Lately I’ve been addicted to audiobooks. It’s nice to have something to focus on when you’re stuck in traffic or doing the dishes or binding a quilt. At the same time, I’ve been a little let down by my reading selection. I know I should look back to what others recommended before, but I need a sure fire winner. I’m looking for not just something that you think I might like, I’m talking your favorite book, or one that just blew your mind.
On the other hand, even if I don’t like a book as much as I’d hoped, I’ve been enjoying rating and reviewing things on Goodreads. There I can actually give reason behind why I didn’t like a book or why I did, plus others’ reviews help me choose my next book.
Of the books I recently listened to above, I enjoyed The Red Garden and Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking. I am a big fan of Alice Hoffman so The Red Garden was easy to love. Quiet was really interesting, especially as a person who is extremely introverted. It highlighted all the talents of introverted people, but it didn’t really lend any advice to fitting in to the real world. Mostly I really enjoyed learning the history of how extroversion became popularized in American culture.
On the other end of the spectrum, I hated A Discovery of Witches. I only got this one because it was on sale and seemed decent but it was awful all the way through. It grosses me out how mediocre writing is celebrated these days. I demand new ideas! I demand editing! I’m only posting this book as a warning so you do not make the same mistake I did.
I also tried out two books by Jeffrey Eugenides. I have always been a fan of The Virgin Suicides
so when The Marriage Plot was released I thought I’d give it a go. I suppose these days I’m maybe too aware of feminist issues for this book to work for me. I wonder if this book also was negatively affected for me by a mediocre audio production. Maybe I’ve just outgrown Eugenides as an author. In any case, I wasn’t a fan of this. Middlesex on the other hand was so highly recommended that I thought maybe it would cleanse my palate. It was certainly better but I think I had the wrong idea about it going in. I did really enjoy about two thirds of the novel, but there was one third that dragged on and nearly made me lose interest in the book entirely.
Ok, so what’s the most awesome of awesome books because I need a real winner right now? What do you think about audiobooks, are you a fan?
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I’ve been doing the same! I realized I wasn’t reading enough and had all this TIME to listen (being a graphic designer with 7 or so hours at my listening disposal). I’m pretty picky when it comes to audiobooks….totally hypersensitive to awkward or overly theatrical narrators. Totally prefer when the authors read it themselves (Anthony Bourdain, Malcom Gladwell, Elizabeth Gilbert are good at this). Bossypants by Tina Fey is best listened too, cause there are fun extras and sounds you can’t get when reading. Also, kids books I never have read like Wizard of Oz have been fun. Happy listening!
One of my fave book has to be Secrets of Crickley Hall by James Herbert. 🙂 It is a “horror” and used to keep me up all night it was that scary AND I RARELY get scared. haha
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Herbert
Personally I’ve never really used Audio books too expensive. lol But I’m looking into purchasing Harry Potter und der Stein der Weisen for my German studies. 🙂
They are often expensive, but I’ve been listening through Audible.com and have found many reasonably priced books, which is nice.
Thanks for the recommendation, I love scary novels. Scary anything actually.
I don’t remember if we’ve discussed The Book Thief before…it was one of those can’t put it down/sneak it at my desk books for me. I read that 7 or 8 years ago and still recommend it highly. Recently, I absolutely and utterly loved The Fault in Our Stars, which I did listen to in audio book format that I borrowed from the library. It is, in my opinion, spectacular. Sad, but spectacular. Now that I think of it, The Book Thief also has an element of sadness. The writing of each, though, is magical.
P.S. I also enjoyed The Red Garden!
Oh I will definitely check both of these out!
We have been LOVING the “His Dark Materiels series” (The Golden Compass, etc, by Phillip Pullman). He reads them aloud but there are actors who read most of the main parts. It’s a true treat, especially the first one. Fantasy, other worlds, and also delightful characters. I read the books when I was a kid, so it was a treat to come back to, but Donnie has never read them before and he’s loving it too!
I’ve been listening to audiobooks lately too! I sort of forgot they existed for a while. And then one day while I was thinking about how I have too many hobbies, I realized I could maximize my fun time with audiobooks! Right now I’m just listening to Harry Potter (I’m on book 3, I’ve still never seen any of the movies but I figured I should read the books so I wouldn’t be the only person in the world who hadn’t read them.) I’m not sure if you like Mindy Kaling, but I read her autobiography and it made me laugh, I’m sure her audiobook would be hilarious. I also want to listen to Michael Ian Black’s “You’re Not Doing It Right” I like autobiographies and fun/easy reads. Anyway I’m going to go add you on Goodreads!
First of all I love audiobooks, although I am now living + working together with my boyfriend + riding to work with a collegue, so there is nearly no more spare time where I could listen to them :-/ I listened to Twilight before I heard about the movie and really enjoyed it!
My all time favourite book (series) are the Sword of Truth of Terry Goodkind. At least the 2 first books you HAVE to read; they made me think so much about life, wisdom, love + told me so many lessons… I cried 1/4th of the book + lived together with the characters for month!
All the best,
Steffi
Never really considered audio books… but I think I may just try this out.
I also love Alice Hoffman! I recently discovered Kate Morton- I’ve read The Forgotten Garden, and I’m working on The House at Riverton. If you like historical fiction check her out, as well as anything by Tracy Chevalier 🙂