Tag Archives: Audiobooks

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Saturdays @ the South: For your listening preference…

I recently chatted with someone who claimed she wasn’t much of a reader because she rarely sat still long enough to read a book in any meaningful way. That is, until she discovered audiobooks. Audiobooks have helped her become more of a reader because she was able to do it during the times when she had to sit down anyway, like during her long commute. I discovered audiobooks in a similar way. While I’m an avid reader, I was looking to get more reading time into my day thinking “good grief, I hate spending all this time in the car when I could be reading…“. Then I had a huge forehead-slapping moment when I remembered that audiobooks exactly that: a way to safely read in the car.

Once I discovered one of the benefits of audiobooks (and there are many), I didn’t necessarily jump right onto the bandwagon, though. As I mentioned in last week’s post, everyone has their own preference when it comes to audiobooks, and much like a fairy-tale princess, you may have to kiss some frogs before you find the style(s) that suit you best. Some people for example can’t read fiction in the car because they find it too engrossing. They get so involved in the story that listening to a book in the car is no longer a way to read safely; it’s distracting instead. It’s just not the audiobook style for them.

I kissed several frogs when I  started to listen audiobooks and still do, even though I’ve been listening to them for years. Sometimes a narrator of a nonfiction work sounds pretentious and didactic, rather than engaging. Sometimes the reader presents a character that sounds completely differently in your head and you just can’t listen to the portrayal without getting aggravated (been there, so many times). Sometimes the story is something that’s right up your alley, but it’s better left in print form. I come across this a lot in my reading. Sometimes I just need to see the word on the page to make it come alive in my head. Nothing against the narrator, just a personal preference.

This week, I thought I’d offer a sort of if/then for audiobooks, not necessarily based on their plot (you’ll find summaries in the catalog links), but based more on what listening style it could attract. If you’re thinking about trying audiobooks or just looking for your next listen, maybe something here will float your boat:

If you want to be engrossed but not distracted try:  The Devil and Sherlock Holmes: Tales of Murder, Madness and Obsession by David Grann

The narrator for this book did a great job expressing the tone of the text, which is about true stories that explore some form of obsession, without being overly dramatic or didactic. You won’t get someone changing their voice to mimic characters here, just a solid narration from someone who knows who to tell a gripping story. The fact that this is a series of tales, rather than one long story helps temper the tenseness of the subject matter so you’re less likely to drift too far into your imagination.

If you’re looking to laugh with non-fiction try: Let’s Pretend this Never Happened by Jenny Lawson

Lawson’s books are poignant, endearing and completely hysterical. This memoir about her life growing up in Texas and coming of age with her own personal issues is guaranteed chuckles and  guffaws, partly because the author reads the book herself, giving the reader a sense that they’re out having drinks with that friend who always knows how to crack you up. Plus, the audiobook has a gag reel. Need I say more?

If you’re looking to laugh with fiction try: Fool by Christopher Moore

Moore’s book about the fool in the court of King Lear is the book that made me say “this whole audiobook thing is going to work out just fine.” The narrator in this book does character voices spot-on with authentic-sounding accents, great comedic timing and differentiation that made me wonder a few times if there was more than one person reading the book. He did such a good job that I couldn’t imagine these characters sounding any other way.

If you’re looking for a cast of characters try: The Gurnsey Literary and Potato-Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer

Not only are the characters in this WWII historical novel well-drawn, they are very well-read by a cast, rather than relying on one narrator to do all the voices. Having multiple people read this story works very well for the epistolary style of the novel and helps keep a pretty large cast of characters in straight when you’re not seeing names on the page.

Bonus: If you’re looking for an epic cast of characters, try Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders which is read by 166 people, including Lin Manuel Miranda, Julianne Moore, David Sedaris, Ben Stiller, Don Cheadle and Nick Offerman.

If you’re looking for something classy try: The Iliad by Homer

Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey, Beauty and the Beast) narrates this classic, epic poem with style. His narration is subtle without being boring and he tackles the immense number of Greek names expertly. Since the Homeric tradition is an oral one, you get the sense that you’re listing to this book the way it was always meant to be done.

Bonus: If you’re a fan of celebrity narration, there’s plenty to be found out there, but few actors read books as well as Stephen Fry. Arabella mentioned his narration of the Sherlock Holmes canon (which I can’t wait to listen to myself), but may I also suggest his reading of Douglas Adams’s classic sci-fi caper, The Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy for a true reading treat.

I hope this post has given you some options if you’re just dipping your toe into the audiobook waters, or if you a longtime listener but are looking for something new. Till next week, dear readers, remember that good books (including audiobooks) are in the eye of the beholder, so don’t be afraid to experiment!

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Stories that save you

We all have stories that save us.

I’ve used this phrase a few times here, dear readers, and I really do believe it.  We’ve all had a person who came into our lives precisely when they were most needed, and gave us a new direction, some advice, or perhaps some comfort, and made an indelible difference on our lives.

Books can be like that, too.

Recently, Stephen Fry recorded the entire Sherlock Holmes canon for Audible.com.   You can hear a sample of it in the clip above.

…and let me assure you, the rest is just as glorious.  The best part is that he also wrote and recorded a series of introductions for the various books of stories, talking about the history of the stories, of Conan Doyle’s life (and his friendship with Oscar Wilde!), and Fry’s own relationship to Sherlock Holmes’ adventures.  In one of these introductions, he talks about how Sherlock Holmes saved his life.

And I kind of know what he means.

I found my first Sherlock Holmes story when I was twelve years old.  For some reason, my sixth grade teacher had a copy of six random Sherlock Holmes stories bound together–I know for a fact that “The Sussex Vampire” was the first I read, which is why, even though I know it’s really not one of the better stories, it’s among my favorites.  “The Blue Carbuncle” was in there, as well, which is also one of my all-time favorites.  I brought that book with me on a god-awful camping trip that they made all the sixth-graders take to “build character” and “bond socially”.  I got lost in the woods and nearly drowned, neither of which really helped my intense feelings of awkwardness, which were largely brought about by being taller than everyone else and not having a clue about how to fit into a group of my peers.  But at night, while everyone else was building their character and bonding socially, I hid in my sleeping bag and read about Sherlock Holmes.  Holmes, too, was an outsider; a man who admitted to not having many friends and not fitting in–and who was taller than most people.  And he, with all his weird quirks and socially awkward manners, was the hero of his story.  I also think I learned how to be a good friend by watching Watson.  Watson didn’t try, at any point, to be something he wasn’t.  He expressed everything he felt clearly, and he showed up when he was needed.  When we got back from that hellish trip, I used my savings to buy a huge collection of Holmes stories, which included A Study in Scarlet, The Sign of Four, and all the stories up to and including “The Final Problem”.   Having those two around got me through what turned out to be one of the hardest years of my growing up, with bullies and mean teachers and the outdoors all conspiring against me.

Jeremy Brett is the best Sherlock.

By high school, I had read and re-read the entire Holmes canon multiple times.  I actually made a few friends who had read a bit about Sherlock Holmes as well–admittedly, not to the same obsessive level that I had, but who were willing to keep up a conversation with me, or watch the Jeremy Brett adaptations with me.  But college is when Holmes really stepped up to help me out.

I did my junior semester abroad in London, and trust me when I tell you I was living in the creepiest, most unsanitary, and poorly insulated dorm room you can imagine, with some of the least personable people this side of a sitcom.  But I had Holmes.  And I had David Timson’s recordings.  Timson, for the record, is a marvel.  He created a different voice for every character in the entire Holmes world.  And played them all accurately.  I saved up my tiny stipend once a month to buy a new CD collection of stories, and listened to them at night to help me fall asleep in my weird, dingy dorm.  No matter how bad things got, Holmes could set them right.  There is no story that doesn’t end with order being restored, and when you’re living in a place of disorder, that can mean everything. During the day, I learned to navigate London by the walks that Holmes at Watson took in the various stories.  I got hopelessly lost one day trying to get home from Oxford Street, and was about ready to cry when I remembered that Mr. Henry Baker walked from Tottenham Court Road to Goodge Street after his Christmas festivities in “The Blue Carbuncle”, and replayed the scene in my head as I walked.  I made it to the Tube in time to catch the last train home.

In grad school, I became slightly notorious for bringing Sherlock Holmes into every class I took.  Because to know Sherlock Holmes means to understand the tensions within the British Empire.  It means understanding a bit about the Victorian legal system, about social customs and attitudes, and about gender relations.  It also means understanding the impact of railways and travel on the average person in history.  And I made my students read a few Holmes stories for themselves, because they are more fun than a textbook, and more enlightening than my lectures in many respects.  In every case, Holmes was a kind of security blanket for me, easing me into a new, and potentially scary situation by being that familiar, that constant friend, that fixed point in a changing age.

Heck, I even, tangentially, got this job at the library because of Sherlock Holmes.  When I moved back to Peabody, I joined the Library’s Classics Book group in order to make a few friends.  The first book the group read with me as a member?  The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, I kid you not.   It was those stories that kept me coming back to the Library, and they haven’t gotten rid of me since.

And today, when anxiety crops its ugly head, I plug in my earbuds, or pull out that same battered old volume of Holmes stories, and transplant the angry, insecure voice in my head with Watson’s calm narrative, and Holmes’ practical problem-solving.  These two friends have been with me for twenty years now, helping me through every change in life, and every rough patch that I’ve hit along the way, from practical advice about growing up to navigating a foreign city, from intense historic analysis to calming stress-relief.  Those are the stories that have saved me.

I hope you have some, too.

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Saturdays @ the South: Bookish Podcasts

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I hope our faithful readers of this blog (and even the occasional passers-by) understand how much we love helping patrons here at the library. Let’s face it, you’re all why we’re here in the first place. We love helping you find just the right title you’re looking for or turning you onto something new. Sometimes, though, we love helping you help yourselves. We try to be as diverse as we can here at the library and I know sometimes our enthusiasm may seem superhuman, but we are just people after all and we simply can’t keep up with absolutely everything in the ever-expanding world of books. (I know, say it isn’t so! But it’s true…) The good news is there are some awesome resources out there to help you keep up with the world of books and help you explore it much in the way we would: with bookish enthusiasm and occasional, random bursts of excitement. Today, I thought I’d share with you one of my favorite ways to keep up with bookish news and upcoming titles: podcasts. The world of books and the world of podcasts intersect a surprising amount with some fantastic offerings by both publishers and independent sources.

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For the uninitiated, a podcast is like a cross between a radio broadcast and a blog post; it is in audio format accessible through the Internet on-demand, and is an opportunity for hosts to share information about which they are particularly knowledgeable or enthusiastic. Most podcasts have a specific theme or topic and publish a new episode weekly, bi-weekly or monthly, with some posting multiple times each week. Podcasts can be downloaded onto media players like tablets, smartphones and iPods, but they can also simply be listened to on a computer. Downloading can be done through iTunes (which is free software), but can also be done through the podcasts’ individual website. The podcast’s website will allow you to listen on your computer, without any special equipment. You also have the luxury of subscribing to podcasts you particularly enjoy so you won’t miss an episode. However, if yo do miss an episode, you can often find scads of backlist episodes for your listening pleasure. There are hundreds of topics to choose from and, fortunately for us, there are some amazing bookish podcasts that offer current, relevant information and insights into the bookish world.

A word about sponsors: Many of the podcasts that have the best production value need money in order to keep their quality standards high. (This isn’t something the public library generally encounters because our funding largely comes from the City and donations like those received on behalf of the Friends of the Peabody Institute Libraries or the Peabody Library Foundation.) As a result, podcasts may briefly be interrupted by “commercials”, in which the podcast presenter talks about who has sponsored the show. This doesn’t necessarily make the podcast less reliable in terms of information. In the case of most podcasts I’ve listened to, the sponsors are at least tangentially related to the podcast content and hosts do not seem to introduce a sponsor that they are not familiar with or comfortable recommending.  The appearance of sponsors does not seem to affect the content of the podcast. That said, most podcasts have an “advance 15 second” feature so you can skip through the sponsor notices like fast-forwarding through a commercial. Please know that any sponsors mentioned in the podcasts listed below are in no way affiliated with or recommended by the Library. As in most things, you should use your own best judgement.

All-the-Books-logo-featured-270x142All the Books – This podcast is a lively bundle of enthusiasm that allows you to keep up with the newest books coming out each week. Run by blog favorite Book Riot, each week the hosts, known as the “Well Redheads” run through their favorite books that have come out that week, offering brief plot summaries and the reasons why they are mentioning those particular books out of the very many books that come out each week. You’re unlikely to find the newest James Patterson or Danielle Steel book mentioned here as the hosts prefer to give love to some of the lesser known books that they feel deserve attention. That said, many of the books they talk about end up on bestseller lists or other popular book lists, like Library Reads, so you won’t be getting a list of obscure books you can’t find in the library here. Just good reads.

get-booked-logo-e1441883061578Get Booked – This is a readers’ advisory podcast in which the hosts take readers’ questions about what they should read next. The podcast started off as a bi-weekly program, but was so popular and the hosts wanted to accommodate the flood of questions that came in, they’re now posting a new podcast weekly. This is also a Book Riot podcast, which pretty much guarantees that the presenters will love what they do and have an absolute blast doing it. This is a great podcast to learn about new genres as they sometimes have themed shows and it’s a great resource to hear about books that might not be new, but might be just to your liking.

podcast_logo_finalNew York Public Library Podcast – If you want to get to know the stories behind the stories, this is the podcast for you. This podcast is filled with author interviews, critic interviews, culture and art talks and more, often in front of a live audience, all of which allow you to delve deeper into the world of books and culture. The podcasts are widely varied in topic so there’s something for everyone here.

podcast-banner-1440-HiResWhat Should I Read Next? – Blogger Ann Bogel (known in the blogosphere as Modern Mrs. Darcy) is an inherent bookworm who loves making reading recommendations. Each week, she has a guest on the show and the guest tells her what he/she is reading now, two books they love, one book they hate and if there’s anything they want to change in their reading lives (ex. I want to read books my more people of color, I want to read more nonfiction, etc.). With that information, she makes 3 suggestions for what the guest should read next. She recently had a “what did they read?” follow-up episode and it sounds like her suggestions were right up her guests’ alley. It’s a fun, non-fussy approach to readers’ advisory and you can get some fantastic recommendations from Bogel.

Publishers are also offering some pretty interesting podcasts that, while the publishers are likely hoping to boost sales for their individual titles by addition additional content, still offer some interesting background into books, book news and authors. Author interviews and audiobook previews (perfect for June, which is Audiobook Month!) are often included content. News outlets are offering similar podcasts and while they may not be as wildly enthusiastic as the more independent podcasts who are doing it mostly for a love of books, they have undeniable access to big-names that smaller, more independent outfits simply wouldn’t have. Some of these podcasts include: Harper Audio Presents, Slate’s Audio Book Club and The Guardian Books Podcast.

9780062229373After the Funeral – In the “timely coincidence” category, we have this serialized podcast that is broadcasting a full reading of Agatha’ Christie’s After the Funeral. This podcast is presented by Sophie Hannah, who is the only author to have received authorization from the Christie estate to write new Hercule Poirot novels The Monogram Murders and the upcoming Closed Casket.  It is read by Hugh Fraser. This is one of those publisher-presented podcasts; in this case it’s part of Harper Audio Presents.

height_90_width_90_ALICELOGO-1400That’s one of the cool things about podcasts. You can also find original, fictional, serialized content that can be pretty addictive. I have not personally listened to, but have heard many wonderful things about the podcast “Welcome to Night Vale” which gained such momentum that it was turned into a novel. Currently there’s “Alice Isn’t Dead,” a creepy, bi-weekly podcast about a woman following her missing wife’s trail by taking a job with a tractor-trailer company and crisscrossing across the US, encountering some very strange people and events. It’s like listening to an audiobook in small doses.

I hope this post has offered you some options for discovering new books or other things in the wonderful bookish world for yourself. Don’t forget, though, the Library is always here for you, whether you want to find those cool books that you just heard about through a podcast, or if you’d like recommendations a more traditional or personal way. We’re always happy to help! Till next week, dear readers, keep your ear to the ground for new bookish news. If you hear something you like, tell us! We always love to hear about new discoveries.

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And laughter is best medicine of all….

And while we’re on the subject of mental health and keeping sane during this time of year, let’s have a quick chat about laughter, shall we?

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Like cat’s purring, laughter itself is the manifestation of a physical state of being, is the body’s release valve, allowing for the pressure within the body, both good and bad.  But we’re mostly concerned here with the good, and the joyful, and the ridiculous.

This season is one of gathering-together, of socializing (forced or otherwise…), and of making new acquaintances.  And believe me, I know how stressful these kind of things can be.  The presence of food helps.  I have found some of my best holiday-party discussions have taken place over and around the quality of cheese being served.  But the injection of laughter is a guaranteed way to make things better.

As ever, there are scientific studies to back-up this claim.  It has been proved that laughter can bring people together by synchronizing the brains of speaker and listener, creating an empathetic bond.  Not only that, but laughter releases chemicals in the brain that can provide a sense of well-being and reduce tension.  It is also contagious.  The laughter of another person makes our bodies want to laugh, too.  It turns out that laughter is also an immunity booster, which is critically important when you’re shaking hands and rubbing elbows, particularly at a time when everyone has that unpleasant cough that’s going around.

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My favorite line from the study referenced above explains that everyone should be accountable to another person, and hold other people accountable for laughter: “It is important that people can check in with others from time-to-time, on ‘whether they have had moments of laughter’ or not.”

So this is me, checking in with you, beloved patrons, and making sure you’ve had your daily dose of laughter for the day.  If not, then go on and make yourself laugh.  You may sound like a creepy Bond villain for a few moments, but after that…see what happens.  And if you need a little more incentive, then have a look at the selection below for some suggestions to get you giggling.  And be sure to share that laughter with others.

It’s also been proven that laughter can reduce blood sugar.  So have some more pie while you’re at it!

3640186Mystery Science Theater 3000: This may be my favorite TV show.  Like, ever-ever.  The premise, though outlandish, is pretty simple: an evil scientist, bent on world domination, sends a hapless everyman to a space station (known as the Satellite of Love), and forces him to watch bad movies in order to monitor his mind. Said Everyman (in this case, Joel Hodgson, the show’s creator and first writer), creates two robots from parts found on the satellite to keep him company.  Why?  Who cares?  The result is comedy genius as these three compatriots endure some of the worst films ever released.  Joel was replaced by Mike Nelson in the show’s fifth season, but this in no way detracted from the quality of the show–in fact, for many, it actually enhanced it.  I dare you to watch these films, and listen to the jokes told about them, and not giggle, just a little.  Best of all, this show was designed to air on prime time in the late 1980’s and 1990’s, which means it’s almost entirely safe for family viewing…making it the perfect way to distract family members and friends alike.  The NOBLE network has a bunch of different episodes of the show, too.  Check out the list here.

3137973The Gallery of Regrettable Food:  Ok, so this may hit too close to home for some this holiday season, but for those of us who at least have a pizza delivery place on speed-dial in case the worst should occur, James Lilek’s book will keep you in stitches.  Lilek began snarking on mid-century cookbooks when The Internet was just getting started, and hasn’t stopped yet  (any why would you, when you have such comedy gold as these photographs?  Particularly the photos of meat).  This book brings together some of his best work, in chapters with titles such as “Glop in a pot” and “Poultry for the glum”, which are guaranteed to give you a chortle or two, especially around the Dinner Party time of the year.

2716448Gavin and Stacey: Sometimes, the funniest things are also the most profound, and this is never more true than in this BBC comedy about a young couple falling in love, their best friends, and the utter hilarity of real life.  Gavin and Stacey work for different branches of the same company, and, as a result, talk on the phone every day–but when they at last meet face-to-face, what began as a simple flirtation will become a relationship that will change both their lives–and the lives of their friends and family–forever.  This show manages to be both utterly hilarious and unforgettably emotional, often at the same time; though a bit more adult in terms of content and delivery, it is still a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.  Additionally, fans of late-late night television will recognize James Corden, who now hosts on CBS, in his first role (he also co-wrote this series).  Those in need of a real binge-watch can also check out Season Two and Three, as well!

2597561I Am America (And So Can You!): Harken back to a simpler time, when we could mock blowhards and bigots for the fools that they were.  Stephen Colbert’s first book, written in the voice of his Comedy Central persona on The Colbert Report is made even funnier by his over-the-top delivery and now-familiar bombast.  Like his show, this book is a series of utterly absurd opinions, unsupported declarations, and wacky conspiracies, all woven into a fictional biography that is so outlandish it can only be heard to be enjoyed properly.  The addition of special guests and special asides make this recording even better–and makes those Extra-Opinionated Holiday Guests just a little more bearable.

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Books for your ears, or Hooray for Audiobooks!


Audio-Books-creative-commons-As was noted in yesterday’s post, we here really like books.  But, I think, more than that, we enjoy good stories, in whatever form, or through whatever medium they happen to be told, especially if they involve plenty of good characters, well-planned action, and/or elaborate hand gestures…As was also noted, we also tend to focus mostly on books, since that seems to be our preferred story-drug of choice.

But the truth of the matter is that reading a book can often feel like logo-audiobook1more of a luxury than a daily event, precisely because the world does seem to move too quickly sometimes, stealing the chance to stop and reading, and making it difficult to stop by the library and pick up a new book.  And it is for precisely such occasions that audiobooks are so valuable.

Audiobooks offer all the intellectual and imaginative stimulation of reading, while still leaving your hands free to work, cook, cook, clean, or drive.  A number of our patrons swear by audiobooks to get them through a workout, or through the drive to and from work during rush hour.

Another, less frequently discussed perk of audiobooks is how much they can enrich a story, and offer details that books can’t.  In the special cases where an author narrates their own works, you can get a sense of how the book sounds in the author’s head; Bill Bryson’s work is some of the best in this sense.  In books with invented languages, such as the Dune series, the chance to hear the characters can add to the story immeasurably.  Sometimes it’s as simple as learning how an obscure word is pronounced (fecundated, for example, a word that comes up in David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas).  Also, for those who aren’t visual learners, audiobook are often more effective for retention and learning than reading.

downloadFinally, thanks to Overdrive, our digital library platform, audiobooks are available 24/7…even when the library is closed.  For information and help with downloading, give us a call!

So, with that in mind, here are a few audiobooks, some selected by patrons, that are sure to keep your mind working and allow yo to be productive at the same time:

2326248Lolita, Read by Jeremy Irons: It’s already been scientifically determined that Jeremy Irons has a nearly perfect voice, so it is no surprise that this audiobook is a nearly perfect work of art.  Irons revels in Nabokov’s use of language, his pathos, and the awful love story and haunting tragedy that is Lolita.  This is a story that stands or falls on the audiences’ perception of the narrator, and Irons offers a powerfully insightful performance, making listeners feel Humbert Humbert’s fear, pain, and hopeless longing in a way that you don’t always get through reading.  I do accept that I am biased about this book, but this still remains my favorite of the library’s audiobook collection.

3551293‘Salem’s Lot, Read by Ron McLarty: It took a little bit of time for McLarty’s narration to grow on me, but it’s now become a yearly tradition for me as the leaves begin to turn and winter begins to whisper through the air.  There is something much more unsettling about being read a scary novel, rather than reading one–the story envelopes, and eventually chills you.  McLarty just gets the understated terror of Stephen King’s masterpiece, building the pace and tension almost imperceptibly, making this book feel as much a tragedy as a nightmare.  He also does a killer Maine accent, which makes the inhabitants of the doomed ‘Salem’s Lot feel that much more real as their story gradually unfolds.

3020871The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Read by David Timson: David Timson is a hero of mine.  When it was realized that there was no complete, comprehensive recording of all 60 of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Holmes stories, Timson set out to rectify the situation–by locking himself in a recording studio (not seriously) and single-handedly crafting a distinct and recognizable voice for every single character in the canon (this is completely true–you can watch a bit of it here).  It’s incredible not only for his energy and inventiveness, but for the fact that the voices are sustained over such a long period of time.  Perhaps more so than any other narration, Timson gets the relationship between Holmes and Watson perfectly, balancing their tempers and talents to help listeners realize just why their friendship is so timeless.

3620261Dead Wake, Read by Scott Brick: I’ll be honest–my ears are in love with Scott Brick.  Which is terrific, since he has been narrating consistently since 1999 in every genre you can imagine.  Eric Larson’s newest release on the sinking of the RMS Lusitania in 1915 is one of Brick’s most recent recordings, and he is terrific at non-fiction works, but he has also lent his voice to novels by Isaac Asimov, Orson Scott Card, Frank Herbert, Dennis Lehane (and yes, he can do a Boston accent), and Tom Clancy, to name a very small sample.  Though subtle, his accents and inflections are generally spot-on–especially in Brad Meltzer’s books; Meltzer and Brick are friends, and Meltzer has been known to add characters to the story with unique accents, just to keep Brick on his toes (check out Zero Game for some examples).

3518341The Luminaries, Read by Mark Meadows: There are some books so rich, so complex, and so detailed that you simply want to hide away and devour them whole.  These are the kind of books I like to read, as opposed to hear, simply so I can savor each detail and character in depth.  Mark Meadows, however, managed to wring every drop of drama, and every nuance from each character.  Seriously, I am terrible with names, but simply from listening to Meadows’ inflections, I knew precisely who was talking, and how they were feeling.  This book is like listening to a friend, rather than a narrator, and I whole heartedly recommend it for those looking for a long-term audiobook relationship.

3617052Trigger Warnings, Read by Neil Gaiman:  Some people are made of magic, and Neil Gaiman is one of those people.  I don’t understand how he can read as well as he writes, but he does.  I picked this book because it is his most recent, but check out everything else he has written or read.  Right now.

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Yay Stephen Colbert!

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Today was a seminal event in the history of television.  A seismic moment in broadcasting….It was the premiere of the new Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

…Ok, it probably wasn’t quite that big a deal, but for Colbert’s legion fans, it has been a long, chilly nine months.  And tonight’s show did not disappoint, for those night owls who were up to watch.

3187413The radical conservative blowhard that he played on his Comedy Central show was somewhat afraid of books (the fictitious Stephen Colbert claimed they had ‘too many facts’ in them), despite the fact that he authored three during his tenure on Comedy Central, two of which were parodies of political memoirs: I Am America (And So Can You!), and America Again: re-becoming the greatness we never weren’t.  Both books are pitch-perfect satires of American political memoirs and commentaries that are rendered even better by Colbert’s performances in the audiobook recordings
of both works.  He also authored a children’s book, entitled I Am a Pole (and so can you!), the result of an interview with the beloved and delightfully curmudgeonly Maurice Sendak, who was one of the few guests capable of keeping up with Colbert, and giving him a run for his intellectual money–and, who stated, unequivocally, that his favorite book was Moby Dick, in case you needed another reason to try this classic.

 However, the truth of the matter is that Stephen Colbert is a librarian’s comedian.   His humor is a treasure trove of literary references, allusions, and homages.  Best of all, Colbert wears his bookish-ness on his sleeve.  He took on Amazon when the company tried to wage war against Hachette (Colbert’s publisher), and helped debut author Edan Lepucki’s book California onto the New York Times Bestsellers List when he urged viewers to buy the book via independent bookstores rather than Amazon.  He speaks Elvish, for goodness sake!  If you don’t believe me, check out this clip from 2008 (it’s a bit of a lengthy interview, but worth every single second…fast forward to about 8:18 for the actual High Elvish).  And, as those who have seen this interview will notice, Colbert can knit-pick like a true devotee.  The result was his now-famous cameo in The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug, which Peter Jackson arranged after realizing the truth depth of Colbert’s Tolkein adoration.

17063310b66653f6ee817c0799b510bfBut even apart from the Tolkein-ness of it all, Colbert has worked plenty of other literary references into his work.  His ‘book club’ featured a whole episode on The Great Gatsby (which may possibly have violated some copyright laws, but was brilliant nevertheless); he interviewed an enormous number of authors and literature professors during his time on Comedy Central (you can check out a comprehensive list of them here).  My personal favorite was his analysis of the short story vs. the novel with George Saunders, author of the short story collection Tenth of December, which you can watch here.  When asked why he wrote short stories, Saunders says “Let’s say you were madly in love with somebody, and your mission was to tell the person that you love them.  Here’s two scenarios, you can take a weeklong train trip with the person…that’s a novel….Second scenario: he’s stepping on the train, and you have three minutes…”, to which Colbert begs “Why can’t I get on the train?!…Where is she going? Why can’t I go with her?…Does she love me back?!”, quite possibly summing up every moment of readly angst I have ever known.  The beautiful simplicity of this discussion not only sums up why we read, and how we read, and is definitely worth a watch.

Most recently, in a parody of Donald Trump’s candidacy announcement, Colbert slid a passage from Joyce’s Ulysses into the middle of his speech, which aired on the very day on which Ulysses is set (ten points if you can figure it out on the first try).   He made a very brief reference in tonight’s opening show to W.W. Jacobs’ seminal short story “The Monkey’s Paw”.  And on Thursday, his guest will be celebrated author, and library favorite Stephen King.

imageSo we here at the Free For All wanted to take a brief moment and cheer quietly for Stephen Colbert on his successes (we’re in the library, so while our cheers are quiet, our intention is deafening).  And for those of you who aren’t able to stay up until 11:35pm in order to watch the show, here is a recording of Colbert reading Flannery O’Connor’s “The Enduring Chill”, offering O’Connor’s trademark characters, and themes of racial segregation, life-changing moments, and unsettling atmospheric details, along with a rare chance to hear Colbert’s native South Carolina accent, though only briefly.  Though this recording was made some time ago from a live program sponsored by the National Book Award, it is still a treat to hear, and I hope it brings a smile to your Wednesday.

 

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Saturdays @ the South: An Ode to Audiobooks

AUDIOBOOK_DOWNLOADS_RAINBOW_BOOKS_WITH_HEADPHONESMuch like the books discussed in last week’s post, audiobooks are sometimes maligned. Many think that audiobooks are only for the elderly, infirm or visually impaired because: why else would someone listen to a book when you can read the paper (or electronic) version? As adults, haven’t we moved beyond storytimes and someone reading to you?

Regular readers of this blog are already familiar with my positive opinion on adults reading children’s books, so I strongly believe that we never get too old to have a story of any type read to us. However, audiobooks are more than just listening to a story. They are an alternate way to engage with a book. Whenever someone reads a book (in any format) they impose something of themselves onto the story. Essentially, different people get different things out of the same book. When you listen to an audiobook, you are listening to the interpretation of an actor, reader or sometimes the author him/herself. This interaction with someone else’s ideas of what the book represents (passive though it may be) automatically introduces the listener to a different viewpoint, teasing things out that you may or may not have noticed reading the book without a narration.

Audiobooks are also a great way to multi-task. For anyone who has ever said, “I would love to read more but don’t have the time,” then it might be time to consider audiobooks. For the longest time, I got frustrated during my commute to work thinking it was 20 minutes each way that could be better spent. Namely, I wished I was reading. And then it dawned on me that there was a way I *could* read while I was driving and have been hooked on audiobooks ever since. I still read paper books and e-books, but listening to books has offered me an additional way to read. And they’re not just for commuters. We have several patrons here at the South Branch who enjoy listening to audiobooks while they’re doing housework or gardening.

There is another great feature to audiobooks that you simply cannot experience in print form. Some authors and publishers take the audiobook as a form of art and creative expression in and therefore throw in some “treats” for the listener. In some cases, it will be a performance reading with a full cast covering each different character. Sometimes the listener gets to see different sides of the author as he/she reads the work in different voices to tease out different characters and dialog. In other cases, it’s the opportunity for the insertion of an audio track that enhances the book and makes it a one-of-a-kind reading/listening experience.

As you can probably tell by now, I love audiobooks and all of the different dimensions they bring to my reading and I know plenty of others who do as well. But like everything else in the world of reading, audiobooks are a matter of taste and experimentation. I have a friend who listens to audiobooks of all types, but finds she prefers to listen to dialog-heavy books and loses patience with audiobooks that have extended monologues or descriptions because, if she was reading it in print, she would probably skim those parts. My mom enjoys some audiobooks, but found that she couldn’t listen to mystery or suspense books in the car because she would get too engrossed in the story! (You know it’s a great book when you miss your exit or stop on the train, but safety does come first.) I have another friend who enjoys audiobooks, but likes books that are well-read or have a format that lends itself particularly well to reading aloud. Everyone has their own personal preference and it’s all about finding what you enjoy the most.

If you’re new to audiobooks, or you’re just looking for your next great listening-read, here are some of my personal favorites that I think are a great introduction:

2614782Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

Full disclosure: I will recommend Neil Gaiman books, in any format to just about anyone who will listen to me. However, Gaiman’s works lend themselves particularly well to audiobooks as they are fluid and engrossing. Neverwhere is a particular treat because it’s read by the author and he is almost unfairly brilliant at reading aloud. Gaiman’s readings are well-paced; his voice is like smooth, velvety British toffee and he unabashedly does different characters’ voices (and accents!) without being over-the-top or melodramatic. He doesn’t read all of his audiobooks (I’ve found that if the book involves American accents, it’s usually read by another well-qualified person), but all of his audiobooks are worth listening to. This is just a good place to start.

3007527Bossypants by Tina Fey

This is another read-by-the-author gem, but Bossypants has some great nuggets in it that you would miss entirely reading the hard-copy. For example, when Fey describes her run as Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live, the readers get to listen to the audio track of famous skit that she did with Amy Pohler, instead of having Fey describe it or reading a transcript of the skit. In reading her own audiobook, I think because of her improv background, she is particularly skilled at telling her story with wit, inflection and excellent timing. Fey also recognizes that the images she included in her book add to the story and hers is one of the few audiobooks that includes a pdf of the images, which she references when she’s reading. The book is brilliant, but I think listening to Fey tell her own story makes it that much more interesting.

 

3585924Yes, Please by Amy Pohler

This book is similar in concept to Fey’s Bossypants, but this audiobook is a great example of how a good reading can elevate a book that might not be a shining example of it’s genre into something special. Pohler’s book is a bit disjointed and not as insightful as I was hoping it would be, but listening to this audiobook was great fun. She has “guest stars” she interacts with, including her parents and Seth Meyers, who reads the chapter he wrote for her book. There is also a terrific surprise in which she reads the last chapter to a live audience, so it feels more like stand-up comedy than an audiobook. Some of these qualities may have seemed gimmicky on other audiobooks, but they work very well in this instance.

3202394Let’s Pretend this Never Happened by Jenny Lawson

If you’ve never read anything by “The Bloggess” you are in for an irreverent, riotously funny (though not safe for work) treat. I listened to this audiobook in the car and got many, many strange looks from other drivers because I was laughing so hard. To me, this is the sign of a great audiobook and Lawson’s most certainly was. It’s read by the author and her charming, mild Texas accent only enhances the experience. While hers doesn’t include a pdf, Lawson takes a moment to describe the pictures she includes in her book so that her listeners don’t feel left out. Oh, and make sure you listen all the way to the end of the audiobook. After her final chapter and acknowledgments, there is a gag reel and it is priceless!

2383088The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

This is a well-told modern take on a Gothic novel that is greatly enhanced by the melodic narrator. It’s moody and atmospheric and while you’re listening to the book, you can almost feel the fogs of northern England rolling in. One narrator covers all of the different characters, but she does so deftly. Without deepening her voice in the cartoonish way some women narrators use to represent male voices, the narrator easily defines the different characters in the story so the reader can simply become absorbed in the story without wondering who is speaking or thinking what at any given time.

I hope this post has opened your eyes to some possibilities of alternative-format reading. The library is a great place for experimentation with reading types and formats because there’s no cost if you don’t like something. Just bring it back and try something else! Plus, the library is staffed with all types of readers who can help match you to what you feel like reading (or listening to) at that time. Till next week, remember that even if you’re listening to a book you’re still a reader.