Anyone else into Audio Books

dazza74

I've really gotten into these audio books since I started my audible membership a few month's back.  I get two a month and in a lot of cases it's cheaper than the hardback.  Been some absolute gems listening to Michael Caine & Stephen Fry reading their own auto biographies.

It's opened up reading to a close relative this membership who suffers with severe dyslexia, amazing how you take for granted being able to read.

I mostly experience books via this medium due to it's practicality, I can listen while I work or even while watching the sport on TV.  I couldn't recommend them more.

BT Bob

Yep - I love them. Can't beat it in the car. Also, my Dr has recommended I walk 30mins a day briskly, so I take the iPod along and the time flies by.

Dazimus

I've listened to them in the past when I used to get public transport to work, I think I listened to all of the Harry Potter books, good fun!

SyStemDeMoN

Yes I must admit I too have listened to the Harry Potter books, I'm a lorry driver so I get plenty of time to listen to audio books.

At the moment I'm at a loose end, I like Sci-Fi books and have listened to all the usual good books such as I robot, the 2001 series, Rama series, Thrawn trilogy, Star Trek memories by william shatner, starship titanic, last chance to see, dirk gentley series, and a few more.

I'm looking for a good comedy of a good sci fi book.

Eltee

I worked my way through all of Ian Rankin's excellent Inspector Rebus audiobooks while I was commuting. I sorta miss it now I live so close to work.

nheather

Yes.  I do a 1.5 hour each way car commute.  I used to listen to the radio but it got so repetitive over that duration.  When I got my current car, I opted for the iPod integration and switched to audio books instead.

I find it makes the drive much more comfortable, enjoyable and useful - I have also found that my days of road rage are over.

You can hire books from the library - I use the online facility to reserve them and they bring them in from all over the county - great service and only costs £2 or £3 per hire.

I have listened to a number of different books, I always go for the unabridged ones, the most notable series so far are the Discworld (have done them all in order up to book 32 out of 38) and the Wheel of Time.

Cheers,

Nigel

BamBamMickey

Yup, Stephen Kings - The Dark Tower series were great audiobooks, took a long time to get through all 7 though.

dazza74

Just finished "Dead or Alive" unabridged by Tom Clancy, that's 20 hours long.  "Worth Dyin For" by Lee Child, amongst my family that's probably the one book we've kind of agreed so far is our favourite.  Not just a good read, the guy narrating it I could listen to for hours.

At least two of us get through all the books so it works out £3.75 an audio book in our case.

BT Bob

I think you've hit an important point here. A good narrator can make a book come to life. I've listened to Stephen Fry's Harry Potter books and I love them. A mate of mine also has the Jim Dale ones and prefers those. I haven't tried them yet. Of course, in a series of 7 books, you get really used to the narrator's voice & especially their "characterisations", so I'm not sure how a different voice will sound.

I think my favourite(s) is(are) Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials books (Northern Lights, The Subtle Knife & The Amber Spyglass). The Audiobooks are read by the whole cast of the BBC's radio adaptations, but they're full, unabridged versions, with Pullman himself reading the "narrator'S" parts.

KiLLiNG-TiME

When i am in the mood yes indeed..

I have all Douglas Adams books read by the great man himself & they are fab, others including Neil Gaiman's  Anansi Boys/Stardust,Isaac Asimov The Foundation Trilogy, Stephen Hawking A Brief History of Time, Joseph Conrad Heart of Darkness, Anthony Burgess Clockwork Orange all full unabridged versions.