I read/listen to my novels like I do my comics: whenever I feel like it and with no rhyme or reason. That said, I'm listening to
The Abolition of Man - CS Lewis A Grief Observed - CS Lewis Blue Like Jazz - Donald Miller (just started)
All really good so far. I think the reason I listen to so many at the same time is because I want to make sure I devote my attention to them and not let my mind wander.
I'm a co-host on the Wanderers in the 4th Dimension Doctor Who podcast. When reviewing a classic Doctor Who story arc that's 4 episodes or fewer, we try to supplement the show with a Big Finish Doctor Who audiobook production. The most recent Big Finish story I listened to was Home Truths.
Good man-- I actually just started this today, and as soon as I saw this thread bumped, I thought I should mention this. Only an hour or so in, but loving it so far.
Also, while I am sure there will be skulduggery and backstabbing, I would imagine it will be something of a departure for you @DoctorDoom that this audiobook will feature no flesh rendered or brains eaten ;)
Recent listens: Telegraph Avenue by Michael Chabon, Object of Beauty by Steve Martin (yes, that Steve Martin), Odd and the Frost Giant by Neil Gaiman (and read by Gaiman), and The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. The Westing Game was one of my favorite books when I was in middle school, but I hadn’t read it since then. It held up really well—much better than I dared to hope. For being a kids’ book, it did not dummy down anything. The clues were tricky enough to keep it interesting, and most of the characters had relatively complex motivations. It’s always nice when a childhood favorite can still make you smile as an adult.
Recent listens: Telegraph Avenue by Michael Chabon, Object of Beauty by Steve Martin (yes, that Steve Martin), Odd and the Frost Giant by Neil Gaiman (and read by Gaiman), and The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. The Westing Game was one of my favorite books when I was in middle school, but I hadn’t read it since then. It held up really well—much better than I dared to hope. For being a kids’ book, it did not dummy down anything. The clues were tricky enough to keep it interesting, and most of the characters had relatively complex motivations. It’s always nice when a childhood favorite can still make you smile as an adult.
I read The Westing Game at the request of my wife a few years ago. I had trepidations about it because it was a kids book, but I loved it also.
Good man-- I actually just started this today, and as soon as I saw this thread bumped, I thought I should mention this. Only an hour or so in, but loving it so far.
Also, while I am sure there will be skulduggery and backstabbing, I would imagine it will be something of a departure for you @DoctorDoom that this audiobook will feature no flesh rendered or brains eaten ;)
Ron Perelman is in this book, @David_D. So close enough.
I have to admit, back when I was starting to get on my audiobook kick years ago, I gave the first few minutes a quick listen. I immediately stopped. I wasn't ready to fully appreciate audiobooks with just one voice reading it. (Graphic Audio and spoiled me)
Now, years later, I definitely can appreciate it. And this book is surprisingly really good. I actually didn't want Krypton to explode! That's a testament to how compelling the characters are!
Have been driving a fair amount for work in recent weeks. As a result, I've burned through both Alpha and Keeper by Greg Rucka. I'm not currently working on Bravo, the sequel to Alpha. I've never been much for audio books, but my podcasts have been thinning out recently so I've been needing to supplement.
Overall, I think that Alpha was the best book of the three. Bravo may get there, but it's included far more gratuitous fan service than I care for.
My big issue is really in the narration.
The narrator on Alpha has been the best of the bunch, but he drops into a Christian Bale Dark Knight Rises voice for some of the characters that doesn't do anything to advance the story.
Keeper employed John Randolph Jones as the narrator. For the first person, hard-boiled voiceover type of thing, he had a great vocal quality - gravelly New Yorker, but it really felt monotonous... sort of phoned in.
Bravo's narrator is a bit too soft spoken for the role.
I've been listening to Ian Fleming's James Bond books. They are a poor audio quality (they were converted to mp3 from tapes I found), but the stories are pretty awesome. Just becareful if you are sensitive; Bond books are a "little dated" on views of women and minorities.
I've listened through Goldfinger a few years ago (after I found the audio books). From Russia With Love is awesome; I have a crazy love for Casino Royale though. The Bacarat game is amazing; Fleming try as he might could never catch that magic again in Bond's gambling scenes. Those are 1 and 2 of the Bond books I've listened too.
I read From Russia with Love when I was 12 or so, and it's still my favorite of the movies. Haven't gotten around to reading Casino Royale. I should correct that oversight.
Bond is cold and ruthless in Casino Royale. As a fan of both the movies and Fleming novels I think it the truest book to movie adaptation; Craig has that cold ruthlessness about him that makes Bond come off deadly.
Fleming softened Bond between Casino Royale and Live and Let Die (book 2); it worked well. From Russia With Love is a great movie and book, and depending on the week I'll give you a different answer on what my favorite Bond book is. I listened to Royale more recently so right now it's my #1 spot. You should get a copy of Royale; I would love to hear your thoughts.
BTW having an English guy read the accents of Bond's black characters and descriptions makes it 90% more racist. I would love to hear an English woman read Bond.
edit: I've actually listened up to The Spy Who Loved Me. I stopped before the first side ended; there is scene right at the beginning made me anxious hearing it. It was intense, and I had to stop. I'm not sure if I will skip it or try to listen to it.
There was a Star Wars book that I borrowed a while back that had the music and sound effects that was just horrible. Even to the point of drowning out the reader.
Sounds like the one I tried to listen to yesterday.
So I've been on a tear lately. Also, I haven't updated this in a while.
Lycan Fallout.... a future tale of the Micahel Talbott saga. I avouided it for a while because... it was a hundred years in the future. And I don't care about Werewolves.
But it was a quick listen, and a surprisingly good one for me.
I like that Barry Allen is the narrator, and takes us all around the multiverse. Overall, I enjoyed it. Also, they really made me like Alexander Luthor. Also, there Anti-Monitors voice is awesome.
Some of my problems?
- Constant jumping around in time.
- No all-out villains attacking the multiverse, and their assault on Oa isn't shown.
- There's no Superboy-Prime
- There's a different ending.
The last two things make things a bit harder to reconcile with Infinite Crisis. But I imagine this novel was written before IC, and thus, Graphic Audio has to work with what they are given.
@DoctorDoom have you done the latest Walking Dead book yet? I know I shouldn't, as I felt duped by those last two. . . but I also feel myself getting sucked towards it.
Ultimates: Tomorrow Men and Ultimates: Against All Enemies
They were original novels, one featuring time travel, and the other a sequel to the first volume's Chitauri attack. They were'nt bad. (I'm more of an Avengers fan than an Ultimates fan)
Apparently, I don't remember the story well. I didn't remember half this stuff! the voices were pitch-perfect for me, and it really stood out to me in a good way.
@DoctorDoom have you done the latest Walking Dead book yet? I know I shouldn't, as I felt duped by those last two. . . but I also feel myself getting sucked towards it.
Latest book, @David_D? You mean the Fall of the Governor, part 2?
To quote myself: "It wasn't bad, and actually went beyond the, well, fall of the Governor. You get a peek at what became of Woodbury."
@DoctorDoom have you done the latest Walking Dead book yet? I know I shouldn't, as I felt duped by those last two. . . but I also feel myself getting sucked towards it.
Latest book, @David_D? You mean the Fall of the Governor, part 2?
To quote myself: "It wasn't bad, and actually went beyond the, well, fall of the Governor. You get a peek at what became of Woodbury."
Thanks-- no, I caved and did that one. I was wondering if you have listened to this one yet:
@DoctorDoom have you done the latest Walking Dead book yet? I know I shouldn't, as I felt duped by those last two. . . but I also feel myself getting sucked towards it.
Latest book, @David_D? You mean the Fall of the Governor, part 2?
To quote myself: "It wasn't bad, and actually went beyond the, well, fall of the Governor. You get a peek at what became of Woodbury."
Thanks-- no, I caved and did that one. I was wondering if you have listened to this one yet:
Comments
I did hit The Fall of the Governor, part 2.
It wasn't bad, and actually went beyond the, well, fall of the Governor. You get a peek at what became of Woodbury.
It. Is. AMAZING.
Also, while I am sure there will be skulduggery and backstabbing, I would imagine it will be something of a departure for you @DoctorDoom that this audiobook will feature no flesh rendered or brains eaten ;)
I have to admit, back when I was starting to get on my audiobook kick years ago, I gave the first few minutes a quick listen. I immediately stopped. I wasn't ready to fully appreciate audiobooks with just one voice reading it. (Graphic Audio and spoiled me)
Now, years later, I definitely can appreciate it. And this book is surprisingly really good. I actually didn't want Krypton to explode! That's a testament to how compelling the characters are!
Narrated by Felicia Day, Wil Wheaton, Sean Astin, Al Yankovic, and more.
Overall, I think that Alpha was the best book of the three. Bravo may get there, but it's included far more gratuitous fan service than I care for.
My big issue is really in the narration.
The narrator on Alpha has been the best of the bunch, but he drops into a Christian Bale Dark Knight Rises voice for some of the characters that doesn't do anything to advance the story.
Keeper employed John Randolph Jones as the narrator. For the first person, hard-boiled voiceover type of thing, he had a great vocal quality - gravelly New Yorker, but it really felt monotonous... sort of phoned in.
Bravo's narrator is a bit too soft spoken for the role.
From Russia with Love is definitely awesome though.
I've listened through Goldfinger a few years ago (after I found the audio books).
From Russia With Love is awesome; I have a crazy love for Casino Royale though. The Bacarat game is amazing; Fleming try as he might could never catch that magic again in Bond's gambling scenes. Those are 1 and 2 of the Bond books I've listened too.
Fleming softened Bond between Casino Royale and Live and Let Die (book 2); it worked well. From Russia With Love is a great movie and book, and depending on the week I'll give you a different answer on what my favorite Bond book is. I listened to Royale more recently so right now it's my #1 spot. You should get a copy of Royale; I would love to hear your thoughts.
BTW having an English guy read the accents of Bond's black characters and descriptions makes it 90% more racist. I would love to hear an English woman read Bond.
edit: I've actually listened up to The Spy Who Loved Me. I stopped before the first side ended; there is scene right at the beginning made me anxious hearing it. It was intense, and I had to stop. I'm not sure if I will skip it or try to listen to it.
I didn't make it through the first disc.
Lycan Fallout.... a future tale of the Micahel Talbott saga. I avouided it for a while because... it was a hundred years in the future. And I don't care about Werewolves.
But it was a quick listen, and a surprisingly good one for me.
I like that Barry Allen is the narrator, and takes us all around the multiverse. Overall, I enjoyed it. Also, they really made me like Alexander Luthor. Also, there Anti-Monitors voice is awesome.
Some of my problems?
- Constant jumping around in time.
- No all-out villains attacking the multiverse, and their assault on Oa isn't shown.
- There's no Superboy-Prime
- There's a different ending.
The last two things make things a bit harder to reconcile with Infinite Crisis. But I imagine this novel was written before IC, and thus, Graphic Audio has to work with what they are given.
They were original novels, one featuring time travel, and the other a sequel to the first volume's Chitauri attack. They were'nt bad. (I'm more of an Avengers fan than an Ultimates fan)
It takes place during JMS' Spider-Man run. I expected to not care for this one.
it was actually pretty good, and it had one of the best Spider-Man/JJJ interactions I've ever had the pleasure of seeing.
Apparently, I don't remember the story well. I didn't remember half this stuff! the voices were pitch-perfect for me, and it really stood out to me in a good way.
To quote myself: "It wasn't bad, and actually went beyond the, well, fall of the Governor. You get a peek at what became of Woodbury."
Lily though....gah. Just gah. I don't know what to make of her half the time.
I....missed that one.