Audiobooks discussion

I've been a fan of the Agatha Raisin mystery series by M. C. Beaton for years, but have switched to audio for the latest one Agatha Raisin and the Busy Body, read by actress Penelope Keith, who does a bang up job!

I am also a fan of M.C. Beaton, but my bent is toward the Hamish Macbeth series. I listen on audio CD, Graeme Malcolm narrating most. The ones I like start out the title with The Death of a ________. Celebrity being one of the more recent.

Agatha Raisin is fun, too. These books translate well to audio. There is something appealing about a series where the characters are largely those familiar to us at the start.

Thank you for bringing up M.C. Beaton. I think she is a writer well worth knowing.

I tried Hamish, but just couldn't get into his series.

Judy Kaye does such a great job with Kinsey Millhone that I sometimes forget I'm not listening to Kinsey herself!

I am listening to In The Electric Mist With The Confederate Dead by James Lee Burke. It is read by Will Patton. Oh how I love James Lee Burke and his Dave Robicheaux! I read this book many years ago and often reread Burke's books. The Patton-read audio versions are so lush after listening for awhile I feel a little light-headed.

I am on a role with choosing audiobooks that I can't seem to get into for one reason or another and it drives me crazy when that happens.

I tried "The Buddha in the Attic" and hated the lyrical nature of the narrative. I then tried "Pride and Prejudice", but the narrator had a thick British accent and spoke so quickly using antiquated language that I just couldn't follow the plot easily. THEN I tried "The Mistress of Nothing" and was just really, really bored with it becaue nothing seemed to be happening, so NOW I am listening to "All He Ever Wanted" by Anita Shreve. Cross your fingers....

@ Janet, yes, it is. When I saw her name, I wasn't sure if I would like her narraration, but she is doing an excellent job, and I am loving this book, I have 21/2 more dics to go.

The Dave Robicheaux series has been on my list for a while (and I agree with Linda's Will-Patton-light-headedness, wink). Is this a series that is best when done in order?

@Bxrlover - I hate when that happens! Hoping this new book is the one that breaks the bad streak ...

Has anyone listened to Afraid by Jack Kilburn, narrated by Christopher Lane? Afraid
I've just finished it and would be interested in what anyone else thought of this production.

I finished A Patchwork Planet with David Morse as the narrator. Wonderful! Now I'm listening to Breathing Room, the narrator sounds like Ellen Degeneres.

I finished by Lisa Scottoline today, and I think this was the best book that I have read by Lisa. This book starts out about bullying but ends up being so much more than that.

Alief wrote: "The Dave Robicheaux series has been on my list for a while (and I agree with Linda's Will-Patton-light-headedness, wink). Is this a series that is best when done in order?"
Yes it is best done in order I think, although you can pick any one of them and be fine. There will be enough references to the past to make you want to go to the beginning. The problem with the audio versions is there are a couple that I've found only in abridged form. Of course you can always switch to the printed version. Dave Robicheaux and Harry Bosch (M. Connelly) are my two favorite cops in the whole wide world!

Thanks Linda, I shall start at the beginning then.

Alief wrote: "Thanks Linda, I shall start at the beginning then."

I would concur that you should start the series from the beginning :)

I finished A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. This was such a wonderful story. Even though the book was over 600 pages, I really didn't want this book to end. This was a 5* book for me.

I am now reading Charley's Web by Joy Fielding

A Prayer for Owen Meany is on my TBR list so long I think I don't even see it anymore. I must remedy that...

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones



is next on my listening log.....then I will watch the movie that was made from it.

I like to find a double dip book. :)

I just listened to The Devil All the Time. Dark, gruesome, crude language, but a fantastic narrator.

Alief wrote: "The Dave Robicheaux series has been on my list for a while (and I agree with Linda's Will-Patton-light-headedness, wink). Is this a series that is best when done in order?"

LISTENED TO THE ENTIRE SERIES, IT IS BEST READ IN ORDER AS THERE IS A BACKGROUND STORY RUNNING ALONG EACH NEW STORY. TRY THE LEE CHILD / JACK REACHER SERIES IF YOU LIKE JAMES LEE BURKE

WILL PATTON ROCKS

Moderator note: please do not post in all caps as IT MEANS YOU ARE SHOUTING!

John wrote: "Moderator note: please do not post in all caps as IT MEANS YOU ARE SHOUTING!"

No it means I left CAPS LOCK on and didn't look before posting.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks all for the advice on the Dave Robicheaux series. My local library has it available as a downloadable audiobook so I'll be able to get to it quickly.

I'm listening to Edith Wharton's The Age of Innocence - Alyssa Bresnehan is going for a home run with her usual terrific narration.

Shirley wrote: "Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones



is next on my listening log.....then I will watch the movie that was made from it..."

I just bought this from Audible's $4.95 sale and plan on doing the same thing! Some of the reviews I read indicate it's pretty different from the movie.

Kelly wrote: "Shirley wrote: "Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones



is next on my listening log.....then I will watch the movie t..."

With a rating of 4.60* it should be good....oh how I miss the movie ratings.

Started by Kate White today.

Started Faith: A Novel by Jennifer Haigh today.

I finished Breathing Room. My first time listening to this author and it was really good. The narrator sounded like Ellen Degeneres.

I'm listening to The Body in the Library. Finding it boring but I only have 2 discs left. Also listening to The Best American Travel Writing 2000. I was shocked to actually HEAR papers rustling in the background, what the heck?! Were they not able to edit that sound out?? It's just so odd to hear on an audiobook. Otherwise it's enjoyable, when I'm not obsessed with trying to catch another paper rustling. :P

Has anyone listened to A Game of Thrones? If so, what were your thoughts on the narrator? I'm planning to start reading this book this weekend, but can't decide if I should read or listen... (I may end up regardless because it would take me forever to listen to... 40 minutes a day just isn't much!)

I LOVED A Game of Thrones, but I read it, I didn't listen to it. It's a great series though, so I bet it's at least entertaining to listen to!

Started today, so far I am not thrilled - only at chapter 8, hopefully it will get better - strange story so far......

I'm listening to and .

I finished Modern Scholar: Unseen Diversity yesterday. It was very good, I recommend it to anyone interested in an introduction to bacteria and microbiology. The lectures were very easy to listen to. The professor's enthusiasm for this subject is evident.

I started Howl's Moving Castle yesterday and am already 6 tracks in (there are 16 total). It is such a clever little story, I have laughed out loud several times. At this rate I should be finished in no time, but sadly, Blockbuster.com has the movie as a very long wait. So much for my idea to watch the movie right after I finished the book!

@Shirley, are you reading it yet?

Kelly wrote: "I finished Modern Scholar: Unseen Diversity yesterday. It was very good, I recommend it to anyone interested in an introduction to bacteria and microbiology. The lectures were very easy to listen..."

I finished both and LOVED them. Just wait until you see the movie.

Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer by Novella Carpenter

I am about half way through and it is not only funny.. it is informative.

I got that out but decided against reading it based on all the negative reviews. Maybe I'll give it a try some other time.

John wrote: "I got that out but decided against reading it based on all the negative reviews. Maybe I'll give it a try some other time."

Do you mean Farm City? I love learning adventures so I am really enjoying her journey.

Jenni wrote: "Has anyone listened to A Game of Thrones? If so, what were your thoughts on the narrator? I'm planning to start reading this book this weekend, but can't decide if I should read or l..."

Jenni, I was trying to catch up to my husband and brother-in-law (who had started the series before me) so I did both -- I listened to the audiobook in the car, and read the real book whenever I had the chance (it's easy to do this because of how the chapters are set up.)

The narrator for books 1, 2, 3 and 5 is . . . somebody Deltrice. I think he did a fantastic job. There are a few voices I didn't care for, but he had to create SO many voices for so many characters, I'm willing to give him a little slack.

There is a different narrator for A Feast for Crows. He was only okay.

And then for the fifth book, when Deltrice came back, he apparently forgot how he did some characters' voices . . . several were different, and I missed the old versions. But still not a dealbreaker.

He is pretty slow, though . . . I read more than twice as fast as listening to the audiobook.

Have fun, it's a great series!

Shirley wrote: "John wrote: "I got that out but decided against reading it based on all the negative reviews. Maybe I'll give it a try some other time."

Do you mean Farm City? I love learning adventures so I am ..."

Yes, Farm City ... I would listen to it as an audiobook, and for one thing I understand there are lengthy descriptions of butchering?

Farm City indeed describes butchering of various animals for food. I have found them to be as humane as possible and not lengthy. She is a softy and avoids bad practices after researching methods. I grew up as a sorta farm girl so we did chickens every season. Feathers can be a real chore if they are setting feathers (can't remember real term).

As a vegetarian I think I'll skip that one!

I am listening to Devil in Winter and A Rule Against Murder.

Shirley wrote: "Kelly wrote: "I finished Modern Scholar: Unseen Diversity yesterday. It was very good, I recommend it to anyone interested in an introduction to bacteria and microbiology. The lectures were very ..."

I forgot to check my library for the movie. I did, and they have it! I can't wait to finish the book and watch the movie . Howl just had the mishap with dying his hair, too funny.

I almost got Farm City in the latest Audible sale. It sounds very good.

Bxrlover wrote: "I am on a role with choosing audiobooks that I can't seem to get into for one reason or another and it drives me crazy when that happens.

I tried "The Buddha in the Attic" and hated the lyrical..."

I'm having the same problem, it seems. I started The Small House at Allington and A Game of Thrones. With Game of Thrones, it was too many characters with odd names. I couldn't keep track of them.

I'm now listening to Remarkable Creatures. I thought it was going to be the same thing, but thankfully I've started to enjoy it.

Jenni wrote: "Has anyone listened to A Game of Thrones? If so, what were your thoughts on the narrator? I'm planning to start reading this book this weekend, but can't decide if I should read or l..."

I didn't mind the narrator so much. I thought he gave great voices to the characters. He made me think of Alfred Hitchcock for some strange reason. LOL! It was the number of characters that threw me.

Kelly wrote: "Shirley wrote: "Kelly wrote: "I finished Modern Scholar: Unseen Diversity yesterday. It was very good, I recommend it to anyone interested in an introduction to bacteria and microbiology. The lec..."

I am almost done with Farm City and I would read another of her journeys' for sure.

I'm one disc (part) through John Steinbeck's Travels with Charley: In Search of America, read by actor Gary Sinese - not bad, but it's taken him pretty much all this time to get his big trip started.

John wrote: "I'm one disc (part) through John Steinbeck's Travels with Charley: In Search of America, read by actor Gary Sinese - not bad, but it's taken him pretty much all this time to get his big..."

Please keep us up to date on progress.