Bright Young Things discussion

Over on discussion about the "All Quiet on the Western Front" by Erich Maria Remarque, which is part of our World War 1 Centenary, BYT 2014 Reading Challenge.....

Ally wrote: "I finished All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque on the bus on the way home from work yesterday and it was all I could do not to weep uncontrollably right there in front of everyone! It didn't help that my audio version ended with the Last Post bugle call played on Remembrance Day."

That got me thinking about the difference between listening to books and reading books.

I don't listen to many audio books. I did listen to The Road by Cormac McCarthy and that was very powerful, and - at the book's conclusion - I was wiping away a tear.

So what about you?

What differences are there for you between reading a book and listening to a book?

Which do you prefer and why?

Which books work best as a listening experience?

How important is the person reading the book?

Which audio books would you especially recommend and why?

What else to you want to say about audio books versus reading books?

I am beginning to like audio books. I used to just listen to them on long car trips. But since I got my new car which hooks up to my phone I have been getting MP3 books from the library on the phone.

I've mainly been listening to mysteries. Relatively light and you don't pay that much attention. However, I am planning to listen to the rest ofThe Guns of August, if I ever get it back, I'm either #1 or 2 on the list.

The reader does make a difference. I almost gave up on Brighton Rock because I couldn't understand the narrator half the time. And then sometimes Derek Jacobi is the reader and you can't beat that.

I love audiobooks! I got started on them in college during a children's lit class that I took when the professor highly recommended them.

I always have one going in my car, I just finished The Winter Sea and plan to start Wither next. I have a half hour commute each way, so I can make some decent progress just coming and going to work.

It does depend on the reader, but most of the time once I get used to a particular reader, I can enjoy the book. The one I almost didn't get through just because of the reader was To Kill a Mockingbird. I'd read the book, so it was a reread, but I didn't care for the woman's voice. I think there are multiple audio versions of the book, so I'm sure there are some good ones out there.

I've discovered that I really can't listen to non-fiction. Don't know why, but it doesn't work well for me. I may thumb through pages more with non-fiction, checking back for dates or names or something.

I've also found that I have more patience for character driven stories when listening to them. I typically like my books to be plot driven, but meandering around a character's thoughts, feelings, and world sits better with me when I'm listening to it.

I would highly recommend The Heretic's Daughter, Song Yet Sung and Thirteen Reasons Why on audio. The first 2, the women had such wonderful voices, I would listen to them read the phonebook. 13 Reasons Why was interesting because the plot of the book is a young man receiving a set of cassette tapes from a friend who had recently killed herself. The audiobook has a man's voice for him and a woman's voice for her tapes. It made it really compelling and even more emotional than simply reading it would have been.

If any of you are interested in trying some audiobooks, there's a free program to encourage young listeners to get into reading. They pair newer young adult books with classics. There's 1 pair per week and it's only just started. Once you download the book(s) you want, they're yours to keep! No spam, no viruses, nothing annoying, just free books! I've done this for 2 summers now and I love it! http://www.audiobooksync.com/sync-sch...

Lately I have been borrowing MP3 audios from the library through Overdrive. My brother was the one who told me about that.

I have To Kill a Mockingbird as read by Sissy Spacek. I think she makes the story.

I bet Spacek would be good. I had to look it up, mine was read by Sally Darling.

My husband has an Audible subscription and so I've been listening to more audiobooks (of course they're mainly whatever he's interested in... ;) ). Overall I like them, but some are better than others for me. I'm someone that tends to reread passages so that does work with audiobooks. I find fiction works better for me than nonfiction, but I tend to read more of the latter.

It definitely helps to have a good narrator. The narrators for Guns of August, Fahrenheit 451, and Go Tell It On the Mountain were great. The one for Earthly Delights not so much. I use LibriVox when I can, but had to give up on North and South because some of the narrators were just not very good (which I feel bad complaining about since they donated their time and they're free audiobooks, but...).

I started using audio books when studying literature as it was easier to get the set texts into my head but I lost the habit and have only just re-discovered them. I don't like to be too idle and have tons to do around the house or in the garden so I find audio books useful for allowing me to do two things at once...I particularly like listening to them when washing the dishes or on the bus to and from work.

The reader makes a huge difference for me...I prefer an English reader and the closer they get to Received Pronunciation the better. Sometimes accents jar with me (...which is odd as I am a Geordie!). Greg Wise was wonderful reading The Picture of Dorian Grey & Emila Fox was great at The Pursuit of Love. I prefer it when the sex of the narrator or main character is mirrored by the sex of the reader.

I've never had an audio book, I liked the Talking Heads series by Alan Bennett which are in essence monologues. I like regional accents and if the subject of the novel or piece of work in based in a particular region then I like it in that regional accent to me this adds to the experience, although sometimes the accents can be a little too strong for some.
I agree the main character's gender ought to be mirrored by the narrator it seems natural somehow.
Interestingly when I'm in Austria and I watch the news or whatever, the main male lead in any programme and on this occasion I was watching The Simpsons, Homer the male lead had the deepest voice and this seems true of all the programmes I watched dubbed into German. So I guess the tone and accent of the voice you prefer could be regional.

This week's free audiobooks from the Sync website I posted above are Code Name Verity and The Hiding Place.

I'm so excited to listen to Code Name Verity!!

Code Name Verity is so good. I really hope you enjoy it. :)

I just listened to my first audiobook and really enjoyed the experience. I "read" Landline by Rainbow Rowell while in the car, and for me I think fiction will work better than nonfiction--I've tried Teaching Company CDs in the past and gotten a headache trying to stay focused on the lecture while I was driving.

I've been downloading the Syn audiobooks so I can keep on listening/reading.

Bronwyn wrote: "Code Name Verity is so good. I really hope you enjoy it. :)"

I've been meaning to read it for ages, I just haven't gotten to it, so I'm glad that now I own it!

This weekend (or early next week) I will get back to The Guns of August.

I do tend to listen to mysteries more than non-fiction. But I have read histories on trips. Depends on the reader. Some readers put me to sleep more than others. Not something you want when you are driving.

I'm currently listening to my first audiobook for years on a free trial from Audible, All Quiet on the Western Front, read by Tom Lawrence, who has a wonderful voice. I'm about halfway through.

It's interesting for me to read this thread because I've had a few false starts with audio books in the past - I'd like to listen to them more so I can do two things at once, as Ally said. But I've often found that I keep thinking about something else, missing chunks and having to go back - in the past with tape cassettes it was possible to do this, but with CDs it was very difficult!

I have finally got hold of Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Life of Huguette Clark and the Spending of a Great American Fortune by Bill Dedman. It does things that a book cannot. Like hearing actual voices of the author and of Huguette Clark herself. She left phone messages to her cousin, one of the authors, and he recorded several convconversations they had together.

Oh that must be wonderful! I just read that a week or so ago and just loved it, but that would take it to another level. I loved having the photos to look at throughout, but I think I may prefer actually hearing Huguette. I may have to track that down for the future.

But you don't get any pictures with the audio book.

True, but they're pretty easy to find on google. Seeing a photo of her one violin doesn't really matter to me, but hearing her voice would add another level to the book.

Wow, I've never read an audiobook that has actual conversations in it! That must be awesome!

I recently finished The Tin Horse on audiobook. I think BYT members would like the book. I found it OK. The narration was good, the story itself moved a little too slow for me.

Jennifer W wrote: "Wow, I've never read an audiobook that has actual conversations in it! That must be awesome!"

Bordering on a dramatisation or radio play - which is, of course, another wonderful medium in which to appreciate the written word.

Nigeyb wrote: "Jennifer W wrote: "Wow, I've never read an audiobook that has actual conversations in it! That must be awesome!"

Bordering on a dramatisation or radio play - which is, of course, another wonderful..."

These are conversations that Paul recorded with his tante Hugette (with her permission). The author could not break down the wall and get in touch with her but her grand-nephew could (with some difficulty).

For US and Filipino listeners, this week only, you can get an audio copy of Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. http://www.audiobooksync.com/

Sorry Brits! :(

Judy wrote: "I'm currently listening to my first audiobook for years on a free trial from Audible, All Quiet on the Western Front, read by Tom Lawrence, who has a wonderful voice. I'm about halfwa..."

I listened to this last year and thought Tom Lawrence done a really great job. It was a 5 star book for me, which is very rare. Hope you continue to enjoy it.

I'm currently listening to The Woman in White on Audible, which is very good too. I pick up free audible books when they're offered with the whispersync feature on Amazon/kindle. I quite like listening to long books this way, especially if they are 20-30 hours in length. I usually listen while doing housework as it makes the time go quicker!

Pink wrote: "I pick up free audible books when they're offered with the whispersync feature on Amazon/kindle...."

How does whispersync work, Pink. Do you have to join anything, like Amazon Prime or Audible, or can you just buy them individually as and when you want to?

Hi Pink, I did enjoy 'All quiet on the Western Front' - my favourite audiobook so far. I'm currently listening to Wilful Murder: The Sinking of the Lusitania by Diana Preston on Audible and reading the paperback in between, pretty good so far.

I just finished listening to Diane Keaton reading her memoir of growing up in the'50s-60s, Then Again. Am now listening to In the Shadow of the Glacier. A mystery taking place in British Columbia. It's not very good, at least not yet. And the reader isn't that good.

Oh, will I be happy when I get my cable/wifi hookup. Wednesday can't get here soon enough for me.

Ruth, you can buy individual books as and when you want, you don't need Amazon prime, but you do need an audible account. I signed up for a £1.99 deal, then later cancelled my plan, but I got to keep all the books I'd already downloaded and now I just get the free offers, so I don't pay anything.

Judy, I'm glad you enjoyed it, I didn't notice the dates from your old post, so thought you might still be reading it. Hope your current listen is good too :)

Pink wrote: "Ruth, you can buy individual books as and when you want, you don't need Amazon prime, but you do need an audible account. I signed up for a £1.99 deal, then later cancelled my plan, but I got to ke..."

Thanks Pink. I'll look out for a deal so I can get an account.

Ruth, there is currently an audible deal for 99p for the first 3 months, instead of £7.99. Just sign up to audible and when adding your membership to your basket, enter the promo code MAY99 and it should work. I just tried it on my account and it accepted the code. Pretty good deal, especially if you choose audiobooks that usually cost upwards of £20, such as newer ones. You can cancel your membership any time, but it makes sense to do it after the 3 month deal, so you can get your 3 books. Then you can look for cheaper/ free whispersync deals each month with Amazon. Most classics cost about £2.99 if you already have the kindle version, without needing an extra deal. Every once in a while they have multiple classic titles available for free as well.

That's a great deal, Pink. Thank-you so much for letting me know :-)

^ ^ Thanks Pink. I've signed up too. Got me a copy of..


So You've Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson

Glad to help Nigeyb, I re-signed up as well, but haven't used my monthly credit yet, though I did buy their daily deal book Alan Turing: The Enigma for only £2.99. I've liked the look of this for a while, but it's huge and that put me off until now.

^ Thanks again Pink. I think I'll stick with Audible after the three month promotion. It's nice to have an audiobook on the go whilst out walking or doing the washing up. I'm already a couple of chapters into the Ronson book I got free. Very good it is too. It's gonna mean I listen to fewer podcasts though, and I already struggle to keep up with them as it is.

It is good Nigeyb, I'm always using it, but I stop my subscription every so often when I have a backlog of books. Then I start paying again with a deal when I want more. I love the fact that I get to keep all my books whether I'm currently paying or not.

What podcasts are you listening to at the moment, Nigeyb?

That's my issue lately too, Nigey! I'm catching up on the back episodes on a few podcasts, and so haven't listened to a book in a while. I miss it though and keep meaning to get back to books, but the podcasts are just so easy lately when I don't have a lot of time to listen. I can get through a whole episode versus part of a chapter.

^ First world problems eh Bronwyn ;-)


^ ^ Ruth, My podcasts of choice are Guardian Football Weekly, Kermode and Mayo Film Reviews, Melvyn Bragg In Our Time, Thinking Allowed, The Word, Danny Baker, TED Radio Hour - what about you?

Nigeyb wrote: "^ Ruth, My podcasts of choice are Guardian Football Weekly, Kermode and Mayo Film Reviews, Melvyn Bragg In Our Time, Thinking Allowed, The Word, Danny Bak..."

I love The Word podcasts too. I also listen to a few Radio 4 podcasts - Thinking Allowed, Great Lives and Four Thought. I have also been listening to a few motivational podcasts recently in connection with developing a small business but have found those disappointing as ultimately they are just trying to sell you something!

I have set up an Audible account now and typically my mind has gone a complete blank on what I books I want to listen to!

Hey there everyone !!

I know I have been really busy working on a pet project of mine with a professor friend on Prison Writes Iniatives -- yes hoping to get my Professor permanent monies for a creative writing program in one of the world's most renown Southern Prisons in Mississippi History -- Parchman ! Which is a strange happening that our group VOX PRESS , Inc. Has managed to publish a book of the personal narratives of the first class and we have been trying to sell them to continue the program . If anyone knows anything about Mississippi and its politics mixed with government issues , they know the whole state is as slippery as the Mississippi River itself . I am finding so much corruption it is sickening . My research has only included a few books so far ! Wow! It is amazing how bold and emblazoned our worlds politicians really can be . Right under our noses as we see and they continue daring someone to stop them .

But, that has nothing to do with my favorite topic Audiables with Whispersync! Since you have not really seen a good review from me yet , I can't really prove to you how invaluable this service is if you read and review many books ! It is AWESOMENESS! My eyes are better , most times the characterized reading takes you straight to that place . It is also very easy to have quotes and take notes along the way with the APP on my ipadAir . There is also a feature which adds notes of popular quotes, characters, settings, and sometimes author information. I can see listening to a long read might be difficult, but then you can also rest your eyes at times if you read like I do.

I just get so excited and passionate about every my reading . It is as though I cannot get enough knowledge into my brain before I die ! HA! Sharing the information in reviews is what is so difficult. Writing is a slow process and you always want it to be perfect !
Well , that is my feelings for Audiables with Whispersync! I encourage anyone to try . My reading habits pay for themselves !
Enjoy ! Dawn

Nigeyb wrote: "^ Thanks again Pink. I think I'll stick with Audible after the three month promotion. It's nice to have an audiobook on the go whilst out walking or doing the washing up. I'm already a couple of ch..."

How's everyone getting on with Audible these days. I kept on my subscription after my first 3 cheap months and I'm really pleased with it. I've had a couple of good deals and I've now got both audiobooks & credits in hand. It's good to always have a new audiobook waiting for when I finish the current one. I used Overdrive through my library before and was finding that I'd listened to most of the ones they had that were in my genres!

I just don't have the time to listen to them. I realise when I'm dog walking I need to be paying attention to the walk and not listening to audiobooks. Other than dog walking , my listening time is really limited. If I was still doing a 3-4 hour work commute then I'd be back like a shot.

Nigeyb wrote: "I just don't have the time to listen to them. I realise when I'm dog walking I need to be paying attention to the walk and not listening to audiobooks. Other than dog walking , my listening time is..."

That can be a problem can't it! I tend to listen when I'm doing the washing up, or on my walk to work, but if I'm doing anything which requires any thought I find I just can't listen at the same time.

I still use audible, but don't pay for a subscription. I like that I'm still able to access all the books I bought when I was signed up, so I have a few left to listen to. I think you get better narrators on there than what the library stocks or on Librivox, which is very hit and miss and frustratingly often has a change of narrator during the book.

I manage to listen while doing mundane chores with earphones in - washing up, hoovering, ironing, gardening. That's about it, as anything else needs too much concentration. I'm not a fan of listening while walking/driving/travelling as I don't feel alert enough for the journey.