DTMark Posted June 14, 2015 Share Posted June 14, 2015 Have had an Audible audio book member subscription for some years now. I don't remember there being a thread about audio books specifically, so post if you've heard any that you really recommend. For me, they have to be very, very good to keep my interest and to see them through. I'll avoid anything that's really long, and I tend to prefer productions (like a radio play) as opposed to "someone sitting reading out a story". Unless the story grips me and the narration is masterful. So here are the ones I've especially enjoyed: FICTION - The Martian http://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Sci-Fi-Fantasy/The-Martian-Audiobook/B00B5HWE60 Now being made into a film. Intelligent sci-fi. Rather detailed, and all the better for it. Guy left behind on Mars awaits rescue. I normally baulk at American narrators, but this one is superb. - Devil May Care http://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Action-Adventure/Devil-May-Care-Audiobook/B004EWYUU6 Jeremy Northam is a superb narrator. Great story. You'll feel like you've actually watched another Bond film. - Three Men in a Boat http://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Classics/Three-Men-in-a-Boat-Audiobook/B004EVV3XE Hugh Laurie gives a definitive performance. - In the Dark http://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Crime-Thrillers/In-the-Dark-Audiobook/B004FTWE60 If you like detective fiction, try this. The narration is absolutely superb. The ending and resolution is a little risible, but it doesn't detract from so much else that's great. - Ordinary Thunderstorms http://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Fiction/Ordinary-Thunderstorms-Audiobook/B004FTWL5O William Boyd's masterpiece? Wonderful "on the run" crime story with a brilliantly chosen narrator. - Child 44 http://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Crime-Thrillers/Child-44-Audiobook/B004FTSGHQ If you like your novels to "feel like movies" then this is a good one to pick. Steven Pacey moves this along brilliantly, really excellent. NON-FICTION - The Chimp Paradox: The Acclaimed Mind Management Programme http://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Business/The-Chimp-Paradox-Audiobook/B006VE4P6E I have lots of books like this, but this one is brilliant. Some of the anecdotes are so very true and will have you laughing out loud at yourself. Which is why it's so good - because you can connect with it. Or at least, I did. - The Dark Tourist: Sightseeing in the World's Most Unlikely Holiday Destinations http://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Biographies-Memoirs/The-Dark-Tourist-Audiobook/B004V45QXW This is Dom Joly's finest hour. Hilarious, disturbing, earnest, well written. Brilliantly told by the man himself. DOCTOR WHO A special mention for those who are fans of Doctor Who and especially with Peter Davison as the Doctor. You should try these, at 2.99 each they're brilliant value and thanks to the use of the original actors and incidental sounds, you can visualise them very well. - The Mutant Phase http://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/the-mutant-phase-640?range=104 - Spare Parts http://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/spare-parts-200?range=104 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crashmonitor Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 I've read this book this weekend and they have to be pretty good to keep me interested, I read it in two sittings. It is available in audio book. I guess Penny Hancock is pushing the boundaries of what it is acceptable in covering the abduction of a 15 year old boy by a 44 year old woman. who to all intents and purposes appears to be a normal London professional. Sound a bit infeasible, a small 44 year old woman, overpowering a teenage boy; but somehow events make it plausible. Reminiscent of King's Misery, but much better written. Unfortunately can't read a Stephen King, his sentence and paragraph structure make it a real drag. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tideline-Penny-Hancock/dp/0857206281 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turned Out Nice Again Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 WIZARDS OF MONEY http://www.robinupton.com/people/WizardsOfMoney/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DTMark Posted June 23, 2015 Author Share Posted June 23, 2015 Reminiscent of King's Misery, but much better written. Unfortunately can't read a Stephen King, his sentence and paragraph structure make it a real drag. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tideline-Penny-Hancock/dp/0857206281 Added to wish list, thanks. WIZARDS OF MONEY http://www.robinupton.com/people/WizardsOfMoney/ Is that a bit like "The Money Masters" (video) but updated? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spyguy Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 I recommend you get get_iplayer and grab stuff off radio 4 and radio 4 extra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stormymonday_2011 Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 I am not really an Ian Fleming fan but Casino Royale is the best Bond book IMHO The reading by Dan Stevens on the Audible collection is excellent http://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Crime-Thrillers/Casino-Royale-with-Interview-Audiobook/B00915T1M8 The reading of Dashiel Hammett's Maltese Falcon by Eric Meyers is very good too http://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Crime-Thrillers/The-Maltese-Falcon-Audiobook/B004T3FIB0/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srTtl?qid=1435061465&sr=1-1 Michael Jayston's narration of of John Le Carre are top notch too, particularly the earlier novels http://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Crime-Thrillers/A-Perfect-Spy-Audiobook/B0064DZLCY/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srTtl?qid=1435061546&sr=1-1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spyguy Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 Try and get the Smiley series from Radio 4. Again, get_iplayer is great - all free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Hovis Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 I borrowed a couple of audiobooks when I was doing long weekly drives; they were readings rather than drama so not what Mark's after (one was John Grisham The Client, very good). Anyway.... because I found them so good I was aware that I was getting so absorbed in them that I was losing concentration when driving and had to give them up or risk a crash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrPin Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 Actually the Radio 4 radio plays can be sometimes very good. You know within a few minutes if it's a good one or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccc Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 I borrowed a couple of audiobooks when I was doing long weekly drives; they were readings rather than drama so not what Mark's after (one was John Grisham The Client, very good). Anyway.... because I found them so good I was aware that I was getting so absorbed in them that I was losing concentration when driving and had to give them up or risk a crash. Sounds like a good idea for a book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nuggets Mahoney Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 If you're interested in the periods, Garrett Fagan's lecture series' on Ancient Rome (Roman Emperors/ History of Rome) and Philip Daileader's series' on the Middle Ages (Early/ High/ Late) are as comprehensive and amusing as you're likely to find. Teaching Company productions so the pricing is eye-watering but I believe they can be snagged as part of the Audible introductory offer or picked up on physical media second hand via Amazon.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrPin Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 If you're interested in the periods, Garrett Fagan's lecture series' on Ancient Rome (Roman Emperors/ History of Rome) and Philip Daileader's series' on the Middle Ages (Early/ High/ Late) are as comprehensive and amusing as you're likely to find. Teaching Company productions so the pricing is eye-watering but I believe they can be snagged as part of the Audible introductory offer or picked up on physical media second hand via Amazon.. I am getting to appreciate your humour! I fear you will make it as a Gentleman! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nuggets Mahoney Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 I am getting to appreciate your humour! I fear you will make it as a Gentleman! Back in the early days of Flicker I spent an amusing few months lightheartedly trolling some of the more pretentious photographers on the site in collaboration with another user. I thought I had his personality pretty well sussed. It turned out that 'he' was man and woman double-teaming the same account. Both top people but when I found out it was like someone I respected had died. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Austin Allegro Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 Actually the Radio 4 radio plays can be sometimes very good. You know within a few minutes if it's a good one or not. Yes, the afternoon play on R4 is often quite good. I steer clear of any that are obviously pushing the BBC-PC agenda, but most are ok. I also listen to some self-help audio books that you can get on Youtube. There's a 19th century self-help writer called Orison Swett Marden who wrote some really good stuff in the 90s/10s/20s, before motivational things became all shouty and embarrassing and slightly scarey, like with Tony Robbins etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest eight Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 Yes, the afternoon play on R4 is often quite good. I steer clear of any that are obviously pushing the BBC-PC agenda, but most are ok. I also listen to some self-help audio books that you can get on Youtube. There's a 19th century self-help writer called Orison Swett Marden who wrote some really good stuff in the 90s/10s/20s, before motivational things became all shouty and embarrassing and slightly scarey, like with Tony Robbins etc. Tony Robbins is hilarious. I love how you can date his material by the increasing hoarseness of his voice over time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Austin Allegro Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 Tony Robbins is hilarious. I love how you can date his material by the increasing hoarseness of his voice over time. Yes, he's like a coked-up version of Dale Carnegie. At some point (1970s?) motivational speakers changed from being slightly homely, folksy figures like wise uncles or elderly lay preachers, and became cosmetically enhanced, shouty performers, which is a great shame because it put off a lot of people (mostly British) who could benefit from them. By the way, Dale Carnegie is excellent. The audiobook of 'How to Stop Worrying and Start Living' is really good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
council dweller Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 Yeah thanks DT mark.... Listened to Three men in a boat on Youtube. Strangely dated and modern at the same time. Pretty good. Also (`this is a libravox recording") of `a history of Mr Polly`. Just about to start.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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