Audio Books

[barry1010]

I would love to be able to enjoy audio books but I just can't get in to them, I realise I've stopped listening and my mind has wandered off to other things.
If you do enjoy audio books, do you listen whilst doing other things? What happens if you are listening in bed and fall asleep? How do you find your place?

[youngmafbog]

I'm the same as you Barry. There is nothing to really focus the mind on.

My mum, an avid reader, cant use them either which is a shame as she can't see much at all, let alone read.

[sunny-dave]

I listen mainly in bed - set a timer for 30 or 45 minutes & if/when I doze off then next time I just rewind to a point I recognise. Becomes an easy habit.

[rowanwitch]

I am too easily distracted, especially as my mind creates a 'voice' for characters and it's unlikely the 'reader' will fit.

[wolf63]

I started listening to Audible books when I was working in Oxfam and alone in the office. Like the others my mind would go off tangent and I would miss chunks of the book.

I liked their selection, especially on Animal psychology. I think another website exists where abbreviated versions of books are available.

[barry1010]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who likes the idea of audiobooks but it just doesn't work.

[woodelf]

Barry, if you have a specific topic on which to read/listen, then you need the narrator who can read the book with vg narrative and superb characterisation, e.g. westerns? then listen to William Dufris, thrillers? USA-based, then William Dufris again, especially in the Jason Bourne trilogy, simply genius or Lorelei King in Sidney Sheldon, Scottish crime? then James Bryce, UK crime/thrillers? Sean Barrett, Christian Rodska, Anthony Head, Steve Hodson, Carole Boyd, cosy crime? Gordon Griffin, Penelope Keith, Penelope Freeman - the list goes on, but don't be fooled by actors in hit tv shows or films, they are not very good at all - one thing though, Stephen Fry is nigh on genius in the Harry Potter books, some really great performances in there. Hope that helps!

[barry1010]

Thanks, woodelf, I may give them another go

[woodelf]

I hope you do Barry and if you want any help in choosing readers, just give me a call - and anyone else too!

[sunny-dave]

Some of my favourite readers :

Stephen Fry (his Complete Sherlock Holmes is wonderful)
Timothy West (Trollope)
Martin Jarvis (Just William)
Ian Carmichael (Wimsey and Three Men in a Boat)
Kobna Holdbrook-Smith - really exceptional in many different types of book
James Lalley (Len Deighton spy books)
Michael Jayston (Le Carre)

[woodelf]

Hi Dave, I prefer Derek Jacobi as Holmes and I like Jarvis as Billy Bunter, Bruce Montague as William. I agree with Carmichael and Jayston. I will have to give a listy to Holdbrooke-Smith and Lalley, both unknown to me - but Thank Goodness we're all different, eh!...Keep On Shinin' On, Sunny-Dave!

[Canary42]

I actually have the same problem with normal reading. My mind is thinking of other things as I read, and I suddenly find several pages on that I haven't a clue what has occurred in the book. Usually happens when reading in bed. Does anyone else ever find this happening, or am I a complete nutcase ?

[gness]

I'll take the fifth on that, Canary. ;-)