It's that time again! Here's your AudioSynced Roundup for January... If I missed any reviews or posts, please leave me a link in comments and I'll make sure to add it!
Audiobook News and Posts
The winners of the 2012 Odyssey Award were announced at the American Library Association Midwinter meeting! At the same meeting, the Children's Notable Recordings and the Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults lists were released.
At the ALSC Blog, Jeanette Larson gives us a review of the book Listening to Learn: Audiobooks Supporting Literacy by Sharon Grover and Lizette D. Hannigen. Jeanette says, "Listening to Learn is recommended as a great learning resource and collection development tool."
As always, make sure you're stopping by Audiobook Jukebox for tons of great audiobook reviews! You also won't want to miss several blogs that review many more audiobooks than I was able to link to here: The Guilded Earlobe
The Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander, read by James Langton, reviewed by Lee at Reading with my ears. Lee says, "He [James Langton] fully voices this story, creating believable, individual characters for a large cast of humans and non-humans.Magyk by Angie Sage, read by Allan Corduner, reviewed by Jayla at LadyBlueJay. Jayla says, "[T]he narrator did a wonderful job of giving each character a distinct voice."
Young Adult Audiobooks
Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick, read by Caitlin Greer, reviewed by Melissa at Mel's Books and Info. Melissa says, "Greer does an excellent job narrating and her voices feel true to the characters."
The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima, read by Carol Monda, reviewed by Irish at Ticket to Anywhere. Irish says, "The world in The Demon King is very rich and vivid and its one that I would highly recommend to be experienced in its audio form."
The Juvie Three by Gordon Korman, read by Christopher Evan Welch, reviewed by Lee at Reading with my ears. Lee says, "While he [Christopher Evan Welch] doesn't sound particularly youthful, his rhythms and delivery capture a youthful feel."
The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta, read by Michael Finney, reviewed by Lee at Reading with my ears. Lee says, "...for a very emotion-driven story, Finney brings acting skills that help us hear the tears or laughter, or anger or sadness."
The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder, read by Emma Galvin, reviewed by Abby the Librarian (that's me!). I say, "Cam has a great voice and this is where it was really nice to listen to this book because I think Emma Galvin does a really nice job of bringing Cam's voice to life."The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen, read by Laura Flanagan, reviewed by Janssen at Everyday Reading. Janssen says, "...the whole tone of the book was richer than I think it might have been if I'd simply read it in paper form."
Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick, read by Caitlin Greer, reviewed by Melissa at Mel's Books and Info. Melissa says, " The audio format suits this book well and is a good way to get through this novel."
Adult
Between the Thames and the Tiber: The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes in Britain and the Italian Peninsula by Ted Riccardi, read by Simon Prebble, reviewed by Lee at Reading with my ears. Lee says, "It's a fine performance, but truthfully I was never captured by the stories."
Defending Jacob by William Landay, read by Grover Gardner, reviewed by Bob at The Guilded Earlobe. Bob says, "I think one of the hardest things for a narrator to do is have authentic sounding dialogue between two characters, and here it was like I was listening to a masters class on how to do it."
The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde, read by Susan Duerden, reviewed by Melissa at Book Nut. Melissa says, "I probably had more patience for this book in audio form because Duerden was such a capable reader, creating a world for me with her voice that wouldn't have otherwise existed."
Pineapple Grenade by Tim Dorsey, read by Oliver Wyman, reviewed by Bob at The Guilded Earlobe. Bob says, "I can go on and on about how perfectly his characterizations fit my vision for Serge and Coleman from the days I read this series in print."
Room by Emma Donoghue, read by Ellen Archer, Michal Friedman, Robert Petkoff and Suzanne Toren, reviewed by Lee at Reading with my ears. Lee says, "Room is one of those books where listening adds a whole level of intensity to the literary experience."
Still Life by Louise Penny, read by Ralph Cosham, reviewed by Lee at Reading with my ears. Lee says, "He [Ralph Cosham] reads with a quiet command of characters and story, much as Inspector Gamache controls both his own staff and the residents of Three Pines."
Water for Elephants by Sarah Gruen, read by David LeDoux and John Randolph Jones, reviewed by Melissa at Book Nut. Melissa says, " Both the narrators were excellent (LeDoux read the young Jacob; Jones the older one), and because of that I was able to really "see" the book in a way I don't think I would have, had I read it."
When She Woke by Hillary Jordan, read by Heather Corrigan, reviewed by Irish at Ticket to Anywhere. Irish says, "[Heather Corrigan] really helped to bring the character of Hannah to life and I think that it really added to my enjoyment of this book."
Water for Elephants by Sarah Gruen, read by David LeDoux and John Randolph Jones, reviewed by Melissa at Book Nut. Melissa says, " Both the narrators were excellent (LeDoux read the young Jacob; Jones the older one), and because of that I was able to really "see" the book in a way I don't think I would have, had I read it."When She Woke by Hillary Jordan, read by Heather Corrigan, reviewed by Irish at Ticket to Anywhere. Irish says, "[Heather Corrigan] really helped to bring the character of Hannah to life and I think that it really added to my enjoyment of this book."