Audiobook News and Posts
James Parker's examining the audiobook in the New York Times Sunday Book Review section.
AudioFile's released their lists of Best Audiobooks of 2011 and Best Voices of 2011. Do you agree? What was YOUR best audiobook of 2011?
Sarah's over at The Hub with some great audiobook suggestions for your holiday travel this year!
Be sure and head over to Audiobook Jukebox for LOTS MORE audiobook reviews!
Children's/Middle Grade Audiobooks
The Ballad of Jack Johnson by Charles R. Smith, Jr., illustrated by Shane W. Evans, read by Dion Graham, reviewed by Lee at Reading with My Ears. Lee says, "Johnson's strength and pride are clear in Graham's sterling narration that builds in intensity and volume to the championship fight."
A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban, read by Tai Alexandra Ricci, reviewed by Brenda at proseandkahn. Brenda says, "This short, sweet, gentle read is peopled with memorable characters, leavened with much humor and lovely moments where imperfect people do the best that they can, and where friendship can creep up and surprise a person."
Dear America: Like the Willow Tree: Portland, Maine, 1918 by Lois Lowry, read by Sara Barnett, reviewed by Abby (me!) at Abby the Librarian. I say, "Narrator Sara Barnett was well-chosen for this role. She reads with a girlish inflection that is totally appropriate for an 11-year-old's diary and it adds to the authenticity of the audiobook."
How They Croaked: The Awful Ends of the Awfully Famous by Georgia Bragg, read by L.J. Ganser, reviewed by Brenda at proseandkahn. Brenda says, "Perfect for your trivia lovers and history buffs. It will also be appealing to reluctant readers."
The Mysterious Howling (The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place #1) by Maryrose Wood, read by Katherine Kellgren, reviewed by Sarah at YA Librarian Tales. Sarah says, "This book is an ABSOLUTE JOY to listen to..."
Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm, read by Becca Battoe, reviewed by Allison at Reading Everywhere. Allison says, "[Becca Battoe] suits the sassy character of Turtle perfectly, and her performance really enhanced my experience with this book."
YA Audiobooks
Eight Keys by Suzanne LaFleur, read by Georgette Perna, reviewed by Sarah at YA Librarian Tales. Sarah says, " It has some great lessons to learn and in the audio version, the characters' voices are really well done. The story is rather slow and I can see it losing readers along the way. Overall, a rather mixed bag listening experience."
Fever Crumb, written and read by Philip Reeve, reviewed by Jeanne at Books for Ears. Jeanne calls it "[An] [i]maginative and original steampunk story set in a distant future London and beautifully read by the author."
Goliath by Scott Westerfeld, read by Alan Cumming, reviewed by Lee at Reading with My Ears. Lee says, "Goliath, in the hands of Westerfeld and Cumming, is -- as our heroine Deryn Sharp would say -- barking brilliant!"
The Mermaid's Mirror by L.K. Madigan, read by Katie Schorr, reviewed by Brenda at proseandkahn. Brenda says, "I'm glad that I chose to read this one with my ears because I think the narrator's voice did a lot to coax me into not abandoning the book."
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, read by Jason Isaacs, reviewed by Lee at Reading with My Ears. Lee says, "...Isaacs knows how to tell a good story, his delivery of the monster's three tales has a tension and pacing that helps keep you listening."
Ostrich Boys by Keith Gray, read by Bruce Mann, reviewed by Lee at Reading with My Ears. Lee says, "[Mann's voice] works for these teenaged boys; while he knows how to speak in their ebullient riffs and rhythms, they all sound just a little bit lost and lonely in Mann's interpretation."
Perfect by Ellen Hopkins, read by a whole buncha people, reviewed by Drea at Book Blather. Drea says, "Hearing the words spoken aloud really turned up the wow factor. With each character having their own distinct voice, they became real like, tangible, as if I were listening to one of my best friends talk."
This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel, read by Luke Daniels, reviewed by Lee at Reading with My Ears. Lee says, "Sure, there are some very exciting bits... But there's no heart at the center of this story."
The Help by Kathryn Stockett, read by Jenna Lamia, Bahni Turpin, Octavia Spencer, Cassandra Campbell, reviewed by Melissa at The Book Nut. Melissa says, "There were parts that I would have gotten frustrated with if I'd just read it, but I found loving listening to. I adored the inflection the narrators would give to the sentences, the rich Southern accents..., and the voices they'd give to the characters."
The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides, read by David Pittu, reviewed by Jeanne at Books for Ears. Jeanne calls it: "A dark overly dramatic story, mediocre reader and no one to root for."
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, read by Jim Dale, reviewed by Melissa at Mel's Books and Info. Melissa says, "Dale is a superb narrator and probably one of the bests in the industry... It comes as no surprise then that the audio version of The Night Circus would be so remarkable. It is a great way to read this wonderful novel."
Reamde by Neal Stephenson, read by Malcolm Hillgartner, reviewed by Lanea at Books for Ears. Lanea says it's, "A fantastic, well-read, fast-paced novel of hackers, criminals, anti-heroes, terrorists, and gamers."
Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend, written and read by Susan Orlean, reviewed by Lee at Reading with My Ears. Lee says, "Orlean reads her own work and she's quite easy to listen to. I can hear the care that she takes to read clearly, and her familiarity with the story shows in the comfortable way that she reads."
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand, read by Edward Herrmann, reviewed by Lee at Reading with My Ears. Lee says, "[Edward Herrmann] reads everything -- from what could be mindnumbing detail of airplanes to the way the sharks circled the life rafts -- in a committed way that makes all of it easy to listen to."
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Have a post or review that I missed? Please leave me a link in comments and I'll update this post to add it! Be sure and check out the AudioSynced archives for links to tons of great audiobook reviews!
