Audio Books.

[Watcher]

Does anyone listen to audio books at all?
Do you dislike them as it's just not the same as reading a book?
Do you prefer them as it's more convenient than reading a book?

I recently started a new job and I can pretty much have headphones on and listen to stuff for the entire shift, so I've started listening to audio books as well as my music.

I listened to Red Dragon yesterday and it was pretty good, but I don't think I enjoyed it as much as I hoped because I have already seen the movie (both versions) and have read the book.

Today, I listened to H.G Wells - War Of The Worlds and absolutely loved it.
Even though I have seen the various versions in movie form, listened to Jeff Wayne's musical version a bazillion times and have read parts of the book, I still found the audio book really enjoyable.
It's a great story and that obviously helps, but I think the thing that makes the audio book such a good experience in this case is that the original story is pretty much narrated to you by the main character and this translates well in audio form as you can hear him (well, a voice actor) telling you what's happening.

I have a few DR Who, Red Dwarf and Stephen King audio books here, so I'm looking forward to them in the near future and it's a pretty good way to pass time at work too. The shifts seem to go faster.:dD

Does anyone know of any places which have them to legally download for free?

[Groggypoo]

I only listen to things read by Stephen Fry.

Or Tony Hawks.

[Zer0]

I wouldn't mind downloading a couple of audio books. I've never really read books, but don't mind a couple of audio books to pass the time. How much are they and where do you buy them from exactly?

[Livvie7586]

i've never listened to one, but thought of buying memoirs of a geisha a few years ago

[femme fatale]

I only listen to things read by Stephen Fry.
Really? You might like this one (http://www.audible.co.uk/aduk/site/blankPage.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&rule=rule9) then. ;)

[Hermit]

Does anyone listen to audio books at all?
Do you dislike them as it's just not the same as reading a book?
Do you prefer them as it's more convenient than reading a book?
ABC National Radio has 20 minute book reading sessions on weekday afternoons. The books are abridged, but I still enjoy listening to some of them. (I actually got a copy of Elizabeth Jolly's The Newspaper of Claremont Street after hearing some of it on the radio.) Sure beats listening to MacDonald ads or the usual pop music programs or the rabid talkback rants on commercial stations.

[Watcher]

Thanks Hermie. I'll check it out as I do try to listen to samples before grabbing anything and this sounds good as it will more than likely introduce me to material that I am not familiar with. :)

I only listen to things read by Stephen Fry.

I've seen a few seasons of QI, his absolute gem of a quiz show available in mp3, but they aren't official.:pirate: I'd definitely purchase them if I could find legitimate releases though.

I wouldn't mind downloading a couple of audio books. I've never really read books, but don't mind a couple of audio books to pass the time. How much are they and where do you buy them from exactly?
I didn't realize how big the market was until I started searching the other day and there are web sites everywhere.:) Haven't bought any online yet, so I can't recommend any of them though.
I have bought some from places like Target and major book stores before.
I also found a site the other day which has a huge amount of legal stuff that is free to the public and has a lot of classic stuff, but I didn't bookmark it.:rolling: I'll post a link when I find it again.

Really? You might like this one (http://www.audible.co.uk/aduk/site/blankPage.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&rule=rule9) then. ;)
Femme, darling. You know I love you and agree with a lot of your thoughts on religion, but we got your point a loooooong time ago.
I really don't like the way you used my thread in the way you did.

[femme fatale]

Sorry Watchie, it wasn't my intention to offend. I read my own books, so the one I linked to is the only audio book that I know anything about, and is recommended to those people who like the work of Stephen Fry, the actor, comedian and author groggy mentioned.

I think audio books are a great idea and it's a good topic to discuss. I'd like to pick a few up for car travel, so the recommendations are useful.


Edit: My mistake :o : Just reread the link and apparently I misunderstood. It was not recommended to those who like Stephen Fry's work. What it actually says is that those who listen to audio books like Stephen Fry's work as a narrator of audio books.

Ah well, the linked site has a large selection of audio books to read about so perhaps it will be helpful in any case. :)

[horseshoe]

I'm the first person to mention the word Podcast in this thread! :p

In other news, Librivox (http://librivox.org/newcatalog/) has a huge catalog. Some of the authors include Shakespeare, Aesop and Edgar Allan Poe.

...and although it would cost money, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy would be pretty good to have.




Reports that Geoffrey and I and the sound engineers were buried in a subterranean studio for weeks on end, taking as long to produce a single sound effect as other people took to produce an entire series (and stealing everybody else's studio time in which to do so), were all vigorously denied but absolutely true.

http://reallywildstuff.0catch.com/hhgttgGuide.html

[Lord Smelly]

http://www.abc.net.au/newsradio/podcast/

StarStuff :)

[popeye]

What sort of run time are these audio books?

[Watcher]

Depends on the story.
You can have ones like DR Who stories which might be 4 x 30 minute episodes or you have some books that can be anywhere from 8 to 30 odd hours in total.
I think I have Stephen Kings The Stand and that may be about 30 hours in total.

[popeye]

Depends on the story.
You can have ones like DR Who stories which might be 4 x 30 minute episodes or you have some books that can be anywhere from 8 to 30 odd hours in total.
I think I have Stephen Kings The Stand and that may be about 30 hours in total.

So it's basically like reading the book (eg you still get a mental image of what's going on) except the characters are read, or portrayed by different people?

[Watcher]

Again, it depends on the story.
Some, like one company who does stuff like Dr Who are full on productions where they have all the music, sound effects and different actors playing the roles of the characters. It pretty much like having the tv on and having your eyes closed. :D

Others have just the one person reading and these people are experienced at doing it as they change the tone of their voice according to what's going on and you still get that mental image of the characters, locations and what is going on.

[popeye]

Again, it depends on the story.
Some, like one company who does stuff like Dr Who are full on productions where they have all the music, sound effects and different actors playing the roles of the characters. It pretty much like having the tv on and having your eyes closed. :D

Others have just the one person reading and these people are experienced at doing it as they change the tone of their voice according to what's going on and you still get that mental image of the characters, locations and what is going on.

Thanks. I might have to get one to listen to in the work ute when I'm driving around.