Anyone with audible?

[Gumnast2014]

Must say I do like audible.

I listen on the long commute to work and really grateful for it.

But I know have a stack of 8 to go and lots of credits to spend.

If you cancel do you loose all your books?

I've just joined and am part way through The Book Thief. I love it because I have been finding I'm too tired to read at night. I listen while running.

I was using overdrive with my library, but there was nothing ever there I wanted to listen to.

I listen on my phone, on my tablet and on my computer if no one else is around.
I've just gone back to my library to see what else Ive especially enjoyed and I'd like to add 'The Girl With All The Gifts' and Mr Mercedes' to my recommendations.

Have just had an email from Audible announcing a Halloween horror/crime thriller sale - selected books at £5.99 each. I'm not tempted this time, but is does look quite a good selection.

When they have these sales I don't use my credits on them, but buy them in addition. I got Americanah in one of their sales a couple of months ago.

Have a look at your local library. Many now have audio books that can be downloaded over the Internet just like the paid for service, but for FREE!

This is only true for some libraries. Dorset does audiobooks and I borrow from there as well as using Audible only for the books I can't borrow but Wiltshire doesn't - only ebooks. I'm lucky I can borrow from both.

My favourite narrator is Diana Bishop - I discovered her reading Patricia Wentworth's detective stories, but next month I'm going to get Anya Seton's Katherine (24 hours worth!). I always listen to the samples, because I think the narrator can make or break an audio book, but they don't always live up to the sample - I had to return a Georgette Heyer mystery because I hated the narrator so much.

I completely agree with you Rusty. A narrator can make or break the listening experience. I prefer male narrators, wherever possible purely because I find a concentrate more when listening whereas with female narrators I have more of a tendency to drift and then have to rewind. No idea why, just me I suppose :o

I'm still trying to decide what to spend this month's credit on. It's been sitting there for two weeks and I just can't decide. Tempted to start C J Sansom's Shardlake series, but also thinking about a couple of Murakami novels. Or maybe The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters, but that's narrated by Juliet Stevenson, and I'm not that keen on her narration. Too many decisions :)

I not a ......

I love Audible. I use it to 'read' the big classics that I know I will never get around to.
I just listened to The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins, it was read by Ian Holm and it was MARVELLOUS. I loved it. His reading was just amazing.
I also listened to the Barsetshire Chronicles which were so good.
There is something about having a meaty classic read to you that takes away that feeling you want to poke your eyes out when you get to massive bits of the books you can't be bothered with, you can just tune your head out a bit.
Also loved The woman who Went to Bed for a Year.

Make sure you like the reader, listen to the clips, some voices will grate. Juliet Stephenson is good as is Timothy West (natch)

My favourite recent purchase is Little Lies by Lianne Morriaty. Funny, tragic with a whodunnit and who is dead thrown in.

Just finished Blood Line by Lynda La Plante. Gripping could not put my ear phones down!
Free from my Library (London Libraries Consortium)

My latest favourite 1Q84.
46 hours of pure joy!

I'm an Audible addict! I'm on the 12 month 24 credits plan. You CAN RETURN books you don't like and you can also rollover credits. When I get down to one credit I buy three more for £11.

I have sent many a book back for dreadful narration; I agree that it really enhances/detracts from the experience.

One of my favourite audiobooks is Gillespie and I, narrated by Anna Bentinck who is a fabulous narrator.

I've just listened to After Before, which I recommend.

I used this month's credit on Colorless Tsukuru and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami. I'm about a third of the way through and, whilst the story is great, the narration is very flat. I won't send it back, because I'm enjoying the story but it really could have been read a lot better than this.

staple - I listened to the sample of 1Q84 and really liked it. I was really torn between getting that and Colorless Tsukuru. In the end I decided to buy the kindle edition of 1Q84 instead.

Not sure what to get next month. So much choice. Maybe The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters.

DuchessofMalfi - try Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier if you don't know it

I preferred 1Q84 to Colorless Tsukuru

I am going to try Norwegian Wood as well

I meant I listened to both books by Murakami.

staple - I read Norwegian Wood last year and loved it. I did borrow an audio version of it from the library as well but didn't like the American narrator's voice. There may be a better version available from Audible though. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did

Looking forward to 1Q84.

Rebecca is a wonderful story, isn't it? I love it. Not listened to an audio version though, so may add to the wish list.

Am thinking of telling Audible the quality of their recording of Colorless Tsukuru isn't up to standard. Might return for refund after all. The narrator just sounds bored, flat, no intonation.

Thinking about it 1Q84 is flattish at points but there are 3 narrators - so that I think made difference.
Amazing that 1Q84 was translated by 2 different people! I am really impressed that there's consistency in how the book "feels" regardless of that through t's entirety.

Rebecca was read by late Mary Wesley. I was thinking of trying one of other books she narrated - maybe some of Jane Austin I haven't read. I think voice and dramatisation by the reading author indeed makes big difference.

I also enjoyed The Goldfinch.
I have few more waiting for me but for instance - started The Luminaries few times and my brain just switches itself off! Teen I can't concentrate. I will give it another go but if I am unsuccessful when doing nothing but listening I will return it.

I am now onto the last Simon Serrailer book and am anticipating a book (series?) hangover. :(
What can I listen to that will cheer me up?

I finished Colorless Tsukuru yesterday. Whilst I liked the story I thought the narration was very flat and dull. He sounded bored. I returned it for a refund and told Audible that was the reason.

Five - how about something by David Sedaris? I love his books and they always cheer me up.

There's a code in the Radio Times for next week to get this for free Six Degrees of Assassination. I started listening to it today and it's not bad all. Helped while away a couple of hours long walk this morning :)

I loved Murakami's Wind up Bird Chronicle, which I read, but I didn't enjoy 1Q84, I'm afraid. I had very high expectations at the start. But it's sooo long (I got the unabridged version!) and the story is frankly bizarre in places. Very cool female lead character though!

So is it 7.99'permmonthnand for that you get just one book? That seems a bit pricey imo or am I missing something. I'd love to listen to stories when walking so it definitely interested.

When you look at the price of some of the audio books, £7.99 is a good price for a monthly subscription. Average price is around £12 to £20 for an audio book otherwise.

Have you checked if your library's website does audio book loans? I borrow as well as buy from Audible.