Austenesque Lovers TBR Pile Challenge 2018 discussion

Audiobooks are nothing new even to our tight niche of Austen novels, Austenesque, and JAFF. It's merely a new format for experiencing these books and give beleaguered commutes, road trips, chores, and walks a chance to be a book moment, right?

The thing is many of us are still on the hunt to establish favorite narrators and even to find what books are now on audio. So after an 'aha' conversation with Kasia during the June Is Audiobook Month (#JIAM) events, We thought it would be a great idea to have a place here in our group to discuss great audiobooks and narrators for Austenesque Lovers.

Feel free to announce new JAFF/Austenesque audiobook releases, favorite narrators or books on audio or audiobook giveaways here under the topic.

I love audiobooks, so I’m very happy to see this topic here, thank you Sophia :)))

Thanks, Sophia! I am always looking for good audiobooks to listen to while I craft. The libraries in my area don't carry much JAFF and almost nothing in the way ofaudiobooks.

As long as I am at it, here is one audiobook that should be AVOIDed at all costs.
Northanger Abbey
by Jane Austen, Mary Sarah Agliotta (Narrator)Northanger Abbey

Barb wrote: "As long as I am at it, here is one audiobook that should be AVOIDed at all costs.
Northanger Abbey
by Jane Austen, Mary Sarah Agliotta (Narrator)Northanger Abbey"

Good to know, Barb.

And by the way, if you like Joana Starnes' books, she has all of hers on audio and Stevie Zimmerman is her narrator. I've listened to one and really liked Stevie as a good match for a JAFF story.

Sophia wrote: "Barb wrote: "As long as I am at it, here is one audiobook that should be AVOIDed at all costs.
Northanger Abbey
by Jane Austen, Mary Sarah Agliotta (Narrator)Northanger Abbey"

Good t..."

I totally agree Sophia. Joana is one of my favourite authors, and Stevie is my favourite narrator, the two combine make an incredible pair!
And Joana is offering 10 audible codes for Miss Darcy's Companion!!

https://frompemberleytomilton.wordpre...

Rita wrote: "Sophia wrote: "Barb wrote: "As long as I am at it, here is one audiobook that should be AVOIDed at all costs.
Northanger Abbey
by Jane Austen, Mary Sarah Agliotta (Narrator)[book:Northanger Abbey|..."

Now that is what I call serendipity. Just when we were talking about Joana and Stevie- she is touring her audio books. Thanks, Rita. :)

A fav audio for me ?
Jane of Austin: A Novel of Sweet Tea and Sensibility
by Hillary Manton Lodge

writer... wrote: "A fav audio for me ?
Jane of Austin: A Novel of Sweet Tea and Sensibility
by [authorimage:Hillary Manton L..."

Oh neat! I loved that story. Maybe I'll do a re-read some time in audio form.

Barb wrote: "Thanks, Sophia! I am always looking for good audiobooks to listen to while I craft. The libraries in my area don't carry much JAFF and almost nothing in the way ofaudiobooks."

Have you checked if they carry Hoopla or Overdrive audio (ebook and video ) options..?
That's been a fab option for my audio 'reading'..

Love Stevie Zimmerman's narrations, especially those she's done for Joana Starnes and Nicole Clarkston. She does a wonderful Darcy and an equally good John Thornton.

Elizabeth Klett is another of my favourites, along with Pearl Hewitt, who's narrated all of P.O. Dixon's works and a number of other JAFF works, too.

Anji wrote: "Love Stevie Zimmerman's narrations, especially those she's done for Joana Starnes and Nicole Clarkston. She does a wonderful Darcy and an equally good John Thornton.

Elizabeth Klett is another of..."

Ooh, new narrator to me. I'll have to check out Klett. Thanks, Angie!

I posted this in my review, but I thought I would give a plug here as well.

audio from Audible is really good. I loved the reader's voice.

Ahnya wrote: "I posted this in my review, but I thought I would give a plug here as well.

audio from Audible is really good. I loved the reader's voice."

I will definitely be looking up more of Harry Frost's work. Thanks, Ahnya!

Ahnya wrote: "I posted this in my review, but I thought I would give a plug here as well.

audio from Audible is really good. I loved the reader's voice."

I'm in the middle of this one right now and Harry Frost is an amazing narrator. Check out his interview on Claudine's blog at Just Jane 1813.

In other audiobook news, Surrendering the Past by Pamela Lynne is also now available from Audible. It's not JAFF as such, but has that kind of feel to it.

And Joana Starnes' book The Subsequent Proposal is newly out in this format, too.

Anji wrote: "Ahnya wrote: "I posted this in my review, but I thought I would give a plug here as well.

audio from Audible is really good. I loved the reader's voice."..."

Now, that is good news. I liked the start of Pamela's series and enjoyed my last Joana Starnes' audio. :)

Audible Deal of the Day is Northanger Abbey- the full cast of narrators for $2.95.

https://www.audible.com/pd/Classics/N...

Just finished my latest audiobook, Sense and Sensibility narrated by Juliet Stephenson. I think I've mentioned how fantastic her narrations of Jane Austen's works are in previous years challenges.

If you've got a corresponding ebook from the Kindle store, even a free one as many editions of Austen's works are, you can often pick up a copy of the audiobook for a bargain price. In the UK, that can be something like £2.99 or £3.99. Worth every penny!

Anji wrote: "Just finished my latest audiobook, Sense and Sensibility narrated by Juliet Stephenson. I think I've mentioned how fantastic her narrations of Jane Austen's works are in previous years challenges.
..."

Yes! Love her narration work. I'll have to peek and see if I can snag an audio copy with a low price Kindle version. :)

Apparently, there's a version of Pride and Prejudice narrated by Rosamund Pike, who plays Jane in the Keira Knightley P&P movie adaptation.

Marlene wrote: "Apparently, there's a version of Pride and Prejudice narrated by Rosamund Pike, who plays Jane in the Keira Knightley P&P movie adaptation."

There is. She does a lovely job of narration.

Sophia wrote: "Marlene wrote: "Apparently, there's a version of Pride and Prejudice narrated by Rosamund Pike, who plays Jane in the Keira Knightley P&P movie adaptation."

There is. She does a lovely job of narr..."
Yes! Although I had a hard time telling a few of the male characters apart. Her narrator voice is devine...no surprise I would say that, right? :)

Just to let you all know that is now available in audio edition at Audible.com

https://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/Da...

Last month, I recorded more audiobooks than read books. One of them was Conceit & Concealment: A Pride & Prejudice Variation by Abigail Reynolds as narrated by Elizabeth Klett.

Most of you will need no introduction to Abigail's work, especially this alternative universe version of P&P. Ms. Klett is one of my favourite Austenesque narrators and she really brings this fantastic book to life. Definitely well worth the Audible credit I used for it.

Thanks for the narrator recommendation, Anji!

Giveaway Alert!

For those interested in winning an audio copy of Dangerous to Know: Jane Austen's Rakes and Gentlemen Rogues or The Darcy Monologues, here are two giveaway opportunities that end soon.

Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell Blog: http://books-forlife.blogspot.com/201...

Hot Listens blog: http://www.hotlistens.com/dangerous-t...

I'm loving this audio version! Just spent a very happy afternoon gardening whilst listening to it.

Anji wrote: "I'm loving this audio version! Just spent a very happy afternoon gardening whilst listening to it."

Woohoo! :)

5.0

Emma Thompson? Eleanor Tomlinson?? 'Nuff said!!

No kidding. :)

It was brilliant! Loved Emma Thompson's take as the narrator/Jane Austen.

Absolutely loved it! Such a great job by all actors and sounds production

Mr. Darcy to the Rescue: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Victoria Kincaid is now available as an audiobook - her first venture into this medium. Another one for the TBL list!

Oh cool, Anji!

I just saw that Jann Rowland's In the Wilds of Derbyshire is going to be in audio format this month. And Beau North mentioned that Modern Love is coming out on audio this August.

Looks like there will be quite a bit of JAFF/Austenesque to choose from.

Sophia wrote: "Oh cool, Anji!

I just saw that Jann Rowland's In the Wilds of Derbyshire is going to be in audio format this month. And Beau North mentioned that Modern Love is coming out on audio this August.

Just checked Audible UK about those two, Sophia. Jann Rowland's is up for pre-order, so I've grabbed one of those - the date is listed as 3rd July. No sign of Beau North's yet, though.

Anji wrote: "Sophia wrote: "Oh cool, Anji!

I just saw that Jann Rowland's In the Wilds of Derbyshire is going to be in audio format this month. And Beau North mentioned that Modern Love is coming out on audio ..."

Hers is August or September, she said. She's planning to get in on Misty The Book Rat's Austen in August to announce it. She might do a giveaway with it so be on the watch. :)

Don Jacobson is currently in the process of bringing out his Bennet Wardrobe series on audio. He's got some giveaways going on right now and you can win a copy of Henry Fitzwilliam's War AND one of the Lessers and Betters pairing (sorry, can't remember just now which one!). One giveaway is at Ceri's Babblings of a Bookworm and another is at Anna's Diary of an Eccentric. Haven't checked my emails this morning yet to see if there's any more.

And while I'm waxing lyrical about audiobook goodness, can I give a shout out for The Subsequent Proposal: A Tale of Pride, Prejudice & Persuasion by Joana Starnes? Wonderfully narrated, as always, by Stevie Zimmerman. I love this mashup of P&P and Persuasion and had constant pictures in my mind of Colin Firth, Jennifer Ehle, Ciaran Hinds and Amanda Root whilst I was listening. I'd love to have seen Colin Firth's Darcy and Ciaran Hinds' Wentworth facing off against each other during their confrontations!

Just had to pop in to this thread with some exciting news I've just seen in an email from Audible UK.

For those who've already listened to, and raved about, their full cast adaptation of Northanger Abbey with Emma Thompson, they're publishing a full cast adaptation of Emma next month! Emma Thompson is reprising her role as narrator and Joanne Froggatt (of Downton Abbey fame) is also in the cast. The Northanger Abbey adaptation was amazing and I'm all anticipation for this new version of Emma and have got it on pre-order. Release date is the 4th I believe.

Woohoo! Thanks, Anji!

Thank you Anji. I enjoyed Audible's Northanger Abbey and I am looking forward to Emma.

Anji, thank you for this news!!!

I can't find it. Can you include a link?

Marlene wrote: "I can't find it. Can you include a link?"

Here it is:

https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Classics...

Oh I’m so excited! Thanks for sharing

Thanks Anji. I haven't read Emma in a long time. I think it is about time again!

I just pre-ordered the new Emma: An Audible Narration for FREE from Audible. (It is the new Emma Thompson & cast narration) Not sure how long this is going on.

Ahnya wrote: "I just pre-ordered the new Emma: An Audible Narration for FREE from Audible. (It is the new Emma Thompson & cast narration) Not sure how long this is going on."

Are you a new Audible customer? I believe all Audible books are free for a first time customer. I don't know how many free books you get.

Alas, I asked my husband about it and he says that to cut costs, he unsubscribed from Audible for now. He says he has collected about 5 years of reading material, so he's good for a while!

Marlene wrote: "Are you a new Audible customer? I believe all Audible books are free for a first time customer. I don't know how many free books you get."

No, I have been using Audible for years. I just was looking at my wish list yesterday, and noticed that it was free. They are not even charging a credit.

Ahnya wrote: "No, I have been using Audible for years. I just was looking at my wish list yesterday, and noticed that it was free. They are not even charging a credit. "

Weird! I searched for the title you mentioned, and found it. For a new Audible customer, it's free, and for us, it's $8.71, which honestly isn't that bad, but we're pinching pennies for our house addition in the spring. :-)

I wonder if it was a glitch? Has anyone else tried it? (If so, what were your results?)