Audiobooks! Who listens to them?

13-07-2015 1:53pm #1

Over the past few years, I've moved almost entirely from physical copies of books to audiobooks. They're absolutely fantastic for when you exercise, for when you commute, and many other times. Audible has long since become one of my favourite services online.

Does anyone else listen to them? If so, what have been your favourites?

Yes, I used to think they were "uncool" and it was what my grandmother used to use when her eyesight started failing, but since they've become extremely popular, there's been a huge increase in production values, with some being incredible.

Best ones so far -

World War Z (& Lost Files) by Max Brooks, which is a full-cast read and features such actors as - Nathan Fillion, Simon Pegg, Alan Alda, Rob Reiner, Martin Scorcese, Mark Hammil, among many others.

American Gods (10th Anniversary edition), which is also a full-cast read.

Alongside this, the other great ones I've listened to have been -

Girl With all The Gifts by Mike Carey
Boy Who Drew Monsters by Keith Donohue
The Remaining series by D.J. Molles
Bird Box by Josh Maleman

And that's just a small bit of my collection so far, all with fantastic production values and narration.

So, does anybody else enjoy them as much as me?

Boring username · 13-07-2015 2:05pm

It's definitely something I've been meaning to do, I think once I got into the hang of it I'd listen to them non-stop. I remember years ago when I was supposed to be doing my homework and they would have the Dracula audiobook on the radio, I couldn't wait until the following week to pick up where it left off.
He dies at the end. Again.

Guy:Incognito · 13-07-2015 2:06pm

I've listened to a good few over the last few years. Was in a couple o fjobs where I was driving all day and they were great. Michael McIntyre's autbiography was very good, as was Jason Manfords, both made better by both mens reading of them.

By the same token I found a couple I couldnt stick with because of the persob reading.

13-07-2015 2:07pm

Genuine question, and probably a bit of a stupid one, but what are the voices like on them? I think I'd probably enjoy them on the go if they were voices I could listen to. If I was irritated by the voice then I obviously wouldn't enjoy the book.

I also think of them being read in the voice of a school teacher, rather than voices that suit the story.

tom tit tot · 13-07-2015 2:08pm

I usually listen to them while driving, beats the radio. Game of thrones were my favourite but then I ran out!

13-07-2015 2:08pm

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

I've listened to a good few over the last few years. Was in a couple o fjobs where I was driving all day and they were great. Michael McIntyre's autbiography was very good, as was Jason Manfords, both made better by both mens reading of them.

By the same token I found a couple I couldnt stick with because of the persob reading.

Same here. Even if the story is good, if the narration is terrible I just can't finish it.

Tina Fey's Bossypants and Amy Poehler's Yes Please are also well worth the listen. Fey's especially - she's fantastic throughout.

Menas · 13-07-2015 2:09pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Genuine question, and probably a bit of a stupid one, but what are the voices like on them? I think I'd probably enjoy them on the go if they were voices I could listen to. If I was irritated by the voice then I obviously wouldn't enjoy the book.

I also think of them being read in the voice of a school teacher, rather than voices that suit the story.

The american voices are pretty crap, but the European onces tend to me much more palatable.
You can normally listen to a 'sample' before buying an audiobook on line - well you used to be able to the last time I bought one.

13-07-2015 2:09pm

Not a stupid question after all

eviltwin · 13-07-2015 2:11pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Same here. Even if the story is good, if the narration is terrible I just can't finish it.

Tina Fey's Bossypants and Amy Poehler's Yes Please are also well worth the listen. Fey's especially - she's fantastic throughout.

Both free on YouTube too

AnonoBoy · 13-07-2015 2:11pm

Ulysses read by Gilbert Gottfried is worth checking out.

Balmed Out · 13-07-2015 2:11pm

I get the cd's from the library and listen every day on the commute, try to avoid anything high brow though as you don want to need too much concentration.

Guy:Incognito · 13-07-2015 2:11pm

Audible was the service I was using.

MrWalsh · 13-07-2015 2:12pm

I just started listening to the Game of Thrones audiobooks read by Roy Dotrice which are excellent, although there is a sound in the background like people speaking in another room or a tv on in another room (or maybe someone else in a studio recording another audiobook) that is driving me a bit batty - actually I havent noticed it so much since I got onto book 2. I googled and saw quite a few mentions of it online.

I like the idea of a full cast reading, next time I want to reread World War Z perhaps ill do it as an audiobook.

I have a Stephen King one as well - a short book.

The only thing I find is that if my concentration drifts I miss whats happening and its not as easy to go back as it is to go back a few pages in a book.

13-07-2015 2:12pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Genuine question, and probably a bit of a stupid one, but what are the voices like on them? I think I'd probably enjoy them on the go if they were voices I could listen to. If I was irritated by the voice then I obviously wouldn't enjoy the book.

I also think of them being read in the voice of a school teacher, rather than voices that suit the story.

In my opinion, the worst ones are the ones that sound like people are just reading it, as opposed to actually getting involved, if that makes sense? Some of them you can tell really get into the story and this also gets you thoroughly into it too.

What you could do is go onto the Audible website and listen to the previews that they have there, which would give you a pretty good indication as to what they'd be like.

13-07-2015 2:13pm

OK another possibly stupid question....

Are scary books scarier when they're being read by someone else? I'm not a great one for supernatural horror movies for example, but I could read the books no bother.

I'm such a child :rolleyes:

cursai · 13-07-2015 2:14pm

Blind People

Crooked Jack · 13-07-2015 2:14pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Over the past few years, I've moved almost entirely from physical copies of books to audiobooks. They're absolutely fantastic for when you exercise, for when you commute, and many other times. Audible has long since become one of my favourite services online.

Does anyone else listen to them? If so, what have been your favourites?

Yes, I used to think they were "uncool" and it was what my grandmother used to use when her eyesight started failing, but since they've become extremely popular, there's been a huge increase in production values, with some being incredible.

Best ones so far -

World War Z (& Lost Files) by Max Brooks, which is a full-cast read and features such actors as - Nathan Fillion, Simon Pegg, Alan Alda, Rob Reiner, Martin Scorcese, Mark Hammil, among many others.

American Gods (10th Anniversary edition), which is also a full-cast read.

Alongside this, the other great ones I've listened to have been -

Girl With all The Gifts by Mike Carey
Boy Who Drew Monsters by Keith Donohue
The Remaining series by D.J. Molles
Bird Box by Josh Maleman

And that's just a small bit of my collection so far, all with fantastic production values and narration.

So, does anybody else enjoy them as much as me?

Absolutely love them for when I'm driving on my own. Can't stand most of the shit on the radio. World War Z is an absolute gem and as a way of delivering the story, works almost better than the book. American Psycho is another brilliant on and I've listened to 1984 at least a dozen times while driving. They found the perfect guy for the Brave New World recording and Im quite partial to Stephen Fry's audiobooks, (except the new one, which is shit)

With that said they'd never replace real books for me in a situation where I had the option of reading. Don't like them for exercise either, there's a huge hill at the end of my regular run and what gets me up it most days is 10% my legs and 90% James Hetfield shredding the absolute living fuck out of "Fuel".

But yeah, love them when I've got a long drive, actually look forward to long journeys if I've got a new one.

Talib Fiasco · 13-07-2015 2:15pm

I'm a very visually minded person so I have always struggled to listen to audiobooks. I only understand something if I read it.

13-07-2015 2:15pm

Crooked Jack wrote: »

World War Z is an absolute gem and as a way of delivering the story, works almost better than the book.

Sold.

One of my most favourite books

13-07-2015 2:16pm

MrWalsh wrote: »

I like the idea of a full cast reading, next time I want to reread World War Z perhaps ill do it as an audiobook.

Do! The full cast read of World War Z and Lost Files are incredible, with such a high calibre of acting though, admittedly, the actor they chose for the Chinese roles is kind of a stereotypical one.

Menas wrote: »

The american voices are pretty crap, but the European onces tend to me much more palatable.
You can normally listen to a 'sample' before buying an audiobook on line - well you used to be able to the last time I bought one.

I've never found that problem, really. I've listened to ones both narrated by American ones by European and always find what matters the most is the story and the narration itself, as opposed to the accent. Also it would largely depend on where the book is based.

Deleted User wrote: »

Not a stupid question after all

Pft. Never such a thing as a stupid question.

Buona Fortuna · 13-07-2015 2:16pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Genuine question, and probably a bit of a stupid one, but what are the voices like on them? I think I'd probably enjoy them on the go if they were voices I could listen to. If I was irritated by the voice then I obviously wouldn't enjoy the book.

I also think of them being read in the voice of a school teacher, rather than voices that suit the story.

Depends on who's made it. I think the likes of Stephen Fry does a few of them.

Years ago I listened to The Time Travellers Wife in the car. Brilliant, read by a man and a woman, who just had the je ne sais quoi.

Anyway really enjoying up till the point where he had died and his daughter sees him, but his wife can't quite get there in time, and ....

FFS who's cutting onions in the car

Paully D · 13-07-2015 2:16pm

Not an audiobook per se, but I'd recommend this to anyone looking for something similar:

http://serialpodcast.org/

eternal · 13-07-2015 2:17pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Genuine question, and probably a bit of a stupid one, but what are the voices like on them? I think I'd probably enjoy them on the go if they were voices I could listen to. If I was irritated by the voice then I obviously wouldn't enjoy the book.

I also think of them being read in the voice of a school teacher, rather than voices that suit the story.

I've a friend who records for them. He has a lovely compelling voice. It's more naturally read I think rather than forced.

13-07-2015 2:17pm

Deleted User wrote: »

OK another possibly stupid question....

Are scary books scarier when they're being read by someone else? I'm not a great one for supernatural horror movies for example, but I could read the books no bother.

I'm such a child :rolleyes:

It depends. I've listened to two horror-style books, which would be Bird Box and Boy Who Drew Monsters. Both were pretty damned creepy.

I'd definitely recommend Boy Who Drew Monsters.

Crooked Jack · 13-07-2015 2:18pm

Deleted User wrote: »

OK another possibly stupid question....

Are scary books scarier when they're being read by someone else? I'm not a great one for supernatural horror movies for example, but I could read the books no bother.

I'm such a child :rolleyes:

Same as reading a book normally, wouldnt that depend on your surroundings? Driving in the car in the middle of the day with a horro audio book on, probably not that scary.
Sitting in the house on your own at night with the lights off, probably pretty unnerving

eviltwin · 13-07-2015 2:18pm

I listen to them doing the housework and walking my dogs. They make a nice change from reading. That and podcasts have pretty much replaced music for me.

13-07-2015 2:20pm

eviltwin wrote: »

I listen to them doing the housework and walking my dogs. They make a nice change from reading. That and podcasts have pretty much replaced music for me.

Agreed. It's gotten to the point where Spotify is now one of my least used apps, with Audible and my podcast app being used constantly.

Crooked Jack · 13-07-2015 2:21pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Sold.

One of my most favourite books

Then you are in for a treat!! I'd actually be really interested to hear what you thought of it so PM me about it when youre done if you wouldnt mind.

13-07-2015 2:22pm

Buona Fortuna wrote: »

Depends on who's made it. I think the likes of Stephen Fry does a few of them.

Yes he does; my favourite is Stephen Fry reading one of the greatest works of Russian literature, Eugene Onegin

The itunes/ mp3 audiobook download is available here, for free:
http://fryreadsonegin.com/

Talib Fiasco · 13-07-2015 2:22pm

Crooked Jack wrote: »

Then you are in for a treat!! I'd actually be really interested to hear what you thought of it so PM me about it when youre done if you wouldnt mind.

Ahup gwan Jack

biko · 13-07-2015 2:22pm

I listen to audiobooks a lot on trains and planes etc.

13-07-2015 2:24pm

I've actually singed up to Audible.com, which is the American version. There's no region limitations like with Netflix, so you can sign up to whatever region you want and access wherever. It costs about $14 per month (I think), which gets you 1 credit to go towards any audiobook of your choice. Outside of your credit, you can purchase other ones, which would cost anything from $5 - $20.

eternal · 13-07-2015 2:25pm

In the 80s they had audio cassette stories for kids. They were hugely popular. I was obsessed with them and you could get the book to read along with. Highlight of the week was when they came into the shop. Oh the innocence of the olden days

OldGoat · 13-07-2015 2:31pm

Abridged or unabridged?

/Worms/can/opens

13-07-2015 2:33pm

Two of my favourite narrations of all time are Ocean at the End of The Lane and Anansi Boys, both by Neil Gaiman.

Gaiman himself reads the former and Lenny Henry reads the latter. You can tell that Henry has the time of his life doing it.

Andy-Pandy · 13-07-2015 2:36pm

I listen to them in work. Mostly Sci first and fantasy. Been going through Iain M Banks Culture series at the moment. Very enjoyable.

SimonTemplar · 13-07-2015 4:02pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Genuine question, and probably a bit of a stupid one, but what are the voices like on them? I think I'd probably enjoy them on the go if they were voices I could listen to. If I was irritated by the voice then I obviously wouldn't enjoy the book.

I also think of them being read in the voice of a school teacher, rather than voices that suit the story.

I'm listening to The Girl on The Train at the moment and it is read by a professional actresses. It's great and she gets into character rather than just reading the text.

13-07-2015 4:06pm

SimonTemplar wrote: »

I'm listening to The Girl on The Train at the moment and it is read by a professional actresses. It's great and she gets into character rather than just reading the text.

Interesting, because I found that book pretty shyte, so I wonder if it would be brought to life more with the voices outside of my head reading it!

Ruu · 13-07-2015 4:08pm

Listened to the Harry Potter ones (Jim Dale, great voice!) also have tried a few playaways (like portable players).

Trond · 13-07-2015 4:11pm

Might not be everyone's cup of tea but "Detroit: An American Autopsy " by Charlie LeDuff is well worth a listen to.

http://www.amazon.com/Detroit-An-American-Autopsy/dp/B00CDVZIW4

Cienciano · 13-07-2015 4:17pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Genuine question, and probably a bit of a stupid one, but what are the voices like on them? I think I'd probably enjoy them on the go if they were voices I could listen to. If I was irritated by the voice then I obviously wouldn't enjoy the book.

I also think of them being read in the voice of a school teacher, rather than voices that suit the story.

I listened to all of the game of thrones books. Roy Dotrice did the first 3, read them amazingly well. He did different voices for everyone and different accents depending of where people are from. He even sang bits. Someone else recorded the last 2 books, but apparently when GOT got big everyone demanded that Roy Dotrice goes and does the last 2 books, which he did!

I find audiobooks brilliant for driving or on public transport with.

13-07-2015 4:20pm

I'm actually delighted that this is getting such a good reception. Was worried someone would go, "hur hur, audiobooks".

Have we convinced you, whoops? Gimme a sec, I'll send you a PM about something.

13-07-2015 4:22pm

Yep. I'm convinced, I've a bit of driving to do on Friday so I'll definitely give World War Z a go, I absolutely adore that book so it's definitely worth a go

armchaircoach · 13-07-2015 4:30pm

Before signing up for audible or other subscription services, try doing your toe in the water. Youtube has lots of audiobooks, just search "audiobook full". Would definitely recommend the godfather, jurassic park, and the Martian (film coming out later this year). For any fantasy nerds or there you can also get full versions of LOTR and wheel of time on there.

Only annoying thing is that youtube is one of the worst apps out there. Can't lock the screen or find your last stopping point, but it is free if you can refrain from smashing your phone everytime it randomly changes video in your pocket for no reason!

Dr Strange · 13-07-2015 4:30pm

Deleted User wrote: »

I'm actually delighted that this is getting such a good reception. Was worried someone would go, "hur hur, audiobooks".
.

Let me be the one then. I loved books as a child and love them as an adult. I couldn't imagine my life without books. I am also a book collector and the smell, feel and look of different books in their bindings from different times are just something I would miss too much.

Also, I create the "voices" in my head and they fit for me, it would destroy my experience of the narrative if read by someone else, no matter how good he/she is.

For me, books have to have substance and I have to have the better/favourite ones on my bookshelves. The look of the shelves filled with them also gives me pleasure, rows upon rows of delightful books. Yes, I can safely say that audio"books" would not be for me.

SimonTemplar · 13-07-2015 4:32pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Interesting, because I found that book pretty shyte, so I wonder if it would be brought to life more with the voices outside of my head reading it!

I think so. The first person narrative, the style of writing and the actor's performance all sound like you are listening to someone recording their diary.

13-07-2015 4:33pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Yep. I'm convinced, I've a bit of driving to do on Friday so I'll definitely give World War Z a go, I absolutely adore that book so it's definitely worth a go

Great! If you like post-apocalyptic books, then these would definitely be worth the listen:

The Last Policeman trilogy - how the world and society crumbles when a meteorite is headed straight for earth, without any way of stopping it.

One Second After - an attack on the US generates an EMP blast that covers the whole country. Tells of the ensuing collapse

Bird Box - Something is driving people insane when you look at it, forcing survivors to live in a world of darkness, forced blindness.

Girl With All the Gifts - this.. I don't want to really go too much into as it's better if you listen to it for yourself.

The Remaining (series) - A 28 Days/Weeks Later-type plague spreads across the world and it is up to one soldier to try and rebuild society.

There, that should keep you going for.. maybe around 50 hours or more.

Preusse wrote: »

Let me be the one then. I loved books as a child and love them as an adult. I couldn't imagine my life without books. I am also a book collector and the smell, feel and look of different books in their bindings from different times are just something I would miss too much.

Also, I create the "voices" in my head and they fit for me, it would destroy my experience of the narrative if read by someone else, no matter how good he/she is.

For me, books have to have substance and I have to have the better/favourite ones on my bookshelves. The look of the shelves filled with them also gives me pleasure, rows upon rows of delightful books. Yes, I can safely say that audio"books" would not be for me.

For the longest time of my life, I was the same as you. But then I was unemployed for a long period of time, which involved a lot of walks and exercise and, during these times, physical copies of books were just too.. awkward to carry around with you.

Right now on the Audible cloud, I have 24 books in my collection, which can be taken with me everywhere I go, listened to across multiple devices - I can listen to it on my laptop and then if the internet is turned on on my phone, it will detect where I stopped listening and bring me straight to that point.

I still have a collection of books, but right now most are just sitting there, gathering dust. And for someone that moves quite frequently, they become a hassle to lug around.

Anyway, I'm not trying to convince you, because if someone loves their books as much as you, then that might be impossible.

Dr Strange · 13-07-2015 4:43pm

Deleted User wrote: »

For the longest time of my life, I was the same as you. But then I was unemployed for a long period of time, which involved a lot of walks and exercise and, during these times, physical copies of books were just too.. awkward to carry around with you.

Right now on the Audible cloud, I have 24 books in my collection, which can be taken with me everywhere I go, listened to across multiple devices - I can listen to it on my laptop and then if the internet is turned on on my phone, it will detect where I stopped listening and bring me straight to that point.

I still have a collection of books, but right now most are just sitting there, gathering dust. And for someone that moves quite frequently, they become a hassle to lug around.

Anyway, I'm not trying to convince you, because if someone loves their books as much as you, then that might be impossible.

Are you implying I am fat?

Just kidding.

Yes, that certainly plays a role, I don't have to move any more in my dotage

BlaasForRafa · 13-07-2015 4:54pm

MrWalsh wrote: »

I just started listening to the Game of Thrones audiobooks read by Roy Dotrice which are excellent, although there is a sound in the background like people speaking in another room or a tv on in another room (or maybe someone else in a studio recording another audiobook) that is driving me a bit batty - actually I havent noticed it so much since I got onto book 2. I googled and saw quite a few mentions of it online.

Aye after reading A Game of Thrones in paperback I listened to the subsequent books via the audio books read by Roy Dotrice (except 1 was read by some other guy) and they were very good. Plus while GRRM's basic story and plots are great, reading page after page of descriptions of people eating blood oranges and the like is a bit much, life is too short for that. Which is where the audio books are great, you can be doing other stuff while the waffly boring bits are going on.

The Silmarillion by JRR Tolkein read by Martin Shaw is magnificent and well worth a listen,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cc6yzxcv0Ps

El Weirdo · 13-07-2015 5:35pm

Big audiobook fan here, too.

+1 for WWZ. Brilliant stuff.

If you only listen to one audiobook though, make sure that it's We Need To Talk About Alan, by Alan Partridge. It's read by the man himself.

_Whimsical_ · 13-07-2015 5:49pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Same here. Even if the story is good, if the narration is terrible I just can't finish it.

Tina Fey's Bossypants and Amy Poehler's Yes Please are also well worth the listen. Fey's especially - she's fantastic throughout.

I loved those two, listened recently when I was really sick and it was like having someone in the room talking to me, both brilliantly read and very funny, I'd definitely recommend them to anyone.

Deleted User wrote: »

Interesting, because I found that book pretty shyte, so I wonder if it would be brought to life more with the voices outside of my head reading it!

Definitely the narration can make a huge difference. I find that I follow good narrators as much as good authors now, some narrators can make nearly anything good. Strange but true!
Recently while being sick also I listened to a book called Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell. It is a story of friendship and love between two teenagers. It's something I would never have read but the narration had me utterly hooked, it was more compelling and more touching than any film I've seen in the last few years because of the way it was done. It wouldn't be my favorite book but it definitely has earned top spot in my heart as my favorite audiobook. If you're new to audiobooks or know anyone sick, depressed,in need of complete escapism and being engrossed I'd recommend it as a great one to start with.

Audiobooks! Who listens to them?

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