Are books a different experience if they are audio? If so recommended one to me please!

[PureBloodMuggle]

My library is now offering audio books to download and I've just realised that I can put in on my not-an-iPod-MP3 player.

Think it'd be quite nice to be able to read a book on the commute to work but usually can't as I'm to squished in between (for some reason very tall) people!

Anyway my question is that I'm pretty sure that listening to a book is different from actually reading it so, in my logic, asking for a recommendation of an audio book would be different to one that might be read

Could be off the wall there!!!

I like all sorts of books, to give an idea the last five I read were;

One Day by David Nicholls
Lies by Micheal Grant (actually a book for teenagers!!)
Nothing to Lose by Lee Child (who I had thought was a woman for some reason )
This Charming Man by Marian Keyes
Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

and I'm currently reading A Study in Scarlet (Sherlock Holmes)

So any recommendations for an audio book for me to try out?

No recommendations, but I love to listen to audio books with DS! We are currently listening to A Wrinkle in Time read by the author herself, and it's lovely.

Sorry, kind of a pointless post! :)

They do have children's audio books avalible too to download (also have a mountain in the actually library!!) but if I let DS know that it's avaiable my MP3 will be nicked off me forever!!!

I don't know Wrinkle in Time - off to check it out!

Pure You have raised a point that I have been wondering about! I am doing a lot of driving and got fed up with the radio and bored with my music CDs so went into the library and have started listerning to audiobooks and am now addicted!! Found myself sitting in the car outside my house, cold, just so I could listern to another chapter!
Have just finished Margaret Atwood Alias Grace which was excellent and am currently on Andrea Levey's The Long Song which I am racing through! Also enjoyed On Green Dolphin Street (Sebastian Faulkes) and Music and Silence (Rose Tremain).

Am I missing out by listerning rather than reading? i don't thinks so - its an opportunity to enjoy more books!!

Anyone else enjoy audio books as I am always looking for recommendations!

Not sure they are for me!!

Got one and listened to it on the way to and from work which worked fine except I kept bumping into people I knew (not in car but on public transport) and they talked to me. Tsk. So I tried listening to it when I was in bed (can't listen downstairs as we've only one room and I'm married to a TV addict) and kept falling asleep during it!!

However I'll try another as I won't write them off after one experience

my favourite audiobook's a bit random - Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy
Main reason that it's read by Stephen Fry. Need I say more?

Actually I don't think you do - when i was trying to choose a book from the online library I was able to listen to the first part of everyone and have to say the voice was a massive part

Some of the readers have voices that went right through me!!

I tried audiobooks once on the long bus ride to work, but kept falling asleep and missing crucial bits. I'm thinking of trying them again though. I'd argue that you might be missing out in the sense that sometimes it's nice to linger over/reread great writing, and it doesn't come across quite the same aurally. On the other hand, if you choose things read by people with brilliant reading skills/sexy voices that's a bonus!

Oooh I'm off to see if Alan Rickman has read any books!!!

Bingo!!

The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy

Right this one will be by second attempt

PureBlood, www.audioeditions.com/audiobook-reader.aspx?readerfull=alan+rickman

Worth putting up with boring depressing Thomas Hardy for!

BringBack Thank you for that link - Alan Rickman! I too will put up with Hardy for him!
Have to admit I have hated one or two books read by people with grating American accents and now look to see who the reader is (there is usually a little bio of reader and author on the back of the case).

I'm with you on the grating accent gailforce - I did wonder if they spent a long time trawling the whole of the USA to find the most skin crawling ones to read!!!

I shall download that book this evening and if i don't like the actual story I shall simply be able to revel in Alan's voice...

oooo download onto an mp3 player..tell me more.

How much room does an ordinary book take up?

How long does it take to download?

Do you download it in one go or by chapters?

Can you easily find where you left off when returning to hear more?

Thanks

I've only done it once goodbyemrschips but it's something my local library has started offering. They have a big selection of audio books online that can be 'borrowed' (downloaded)

It's great - each one lasts for three weeks (or whatever time period I choose - longest is three weeks) after which it expires. The audio book is counted as 1 item on my library card.

Every book in the online library has little symbols next to it which tell me if it's sutible for (PC, MAC, burning CD, WMA, MP3 or iPOD)

The when I first used it I had to download load 'Overdrive Media Console' on to my pc. Once this was on all i had to do was browse the online library select a book, but the book into my 'digital basket' (when I do this I'm prompted to enter my library card number)

It took a few mins to download and then once it's downloaded I can attach my MP3 and there is an option to copy it across on the Overdrive Media Console.

I can't tell you how much room it took up as I didn't check (deleted it now) but I'll check with the next one.

The Steig Larsson Millenium Trilogy were utterly amazing in audio. I adore audiobooks, now 'read' 50% of my books on audio. Listening to the Secret History by Donna Tartt at the mo.

I've done lots of downloading onto my ipod - some via audible, some itunes, some from CD. Easy, honestly.

My vote usually goes with the reader rather than the title, tbh. I have (and regularly listen to) the Terry Pratchet books, fantastic. When I've done the whole 'Hitchikers' set of course

Speaking of good voices: www.amazon.co.uk/Casanova-Venetian-Years-Memoirs-Giacomo/dp/1904605567/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1303288323&sr=1-1

Hubba hubba. Apparently he read Metamorphosis for Radio 7 a while ago as well, but I can't find a link.

Ilove what order do the Steig Larsson books run in?
Thanks.

I listen to a ton of audio books. It really depends on who the narrator is for me. I've just listened to a few books that I've read [quite a few years ago] but loved listening in audio to catch up on the plot ready for the latest book. My audio library is an eclectic mix. By far my favourite audio book series is Harry Potter, narrated by Stephen Fry. I am currently listening to one I haven't read before and the narrator is awful. I have 8 hours left to listen and not sure I can be bothered. Our library has also started offering audiobooks to check out. Audible allow you to listen to a sample of the book before buying and I find that handy to test how annoying a narrator can be.

I listened to Moll Flanders on audio book and really enjoyed it. Can't remember who read it unfortunately, but I just borrowed it from the library.