book on CD.
I listened to "His Dark Materials", the Golden Compass trilogy that I downloaded from Audible and realy enjoyed it. It was unabridged and read by a full cast, what a difference that makes. The same cast read all three books. It was wonderful
ReplyDeleteI've listened to Dozens! I liked "the Labyrinth" by Kate Moss. I also listened to "The Shack" Little bit over the top at times, but still great bottom line.
ReplyDeleteAudio books are great for people that dont always have time to sit and read! Or spend hours in the car....
agulbenk@gmail.com
OH! and "Friday Night Knitting Club" had me in TEARS by the time I reached work. Lets just say not a lot got done that morning till I finished the book.
ReplyDeleteAnything by David Sedaris - love his work :) And not exactly audio books, but radio documentaries, - Glenn Gould's 'Solitude Trilogy' absolutely beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI'm in love with the "Temeraire" series... dragons and his Majesty's armed forces in the Napolean war... what can be better ;)
ReplyDeleteStig Larsson is very popular here in Scandinavia ;)
Just reheard Little Women - I always go after the old classics during autumn and it was great hearing the book again.
ReplyDeleteI used to listen to audiobooks when driving to and from school each day...now with little kids it's hard to find the time. They'd like HP though! I remember listening to Lovely Bones and it was chilling, but good. I also listened to The Red Tent, also a good one.
ReplyDeleteI love listening to audio books while knitting and my grandkids would love to share it when I've finished (both the book and the knitting). Thanks for the drawing.
ReplyDeleteAudiobooks: anything by Bill Bryson is great for long haul driving since I it's hard to fall asleep if you're laughing. Also, consider downloading radio shows such as This American Life and RadioLab - both really excellent shows if you aren't already a listener!
ReplyDelete