Stephen King Fans discussion

Hi guys,

I don't get to post on here as much as I'd like, and I love reading SK, but sometimes finding the time can be tough. I just wanted to get everyone's thoughts on Audiobooks of King's work. I have read a couple of other books this way, and enjoyed it, so I got Duma Key on Audiobook using my Audible subscription, and it was really enjoyable. John Slattery's reading fit the tone of the book perfectly, I think. I don't know if I missed out on how King set up the book by chapter and sub-chapter ("How to Draw a Picture" headers, for example), but it was still really enjoyable to listen to. What are your thoughts? Any other SK audiobooks out there that are great?

I have listened to a few of King's books, some for the first time and some I've listened to when I want to do a re-read. I listened to Dolores Claiborne-it was great. Cliff's mom (from Cheers) does the narration and she was so good. I listened to From a Buick 8 which I didn't love but stuck with because it was easy since it was on CD. I listened to the Green Mile, On Writing, Faithful (about the 2004 Red Sox) , and Hearts in Atlantis too and liked them all. Someone else mentioned that they don't like King as a narrator but I really enjoyed listening to him.

Haha, That was me. It isn't that I dislike his narration, he just has a really strange voice, which is usually oddly fitting. So I suppose it works.

His voice is just so classic New England that it reminds me of home whenever I hear him. I love it...it's the perfect voice for some of the stories he's done that are truly rooted and steeped in Maine.

I have never tried out the audio books yet. I am not really an audio book person unless I am on a road trip. But I will check one out from the library just to see what it sounds like.

I love SK's narration. I had the pleasure of seeing him read "LT's Theory Of Pets" at a book signing. King himself gave rave reviews for the narrations by Frank Muller.
Here's SK in audio clips about this topic from Barnes & Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/subject...

I'm listening to the Dark Tower series as I drive to work this year. I liked Frank Muller's voice better, but George Guidall is one of my favorite readers anyway.

I had a laugh yesterday when King was describing a wound dripping with pus, and George read the word "pussy" as "pussy". As in cat. ;) I guess there just is no other way to spell that word.

I'm not a big audio-book fan I have to say. For some reason it takes the magic out of the book to hear some other person read out voices you imagine sound different in your head. My husband loves the audio-books though so maybe I'll have to give it another shot.

I haven't listened to any audiobooks of SK's work yet.

Although one of my favorite narrators is Jeremy Irons. The man could talk about paint drying and I would be listen to every word!

I tried listening to a audio book once it wasnt King though I believe it was Tom Clancy, it wasnt my cup of tea! Not realy sure if it was the story or the audio book!

I felt like I was cheating it wasnt the same as reading, I just love reading Id much rather read it than listen it was hard for me to stay focused listening for some reason, maybe Ill give it a try again sometime but for know unless I go blind I will keep reading it isnt just the story its the whole act of reading that appeals to me i guess!lol

It was actually The Gingerbread Girl that *forced* me to listen to my first Audiobook. I never got my hands on Esquire so I had no choice.

I can't decide if I liked it or not. I listened in the car on the way to and from work so not so sure if that was a great litmus test to begin with. I found that I had to replay quite a bit because I was focused on the road....which of course is where my focus should have been....

I listen to books on CD on my commute to and from work everyday. I still read the books in the traditional way, but I really enjoy listening to them. I think my favorite two of King's so far were Lisey's Story and Cell. I'm sure much of that was due to the reader's voices. I think LS was Mare Winningham and Cell was Campbell Scott for sure. They were both great. Just animated enough to keep my attention, but not enough to interfere with the pictures I already had in my head from my first reading.

I'm not really into Audiobooks...my mind tends to wander to much and printed word keeps me focused. I've thought about getting some audiobooks ok SK books I've read just for a different experience. Any suggestions? I do like that SK audiobooks are unabridged. I bought one Audiobook cuz my sister had it and I had already read the printed book. It was World War Z and I was disappointed to find some of my favorite parts of the book cut out of the audiobook.

I never listen to audiobooks, because I can't concentrate on the story, and I have a poor 'listening memory' (I tend to remember things I read or write, not things I listen to). Anyway, audiobooks aren't easy to find here so I don't think I could get into them if I wanted to! :)

Hi, everybody. I'm new to "goodreads" and this is my first post. Although I read a fair amount, most of my books these days come via audio. I'm a member of audible.com and download 2 books per month (unabridged only). According to my audible.com library, I have listened to 208 audio books. I have listened to every Stephen King book that is available on audio including the complete Dark Tower series at least twice. A good narrator can make a good book come alive. But a bad narrator can also make a good book barely tolerable. Anyway, I just wanted to add my 2 cents that audio books can be very good. And if you have a long commute, there's nothing better than curling up to a good book while driving. For what it's worth, the Dark Tower series is good on audio (especially the first four read by Frank Muller). And I just listened to Insomnia again read by Eli Wallach (of The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly fame) which was extremely well done and a great listen. Best narrator in the industry today - Scott Brick.

I like Audio books especially for long trips. I listened to the entire Dark Tower series and really enjoyed it. I guess it depends on the person and the reader, but sometimes I get more out an audio book then when I have read it. In any case all of SK's audio books are unabridged, so yhou don't lose anything in the reading.

Kandice, I liked Mare Winningham's reading of The Gingerbread Girl on the Just After Sunset audiobook. I think I commented on this on that thread, but once I got used to her style, her voice just gave the perfect edge to the story.

I enjoyed it, but I still like actually reading stories more.

I have an audiobook of Labyrinth by Kate Mosse that I have had for over a year and I still haven't been able to finish it. I just can't stop hearing the READER, so I'm missing the story.

I hate abridged audio books (though I have never listened to one). It just doesn't make sense to make to have some of the book cut out.

Angie wrote: "I hate abridged audio books (though I have never listened to one). It just doesn't make sense to make to have some of the book cut out. "

Like I said, I pretty much depend on audio books for my commute, but I HATE abridged books! Generally, I'll buy whatever book is the longest, regardless of the author or plot. I want as many trips as possible. I never really understood the reasoning behind abridged versions. I never got Readers Digest condensed versions either. I guess if you really love to read you feel cheated by an abridgement. I don't even care if it's author approved. WHY would they approve that? If any author's read this post, please let us know.

Oh, I hate, hate, hate abridged books. LOATHE them. No books should be burned, but really, abridged books are no better than paperweights. Or doorstops. Certainly not fit for reading. Or listening to.

Did I ever tell you guys about the 4 editions of the Count of Monte Cristo I had to go through before I found one that was truly unabridged? Torture! The book should be somewhere around 1600 pages, but this one I found was 400 pages. 400! TWELVE HUNDRED PAGES GONE! I almost fainted.

Why stop there? Why not turn it into a coloring book? Or a pop-up? Dumas in 30 pages. I need to go lie down...

I agree about the Count! It is crazy how short the abridged version is.

I like audio books sometimes, but I have to have a hard copy to hold and read.

Ben, I had to stop back to this thread to update you. :) I FINALLY got around to listening to Duma Key, and I agree with you 100%. I'm not even 1/2 done with it yet, but it is really good. And creepy.

John Slattery's voice is just perfect and sets the tone of the book. He makes it really feel like Edgar is speaking to you and telling you his story. It's great.

Thank you for recommending it.

Have you "heard" any of King's read by Ron Mclarty? He reads Stationary Bike, and Blaze, for sure. I think there are others. His voice lends itself so well to King's work.

No I haven't Kandice. This is really the first King audiobook that I've listened to with only one reader all the way through, but I will be listening to more soon, I think.

Well, keep in mind, Campbell Scott is my ALL TIME favorite reader, and he reads quite a few of King's, but McLarty is also really good.

Which books does he read?

I just bought a new MP3 player, because the one that I had really, really stunk. I would like pause randomly, skip 3 or 4 tracks when I would press skip once, that sort of thing.

Anyway, I just put Duma Key, The Long Walk, Rage, The Running Man and Roadwork on it. I'm so excited!

Cell, for sure, and I'll check when I get home to see what others. I would listen to that man read the phone book! I have about 20 books on audio that he reads.

Nice. Let me know and I'll have Thomas get them if I haven't already read the book. (Of course that doesn't leave a lot. Lisey's Story is about it, I think!)

http://www.audioeditions.com/audio-bo...

Okay, I don't have 20, I guess I have 8. *blushes*

Here's a link to his "read" books. I had no idea he read Oryx and Crake! You know how bad I want that!

Oooooh!! The Shining! I couldn't possibly object to listening to that!

Becky wrote: "Ben, I had to stop back to this thread to update you. :) I FINALLY got around to listening to Duma Key, and I agree with you 100%. I'm not even 1/2 done with it yet, but it is really good. And cree..."

Becky, you're welcome! I'm glad that you are enjoying Slattery's voice on the reading too. Something about it just really fit the pace and style of the story. I really enjoyed it. I may take some of Kandice's suggestions on the Campbell Scott and Ron Mclarty readings. I always enjoy a good audio book. :)

I first read (listened to?) Carrie via audiobook, and it was narrated by Sissy Spacek - very appropriate. I thought she was an amazing narrator, although she couldnt say 'menstruation' properly, and given how many times it says 'menstruation' in the book, it was a bit of a problem >_>

I've been listening to the audiobook for Salems Lot, but honestly havent progressed very far because I've been busy. :( I dont know who narrates it, but my only issue is that when the audiobook file is split into 093849023840832094 separate mp3 files, it can be confusing, especially if you forget to turn the shuffle function off :P

But I do love audiobooks :D so so so much

am an audio book virgin ...

what makes an amazing narrator? ... do they make commentary? - 'cos that'd be neat!

am now wonderin' if anyone would listen to a narration made by an Aussie arsehole?

I don't really care for audio books... they are OK. But my mind tends to get bored and wanders...

I think I mentioned here before that I never used to listen to audiobooks. I had this super-prejudice against "other peoples' interpretations" filtering into the story, which I don't like.

But lately I've been listening to audiobooks a lot more frequently, and I'm coming to really enjoy them, which makes me happy since I feel like I was missing out before.

Sam, I don't have the experience that other people do, since I've only just started getting into audiobooks, but a good reader can make or break the book, I think. So far, I seem to have gotten good ones. I'd think that if the reader wasn't in tune with the tone of both the author and the book, it would make for a bad reading, as well as if the reader just read the text without any personality at all.

That being said, I don't want them to ADD anything either, like commentary. Sorry, that would make me crazy! I'm there for the story, not the reader's opinion.

You should try Just After Sunset on audiobook if you've never listened to one before, Sam. It's really good, and the stories are each read by a different person so you kind of get a sampling of different styles. It's nice. Happy listening!

thnx Becky ... good recommendation

I always try to have an adio book going in the car. I do a LOT of driving my kids around and waiting, and listening to the radio feels like a waste of time. So, I listen to a lot of books. Having said that, the narrator can definitely make or break the story. Slattery read Exit A A Novel, and I enjoyed listening to it. When I tried to actually read it...it kind of sucked. I would never have finished. Same thing with Scott reading The Abstinence Teacher. I listened to it all the way through because of Scott's voice, but could never have forced my way through the written pages.

I have a half hour commute to and from work everyday. I also have a huge pile of books to read. So, I get in a bit of reading everyday by listening to audio books. I usually like to listen to juvenile or young adult (nothing too hard, my attention to driving will block out anything involving too much concentration.) So, I've lately been listening to King books. I've done Lisey's Story (Wonderful), From a Buick 8 (No so wonderful), The Shining, Night Shift, and right now, Nightmares & Dreamscapes. I enjoy them soo much.

LinBee- definitely try the audio for the October read, Duma Key. It's great even though I have trouble finding time to listen to it. I only have a 5 min commute to work.

Rachel wrote: "LinBee- definitely try the audio for the October read, Duma Key. It's great even though I have trouble finding time to listen to it. I only have a 5 min commute to work."

I might try it. I read the hardcover when it came out, and didn't really like it that much, it was a bit slow. But, everyone is talking about the audio, and making it sound pretty dang good. I will definately try to get my hands on it. With my commute, I am almost glad because I can get so much reading done that way too.

I prefer audiobooks in general. No matter if it is SK. But u need a boot narrator. Any SK that has been done by frank muller is great!!! I prefer audiobooks because i have a very bad attention span when it comes to reading books...this is prob out of a prolonged absence of reading