Audiobook Week, hosted by Jen at Devourer of Books, wraps up today with a discussion of audiobook resources and recommendations.
Where do you learn about great audiobook titles? Find reviews? Buy your audiobooks? Share your secrets with the rest of us!
I have to say that bloggers are my primary source of audiobook recommendations. After seeing all the love for Ready Player One this week, you can be certain that's gone to the top of my wish list. There are two bloggers in particular who never steer me wrong: Jennifer at Literate Housewife and Sandy at You've GOTTA Read This. When either one of these ladies declares an audiobook a must-listen, I take note. It may take awhile before I actually get a chance to listen, but I will listen.
Audible.com is another wonderful resource. I've had a membership for years. In addition to purchasing audiobooks, I maintain a wish list, learn about new releases and recent additions, listen to audiobook samples, and have access to their listener reviews.
Every month, I pick up a free copy of BookPage newspaper at my library. Their audiobook column has provided some great recommendations over the years, too.
And finally, sometimes finding a great audiobook is purely a matter of chance. While perusing my print wish list a couple months ago to see which titles were available on audio, I discovered You Deserve Nothing not only featured multiple narrators (I love this format!), but one of the narrators was a favorite (Cassandra Campbell). That turned out to be one of the best multi-narrator productions I've experienced.
I'm looking forward to reading other posts on today's topic. There will surely be plenty of great tips, resources, and recommendations.
Thanks, Jen for all the work you've put into making Audiobook Week such a huge success!
I do the chance thing myself from time to time. If the story sounds good, I will pick it up and hope that it turns out to be a good production. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteMelissa - And somehow those 'chance' finds are even more satisfying!
DeleteI also use a lot bloggers and my library. here are my answers: http://wordsandpeace.com/2012/06/29/listen-up-audiobook-week-discussion/
ReplyDeleteWordsandpeace - I'd be lost without all those great recommendations from other bloggers. I've enjoyed reading your posts this week :-)
DeleteIsn't finding an amazing audio by chance just the best feeling?
ReplyDeleteJen - It really is! So unexpected and rewarding...
DeleteYOU'RE that blogger for me JoAnn. I can't think of anything you've loved that I haven't gone on to love as well. ;)
ReplyDeleteTrish - This makes me so happy! Lately when I'm listening to audiobooks, there are times when I think to myself "Trish would love this one!"
DeleteP.S. - That didn't happen with the book I reviewed yesterday, Winter King ;-)
One thing I've come to look for is great narrators. Right now I'm listening to The End of the Affair, read by Colin Firth. Of course, if Colin Firth read the phone book, I'd probably listen to it anyway. But seriously, if someone is a great actor with a brilliant voice, you're halfway there, audiobook wise. Frances McDormand's Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day was another favorite narration!
ReplyDeleteCol - I CAN"T WAIT to listen to Colin Firth read The End of the Affair! It's near the top of my audio wish list... and I'd listen to him read the phone book, too. I loved Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day in print (my first Persephone). You've convinced me to make me reread a listen.
DeleteIt's great to see you recommending You Deserve Nothing. I didn't listen to the audio, but the book was my favourite read in 2011 and so I always love to see it promoted. Almost wish I'd listened to the audio now.
ReplyDeleteJackie - Your favorites post was the first time I heard about You Deserve Nothing (where had I been?), so thank you. It was completely by chance that I happened to compare my print wish list with audible offerings. What luck... and what an amazing audio production!
DeleteChance discoveries work for me. My eye is often caught by a cover when browsing Audible's New Releases list and I'll dig a little deeper into what the book is about and who the narrator is. That's the only time a cover influences my purchase of a book.
ReplyDeleteOddiophile - Sometime there is just no escaping the draw of a great cover ;-)
DeleteI will be listening to Ready Player One because of this week's recommendations too!
ReplyDeleteNise' - I swear that book has been everywhere this week! Not sure if I'll get to Ready Player One this summer, but definitely in September or October.
DeleteI love Book Page and pick up a copy each month! I also subscribe to the daily email.
ReplyDeleteI pay attention to reviews by other bloggers for audio books, too and like you, I might not get to it right away, but it does go on the list.
Thanks for stopping by my blog today!
Kristin - Book Page has a daily email?? I'm off to check on that now - thank you.
DeleteThanks for the mention, and you would likewise be on my list of go-to audio people! Seriously, Ready Player One needs to be your next listen. It is one of my absolute favorites ever, thanks to a combination of a clever clever plot and brilliant narration of Wil Wheaton.
ReplyDeleteSandy - Ready Player One sounds like it's so far outside my comfort zone, but I'm going to take your rec and run with it, lol!
DeleteI've never even looked at the Audible.com website. Do you pay for a membership and then pay regular book prices on top of that?
ReplyDeleteLisa - Audible has several listening plans. You pay a monthly fee (or the whole year up front) and receive a certain number of 'credits'. Most books cost one credit. They also have great sales periodically for members only -Buy One, Get One, $5 sale, etc. Members also get a percentage off (30% ?) non-'credit' purchases. I love that company!
DeleteYou are my go-to person for audio books!! I'm going to add Ready Player One to my list too!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Staci! Maybe we'll both get to see what all the fuss is about over Ready Player One soon.
DeleteChance is a huge part of finding a great audio, isn't it? Sometimes, no matter how hard we look, we just have to pick ones that look and sound good to us. I've found a few gems this way.
ReplyDeleteMichelle - Chance definitely played a much larger role in my audiobook selection pre-blogging. Now it seems pretty special to stumble across an undiscovered gem!
DeleteI've been thinking of an audible.com membership since I have an iphone now :)
ReplyDeleteStacybuckeye - Sounds like the perfect time to join audible.com!
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