Help me pick my next audio book...
6I just finished Gossamer by Lois Lowry. Before that it was Number the Stars (also by Lois Lowry) and The Book Thief. Before that it was books by Ayn Rand (okay books), but I typically listen to Scifi/ Fantasy.
I’ve listened to most available through Overdrive Media Console and my local library that is not a part of a series (I try to avoid them). Just looking for something good and figured on giving ya’ll a shot.
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Do you want to stick with Scifi and Fantasy?
@sammydog01
Not necessarily. Although I am not at all interested in romance, horror, or something else I was going to say that slipped my mind when my son spoke to me…
I have listened to a couple of historical fiction (the other thing I forgot before was nonfiction) based in the Nazi era (error) and they were quite good.
@jst1ofknd Ha’penny by Jo Walton is alt history about post-war England. Semi-spoiler: The British sign a truce agreement with the Nazis.
@ruouttaurmind
Not owned by our library. I could reccomend, but apparently not available as an audiobook through Overdrive.
@jst1ofknd
Do you live near, but not in, a big city? Or would you consider joining a big city library not near you?
Sometimes big city libraries (better selection of instant electronic books, audio and text), will let you join for a small annual fee. Then you could possibly borrow from them.
(I’ve never done this so have no personal experience. But some folk use this all the time.)
You could also request (free) a CD copy of the audiobook via ILL (Inter-Library Loan) from your existing library membership. It might take a while to get the book that way tho.
Also check with your existing library to see if they offer reciprocal checkout privileges with nearby City and University libraries, esp large ones.
@f00l @jst1ofknd It worked the other way for me. I live in the big(ish) city (biggest in the state, anyway), which has its own audiobook collection (via RB DIgital, which doesn’t work with Android Auto, but that’s another story).
All the small library systems in the state, however, have pooled their collections into one big one that a member of any participating library can borrow. I found this out from a coworker who lives in an adjacent county.
So I started calling surrounding counties to see if I could buy a card. The first one I tried said they take people from my county as well as theirs, so I scooted down there and got my second library card. Plus Overdrive works with Android Auto (Libby, RB Digital, and Hoopla do not).
So this is a very good idea. You may be able to get a cheap or free card in another county that will expand your available books.
@craigthom @jst1ofknd
I have a card for FW, which includes access to the catalogs of many surrounding suburban libraries, and possibly e-access to portions of nearby uni libraries (I don’t think these last loan materials associated with current coursework to non-students, for obvious reasons.)
I know that the much larger Dallas library offers access to it’s collection for a small annual fee.
I suspect that one can even join large municipal libraries at a considerable distance from home. Possibly even the enormous NY Pub Lib (never looked into this).
I get most if my listening from stuff I purchased, but if I didn’t own a large paid-for collection I would start joining more libraries.
Another option
Sometimes you can purchase used CD copies of s audiobooks from alibris, Amazon, books-a-million, BN, eBay, or some other large etailers, for very cheap.
Then rip them and put them on your phone.
If you intend to do this, start your search with the full ISBN of the CD audiobook specifically. Otherwise you might wind up with the wrong format.
eBay can be a great source for used audiobooks. So long as you find a seller who does not overprice.
Before you purchase, be sure you are getting “unabridged” if that’s what you want. Some booksellers can get sloppy about making this distinction clear.
www.bookfinder.com
www.bookfinder4u.com
will not do audiobook searches from the title. That just gives physical-print books.
But I think either will do these searches from the audiobook/specific ISBN and give results.
These sites search many etailers for physical-print/cassette/CD books.
It’s been a while since I did this. Not certain. Make sure you are buying what you think you are buying. (Format; abridged vs unabridged)
Someone who takes an annual credit subscription from audible can get anything they want for around $10.
Similar, I think?, with e-stories and the latter’s books come in unprotected mp3 format.
I’ve only bought single books from e-stories. Have not tried a subscription there.
@f00l
Do you consider Oklahoma City a big city? There’s one library system for the greater metropolitan area. That’s what I have. Getting to a different system would be possible, but I’m not sure how far I would have to go…
@jst1ofknd
You might just see if you can remotely join the Dallas library or the Chocagi it NYC or LA one.
And look at their catalogs first!
I haven’t done this so have no " specific library" advice.
Anything from Scalzi. I haven’t listened to anything from him I don’t like.
Have you listened to any David Wong? Another author I have liked everything so far. My favorite from him is Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits, but the John Dies books are good also. Though those are a series (4 books).
Every Anxious Wave by Mo Daviau is good if you like time travel and sciphysics. Minor spoiler: main character discovers a wormhole in his closet.
I could go on and on since scifi is my jam. Not into fantasy at all though. Mostly near future dystopia, alt history and near future apocalypse.
@ruouttaurmind
I have listened to quite a few dystopian books as well. I’ll check on these.
@ruouttaurmind
Was about to rec Scalzi when I saw your post.
@jst1ofknd @f00l Oh, and I completely overlooked Chris Moore! A Dirty Job is really scifantasy I guess. Part of a duology, but it stands alone very well since it was the first of the two.
Futuristic Violence is near future semi-dystopia.
@f00l @ruouttaurmind
Scalzi’s books that our library has are part of a series that the library does not have all of. I’m not getting into that after spending half my life reading the Wheel of Time series.
@ruouttaurmind
John Dies at the End was the only one available. I listened to a snippet and downloaded it. Great suggestion!
@jst1ofknd @ruouttaurmind
Sometimes for a small annual fee you can join a better (larger) library. And then have a much better selection.
If I wanted to check this option out, I would start by trying all the large libraries in cities where i could drive to within a day. Starting by closest first.
Also I would try University libraries nearby.
If you want a particular audiobook or series, you might try getting a used copy(copies) on cassette or cd from Ebay or from used booksellers.
You can always re-sell later.
You might try searching eBay or Amazon or alibris.
(In this case, esp for older books, beware abridgements: since sonetimes sellers don’t make it clear if the audiobook is abridged or not. You have to check the cassette/CD count, or ask.)
@jst1ofknd I had forgotten about Scalzi’s series. Old Man’s War, Interdependancy and something about Dragons or whatever. I’ve avoided these because I’m not into space scifi or fantasy.
John Dies is quite good. And also a movie on either Netflix or Amz Prime Video, I don’t recall which.
@jst1ofknd @ruouttaurmind I listened to the first Interdependency book on my recent road trip. I went to the library to put a hold on the next in the series. It hasn’t come out yet? But I need to know what happened!
@f00l @jst1ofknd @ruouttaurmind The library from my hometown has a $25 annual fee for out-of-towners. Monroe County Library, Rochester, NY. It was the cheapest one I found and they have a pretty good selection.
@sammydog01 I don’t know about the Audiobook, but hardcopy is due in mid October.
@ruouttaurmind @sammydog01
Usually simultaneous.
@jst1ofknd
Dunno if this is to your taste, but …
I really enjoyed the currently hot trilogy:
Crazy Rich Asians
Crazy Rich Girlfriend
Rich People Problems
(By Kevin Kwan)
These are light “novels of manners” combined with social satire, but the writer has an affection for his characters.
Fun summer reads/listens.
@f00l
Only one of these books available through my library (crazy rich).
A fun sci fi audiobook that I borrowed from my library via Overdrive a couple of years ago is Year Zero. An entertaining, lighthearted book narrated by John Hodgman.
@Pamela Year Zero reminded me quite a bit of Scalzi’s Agent to the Stars.
@Pamela I just put a hold on it at my library- thanks!
@Pamela
Placed a hold for Year Zero.
Everybody Poops
Welcome to night Vale. It’s also a podcast if you want to get a little taste first.
@JoetatoChip The book is so good, I couldn’t put it down.
@JoetatoChip The podcast is up to 132 episodes and free- it will keep you entertained for a long time.
I just downloaded John Dies at the End by David Wong, but keep the suggestions coming as I go through a lot of books.
I liked Andy Weir’s Martian.
C.S. Lewis has a Cosmic Trilogy that is good. He takes a very anti-twentieth-century-Englishman approach to interplanetary travel. The protagonist meets a new civilization and says, “oh, maybe I do not have all the answers…”
Outside of SciFi, I recommend anything by Bill Bryson. Fun and informative.
I am looking for a good audiobook version of Isaac Asimov’s Foundation Trilogy. I think it is similar to Rand’s stuff, just in space and more ecological rather than economical. Elon Musk thinks it is a pretty good series.
I am listening to The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes now. Science, but sadly not fiction.
@Gordonmeh Andy Weir’s Artemis is also quite good.
@Gordonmeh Late to the party, I know.
I loved Mother Tongue and Made in America, but Bryson missed me off in Lost Continent, so I haven’t read anything he’s written since.
I recommend the Harry Dresden series by Jim Butcher, and narrated by James Marsters. It’s a great modern day fantasy series, written with depth and humor and heart. There are 15 or so books in the series.
@dumbluk01 I have read all of these- I should go back and listen to them.
@dumbluk01 Spike reads audiobooks! I had no idea. Thanks for the info.
@dumbluk01
Love these. Have not done the latest set of short storied. ; (
Mistborn, Stormlight Archive, anything by Brandon Sanderson set in his Cosmere universe, really.
Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan, if you haven’t read it yet (warning, it’s 14 rather large volumes long + a prequel).
The Kingkiller Chronicle by Rothfuss is good, too.
Another warning here as well, series isn’t complete and Rothfuss is slow.
@ionyx
I read several Brandon Sanderson books after he completed the Wheel of Time series. That series is why I avoid serieses now. Ain’t no one got time for that.
@jst1ofknd I have a 1.5 hr commute to work… plenty of time to enjoy the world-building Sanderson and others undertake. I’m currently working through the Malazan series. I didn’t recommend it in my post above because it’s even longer than WoT and MUCH tougher to read/listen to.
@jst1ofknd Meant 1.5 hr commute… that includes both ways so 45 mins each.
@ionyx @jst1ofknd Agree on both counts. Sanderson is good, and Wheel of Time was so absolutely amazing at first, and then…
Also, have you ever read Terry Goodkind (Sword of Truth series)?
@jst1ofknd @mfladd Eh, WoT was good all the way through, imo… lol! Glad Rafe Judkins is writing the TV adaptation!
Never read Goodkind… I’ve heard of that series before, though, and feel like it should go on my list.
The Expanse
It’s a series, and a prolific one - 7 books released, 2 more to come, plus novellas - but it’s a great hard sci-fi space opera w/ space battles, political intrigue, mysterious alien technology, riveting plots and some really deep and complex characters.
I’m a reader, but people on Reddit rave about the quality of the audio-book voice-actor.
For a one-off, my favorite recent read was Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky. It’s truly one of the most clever and thought provoking sci-fi novels I’ve read.
Can’t recommend it highly enough.
@DennisG2014
Children book not available to me as audiobook.
I just read Dean Koontz’s Jane Hawk series (three of them out so far, more to come). Near-future sci-fi/tech premise and a kick-ass heroine. I liked his Odd Thomas series, also.
Totally unrelated, but I really love Ryan Holiday’s books on Audible. Ego is the Enemy and The Obstacle is the Way are the ones I’ve listened to./=
all of David Sedearis’ books are hilarious, and he is the narrator of the audiobooks. Love it!
On the more scifi side, I loved Dark Matter by Blake Crouch.
@moonhat
Dark Matter… Was that the one where the guy got kidnapped by himself from an alternate dimension?
I thought it should have had a different title.
@jst1ofknd yes! I thought it was pretty good. Yeah, bad name though.
Not Scifi/ Fantasy, but anything by Lewis Black (If you enjoy his humor and can handle the cursing) I offered one to my son years ago when he and his friends were driving up to college durning break. They didn’t want it. They took it anyway. I had to argue with them to get it back! They all loved it.
I also enjoyed Killing Kennedy by Bill O’Reilly, so I guess that whole series would be good.
Audio books need the right person reading it or even if it is a good story, you don’t want to listen. I’ll have to remember this thread and take notes!
The Bobiverse is amazing as well The Martian. I have greatly enjoyed them and highly recommend them.
I finished John Dies at the End and almost done with Beartown (I already had a hold on it). Now looking through this again to find another book.
Have you ever read The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King? Its an older book (1987 or something like that). It’s a great fantasy story. I cant recall who the narrator was but he was pretty good as well.
If you dont mind YA, I really liked Truly Devious, The Diviners, and A Study in Charlotte. Also Code Name Verity is about 2 girl spies during wartime.
I just remembered. Another science fiction book that I enjoyed was The Three Body Problem. I got it from my library through Overdrive. It was originally published in China and was a big hit there. A few years ago it won the Hugo for best novel. It is the first of a trio but I haven’t gotten around to listening to the other two books and I don’t feel as though Three Body Problem was incomplete.
I understand your aversion to series. My limit is three. If it’s more than a trilogy, I’m not going to start.
What I’ve been doing the past few years is catching up on “classics”, mostly so I’ll actually know the sources rather than just the impact they’ve had on popular culture. In most cases the movies just grab the visually sensational parts and skip the good parts.
My library (well, my second library) has these available via Overdrive, but I’m pretty sure Overdrive is limited by what your library owns, so YMMV.
My greatest find was The Lodger, by Marie Belloc Lowndes, published in 1913.
There have been some movies based on it, but the movies focus on the fact that the lodger is a Jack the Ripper character and are about his murders and catching him.
The novel is much much better. It’s about a couple whose life is falling apart. Things just keep getting worse, and the man renting their room is all that’s keeping them afloat.
I really liked the book. The movies miss the point and are meh.
The next two are explorations of the appeal of hedonism.
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson was published in 1886. Several films have been made of it, and we all know the high concept: A doctor drinks a potion and turns into a monster.
The book is more nuanced than that. Jekyll keeps drinking the potion because he enjoys having his inhibitions removed. He enjoys being a wild man who is out all night. He doesn’t black out or forget what’s going on. He just likes to party hardy without messing with his real life. Until it goes to far.
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde was published in 1890. The movie versions of this pretty much get the story right in a necessarily abbreviated form, although showing the picture to the audience lessens the impact, I think.
The book spends a lot of time on the philosophy of living only for beauty and pleasure. The book is a lot nastier than the movies. It was a huge deal at the time.
For me reading this was more educational than entertaining.
Dracula by Bram Stoker was published in 1897. We all know the story here.
People keep writing vampire books, many of which update the legend to the present day. What I think is often overlooked is that’s exactly what Stoker was doing in this book. He took and old European legend and dropped into (then) present-day London, with “modern” technology (a phonograph for recording notes, a typewriter for transcribing them, blood transfusions, etc.).
Stoker was updating an ancient story with scientific explanations. They aren’t very scientific now, but they were then, or at least they tried to be.
Not a great book, but it’s a fun look into what was going on when he wrote it, and the story is significantly different than most movies.
Frankenstein was first published in 1918 when Shelley was 21, and, boy, does it show.
The theme is not “horrible monster kills” or even “innocent monster is just misunderstood” but “I just want to be loved, and nobody wants to love me, so I’m going to kill people to get revenge on the man who created me”. He’s sort of an amped up less subtle Heathcliff.
And the writing. She spends a couple of pages describing a meadow they walk through. Heck, the book starts with letters from a sea captain to his sister, and how they then get stuck in the ice, and then they find a man wandering on the ice, so they bring him in, and then they get to know each other, and eventually the man starts to tell the story of his life, and much later we get to the part where the captain is writing home to his sister of the story this man is telling him of the story his creation told him. Whew.
I am glad I read (listened to) the book, because now I know the real story, which is unlike any movie made, no matter how much they claim to be using the source material. But it was, at times, a slog. I get it. Being unloved and lonely is the worst thing ever. (I think the depiction of the creature in the TV show Penny Dreadful comes the closest to capturing the spirit, even though the story is very different).
The Jules Verne books (I’ve recently “read” or “reread” over a half dozen) have practically no character development. Many are just fictional travelogues filled with plants and animals and places he had read about. I guess they are worthwhile for learning where science and natural history were when the wrote them, but that’s pretty much it.
There are others, but this is already more than anyone wants to read.
@craigthom
A few years ago I did Daniel Defoe. And Wilkie Collins. And Pamela.
That classic stuff can be very good.
@f00l I’ve had Robinson Crusoe on hold for a while. I just checked and I’m just up to #5 on this list. Eventually, I guess.
@craigthom
Do you ever purchase digital audiobooks?
I didn’t check e-stories or other sites and that might be worth doing. E-stores might have it for less, or for free.
This particular recording at audible is $3.49
https://www.audible.com/pd/Robinson-Crusoe-Audiobook/B004FW5WN4?qid=1537372203&sr=sr_1_15&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_2_5&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=PGA268MSSCB4X1TGKDXA&
@f00l I keep buying Audible books and have a huge backlog. I’m in no hurry to read any particular book, so I don’t mind waiting for it to come available from the library. And when all my library books are on hold, I listen to one of the Audible ones.
@craigthom
I’ve listened to several classics (Jules Verne, Charles Dickens, others). I’ll keep these in mind…
@craigthom @f00l
I’m too cheap to pay for audiobooks. The library has a lot of them for free and I will likely no re-listen to them.
@craigthom @jst1ofknd
Classic out-of-copyright fictional works, narrated by volunteers, can be had in Librivox.org.
All completely free.
However, volunteers (mostly amateurs recording at home) do the narration. Sometimes they switch out several times over the course of a long book.
Narration quality can be terrible to v good.
Many of these volunteer-narrated books are also available on E-stories. Again, free.
I just finished this audio-book and found it very helpful, practical and entertaining.
https://www.amazon.com/Decluttering-Speed-Life-Winning-Never-Ending/dp/0718080602
Zeus Is Dead