Austen Lovers TBR Challenge 2021 discussion

Many of us are on the hunt to establish favorite narrators and even to find what books are now on audio.
Thank you to Kasia for the 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.

UPDATE: Thank you, Julieta for reminding me that we have the wonderful world of podcasts that are out there to add to our store of audiobook recs. Talk those up here as well.

Sophia wrote: "Many of us are on the hunt to establish favorite narrators and even to find what books are now on audio.
Thank you to Kasia for the idea to have a place here in our group to discuss great audiobook..."

Hi Sophia, I have a page on From Pemberley to Milton dedicated to Audiobooks where I post all my audiobook reviews. I'll put the link here in case anyone is interested in checking them. I'll keep adding audiobooks to this list as I review them :)

https://frompemberleytomilton.wordpre...

Yes! I love having the link to access your audio book reviews and learn what narrators you enjoyed. Great idea, Rita!

SALE Aerlt!

For those living in the US, Chirp (a subsidiary of Bookbub) has The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner and narrated by Richard Armitage on sale for $3.99 right now.

https://www.chirpbooks.com/audiobooks...

Chirp is an audiobook seller requiring no membership and has a free app to set up on your device for listening any books you purchase. They offer a wide-range of audiobooks and have a really great clearance/sale section.

Sophia wrote: "SALE Aerlt!

Thanks, Sophia! I also saw that today (Dec. 20) is the last day to get an audiobook version of Mansfield Park read by Anna Bentinck for 1.99 at Chirp.

Good catch, Christina!

So, perhaps this is not the place for this question, but I wondered: do any of you ever feel conflicted about listening to audiobooks? I've really grown to enjoy listening to audiobooks, but I'm often feeling torn because I usually listen to them when I'm doing something else--driving, exercising, cooking, cleaning. But if a book is really good, I feel I'm doing it a disservice by listening while doing something else.

I mean, this morning I was listening to Mansfield Park while cleaning the bathrooms. Isn't that a form of Jane Austen blasphemy? (I do get a kick out of wondering what Austen would think if she could see me listening to her book while scrubbing a toilet. Equal parts horrified and amused, perhaps?)

Seriously, how do you all listen to audiobooks? Do you sit down and give the audiobook your undivided attention, or are you usually engaged in other activities? Do you find it easier or more difficult to recall aspects of the book after you've listened? Since you can't annotate the pages or underline text, what strategies do you use, if any, to go back to favorite lines or questions you have?

Just curious about how people engage with audiobooks. Thanks!

I only listen to an audio book while walking...outside or at our grocery store. I would not pay close attention to a book if I were doing a chore. If someone stops to talk to me while I am walking I have to turn the audio off until we are finished talking or rewind.

When I listen to books, I have to have something semi-mindless to do on the side. I play solitaire or computer rummy or something. If I was cleaning the toilet while listening, I wouldn't be able to pay attention to the book. I would have to go back and re-read or re-listen.

Sometimes I use quotes from the book in reviews and share highlights, so I have to go to the book to highlight. If I do get lost in a story, I usually read the back pages instead of listening.

Great question, Christina.

I am one who listens to audios and, yes, Jane Austen books, while scrubbing toilets, dishes, dusting, vacuuming, ironing, weeding, and more. I see it as just the opposite- the activity I'm doing doesn't bring the book down, but rather the book elevates the tedious activity. I don't always listen to audio while working on chores and tasks because sometimes I prefer silence to think or music.

I'm in your boat on this one, Sophia. I listen to audiobooks when I'm doing any mundane, boring task where I want to distract or entertain myself to get through it. Mostly, that's when I'm driving. I don't see it as a bad thing at all, but rather a great use of time that really keeps my head in stories and reading in general. I've read P&P and Persuasion dozens of times now simply because of easy opportunity—I put them in whenever I can't decide on something else. It means I've gotten to enjoy them way more than I would have if it was dependent on me choosing the paper books.

Sophia wrote: "Great question, Christina.

I am one who listens to audios and, yes, Jane Austen books, while scrubbing toilets, dishes, dusting, vacuuming, ironing, weeding, and more. I see it as just the opposit..."

Me too. But it needs to be sufficiently mindless, and it sounds like what is mindless is not always the same for different people. I believe I could listen while scrubbing toilets, but I don't think I could while playing a game.

One thing that Covid has thrown at me is WAY LESS TIME to listen to audiobooks. Dan is home, so he's doing most of the mindless tasks in between work. I'm helping my kids with schoolwork, which means I can't listen. And when we're not doing "schoolwork with Mom," the kids are practicing their instruments, and I feel it would be rude to listen to a book rather than to their practices. AND I'm limiting trips out of the house, so I don't have much driving time.

My husband has been working from home, so like me, he hasn't come close to meeting his GR reading goal either.

Marlene wrote: "Sophia wrote: "Great question, Christina.

I am one who listens to audios and, yes, Jane Austen books, while scrubbing toilets, dishes, dusting, vacuuming, ironing, weeding, and more. I see it as j..."

You're a good mom to listen to all the practices. :)

Thanks for all the responses, and great point, Marlene, about the mindlessness of an activity being different for each of us.

Like Eliza and Sophia, I definitely use audiobooks (or music) to get through a task I don’t really want to be doing. Love that idea, Sophia, of elevating a tedious task by listening to something great!

The difficulty for me, though, comes from wanting to stop and just listen or wanting to go back and listen again—so, I’m also a little like Sheila and wosedwew in that respect. I do get frustrated when my attention is torn away from really great writing. (I don’t usually care if my attention is torn from toilet scrubbing.)

(Yeah, I know: ya’ll are feeling really grateful not to be living in my house! ;D)

I think what I’m discovering is that certain books work better than others for listening. We’ll see how Jane Austen (even as a reread) works as an audiobook for me. My suspicion is that I’ll continue to enjoy the experience but that, in the end, I’ll prefer paper over audio for Austen.

Well summed up, Christina! :)

Christina, I think you have discovered the benefits of being here with this GR group. We don't judge the way you ingest Austen. You are safe here. Any form [books, audio, movies, etc], that is comfortable for you, is OK with this group. There is NO wrong way to enjoy Austen.

As stated above, many of us were isolated [and not just due to COVID] in our love of Austen. Such a lonely life, not being able to discuss our favorite books. Or... heaven help us... when someone asked that dreaded question, "And, what are YOU reading." Sounds like a snotty Caroline Bingley question, doesn't it?

But then, I was introduced to GR and a whole new world opened up to me. OMG! People who loved and enjoyed Austen as much as I did!! I was in raptures looking at what they were reading and listening to and would add more and more books to my wish-list. I'd see recommendations and grab them. Yep, a whole new life experience opened before me. Whew!

As far as audio, I can't chew gum and walk across the floor at the same time. It is distracting to me. I can do two things at once but not listen to a story and work. I'd cut off my finger if I was using a cutting took or electric something. Shudder... no, I have to pass on audio. LOL!! Enjoy Austen books any way that is comfortable for you and we will cheer you on!!

Happy audio, everyone.

I'm going to add that my husband listens to books at 2.5X speed - or something like that - and misses things when his mind drifts. I don't know how his mind can possibly process a book that fast. When I miss something, I back up. Sometimes many times. He doesn't do that. He just figures he'll figure out anything important later on in the book. It's a philosophy that I can't subscribe to, but logically, it makes sense. If I miss a description about a dress, who cares. It doesn't affect the plot. And if there is something that IS important, it's likely to be brought up again later in a way that will help me to figure out anything important that I missed earlier.

Just another two cents, for what it's worth.

Jeanne, I totally get what you're saying. My family's taste in movies vary. It's been a slight point of tension over the holidays. Three people will watch basically anything. Two people only want to watch exciting films. I prefer light romances, ideally historical. So one or two of us tend to bow out while the three flexible people are always participating.

The point of all this is that I completely agree that it is really NICE to find people on GR who "get" my tastes.

I listen a tad faster than normal at 1.5x sometimes, but whew, your husband really cranks it up. :)

J.W. -- I can't walk and chew gum either! Or at least, I've been known to trip while doing so. So yes, listening to audiobooks has been a challenge for me, but I'm really enjoying it too. Also you're right about this group being supportive of the various means of approaching Austenesque. This is such a great group!

Marlene -- my husband also listens to books at higher speeds (though usually only 2x at the most). I don't see how he does it! He does listen to more non-fiction than I do. Maybe it's like skimming a book -- getting main ideas but maybe not catching every word.

And Sophia -- all I've got to say is that you take in so many books in so many different ways. I'm very impressed! You carry a library in your head wherever you go!

Marlene wrote: "I'm going to add that my husband listens to books at 2.5X speed - or something like that - and misses things when his mind drifts. I don't know how his mind can possibly process a book that fast. W..."

Haha! I listen at faster speed too. Can't help it, sometimes the reading is soooo slow. However, I will backtrack if I feel I missed something.

Christina wrote: "Thanks for all the responses, and great point, Marlene, about the mindlessness of an activity being different for each of us.

Like Eliza and Sophia, I definitely use audiobooks (or music) to get ..."

Yes! I listen during work. When I have mind numbing tasks to get through.

This IS audio related. I was wondering if there's (I should know this!) a person to notify when the audio book I just listened to is not available on Goodreads to choose when reviewing it? I almost did this myself once...adding it, but then I didn't have all the pertinent publisher, ISBN, etc. facts to add. So I backed off realizing I was out of my league.

I've just been listing the book title, author, and the fact it's an audio anyway when I list my books under the appropriate challenge level.

Hi Michelle!

Since it's about adding an edition to an existing book, you could put your requests to our Librarian requests section under 'Other Matters' that Danielle does for us. If you can include the Amazon or Audible link to it so the librarian has all the details to make the change, that would be great, too

Sophia wrote: "Hi Michelle!

Since it's about adding an edition to an existing book, you could put your requests to our Librarian requests section under 'Other Matters' that Danielle does for us. If you can inclu..."
Thank you Sophia, I will do that.

Sophia, is this where can also discuss audio versions of Austen’s books, and podcasts about Austen’s work? Or is there a better place?
For anyone who hasn’t already listened to P&P in audio, I recommend Catherine Byers. She’s really good.

I also liked the 12 minute biography of Austen broadcast on the “5 Minute Biographies” podcast. A quick audio reference guide replete with all the main details of Austen’s life and passing.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

Julieta wrote: "Sophia, is this where can also discuss audio versions of Austen’s books, and podcasts about Austen’s work? Or is there a better place?
For anyone who hasn’t already listened to P&P in audio, I reco..."

Yes, this is a good place for podcasts. Thanks for bringing those to my attention. I'll add it to the intro/explanation for this discussion thread, Julieta.

Thanks for the link to the biography, Marlene.

The full name of the narrator of the P&P audiobook I enjoyed is Catherine Byers. Here’s the link for that one: https://www.learnoutloud.com/Podcast-....

Currently:
The Keys for Love by Wendi Sotis audio download offered at
https://freeaudiobookcodes.com/book/b...

Mystery fans..
5 Elizabeth Bennet audio mysteries by Amelia Littlewood available
for free codes https://freeaudiobookcodes.com/?q=Eli...

Currently :
Pride & Prejudice audio read by Claire King
Offer at https://freeaudiobookcodes.com/book/4...

Currently:
Nachtstürm Castle: A Gothic Austen Novel by Emily C.A. Snyder
Audio offer at https://freeaudiobookcodes.com/book/4...

Other classics also available just check ' Classics ' category

Very excited to listen to Austenesque Musings - podcast by Christina Morland. She released a 25 minute interview with Christina Boyd a couple of weeks ago. She probably announced this somewhere else in this group but I haven’t done my rounds. If I’m effectively double-posting, apologies.

This is great, Julieta. I'm so glad you enjoyed her podcast and no worries about double-posting. The more the merrier. :)