It's the first of the month and that means that it's time for your AudioSynced Roundup! AudioSynced is a monthly roundup of audiobook reviews from all over the blogosphere and it's hosted by Kelly of STACKED and myself. June is National Audiobooks Month and summer is a great time to listen to audiobooks as you go on vacation or lounge by the pool (um, just don't get your iPod wet...).
So, check out some of these great audiobooks reviewed in May to pick out your summer listens. And if you have a review that I missed, please leave a link in the comments or email abbylibrarian@gmail.com and I'll make sure it's added! :)
New to audiobook reviewing or wondering how you can amp up your audiobook reviews? Check out Kelly's post with some tips on what to evaluate when listening to audiobooks and last year's post at Stacked about what Kelly and Kim look for when writing their audiobook reviews.
Audiobook News & Posts
Jen at Devourer of Books is hosting Audiobook Week during the week of June 6-10, so be sure to check that out! If you've been meaning to get caught up on your audiobook reviewing, that would be a great time to start! (And remember, you can include one audiobook in your book total/reading time for the 48-Hour Book Challenge, coming up the weekend of June 3-5!)
If you're heading to ALA in June, be sure to stop by the Odyssey Award presentation, Monday, June 27, at 4 p.m. in the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, room 356-357. Speakers include narrators Bahni Turpin, MacLeod Andrews, Emma Bering, Katherine Kellgren, and Nick Podehl! This free program will conclude with a reception sponsored by the Audio Publishers Association. (Thanks to Sharon G. who shared this info with Kelly, who shared it with me! You can bet your boots I'll be there if I can. I have a huge voice crush on Nick Podehl and Katherine Kellgren!)
Love free audiobooks? (And who doesn't, right?) Make sure to check out SYNC, back for another summer of free downloadable audiobooks for teens! Each week, two different titles will be available for free download and it all starts the week of June 23-29, so mark your calendars!
Publishers Weekly has launched an audiobooks blog! Listen Up will highlight PW audiobook reviews and feature audiobook news and Q & A with narrators.
Update your links to Audiobook Jukebox as the site has moved! Be sure to check them out for more audiobook reviews and to submit your audiobook reviews!
And now, my roundup of reviews (divided into Children's/Middle Grade, Young Adult, and Adult)...
Children's/Middle Grade Books
Closer (Tunnels #4) by Roderick Gordan and Brian Williams, read by Steven Crossley, reviewed by Brenda at proseandkahn. Brenda says, "This is definitely one to try on your reluctant readers."
Cool Zone with the Pain and the Great One by Judy Blume, read by Kathleen McInerney, reviewed by Julia of Spine Label. Julia says, "Kathleen McInerney provides a brilliant performance."
The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens, read by Jim Dale, reviewed by Brenda at proseandkahn. Brenda says, "This is a must purchase book for school and public libraries."
The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd, read by Alex Kalajzic, reviewed by Jen at STACKED. Jen says, "...I am thrilled that I finally picked this book up on audio. Narrator Alex Kalajzic masterfully brings the voice of Ted to life."
NERDS by Michael Buckley, read by Johnny Heller, reviewed by Lee at Reading with My Ears. Lee says, "This will make a pretty good car-trip book, because there's actually plenty of stuff to keep the adults laughing as well."
Octavia Boone's Big Questions About Life, the Universe, and Everything by Rebecca Rupp, read by Ellen Grafton, reviewed by Lee at Reading with My Ears. Lee says, "I enjoyed this short little book, mostly for Octavia's spunky personality."
Three Tales of My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett, read by Robert Sevra, reviewed by Lee at Reading with My Ears. Lee says, "His [Sevra's] narration reflects that child love and admiration for a parent that underpins the tales and then blossoms into the right tone of humor and ridiculousness that the stories deserve."
War Horse by Michael Morpurgo, read by John Keating, reviewed by Lee at Reading with My Ears. Lee says, "I found his [Keating's] interpretation of Joey to be almost subdued -- he reads in an overly soothing, almost lulling manner that kept me, I think, from fully connecting with him emotionally."
The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt, read by Joel Johnstone, reviewed by Mary Ann at Great Kids Books. Mary Ann says, "This was a perfect audiobook, one whose first person narration is brought to life by a versitile, nuanced narration by Joel Johnstone."
Young Adult Books
Bloody Jack series by L.A. Meyer, read by Katherine Kellgren, reviewed by Kristen at Book Blather. Kristen says, "...if you’ve never tried audiobooks before, you should start with these. I find myself making excuses to drive around more or clean more or jog more just to listen to these books."
Chasing Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson, read by Will Patton, reviewed by Brenda at proseandkahn. Brenda says, "This narrative reads like a thriller and literally starts with a bang on the title page..."
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare, read by Jennifer Ehle, reviewed by Laura Ashlee at Earphoria. Laura Ashlee says, "I absolutely loved this book, from beginning to end."
The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan, read by Allyson Ryan, reviewed by Melissa at Mel's Books and Info. Melissa says, "The audio is clear and Allyson Ryan is the perfect voice for the scarred and guilt ridden Annah. Definitely worth a listen."
The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan, read by Allyson Ryan, reviewed by Brenda at proseandkahn. Brenda says, "Good stuff. All-in-all a satisfying conclusion. I hope it's the conclusion. I don't think my heart could take much more."
Fever Crumb by Philip Reeve, read by the author, reviewed by Brenda at proseandkahn. Brenda says, "The performance by the author was terrific. Not many authors read their work well. Reeve managed to keep an objective distance."
His Dark Materials series by Phillip Pullman, read by a full cast, reviewed at Librarian Pirate. Librarian Pirate says, "[T]hese audiobooks are fantastic."
Just Listen by Sarah Dessen, read by Jennifer Ikeda, reviewed by Laura Ashlee at Earphoria. Laura Ashlee says, "Jennifer Ikeda did a terrific job reading this one. Though the sound quality on the playaway device I checked out was lacking, it was still obvious to me that she did a good job."
Angie says, "This was one of those audiobooks that’s so good that you sit in your car to listen more, that you bring inside and listen to while you’re falling asleep." [I agree - check out my review!]
The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan, read by Joshua Swanson, reviewed by Lisa at Shelf-employed. Lisa says, "Joshua Swanson does an admirable job, though the voice of Leo Valdez... did remind me a bit of Cheech Marin."
Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles, read by Roxanne Hernandez and Blas Kisic, reviewed by Julia at Spine Label. Julia says, "Roxanne Hernandez and Blas Kisic deliver commendable performances as Kiara and Carlos."
Virals by Kathy Reichs, read by Cristin Milioti, reviewed by Lee at Reading with My Ears. Lee says, "Unless [you're] a Reichs fan, I'd give this one a pass."
White Cat by Holly Black, read by Jesse Eisenberg, reviewed by Lee at Reading with My Ears. Lee says, "I liked listening to Eisenberg read with increasing confidence as Cassel gets smarter, figures out what happened to him, and takes action."
Adult Books
The Mammoth Cheese by Sheri Holman, read by Laural Merlington, reviewed by Lee at Reading with My Ears. Lee says, "For the most part, I enjoyed Merlington's reading; she translated the compelling story with humor and pathos."
The Man Who Was Thursday by G.K. Chesterton, read by Zachary Brewster-Geisz, reviewed at Free Listens. The reviewer gave this 7/10 and says, "Brewer-Geisz is an excellent amateur reader with a young-sounding American voice. He brings out the wry humor in Chesterton's writing and varies his pacing to keep the action interesting."
A Shadow Over Innsmouth by H.P. Lovecraft, read by Sean Puckett, reviewed by Free Listens. The reviewer gave this 8/10 and says, "Puckett narrates this story in a melancholy tone that fits well with the mood."
Shutter Blind by Dennis Lehane, read by Tom Stechschulte, reviewed by Lee at Reading with My Ears. Lee says, "I listened to this one quite fast -- just three days. It's just like a book where pretty much everything else in your life comes to a halt because you just have to keep turning the pages. Well worth the lost weekend."
Snow Blind by Katherine Newlin Burt, read by Roger Melin, reviewed at Free Listens. The reviewer gave this 8/10 and says, "Many forgotten books are rightly forgotten since they're no good. This book, however, is a find."
The Time Machine by H.G. Wells, read by Scott Brick, reviewed at Free Listens. The reviewer gave this 9/10 and says, "Scott Brick is a professional reader and one of the best in the business. He reads this story with a cultured English accent, appropriate for the frame story narrator's position."
Wild Decembers by Edna O'Brien, read by Suzanne Bertish, reviewed by Lanea at Books for Ears. Lanea says, "A beautiful book, poorly served by bad audio quality and frequent mispronunciations."