Talking Books have me by the ears

While the masses move on to Kindles and electronic reading devices, I dip my toe into the world of audio books. It started with Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. I freely admit that I’m obsessed with Gabaldon’s characters, Jamie and Claire and their entire family. But when I heard Devina Porter’s voice they absolutely came to life.

Another aspect of audio books gives me the freedom to sit and knit or sew, or fold laundry if I must truly do chores while remaining in the book’s world. I’ve gotten so accustomed to audio books that I find it awkward to pick up a book because I can’t hold my knitting needles as the same time.

Now that I’ve found this wonder land, I’m finding there are pitfalls – books and voices that don’t invite me in quite as completely and delightfully as Devina and the Outlander series. Thankfully, on Audible.com I can pre-listen to an excerpt to see if the book, reader and I are compatible. Almost like that E-Harmony dating service – or so I’ve heard.

Perhaps I am a purist, but I only want to listen to unabridged books, which means not a single word has been omitted. The abridged versions may be fine, but not for me. And as a writer, I would like to think that what I write requires every word I’ve included. Outlander has approximately 32 CDs for the one book – I thought that daunting, but once immersed in the story, the action flies by much too quickly and 32 CDs just means I get to spend more time with Jamie and Claire.

One book I can highly recommend, in addition to all of the Gabaldon books read by Devina, is Vanishing Acts written by Jodi Picoult from Recorded Books .

I’ve read Picoult in the ‘old fashioned’ way and thoroughly adored her writing. She has this magical way of twining such fascinating subjects together – magic and search and rescue and love triangles and alcoholism and fathers and childhood memories – in this book at least. I always learn something when reading her books and while listening to Vanishing Acts, I truly appreciated Picoult’s talent. Not every book was made to be read aloud. Hers works exceptionally well and the pace was perfect because it is a book that requires some thought, some mulling over and the slower pace of the readers words worked perfectly with my brain’s timing. The readers are: Jonathan Davis, Julia Gibson, Jim Jenner, Robert Ramirez and Sharon Washington.

I have also enjoyed an audio book of one of Lillian Jackson Braun’s Cat Who mystery series read by George Guidall. If you visit Amazon.com and click onto George’s name or any narrator/reader’s name, you’ll find a list of other works they have recorded. Guidall also has narrated: Extreme Measures and other novels by Vince Flynn, The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks, Night by Elie Wiesel, and Wolves of the Calla and several other novels by Stephen King.

Friends have made some suggestions. One recommended Barbara Kingsolver reading her own works. (Poisonwood Bible, etc.) Another, who can only listen to nonfiction and must read fiction gladly suggested Devil in the White City by Erik Larson, but didn’t mention who did the reading. I suspect it was Scott Brick. Scott has gotten rave reviews by a few other friends, too. He narrates along with a cast of other voices the sci-fi classic Dune by Frank Herbert.

I also asked for recommendations from members of my favorite mystery list: DorothyL which resulted in an interesting discussion of readers as well as suggested listening. Someone offered the Ian Rankin Rebus series, but couldn’t remember the reader’s name. I believe it is James Macpherson.

Joe Mantegna’s reading of the Spenser series written by Robert. B. Parker received several positive comments. One member mentioned that, “ Mantegna captures the poetic rhythm that Parker writes into his dialog.”

Also anything read by Barbara Rosenblatt got a thumbs up. She reads among other things the Lisa Scottoline, Linda Fairstein, Sarah Graves and Diane Mott Davidson mysteries.

Other recommended readers:

Dick Hill

Phil Gigante (reads Karen Moning’s Beyond the Highland Mist)

Jeff Woodman

John McDonough who reads Jan Karon’s Mitford series.

One that might be a real winner during the Christmas season – Charles Dicken’s classic A Christmas Carol as read by Orson Welles.

If still in doubt who to listen to, check out the awards list. Yes, in addition to Emmys and Edgars, Golden Globes and Tonys, there are Audies – awarded by the Audio Publishers Association. The 2008 winners list offers an opportunity read an excerpt and of course listen as well. Audio File Magazine offers reviews as well as excerpts. I listened to Sue Monk Kidd’s “Secret Life of Bees” – I think its one I would want to listen to from beginning to end. A brief listen to Xanthe Elbrick’s reading of Kathleen Woodiwiss’s Everlasting leaves me entranced by her delightful voice. And listen to some of the children’s books. Jessica Almasay’s narration of Clementine by Sara Pennypacker is especially fun. Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci invited me right into The One and Only Shrek by William Steig and I was bereft when the excerpt ended. I am afraid that this may be the next book I must download.

Most public libraries have a healthy collection of audio books including some classics I haven’t been able to wade through the ‘old fashioned’ way, but maybe by listening and knitting my way through them, I can find a better way to appreciate the old masters. And I can’t think of a more exciting adventure than to give voice to some of my old favorites – Little Women by Louisa May Alcott or Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte or….

Of course you can listen to them anywhere now that Ipods and MP3 players are the norm. Downloads of audio books are readily available. In your car, on a walk, in a plane, or while munching celery stalks (poetry is not my forte) – you get the picture. One person suggested downloading several books on her electronic device, changing the titles so that censors and customs and border police can’t discern that they are contraband and take them along on news assignments or vacation. Much lighter to transport than the paper and ink books. And obviously much easier to smuggle. Now, that’s an aspect of audio books you may not have considered….