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Archive for audiobook

The Women of the Copper Country book cover

Review: The Women of the Copper Country

By Jan
 on February 27, 2020

The Women of the Copper Country

The Women of the Copper Country book coverAuthor: Mary Doria Russell;
Genre: Historical fiction;
Format: Audiobook;
Narrator: Cassandra Campbell;
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio (2019);
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars (4 / 5).

Ancestors of mine were copper miners in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, so I was excited to read this one. This was a character study of several people involved in a mine strike in Houghton County, Michigan in 1913. The main character was Annie Clements, a miner’s wife who did everything she could to help her community and make life better for the miners and their families.

The story was well-written and the characters were interesting. I got bogged down in the middle of the long strike and the struggles of the townsfolk and I skipped some of the second half, but it was an interesting story of early labor struggles and there were several side stories. For anyone interested in early labor union history of the United States, this would be a great read.

As many other listeners of the audiobook have mentioned, the narrator mispronounced several place names, which was distracting. Otherwise she did a good job, but shouldn’t you ask first before you try to pronounce names?

In categories Audiobooks, Book Review, Historical Novel Tagged with audiobook, Mary Doria Russell
audiobook

All About Audiobooks

By Jan
 on August 14, 2019

audiobookListening to a book read by someone else is quite a different experience than reading it yourself. I’ll tell you why I love audiobooks and why you should try one.


A few years ago, my older brother, Dennis, died quite suddenly. I handled it well, I think, but internalized some of the feelings and had a lot of trouble sleeping. That is when I really started depending on audiobooks. They kept my mind occupied and entertained instead of dwelling too much on my sorrow.

I had listened to audiobooks before and enjoyed most of them. They are especially helpful during a migraine episode, when my eyes need a break but my mind still wants to stay active. Reading has always been a huge part of my life, and I grew tired of “wasting” the time when my eyes couldn’t help me.

Audiobooks can also make commutes and road trips go much faster and can greatly increase the edutainment value. The same goes for those who do repetitive tasks at work or at home; many audio buddies listen while doing housework and while working out.

THE RETENTION QUESTION

Before bed, I sometimes play an easy card game at the same time or browse Pinterest—visual-only pastimes that didn’t take my attention away from the book . . . much.

“People who say they can’t concentrate on an audio book as well as a paper one are likely overlooking the fact that we are more likely to multitask while listening to audio books than while reading regular books.”
~Olga Khazan, Is Listening to Audio Books Really the Same as Reading? Forbes.com, September 12, 2011

“Reading a physical book and listening to the audiobook are two different paths that lead to the same destination. Each creates differing experiences and memories, but neither is better or worse than the other.” ~Dana Lee, Audiobooks Vs Reading: The Rules Are, There Are No Rules, BookRiot.com, July 10, 2018

“However, a final factor may tip the comprehension and retention scales firmly in favor of reading, and that’s the issue of multitasking..” ~Markham Heid, Are Audiobooks As Good For You As Reading? Here’s What Experts Say, Time.com, September 6, 2018

REVIEWING AUDIOBOOKS

Needless to say, I’ve listened to quite a few books. Most were excellent, but just like print or e-books, some were flops. It’s very worthwhile to write a review so other potential listeners know whether you liked a book or not and WHY. I want to know, for instance, if a book contains a lot of sex, violence, or foul language; I’m no prude, but I choose books based on my mood (and I don’t like surprises).

No one expects a 3000-word masterpiece from us normal listeners. Even a short sentence that warns others is valuable, whether it’s about a poor narrator, a lack of character development, or bad sound engineering. On the other hand, if the book exceeded your expectations, that’s great to know, too. Maybe I’ll enjoy it for the same reasons.

It’s different—make that harder—to review an audiobook. Why? With a print book or an e-book, one normally reviews the story and plot, the skill of the writing, the character development, the pacing, the editing, and more.

When creating an audiobook review, the writing critique is the same, but a large part of the review should also be about the narrator’s work. It’s no exaggeration to say that no matter the quality of the writing itself, the narrator can make or break the enjoyment of an audiobook. Always—ALWAYS—listen to a sample of a book before purchasing; it might save you from a painful listening experience.

WHY I LOVE THEM

I continue to listen to books, although I also read both print and e-books. I still enjoy the audiobooks the most, however, because it’s kind of like a cross between a movie and a book. The narrator’s talent can bring stories alive, even more than you can in your imagination while reading.

Why? When you read text to yourself, you are using your own voice (See “prosody”), including the pitch, emphasis, and rhythm. While listening to the same text, however, you hear someone else’s prosody—their interpretation of that text using their voice.

That includes character accents, of course, which can be great or, occasionally, awful. Trained actors can be very creative and their use of accents for different characters is usually delightful.

Pacing, too, is different than your own reading speed. When a narrator reads slowly, it gives your brain more time to soak up the meaning of the words and create feelings from that experience. Never fear, however; most audiobook software allows some adjustment for speed. Also, you can easily “rewind” a digital audiobook if you need to repeat a particular passage.

FICTION VS NON-FICTION

Some people might think “lite” fiction is the ideal genre for audiobooks because they either don’t want to “work” while listening or they are afraid they wouldn’t comprehend heavier material. I would suggest you try an audiobook in the same genre as you would normally read. After all, how else can you compare what’s normal for you?

I have listened to quite a few non-fiction audiobooks and haven’t had any trouble understanding and/or remembering the material. There have been studies, especially with children, that insist some people are visual learners while others are auditory learners. But I found just as much research (in an admittedly quick search) saying that it seldom matters; most people tend to comprehend at the same level regardless of the input medium.

I do have a bunch of The Teaching Company’s The Great Courses in audio, and a recent one included a lot of historical names that I would have had to research in order to pronounce them correctly. In this case, I didn’t have to; the professor did it for me, which was an added benefit.

WHERE TO GET THEM

Audible logo

There are several great sources of audiobooks that I have used a lot. The “big guy” is Audible, now a part of Amazon. The main ways I obtain audiobooks from Audible are:

  • Whispersync for Voice on Amazon.com
  • Audible Daily Deal
  • Audible membership

Whispersync Whispersync examplecombines Kindle ebooks and Audible audiobooks into one package. You can read the ebook and switch to the audiobook and back again, never losing your place in the book. Many (but not all) Kindle ebooks include this option.

Add the audiobook

Purchase the Kindle ebook at Amazon.com and check the box to add the audiobook. Prices for the narrations range from about $2 to $15. However, that is usually much less expensive than purchasing the audiobook alone at Audible, and thus can be a great way to try some audiobooks.

Daily Deal at Audible.comThe Audible Daily Deal is a wonderful feature. Sign up for a (FREE) account at Audible and then choose to receive the Daily Deal email message (every morning) in your account preferences. Prices range from $1.95 to $7.95 each and they offer quite a variety.

Memberships at Audible.com come with some nice benefits. With a monthly Gold membership, I get one audiobook per month for my $14.99 membership fee, but also have taken advantage of some wonderful sales. Additionally, member prices to purchase more audiobooks are 30% lower. There’s a free trial, too.

Using the above methods, I have acquired quite a collection of audiobooks. As of this writing, I have 742 audiobooks in my Amazon Audible library (and that doesn’t include the ones I’ve borrowed from the library or gotten from other sources).

MORE SOURCES

LibriVox logo

Another way to get audiobooks—this time for free—is from LibriVox. These are books in the public domain that are read and recorded by volunteers. Obviously, you won’t see any new bestsellers here, but I’m sure I don’t have to tell you the benefits of the classics. I have found some wonderful reads here that I would not normally have seen. However, the quality of the narrators varies widely; use that caveat wisely.

Other membership sites like Audible:

  • Audiobooks.com
  • Apple iTunes Audiobooks
  • Google Play Audiobooks (Android, iOS, and computers)
  • Simply Audiobooks (rent books on CD)
  • Audiobooks Now
  • Scribd
  • Downpour
  • Kobo (Rakuten kobo)
  • BookLender (rent books on CD)

And don’t forget about your public library! Start with Overdrive, Libby, or Hoopla and find audiobook-lending libraries near you. I’m saving quite a bit of money this year by using the local library—completely online, from home—to borrow audiobooks (and ebooks).

Please let me know if you know of other sources for audiobooks and/or relate your experience with audiobooks. I also look forward to hearing from you after you listen to your first audiobook!

In categories Audiobooks, Reading Tagged with amazon, audible, audiobook, librivox, public library
Once Upon a River cover

Review: Once Upon a River

By Jan
 on February 1, 2019

Once Upon a River

Once Upon a River coverAuthor: Diane Setterfield;
Genre: Literary fiction (Novel) with Magical Realism;
Format: Audiobook;
Narrator: Juliet Stevenson;
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio (2018);
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars (4 / 5).

This was a highly-anticipated work of fiction from the author of “The Thirteenth Tale,” a very popular gothic novel from 2006. That work has always been a favorite of mine, so I jumped at the chance to read this one. That was also the case because Juliet Stevenson is a fabulous narrator, and I knew she wouldn’t disappoint.

The description reads, in part: “Once Upon a River is a glorious tapestry of a book that combines folklore and science, magic and myth. Suspenseful, romantic, and richly atmospheric, the beginning of this novel will sweep you away on a powerful current of storytelling, transporting you through worlds both real and imagined, to the triumphant conclusion whose depths will continue to give up their treasures long after the last page is turned.” I agree with all of this and could never come up with a better description.

This is, above all, a very British novel; it hasn’t been “translated” for Americans and that is the way it should be. It’s also a slow read, meaning there isn’t much action and certainly no adventure. The characters are varied and most are interesting, although not all are likable. The way the several stories flow together (like a river) is clever, and the ending is very satisfactory while leaving enough for your imagination to think about afterward.

I am very glad to have listened to this story as read by Stevenson, who voices the characters in distinct accents and tones, and whose pacing is impeccable.

This is a novel for adults. Not because there is excessive violence, sex, or foul language, but the nuances of the story are definitely targeted to those with experience in life and love.

©2019 Jan McClintock
In categories Audiobooks, Book Review, Modern Fiction Tagged with audiobook, novel
The Wretched of Muirwood cover

Review: The Wretched of Muirwood

By Jan
 on June 7, 2016

The Wretched of Muirwood coverThe Wretched of Muirwood
Author: Jeff Wheeler;
Narrator: Kate Rudd;
Genre: Fantasy;
Format: Audiobook;

This is a fairly typical YA fantasy where an orphan girl is raised as a servant but discovers something special about herself. It’s quite a slow read, actually, because not much actually happens for a while. Most of the magic system is obscure, at least in this first book. So much goes on that is supposed to be mysterious that it was just annoying after a while.

The protagonist, Lia, is engaging to a point but does not follow rules and ignores advice. She is supposed to be an independent, strong character, I assume, but she seemed quite selfish at times and did stupid things, even when she knew better. Colvin, the squire who stumbles into her life, is mostly useless, at least in this volume. Several other characters are more interesting, including Pasqua, the abbey cook, and the scary Sheriff who hunts for Lia and Colvin.

The writing was quite good, including fine descriptions of the medieval-like world. The plot, as I said, was a little slow, but this was not an action-packed story. The narration was fine, although Ms. Rudd gave Pasqua a very irritating voice. Otherwise, pacing was good and accents were distinctive.

This is volume one of a trilogy, The Legends of Muirwood, and you need to continue the story to reach any conclusions; The ending is not a cliff-hanger but doesn’t resolve any issues.

No bad language, no sex, some violence; suitable for tweens and teens

In categories Audiobooks, Book Review, Fantasy Tagged with audiobook
Mrs Queen Takes the Train cover

Review: Mrs Queen Takes the Train

By Jan
 on June 1, 2016

Mrs Queen Takes the Train coverMrs Queen Takes the Train
Author: William Kuhn;
Narrator: Simon Prebble;
Genre: Novel;
Format: Audiobook (Dreamscape Media, LLC, 2012);

This is a silly romp through a fantasy world where Queen Elizabeth suffers from depression and decides on a whim to scamper off to Scotland alone to visit an old friend. Setting aside the ridiculous premise, it does touch the heart on many points, including the evolving values of a contemporary monarchy, class distinctions, friendship, love, and loss, aging, modern warfare, and even homosexuality (let’s jump on the bandwagon, for heaven’s sake).

The story is told in both real time and flashbacks and from various points of view, including the queen herself, several members of her household, and even an engaging local cheese-shop employee who tries to help; Rashid is definitely my favorite character.

As always, Simon Prebble’s narration is a treasure. His pacing and tones are perfect and his accents are great fun.

There are several laugh-out-loud incidences and the book obviously doesn’t take itself too seriously. That’s good, because even depressed, the queen would poo-poo this bit of fluff.

In categories Audiobooks, Book Review, Modern Fiction Tagged with audiobook
Earth Abides cover

Review: Earth Abides

By Jan
 on December 26, 2014

Earth Abides by George R. Stewart

Earth Abides coverGenre: science-fiction, apocalyptic
Format: Audio

This book starts out like many other end-of-times novels. A terrible disease has quickly wiped out most of humanity, leaving very few alive. The technique the author uses to lead the main character to discovery is very clever, and I was hooked.

The book is a little dated, as it was first published in 1949. Just keep that in mind when you read about the technology and language from that time.

The hero, Isherwood Williams—“Ish”–is no superman, but rather an academic with little practical knowledge of how to survive. Most of the characters in the book are the same. Fate is fickle and some are better suited than others to make it. Ish is not particularly lovable, and I wondered whether I would care enough about him to make the story worthwhile. He shows, in fact, little emotion over the deaths of his own family. He has been a loner and observer and those traits will serve him well.

The beginning of the story was very good, and as we travel with Ish as he explores what used to be America, it was exciting. The middle of the book became quite slow and drawn out, however. It happens in one location and over a period of many years. Ish becomes the founder of a family dynasty, and although this is very important to the plot, I felt it was too long. By the end of the book, however, as Ish reflects on history, his family, and the current world, it was very moving. This isn’t an action story, but rather contains a lot of introspection on how the world has changed and how the people adapted to it, from a man who lived before and after and who has given it a tremendous amount of thought.

The writing was beautiful and Stewart uses his powers of description to perfection. First person narratives succeed as long as the reader can relate to the character. Ish, as a keen observer of others and of his environment, is a great narrator.

The story is neither tragic (though tragedies occur) nor joyful (though happiness is shown), overall. Rather, it is a story of normal people living through an unstable time. The end was a little sad, but not for the usual reasons. I can say no more without spoilers.

I listened to the Audible version of the book, and narrator Jonathan Davis did an excellent job. The introduction from Connie Willis was very interesting, too.

Highly recommended for those who don’t need superheroes to carry the story. The intellectual aspects will stay with me for a long time, I’m sure.

In categories Book Review, Science-fiction Tagged with audible, audiobook, science-fiction