www.talkingbooks.org http://www.talkingbooks.org Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000 en hourly 1 Should Every Genre Be Put Onto Audiobook Format? http://www.talkingbooks.org/2011/11/01/should-every-genre-be-put-onto-audiobook-format/ http://www.talkingbooks.org/2011/11/01/should-every-genre-be-put-onto-audiobook-format/#comments Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.talkingbooks.org/?p=14 To answer this question is to ask myself if a library should carry all topics. The answer to that, of coarse, is yes. Audiobooks are a great way for those who love to read, to enjoy it without cracking open the book and having full attention on the pages, or computer screen. Let’s not fool ourselves. This is a multi-tasking world and some of us who are too busy with driving, talking on the phone, making lists…and keeping them too, might enjoy the ease of someone reading to them. We loved being read to as children and the enjoyment doesn’t have to stay in the past. The bold truth is that many of us just don’t have the time we used to, to sit and enjoy a book for hours at a time (at least for now). In the meantime, audiobooks are a sensible alternative.

Why shouldn’t readers be able to choose audiobooks the same way that they would go to the library and pick out a book? With so many technical advancements in the world, why would audiobooks be overlooked? I hope that they wouldn’t. These are items that add to the appeal of modern day tools and techniques. So, we say “Yes” to more audiobooks!

]]> http://www.talkingbooks.org/2011/11/01/should-every-genre-be-put-onto-audiobook-format/feed/ 0 Late Night Listens For Busy Adults http://www.talkingbooks.org/2011/10/31/late-night-listens-for-busy-adults/ http://www.talkingbooks.org/2011/10/31/late-night-listens-for-busy-adults/#comments Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.talkingbooks.org/?p=13 For the busy adult who wants to listen to a good book to wind down the day, three new titles are sure to be of interest, especially for dog lovers. “Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend”, “The Dog Who Knew Too Much”, and “Following Atticus” are now available as audiobooks for your listening enjoyment.
Susan Orlean’s newest book about Rin Tin Tin tells the story of a remarkable dog and the man who loved him. The author introduces us to Lee Duncan who found Rinty as a pup on a World War I battlefield. The book traces Lee’s life with the original Rin Tin Tin and the dog’s offspring.
“Following Atticus”, by Tom Ryan is a book about how a dog can change your life. Tom Ryan and his dog Atticus M. Finch together hiked all of the mountains over 4,000 feet in the state of New Hampshire. Through this accomplishment, the pair raised thousands of dollars for charity and chartered a new course for their lives.
Finally, “The Dog Who Knew Too Much” by Spencer Quinn recounts the further adventures of private investigator Bernie Little and his dog Chet. This book finds the pair investigating a missing child which leads them into a murder investigation.Can’t get enough? There’s more: Garth Stein: exclusive guest review of Susan Orlean’s “Rin Tin Tin”

]]> http://www.talkingbooks.org/2011/10/31/late-night-listens-for-busy-adults/feed/ 0 Favorite Audiobook Sites That Bring You Back For More http://www.talkingbooks.org/2011/10/29/favorite-audiobook-sites-that-bring-you-back-for-more/ http://www.talkingbooks.org/2011/10/29/favorite-audiobook-sites-that-bring-you-back-for-more/#comments Sat, 29 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.talkingbooks.org/?p=12 I often find myself with a list of books, some new releases and some classics, that I can just never seem to get rid. A busy lifestyle with chores, work, and everything else that gets thrown in between those events has made me look for better ways to enjoy a good story besides reading. In particular, I have become very fond of finishing novels through the use of audiobooks, often times I listen to them in the car on my way to and from places. I even find myself listening to them while I am doing simple tasks like folding the laundry!

My favorite audiobook sites have a variety of features that help me get the most convenience out of the experience. For starters, they use technology that allows the audiobook to remember where I left off, helping in times I have to start and stop frequently. I also really appreciate sites that have the option to speed up or slow down the reading speed, keeping things at a pace I find most comfortable depending on my situation. In any case, my favorite audiobook sites offer me options that help customize the experience while making it easier to enjoy listening.

]]> http://www.talkingbooks.org/2011/10/29/favorite-audiobook-sites-that-bring-you-back-for-more/feed/ 0 Finding Time For Your Audiobooks http://www.talkingbooks.org/2011/10/12/finding-time-for-your-audiobooks/ http://www.talkingbooks.org/2011/10/12/finding-time-for-your-audiobooks/#comments Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.talkingbooks.org/?p=10 Audiobooks are a great way to squeeze in some great reading time and they compete pretty well with your morning radio or direct Tv . If you’re even having trouble squeezing these technologies in, here are a few suggestions for when to get some audiobook time in your day.

In the Shower: Why waste ten valuable minutes in the morning or evening in silence? Get an iPod dock or a stereo and play a few minutes of your favorite book while you get clean.

In the Car: The obvious choice, if you’ve got a commute an audio book is a surefire way to make it seem like less of one. The bonus here is that you can listen in the morning and the evening and get double the audio time.

While Making Dinner: Why not enrich your mind while preparing a nutritious meal for your family? If you’ve got a few minutes in the kitchen you should catch up on your latest book love, too. However you find the time, good job keeping your mind sharp by reading!

]]> http://www.talkingbooks.org/2011/10/12/finding-time-for-your-audiobooks/feed/ 0 How Often Do You Listen To Audiobooks? http://www.talkingbooks.org/2011/07/21/how-often-do-you-listen-to-audiobooks/ http://www.talkingbooks.org/2011/07/21/how-often-do-you-listen-to-audiobooks/#comments Thu, 21 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.talkingbooks.org/?p=9 If you’re like most people, your day is too busy to read. Television commercials and other media have recently been picking up on the audiobook trend, but the decision to join the masses is up to you.

Will audiobooks be worth your time? It depends on what you like to read. While most mainstream fiction and nonfiction is available on audiobook, more obscure works of science fiction and fantasy are harder to find. Frequently restricted by copyright or popularity, if lesser-known works are up your alley, it might impact how often you listen to audiobooks.

On the other hand, audiobooks are highly convenient and give you some new water cooler material if you’re sick of hearing about the latest season of American Idol. Most popular titles can be purchased and downloaded to an MP3 player or other portable music device easily. Professionals with a long commute are one of the biggest groups of audiobook users. Listening to a soothing voice recount the adventures of your favorite hero or villain can ease the stress of a long work day and whisk you away to another world.

There is no commitment to trying an audiobook; getting one can be as easy as going to the library and blowing the dust off your card. Just wait and see how often you’ll listen to your books once you’ve gotten into it!

]]> http://www.talkingbooks.org/2011/07/21/how-often-do-you-listen-to-audiobooks/feed/ 0 Top Ten Favorite Children’s Audiobooks For All Ages http://www.talkingbooks.org/2011/07/18/top-ten-favorite-childrens-audiobooks-for-all-ages/ http://www.talkingbooks.org/2011/07/18/top-ten-favorite-childrens-audiobooks-for-all-ages/#comments Mon, 18 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.talkingbooks.org/?p=8 Audio books are great for children; they can not only help pass time during a long trip but can also help those who are learning to read along. Readers on Audio book can bring new life to an old classic or put a different spin on new books.

10. Sammy Keyes by Wendelin Van Draanen. This series follows a middle-school detective; its narrator is a young voice. Children will feel as if their peer is reading to them.

9. Bloody Jack: being an account of the curious adventures of Mary “ Jacky” Faber, Ship’s Boy by L. A. Meyer. Don’t let this long title shy you away, its narrator flow seamlessly from a cockeyed accent to a high London society accent.

8. Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary. Yes, she is the actress you know from Grease and West Wing. Stockard Channing is wonderful as the five year old Ramona.

7. Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery. The old fashion sound of this narrator is perfect for this classic.

6. Good Masters, Sweet Ladies by Laura Amy Schiltz. This award winning book is known for its’ skillful play at words. A full cast of narrators does it justice.

5. Tadpole by Ruth White. The narrator of this book uses an Appalachian accent, bringing this book to full life.

4. Our Only May Amelia by Jennifer Holm. Another young voice as the narrator is perfect for this tale about a tomboy.

3. Joey Pigza by Jack Gantos. This one is read by the author himself.

2. The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman. This is another audio book that is read by a full cast, lending to different voices.

1. Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling. Perhaps one of the most popular children’s’ book series that has also become a movie series. Children will enjoy hearing the book in a new light.

]]> http://www.talkingbooks.org/2011/07/18/top-ten-favorite-childrens-audiobooks-for-all-ages/feed/ 0 Favorite All Time Narrations For Audiobooks http://www.talkingbooks.org/2011/07/15/favorite-all-time-narrations-for-audiobooks/ http://www.talkingbooks.org/2011/07/15/favorite-all-time-narrations-for-audiobooks/#comments Fri, 15 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.talkingbooks.org/?p=7 The audio-book version of Three Cups of Tea was very well done and was easy for the whole family to enjoy. The literature, although at times convoluted, remained clear and concise in the audio version of the book. Because of the clear narration and the casual style of the narrators the story was very easy to spend days listening to the book.

The story was a love story of sorts: an impassioned man who travels to K2 to climb. However, he fails the climb, and so begins the story. There are many twists and turns which stem from this beginning, but the main lesson is that this ultimately heartwarming story is based in the hearts of common people helping others any way they can.

Because of the length of the story one may think that after a while it would be difficult to remain interested in the plot. However, due to the skills of the narrators and the work between themselves and the author it remains captivating throughout the entire book. This audio-book, although it has such an impressive length, is a must listen for anyone interested in a story about the goodness of common people and common struggle; the ease of listening to it is only another great plus of an all around great piece of work.Still bored? Click to continue: Audio books and audio dudes crossing the streams.

]]> http://www.talkingbooks.org/2011/07/15/favorite-all-time-narrations-for-audiobooks/feed/ 0 Good Bedtime Listens For Everyone In The Wee Hours http://www.talkingbooks.org/2011/07/14/good-bedtime-listens-for-everyone-in-the-wee-hours/ http://www.talkingbooks.org/2011/07/14/good-bedtime-listens-for-everyone-in-the-wee-hours/#comments Thu, 14 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.talkingbooks.org/?p=6 Fill your dreams with sweet images of fantastic creatures, classic damsels in distress and the legendary princes that save them by falling asleep to an audiobook of the world’s most beloved fairy tales. These time-honored tales often contain adventure, romance and a life lesson that will draw the listener in before settling into bed. Not just for children, fairy tales often feature themes that will appeal to adults as well.

Enjoy a night of Grimm’s classic tales at night. These stories will surely entertain you long after the sun sets. Favorite tales include Hansel and Gretel, the Fisherman and his Wife, Cinderella, Little Briar-Rose and the tale of Bluebeard. Listeners familiar with recent film adaptations of some of these stories might be shocked to find the original versions slightly darker in tone.

Hans Christian Anderson has also authored some of the world’s favorite stories that are now available in audiobook form. Listeners will recall with delight tales like the Little Mermaid, Thumbelina, the Ugly Duckling and the Twelve Dancing Princesses. Like Grimm’s stories, Anderson’s have often been altered in popular culture, making their rediscovery on audiobook even more exciting.

These fantastic stories have stood the test of time and are perfect selections for nighttime listening.

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