Fiction_L Archives picking audiobooks Dates: 12/1/00,6:34 PM  through  12/31/00,12:01 PM  (61 postings) Search for: Select one or more indexes to search: 2011-current     2009-2010     2004-2008    1995-2003    (Matches from each index will be displayed separately in the results page.) Return to December 2000 thread menu   |   Fiction_L Archives Menu

FROM: Mary K Chelton <[removed]@pop.mail.rcn.net>
REC'D: 12/1/00, 6:34 PM

I was talking with a friend today who mentioned that she was
listening to a book that she was enjoying but probably would never
have read in another format. Since I often do the same with books I
listen to rather than read, I wondered if any of you can articulate
the differences, if any, between what you choose to read as text and
what you choose to listen to. I think there's something going on
here that we should attend to, but I can't figure it out yet.

Mary K.
--
**************************************************************************************
Home: 35 Mercury Ave., East Patchogue, NY 11772-4609. Phone: (631)
286-4255 or 776-2166
Work: Graduate School of Library and Information Studies, Queens
College, 254 Rosenthal Library, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing, NY
11367. Phone: (718) 997-3790 general office; 3667 direct voice; 3797
fax, e-mail [removed]@pop.mail.rcn.net
**************************************************************************************

FROM: David Wright <[removed]@yahoo.com>
REC'D: 12/1/00, 7:59 PM

What an interesting question, Mary! In examining
my own listening and reading habits, I'd say I'm far
more choosy about writers I'll listen to than writers
I'll read, and what I'm listening for is the strength
of the writer's voice, the quality and cogency of
their prose. I'll read any old crap, because even if
its really atrocious I can skip and skim and generally
get through it much faster than a book on tape. But
if I'm going to have it lovingly read to me while I
pull weeds or take a walk, I really want a writer who
can string words together in a pleasing way. That
goes for page-turners like Wilbur Smith or Homer, and
for lit-trat-uah such as Donal Donnally's masterful
reading of Joyce's Ulysses, or Mark Hammer's excellent
Faulkner readings. But I suspect peoples' tastes will
be as subjective here as elsewhere, and I've worked
with patrons who will only listen to unabridged
fiction, and patrons who will only listen to
abridgements. Go figure.

(All of this is quite apart from the issue of the
READER, which I increasingly find to be the single
most important factor for me as a listener. I'd
rather hear George Guidall read the phone book than
listen to Frank Muller read Melville, especially since
he can't seem to pronounce words like 'boatswain' and
'forecastle' correctly. But that's off-subject.)

-I look forward to hearing what others have to
say on this.
-David Wright
Seattle Public Library

--- Mary K Chelton <[removed]@pop.mail.rcn.net> wrote:
> I was talking with a friend today who mentioned that
> she was
> listening to a book that she was enjoying but
> probably would never
> have read in another format. Since I often do the
> same with books I
> listen to rather than read, I wondered if any of you
> can articulate
> the differences, if any, between what you choose to
> read as text and
> what you choose to listen to. I think there's
> something going on
> here that we should attend to, but I can't figure it
> out yet.
>
> Mary K.
> --
>
**************************************************************************************
> Home: 35 Mercury Ave., East Patchogue, NY
> 11772-4609. Phone: (631)
> 286-4255 or 776-2166
> Work: Graduate School of Library and Information
> Studies, Queens
> College, 254 Rosenthal Library, 65-30 Kissena Blvd.,
> Flushing, NY
> 11367. Phone: (718) 997-3790 general office; 3667
> direct voice; 3797
> fax, e-mail [removed]@pop.mail.rcn.net
>
**************************************************************************************
>
>
>
......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L:
http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html


__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Shopping - Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products.
http://shopping.yahoo.com/

FROM: [removed]@aol.com
REC'D: 12/2/00, 1:40 AM

In a message dated 12/1/2000 8:53:24 PM Eastern Standard Time,
[removed]@yahoo.com writes:

<< (All of this is quite apart from the issue of the
READER, which I increasingly find to be the single
most important factor for me as a listener. I'd
rather hear George Guidall read the phone book than
listen to Frank Muller read Melville, especially since
he can't seem to pronounce words like 'boatswain' and
'forecastle' correctly. But that's off-subject.)

-I look forward to hearing what others have to
say on this.
-David Wright
Seattle Public Library >>

David -

I don't think your comment about preferring one reader over another is at all
off the subject. When one is reading a book oneself, the imagination takes
over. The book filters into the reader's head; the "voice" is subconscious.
In the case of an audio book, the narrator's voice is a necessary
superimposition over the text. I've heard books on tape that were ruined for
me because the "voice" couldn't seem to get tell the story in the style of
the writer. I could never get "lost" in the story, because the narrator got
in the way. But with the right narrator - ah - there's that wonderful
suspension of disbelief, the listener is hooked - and therefore a danger to
himself and others on the highway <g>

IMHO, of course.

Binnie Syril Braunstein
romance novelist/former librarian

FROM: Ann Wilson <[removed]@gcfn.org>
REC'D: 12/2/00, 8:37 AM

Speaking for myself, and I think this is very individual, I don't like to
"hear" books that contain passages I would skip over if I vere reading.
For example, gory, violent, or very suspenseful passages. On the other
hand, I will often listen to (and love) a nonfiction book that I might
consider boring if I tried to read. Peter Fleming's News From Tartary is
one example. Galileo's Daughter is another.

Ann Wilson
Dublin Branch, Columbus Metropolitan Library
Columbus, Oh

On Fri, 1 Dec 2000, Mary K Chelton wrote:

> I was talking with a friend today who mentioned that she was
> listening to a book that she was enjoying but probably would never
> have read in another format. Since I often do the same with books I
> listen to rather than read, I wondered if any of you can articulate
> the differences, if any, between what you choose to read as text and
> what you choose to listen to. I think there's something going on
> here that we should attend to, but I can't figure it out yet.
>
> Mary K.
> --
> **************************************************************************************
> Home: 35 Mercury Ave., East Patchogue, NY 11772-4609. Phone: (631)
> 286-4255 or 776-2166
> Work: Graduate School of Library and Information Studies, Queens
> College, 254 Rosenthal Library, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing, NY
> 11367. Phone: (718) 997-3790 general office; 3667 direct voice; 3797
> fax, e-mail [removed]@pop.mail.rcn.net
> **************************************************************************************
>
>
> ......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html

FROM: Lisa Olsen <[removed]@clsn1269.cumberland.lib.nc.us>
REC'D: 12/2/00, 8:45 AM

"In examining my own listening and reading habits, I'd say I'm far
> more choosy about writers I'll listen to than writers I'll read."

I would say I am the exact opposite. I will listen to books on
tape that I would never sit down and read. Of course, that could be
because at my library the books I love to read either are abridged or are
not available in audiobook format at all. And if I am going to read a
book by a favorite author, I want the entire story. However when choosing
to explore a book that would not be my first choice under normal
circumstances, I find it helps to have the story come alive through the
reader's voice. (It also help to be on a long drive with a choice
between silence, the radio, and a mildly interesting book on tape.)
I agree that the reader can make or break the story. I recently
read two books of about equal merit storywise but the voice of the reader
of the second one irritated me so much I had to restrain myself from
ripping out the tape and trying to destroy it.

__________________________________________________

Lisa A. Olsen

Information Services

Cumberland County Public Library & Information Center
East Regional Library
4809 Clinton Road
Fayetteville, NC

FROM: P Brady <[removed]@yahoo.com>
REC'D: 12/2/00, 9:17 AM

I find that I save audio format for books I know I
should read, but would not necessarily curl up with
for pleasure. Many non-fiction books and fiction genre
I know our patrons are interested in, but I'm not. It
is a less stressful way to keep current for readers
advisory. Peg Brady, Union Public Library, N.J.
>
>
>
>
......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L:
http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html


__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Shopping - Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products.
http://shopping.yahoo.com/

FROM: "Joy Tofteland" <[removed]@ankeny.k12.ia.us>
REC'D: 12/2/00, 11:31 AM

Even after I have picked an author that I love to listen to (criteria: more
narrative, less dialog, not excessively detailed description), I can be
turned off by the choice of readers. I loved the book Memoirs of a Geisha.
When I tried to listen to the audio cassette, I cringed listening to the
reader. The words were the same, the experience was not.

The exception to the dialog criteria would be plays. I would much prefer to
listen to Shakespeare read by a cast of actors than read it.

Complex plot lines which require you to reread to keep things straight would
preclude being an audiobook. I can't imagine keeping the mother/daughter
relationships in the Joy Luck Club straight if listening to it. I may be
begging the question, because how would you know if you hadn't read the
book?

Joy Tofteland
Kirkendall Public Library
Ankeny, IA

FROM: Pamela M Weinberg <[removed]@chipublib.org>
REC'D: 12/2/00, 12:35 PM

These are pretty much my sentiments, exactly. I read more for enjoyment
and listen because it is convenient or to become familiar with authors
that I might never read, but that are popular with my patrons.

Another interesting factor - I often can't remember if I read the book or
listened to the tape (after a few months), but a good tape often stays
with me for a long time. Possibly because I read more than I listen to
tapes.

Pam Weinberg
Oriole Park Br./CPL

xx
x~x
`

On Sat, 2 Dec 2000, P Brady wrote:

>
> I find that I save audio format for books I know I
> should read, but would not necessarily curl up with
> for pleasure. Many non-fiction books and fiction genre
> I know our patrons are interested in, but I'm not. It
> is a less stressful way to keep current for readers
> advisory. Peg Brady, Union Public Library, N.J.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> ......................................................................
> > Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> > Everything Fiction_L:
> http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html
>
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Yahoo! Shopping - Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products.
> http://shopping.yahoo.com/
>
> ......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html
>

FROM: "Martha Garbison" <[removed]@denver.lib.co.us>
REC'D: 12/2/00, 1:21 PM

audiobooks...

I am a very fast reader and if the audio reader isn't reading at a pretty fast clip, I can't listen to it. I have found that I am not as picky about the reader's voice as long as they are a fast reader. I have customers who tell me the same thing...

I guess I will read absolutely anything once and will listen only under certain conditions. The visual versus the auditory experience are two completely different things for me and it took me along time to learn 'how' to listen to audiobooks and really enjoy it. My favorite audiobooks from the recent past are Gap Creek (unabridged) read by Kate Forbes ( I found a voice so distinct and performed so well that she didn't need to read fast for me), The Golden Compass (narrated by Pullman with an entire cast of British stage performers), and The Partner by Grisham and read by Frank Muller (it moves along at a good pace for me.)

Customers have distinct and widely varying reasons for what audiobooks they like. The majority I talk with prefer the unabridged versions and if they enjoy the abridged, it is usually because of the reader...i.e. Judy Kaye reading the Sue Grafton novels; her voice is excellent...and in a few cases, it was because the customer had already read the book and didn't mind missing part of the book on a 're-listen.'

I recently worked with a customer who had macular degeneration and swore she would never be able to tolerate audio books after having been a life-long reader and an actress. When she could no longer manage large print, she went through a similar process in discovering what pace and kind of voice she needed to hear and then we went through an arduous process to find literature of her preference with a reader that she liked. Two of her favorite readers were Frank Muller and George Guidall.

As you can tell, the question of the relationship between audio book listening and book reading is very interesting to me... fun thread and now I will shut up!

Martha Garbison
Denver Public Library
[removed]@denver.lib.co.us

FROM: "Mona Stevenson" <[removed]@oplin.lib.oh.us>
REC'D: 12/2/00, 1:45 PM

>Subject: Re: picking audiobooks
>From: "Ann Wilson" <[removed]@gcfn.org>
>Date: Sat, 2 Dec 2000 09:17:26 -0500 (EST)

>Speaking for myself, and I think this is very individual, I don't like to
>"hear" books that contain passages I would skip over if I vere reading.
>For example, gory, violent, or very suspenseful passages.
_______
>I find that I save audio format for books I know I should read, but would
not necessarily curl up with for pleasure.
> "P Brady"
________

>I would say I am the exact opposite. I will listen to books on
>tape that I would never sit down and read.
>Lisa A. Olsen

I agree with each of these respondents. In audio it's almost impossible to
skim or skip and I find certain language and violence more disturbing when
read aloud. Those titles I save for print. I don't tend to take time to
sit down with the classics (Austen, etc.), but find they come alive on audio
and I enjoy them tremendously (with the right reader, of course). I'm glad
to hear I'm not the only one who would listen to George Guidall read the
phone book - but Tony Hillerman is ever so much more interesting. Guidall's
reading really brings the Southwest and the Navajo culture to life. Another
favorite is Patrick Tull reading Brother Cadfael. And Barbara Rosenblatt
reading anything.... I've enjoyed a number of works that I'd never have
thought to pick up in print, just because a favorite reader has done them.
Audiobooks make those treadmill hours fly by and many's the extra quarter
mile I've gone to get to a stopping point in an involving "read".

PS: I;m enjoying the briefly annotated best books suggestions and have added
several titles to my "to read" list. I'm hoping a few are available on
unabridged audio (I hate to miss parts, unless its the technical aspects of
"Moby Dick", for example.)

Mona L. D. Stevenson
Warren-Trumbull County Public Library
Warren, OH
1-330-399-8807, ext. 123
<[removed]@oplin.lib.oh.us>

FROM: Madeline Guzman <[removed]@CapAccess.org>
REC'D: 12/2/00, 1:59 PM

I often get the same book on audio tape and in hardback version. I read
at home and listen to the tape on my long commutes to and from work. In
this way, I've been able to read so many more books than I ever had in
the past.

In addition, I think non-fiction books are sometimes easier to grasp when
heard rather than read. The experience is equivalent to listening to a
public radio station.

Madeline

Madeline T. Guzman
Rockville, Maryland
http://strictlyc.tripod.com/nonfiction.html

FROM: "Laura McCaffery" <[removed]@acpl.lib.in.us>
REC'D: 12/3/00, 12:43 PM

I, too,am a fast reader and get really annoyed waiting for the next
word. The PBS show where the gentleman read books to the auduence
drove me wild. I wanted to finish his sentences for him or pull the
words from his mouth. The reader would be a big part of my
decision is listening to something if I did so. I also would not
want the unabridged book. That would be like getting the Readers
Digest version of the best seller. McBook?
>
> I am a very fast reader and if the audio reader isn't reading at a pretty fast clip, I can't listen to it. I have found that I am not as picky about the reader's voice as long as they are a fast read>
> I guess I will read absolutely anything once and will listen only under certain conditions. The visual versus the auditory experience are two completely different things for me and it took me along t>
> Customers have distinct and widely varying reasons for what audiobooks they like. The majority I talk with prefer the unabridged versions and if they enjoy the abridged, it is usually because of the >
> I recently worked with a customer who had macular degeneration and swore she would never be able to tolerate audio books after having been a life-long reader and an actress. When she could no longer >
> As you can tell, the question of the relationship between audio book listening and book reading is very interesting to me... fun thread and now I will shut up!
>
> Martha Garbison
> Denver Public Library
> [removed]@denver.lib.co.us
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html
>


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Laura Hibbets McCaffery
Readers Services
Allen County Public Library
Fort Wayne, Indiana
"All opinions are mine alone. Others are
free to agree..or disagree."
"...all things are to to be examined and called into question. There
are no limits set to thought." Edith Hamilton, THE GREEK WAY.

FROM: Cindy McCormack <[removed]@mail.win.org>
REC'D: 12/3/00, 1:08 PM

I love audiobooks. I prefer to listen to technical or very descriptive
books in abridged (like Tom Clancy) and classics in unabridged, but it's
very important to get a good narrator. This is usually not the writer.
There are some writers that have a natural ability to read there works, but
most don't.

There have been times when I stopped listening to the tape because I was so
excited by the story that I needed to hold the book in my hands. There are
more times when listening is the only way I'll get everything "read".

My favorite listen this year was "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire",
read by Jim Dale. He was wonderful (over 100 voices).

At 07:26 PM 12/1/00 -0800, Mary K Chelton wrote:
>I was talking with a friend today who mentioned that she was
>listening to a book that she was enjoying but probably would never
>have read in another format. Since I often do the same with books I
>listen to rather than read, I wondered if any of you can articulate
>the differences, if any, between what you choose to read as text and
>what you choose to listen to. I think there's something going on
>here that we should attend to, but I can't figure it out yet.
>
>Mary K.
>--
>***************************************************************************
***********
>Home: 35 Mercury Ave., East Patchogue, NY 11772-4609. Phone: (631)
>286-4255 or 776-2166
>Work: Graduate School of Library and Information Studies, Queens
>College, 254 Rosenthal Library, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing, NY
>11367. Phone: (718) 997-3790 general office; 3667 direct voice; 3797
>fax, e-mail [removed]@pop.mail.rcn.net
>***************************************************************************
***********
>
>
>......................................................................
>Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
>Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html
>
Cindy McCormack
St. Charles City-County Library District
Corporate Parkway Branch
St. Charles, MO.

FROM: Cindy McCormack <[removed]@mail.win.org>
REC'D: 12/3/00, 1:24 PM

I love audiobooks. I prefer to listen to technical or very descriptive
books in abridged (like Tom Clancy) and classics in unabridged, but it's
very important to get a good narrator. This is usually not the writer.
There are some writers that have a natural ability to read there works, but
most don't.

There have been times when I stopped listening to the tape because I was so
excited by the story that I needed to hold the book in my hands. There are
more times when listening is the only way I'll get everything "read".

My favorite listen this year was "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire",
read by Jim Dale. He was wonderful (over 100 voices).

At 07:26 PM 12/1/00 -0800, Mary K Chelton wrote:
>I was talking with a friend today who mentioned that she was
>listening to a book that she was enjoying but probably would never
>have read in another format. Since I often do the same with books I
>listen to rather than read, I wondered if any of you can articulate
>the differences, if any, between what you choose to read as text and
>what you choose to listen to. I think there's something going on
>here that we should attend to, but I can't figure it out yet.
>
>Mary K.
>--
>***************************************************************************
***********
>Home: 35 Mercury Ave., East Patchogue, NY 11772-4609. Phone: (631)
>286-4255 or 776-2166
>Work: Graduate School of Library and Information Studies, Queens
>College, 254 Rosenthal Library, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing, NY
>11367. Phone: (718) 997-3790 general office; 3667 direct voice; 3797
>fax, e-mail [removed]@pop.mail.rcn.net
>***************************************************************************
***********
>
>
>......................................................................
>Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
>Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html
>
Cindy McCormack
St. Charles City-County Library District
Corporate Parkway Branch
St. Charles, MO.

FROM: Dennis Lien <[removed]@tc.umn.edu>
REC'D: 12/3/00, 5:15 PM

Can't help; I may be the only person in the country who's never listened to
an audiobook, and finds the concept a bit -- disquieting. When I drive etc.
if I listen to anything other than music, it's tapes of old-time radio
shows (only another 150 or so hours' worth before it will be time to
find more...).

Having someone else do my reading for me strikes me as like having someone
else eat my pizza for me, and then tell me about it. Not the same...

Dennis Lien / U of Minnesota Libraries // [removed]@tc.umn.edu

FROM: "Franz, Patty" <[removed]@pamunkeylibrary.org>
REC'D: 12/4/00, 7:44 AM

Folks -

Thank you for this great thread. I have some books that I will only
listen to because now the narrator and the characters go (for me) so well
together. These include Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum read by C.J. Critt
and Jenny Sterlin reading the Mary Ross books by Laurie King.
I have listened to whole series (like Lord Peter Wimsey) because I
like the continuity of being read to. I also have listened to books for my
book group, if I have already read them. Somehow for me, I hear some
different things that I read, so it enhances the "re-reading".
Pronunciation is vital for me - a local author's - Ann McMillan -
books are ruined for me on tape because the narrator can't pronounce
Tredegar among other words. This is when I wish talking book companies
would talk to authors. I am sure that each locale has words that have a
specific local pronunciation.

Now for my favorite talking book question, when you tell someone
about a book that you listened to, do you say you read the book or are you
specific about the fact that you listened? Do you have a separate list of
books that you heard? ;>)

Thanks, Mary K. for this great thread. Patty


Patty Franz
Supervising Librarian
Pamunkey Regional Library
P.O. Box 119
Hanover, VA 23069

[removed]@pamunkeylibrary.org

FROM: "Marsha Valance " <[removed]@mpl.org>
REC'D: 12/4/00, 8:56 AM

Unfortunately, as we age, many of us do not have that option. The Library of Congress Talking Book Program tries very hard to match narrators with wotks they can interpret well. The Alexander Scourby Awards for the best Talking Book narrator are voted on annually by members of the American Council of the Blind. I agree on George Guidall-Shapiro & Jim Dale, and suggest Chuck Benson, Bob Askey, & Mitzi Friedlander as well.


Marsha Valance
Regional Librarian
Wisconsin Regional Library f/t Blind & Physically Handicapped
813 West Wells St.
Milwaukee, WI 53233
<[removed]@mpl.org>

>>> [removed]@tc.umn.edu 12/03/00 05:06PM >>>
Can't help; I may be the only person in the country who's never listened to
an audiobook, and finds the concept a bit -- disquieting. When I drive etc.
if I listen to anything other than music, it's tapes of old-time radio
shows (only another 150 or so hours' worth before it will be time to
find more...).

Having someone else do my reading for me strikes me as like having someone
else eat my pizza for me, and then tell me about it. Not the same...

Dennis Lien / U of Minnesota Libraries // [removed]@tc.umn.edu

FROM: Kim Rutter <[removed]@lvdl.org>
REC'D: 12/4/00, 9:06 AM

Mary K:
This is also a phenomenon I have noticed, but I break it down into two
categories--
1) Books I have plenty of time to finish (since I read much faster
silently to myself than any audiobook narrator, who is essentially acting
out the book with pauses for emphasis, etc) and which sound like a good
"listen". I look for a story. Not non-fiction, because I feel like I'm
being preached to when I listen to nonfiction audiobooks. Generally, I have
to find new authors that I haven't already read to myself before, because
even good narrators don't match my mind's portrayal of "alpha male" or
"feisty female", so my favorite romance authors (as an example) just don't
translate to audiobook for me. However,
2)Authors I have first started in audiobook--John Sandford's "Prey"
series and Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum novels--I now must always listen
to, not read. My mind cannot possibly duplicate the nuances of Richard
Ferrone as he depicts psychotic serial killers and the moodiness of Lucas
Davenport; or of C. J. Critt in her brilliant, ROFL voices for Stephanie,
Lula, Grandma Mazzur, and Co. And that's why the two formats seem so
distinct to me. Not a particularly coherent theory, but my own. Thanks for
validating it.

Kim Rutter
Lake Villa Library
Lake Villa, IL

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mary K Chelton [[removed]@pop.mail.rcn.net]
> Sent: Friday, December 01, 2000 9:26 PM
> To: Fiction_L
> Subject: picking audiobooks
>
> I was talking with a friend today who mentioned that she was
> listening to a book that she was enjoying but probably would never
> have read in another format. Since I often do the same with books I
> listen to rather than read, I wondered if any of you can articulate
> the differences, if any, between what you choose to read as text and
> what you choose to listen to. I think there's something going on
> here that we should attend to, but I can't figure it out yet.
>
> Mary K.
> --
> **************************************************************************
> ************
> Home: 35 Mercury Ave., East Patchogue, NY 11772-4609. Phone: (631)
> 286-4255 or 776-2166
> Work: Graduate School of Library and Information Studies, Queens
> College, 254 Rosenthal Library, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing, NY
> 11367. Phone: (718) 997-3790 general office; 3667 direct voice; 3797
> fax, e-mail [removed]@pop.mail.rcn.net
> **************************************************************************
> ************
>
>
> ......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html

FROM: "Brenda O'Brien" <[removed]@sls.lib.il.us>
REC'D: 12/4/00, 9:22 AM

I don't think my audiobook tastes are that typical, but I enjoy listening
to books I've already read. I guess it's like listening to a baseball
game in the car; even if you tune out for a bit to concentrate on
driving, you won't miss much. I only live a mile from work, so I don't
listen to audiobooks very often. My absolute favorites are Tolkien,
partly because of the reader, and Ellis Peter's Brother Cadfael
mysteries. I generally prefer mysteries or something light and funny,
like Katie Fforde to listen to.

Brenda O'Brien
Woodridge Public Library
[removed]@sls.lib.il.us

FROM: "Dusty Gres" <[removed]@mail.toombs.public.lib.ga.us>
REC'D: 12/4/00, 9:52 AM

I'm with Dennis. I cannot listen to an audiobook. In the car I either get
frustrated because I have to rewind to better hear and understand passages
or I get so caught up in the story that my mind is not on my driving.... At
other times, such as walking, I want to look and think about what I am
seeing; if working I use the time to think and plan for other things and the
one time I tried an audiobook while ironing I scorched a shirt... To read,
I must have the book in my hand and my mind on the story. I guess I have a
one-track mind.

***
Dusty Gres, Director
Ohoopee Regional Library System
Hdqrts: Vidalia-Toombs County Library
610 Jackson Street
Vidalia, GA 30474
PH: (912)537-9283
FAX: (912) 537-3735
Email: [removed]@mail.toombs.public.lib.ga.us
http://www.vidaliaga.com/library/index.html

-----Original Message-----
From: [removed]@maillist.webrary.org
[[removed]@maillist.webrary.org]On Behalf Of Dennis Lien
Sent: Sunday, December 03, 2000 6:06 PM
To: Fiction_L
Subject: Re: picking audiobooks


Can't help; I may be the only person in the country who's never listened to
an audiobook, and finds the concept a bit -- disquieting. When I drive etc.
if I listen to anything other than music, it's tapes of old-time radio
shows (only another 150 or so hours' worth before it will be time to
find more...).

Having someone else do my reading for me strikes me as like having someone
else eat my pizza for me, and then tell me about it. Not the same...

Dennis Lien / U of Minnesota Libraries // [removed]@tc.umn.edu

FROM: "Rachel Kohl Community Library" <[removed]@delco.lib.pa.us>
REC'D: 12/4/00, 10:06 AM

I listen to audio books because I have a dull commute each day and a busy
house when I get home. Listening to a story means red lights and traffic
jams don't bother me at all. I prefer abridged because it's the
equivalent of skimming. (At the moment I'm listening to unabridged Winter
Solstice and it's very repetitive).

I agree that the reader makes a huge difference. When I recommend a book on
tape to a patron (and we have a large number of commuters and elderly), I
often remark on the artist who does the reading. IMHO, David McCallum is
the best and I'll listen to anything he does, including Jack Higgins.

Meg Hawkins
R. Kohl Community Library
Concordville PA 19331

FROM: "Lynn K. Silence" <[removed]@imail.slcl.lib.mo.us>
REC'D: 12/4/00, 10:39 AM

I've noticed that there is very little over-lap in Abridged and Unabridged
listeners. They can't understand why our library has so many of which ever
one they don't use! I am an Unabridged listener and love the medium. I
too find it keeps me from developing road rage (a very mild case) in rush
hour. The only problem is that I don't always want to get out of the car
when I get where I'm going! I have also discovered that when I bring the
books on tape indoors and try to listen, I fall asleep! Thank goodness
they don't have that effect on me in the car!

lks

At 10:47 AM 12/4/2000 -0500, you wrote:
>I listen to audio books because I have a dull commute each day and a busy
>house when I get home. Listening to a story means red lights and traffic
>jams don't bother me at all. I prefer abridged because it's the
>equivalent of skimming. (At the moment I'm listening to unabridged Winter
>Solstice and it's very repetitive).
>
>I agree that the reader makes a huge difference. When I recommend a book on
>tape to a patron (and we have a large number of commuters and elderly), I
>often remark on the artist who does the reading. IMHO, David McCallum is
>the best and I'll listen to anything he does, including Jack Higgins.
>
>Meg Hawkins
>R. Kohl Community Library
>Concordville PA 19331
>
>
>......................................................................
>Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
>Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html
>
>
Lynn K. Silence Manager, Collection Development
St. Louis County Library
300 Clarkson Road Ellisville, Missouri 63011
Voice: 636-227-1138 Fax: 636-227-9632
"The librarians of today...are not fiery dragons
interposed between the people and the books."
Sir William Osler

FROM: Lisa Olsen <[removed]@clsn1269.cumberland.lib.nc.us>
REC'D: 12/4/00, 10:50 AM

I hope I am not going too far off topic here, didn't anyone ever read to
you as a child? I can remember the excitement of curling up with my
mother after lunch while she read "The Hobbit" and "The Wind in the
Willows" and hundreds of other stories. I find listening to a well read
audiobook can be just as enjoyable.

__________________________________________________

Lisa A. Olsen

Information Services

Cumberland County Public Library & Information Center
East Regional Library
4809 Clinton Road
Fayetteville, NC 28301-8401

(910)485-2955

On Sun, 3 Dec 2000, Dennis Lien wrote:

> Can't help; I may be the only person in the country who's never listened to
> an audiobook, and finds the concept a bit -- disquieting. When I drive etc.
> if I listen to anything other than music, it's tapes of old-time radio
> shows (only another 150 or so hours' worth before it will be time to
> find more...).
>
> Having someone else do my reading for me strikes me as like having someone
> else eat my pizza for me, and then tell me about it. Not the same...
>
> Dennis Lien / U of Minnesota Libraries // [removed]@tc.umn.edu
>
> ......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html
>

FROM: Dennis Lien <[removed]@tc.umn.edu>
REC'D: 12/4/00, 11:23 AM

At 11:31 AM 12/4/00 -0500, you wrote:
>I hope I am not going too far off topic here, didn't anyone ever read to
>you as a child?

Very rarely. My parents were not much on reading (memory says they had
something like eight books in the house), while I was a voracious reader
from first grade on. I do recall a couple of teachers reading to the
class, but generally slower and (I thought) less well than I could have
done myself. Presumably one's preferences vary based on (among other
things) early experiences, and I certainly didn't mean to suggest there
was something wrong with audiobooks for them 'as likes them, only to
offer a dissenting personal opinion. To me, much of the pleasure of
reading is in the act of reading itself; while audiobooks (or movies
and such, for that matter) may also offer intriguing plots, quirky and/or
lovable characters, witty and/or moving dialog etc. etc. the one thing
they cannot, by definition, offer is the pleasure of translating words
on paper into mental images on your own terms and at your own pace.

For what it's worth, I suspect that if I *did* listen to audiobooks, I'd
use only unabridged books and would select things that I felt I *ought*
to read but really didn't want to. And I'd certainly keep seperate lists
of books read vs. books only listened to.

Dennis Lien / U of Minnesota Libraries // [removed]@tc.umn.edu

FROM: "Laura McCaffery" <[removed]@acpl.lib.in.us>
REC'D: 12/4/00, 11:40 AM

I do not react to it in quite the same way. Live people reading to
me personally is and was an interactive experience. Questions.
Giggles. Repeating favorite passages in unison. For me listening to
a recorded book does not evoke the same response. Sorry..
Maybe it is the live vs canned thing.lmc .> \
I hope I am not
going too far off topic here, didn't anyone ever read to
> you as a child? I can remember the excitement of curling up with my
> mother after lunch while she read "The Hobbit" and "The Wind in the
> Willows" and hundreds of other stories. I find listening to a well read
> audiobook can be just as enjoyable.
>
> __________________________________________________
>
> Lisa A. Olsen
>
> Information Services
>
> Cumberland County Public Library & Information Center
> East Regional Library
> 4809 Clinton Road
> Fayetteville, NC 28301-8401
>
> (910)485-2955
>
>
>
> On Sun, 3 Dec 2000, Dennis Lien wrote:
>
> > Can't help; I may be the only person in the country who's never listened to
> > an audiobook, and finds the concept a bit -- disquieting. When I drive etc.
> > if I listen to anything other than music, it's tapes of old-time radio
> > shows (only another 150 or so hours' worth before it will be time to
> > find more...).
> >
> > Having someone else do my reading for me strikes me as like having someone
> > else eat my pizza for me, and then tell me about it. Not the same...
> >
> > Dennis Lien / U of Minnesota Libraries // [removed]@tc.umn.edu
> >
> > ......................................................................
> > Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> > Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html
> >
>
>
>
> ......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html
>


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Laura Hibbets McCaffery
Readers Services
Allen County Public Library
Fort Wayne, Indiana
"All opinions are mine alone. Others are
free to agree..or disagree."
"...all things are to to be examined and called into question. There
are no limits set to thought." Edith Hamilton, THE GREEK WAY.

FROM: "Becky H" <[removed]@blarneymail.com>
REC'D: 12/4/00, 11:56 AM

As one working in a largely audio collection, I have found this discussion familiar & interesting. I work in Texas' Talking Books Program, which provides materials for folks who can't use standard print. Most of our patrons are visually impaired, with the rest being either physically handicapped or learning disabled. The patrons I talk to have usually have strong preferences for either male or female voices (over half of the people I talk to are elderly, and have some hearing impairment as well), and Bob Askey is the most popular narrator. All of our books are unabridged - it's the reason we exist. Our special players have speed adjustments, and we know of a web site where a "book marker" can be purchased. As far as things like sex & violence being more disturbing when heard rather than read, we have a way in our setup to at least raise a flag that a book contains them if the patron requests it.

When I started here, they gave me one of our tape players to use, and encouraged me to check out a few books, so I would be familiar with their workings & potential problems. I must say that listening to books doesn't work for me & I would be in big trouble if I ever needed to use them. I usually read while doing something else, and kept trying to read while I was listening, or lost track of the story. I suppose it's what you're used to -- our patrons who have lost their sight after being able to read most of their lives seem to enjoy the program just fine.

Just wanted to add my 2 cents' worth. Someone said they had worked with a patron with macular degeneration -- just wanted to say that this program is in every state, so your patron could contact the Talking Books program, which is frequently associated with the State Library.

Becky H.
(all opinions/information/mistakes, etc. are my own & do not represent my employer)


_______________________________________________________
Sent by Blarneymail
To get your own Blarneymail account, visit www.virtualireland.com

FROM: Spencer Ms Martha <[removed]@usmc-mccs.org>
REC'D: 12/4/00, 12:11 PM

I will listen to lighter fiction that I would never consider in print. I
particularly prefer audio for long books, since I can listen to these in the
car as opposed to finding the time to read them. I do not listen to abridged
audiobooks.

Martha S.

-----Original Message-----
From: Mary K Chelton [[removed]@pop.mail.rcn.net]
Sent: Friday, December 01, 2000 7:26 PM
To: Fiction_L
Subject: picking audiobooks


I was talking with a friend today who mentioned that she was
listening to a book that she was enjoying but probably would never
have read in another format. Since I often do the same with books I
listen to rather than read, I wondered if any of you can articulate
the differences, if any, between what you choose to read as text and
what you choose to listen to. I think there's something going on
here that we should attend to, but I can't figure it out yet.

Mary K.
--
****************************************************************************
**********
Home: 35 Mercury Ave., East Patchogue, NY 11772-4609. Phone: (631)
286-4255 or 776-2166
Work: Graduate School of Library and Information Studies, Queens
College, 254 Rosenthal Library, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing, NY
11367. Phone: (718) 997-3790 general office; 3667 direct voice; 3797
fax, e-mail [removed]@pop.mail.rcn.net
****************************************************************************
**********

FROM: "Cynthia Orr" <[removed]@cpl.org>
REC'D: 12/4/00, 12:26 PM

I can think of two more things that might be "going on here." One is the car experience.
I think that many people use audiobooks in the car not only to entertain themselves, but
as a way to fill up time that is largely wasted otherwise. And I've seen that kind of
patron go from abridged books to unabridged books, and then eventually begin asking about
subjects they've always meant to learn about but just never got around to, or begin
listening to things they always meant to read, but just never did. In other words, it's a
way to enjoyably fill largely wasted time with something educational or enriching.

Another thing worth mentioning is that some readers can enhance a book so much that it's
almost a different experience to listen to it. John Lithgow reading Bonfire of the
Vanities is one that comes to mind. Plus, there are some books that really lend
themselves to being heard--Like Water for Chocolate was wonderful, for instance.
Cindy

Mary K Chelton wrote:

> I was talking with a friend today who mentioned that she was
> listening to a book that she was enjoying but probably would never
> have read in another format. Since I often do the same with books I
> listen to rather than read, I wondered if any of you can articulate
> the differences, if any, between what you choose to read as text and
> what you choose to listen to. I think there's something going on
> here that we should attend to, but I can't figure it out yet.
>
> Mary K.
> --
> **************************************************************************************
> Home: 35 Mercury Ave., East Patchogue, NY 11772-4609. Phone: (631)
> 286-4255 or 776-2166
> Work: Graduate School of Library and Information Studies, Queens
> College, 254 Rosenthal Library, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing, NY
> 11367. Phone: (718) 997-3790 general office; 3667 direct voice; 3797
> fax, e-mail [removed]@pop.mail.rcn.net
> **************************************************************************************
>
> ......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html

--
**********************************************************************
Cynthia Orr Email: [removed]@cpl.org
Collection Manager Phone: 216-623-2906
Cleveland Public Library Fax: 216-623-2977
17133 Lake Shore Boulevard
Cleveland, OH 44110 http://www.cpl.org
**********************************************************************

FROM: Spencer Ms Martha <[removed]@usmc-mccs.org>
REC'D: 12/4/00, 12:39 PM

Are you listening to commercially recorded books or those recorded by
volunteers? You might have a different opinion if you ever heard George
Guidall, Frank Muller or Barbara Rosenblat. Those are three whose work is
wonderful. I read a great deal and listen a great deal. You get a different
perspective from hearing a word read from reading it with your eyes.

Martha S.

-----Original Message-----
From: Becky H [[removed]@blarneymail.com]
Sent: Monday, December 04, 2000 9:45 AM
To: Fiction_L
Subject: audio books


As one working in a largely audio collection, I have found this discussion
familiar & interesting. I work in Texas' Talking Books Program, which
provides materials for folks who can't use standard print. Most of our
patrons are visually impaired, with the rest being either physically
handicapped or learning disabled. The patrons I talk to have usually have
strong preferences for either male or female voices (over half of the people
I talk to are elderly, and have some hearing impairment as well), and Bob
Askey is the most popular narrator. All of our books are unabridged - it's
the reason we exist. Our special players have speed adjustments, and we
know of a web site where a "book marker" can be purchased. As far as things
like sex & violence being more disturbing when heard rather than read, we
have a way in our setup to at least raise a flag that a book contains them
if the patron requests it.

When I started here, they gave me one of our tape players to use, and
encouraged me to check out a few books, so I would be familiar with their
workings & potential problems. I must say that listening to books doesn't
work for me & I would be in big trouble if I ever needed to use them. I
usually read while doing something else, and kept trying to read while I was
listening, or lost track of the story. I suppose it's what you're used to
-- our patrons who have lost their sight after being able to read most of
their lives seem to enjoy the program just fine.

Just wanted to add my 2 cents' worth. Someone said they had worked with a
patron with macular degeneration -- just wanted to say that this program is
in every state, so your patron could contact the Talking Books program,
which is frequently associated with the State Library.

Becky H.
(all opinions/information/mistakes, etc. are my own & do not represent my
employer)


_______________________________________________________
Sent by Blarneymail
To get your own Blarneymail account, visit www.virtualireland.com

FROM: Spencer Ms Martha <[removed]@usmc-mccs.org>
REC'D: 12/4/00, 12:53 PM

As a librarian, a lifelong voracious reader and now an insatiable audiobook
listener, I have to defend the latter. Sorry, but I fail to see why
listening to the unabridged edition is any different from reading the book.
I use audiobooks in the interest of having no downtime from reading. I have
one in my car all the time (currently listening to The Forsyte Saga
unabridged). I don't quite get the snobbery directed toward audiobooks. I
did come from a family that read to me and did have books and magazines in
the house.

To each his own.

Martha S.

-----Original Message-----
From: Dennis Lien [[removed]@tc.umn.edu]
Sent: Monday, December 04, 2000 11:10 AM
To: Fiction_L
Subject: Re: picking audiobooks


At 11:31 AM 12/4/00 -0500, you wrote:
>I hope I am not going too far off topic here, didn't anyone ever read to
>you as a child?

Very rarely. My parents were not much on reading (memory says they had
something like eight books in the house), while I was a voracious reader
from first grade on. I do recall a couple of teachers reading to the
class, but generally slower and (I thought) less well than I could have
done myself. Presumably one's preferences vary based on (among other
things) early experiences, and I certainly didn't mean to suggest there
was something wrong with audiobooks for them 'as likes them, only to
offer a dissenting personal opinion. To me, much of the pleasure of
reading is in the act of reading itself; while audiobooks (or movies
and such, for that matter) may also offer intriguing plots, quirky and/or
lovable characters, witty and/or moving dialog etc. etc. the one thing
they cannot, by definition, offer is the pleasure of translating words
on paper into mental images on your own terms and at your own pace.

For what it's worth, I suspect that if I *did* listen to audiobooks, I'd
use only unabridged books and would select things that I felt I *ought*
to read but really didn't want to. And I'd certainly keep seperate lists
of books read vs. books only listened to.

Dennis Lien / U of Minnesota Libraries // [removed]@tc.umn.edu

FROM: Spencer Ms Martha <[removed]@usmc-mccs.org>
REC'D: 12/4/00, 1:07 PM

Unabridged means the whole book word for word.

Martha

-----Original Message-----
From: Laura McCaffery [[removed]@acpl.lib.in.us]
Sent: Saturday, December 02, 2000 11:52 AM
To: Fiction_L
Subject: Re: picking audiobooks


I, too,am a fast reader and get really annoyed waiting for the next
word. The PBS show where the gentleman read books to the auduence
drove me wild. I wanted to finish his sentences for him or pull the
words from his mouth. The reader would be a big part of my
decision is listening to something if I did so. I also would not
want the unabridged book. That would be like getting the Readers
Digest version of the best seller. McBook?
>
> I am a very fast reader and if the audio reader isn't reading at a pretty
fast clip, I can't listen to it. I have found that I am not as picky about
the reader's voice as long as they are a fast read>
> I guess I will read absolutely anything once and will listen only under
certain conditions. The visual versus the auditory experience are two
completely different things for me and it took me along t>
> Customers have distinct and widely varying reasons for what audiobooks
they like. The majority I talk with prefer the unabridged versions and if
they enjoy the abridged, it is usually because of the >
> I recently worked with a customer who had macular degeneration and swore
she would never be able to tolerate audio books after having been a
life-long reader and an actress. When she could no longer >
> As you can tell, the question of the relationship between audio book
listening and book reading is very interesting to me... fun thread and now I
will shut up!
>
> Martha Garbison
> Denver Public Library
> [removed]@denver.lib.co.us
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html
>


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Laura Hibbets McCaffery
Readers Services
Allen County Public Library
Fort Wayne, Indiana
"All opinions are mine alone. Others are
free to agree..or disagree."
"...all things are to to be examined and called into question. There
are no limits set to thought." Edith Hamilton, THE GREEK WAY.

FROM: Alicia Graybill <[removed]@rand.lcl.lib.ne.us>
REC'D: 12/4/00, 1:21 PM

Hello:
What really hooked me on audiobooks was traveling long distances to dog
shows with my sister and listening to Tony Hillerman read his books. We
followed that up with Edward Herrmann <sp?> reading _The Alienist_ and I
was hooked. This past weekend, we listened to the first Harry Potter as
read by Jim Dale. Wonderful! I also find myself hearing C.J. Critt's
voice when I read the new Evanovich book. For me, the reader is almost
more important than the book because I'm generally looking to be
entertained when I'm listening to a book as opposed to reading for
meaning or content.
If I recommend a book to a patron that I have listened to, I almost
always say, "Well, I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook. . ." My
reading tastes and my listening tastes tend to be similar but I'll listen
to a lot more variety than I would ever be able to read.
_____________________________________________________________
[ Alicia Graybill* ]
[ Curator/Librarian ]
[ Jane Pope Geske Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors ]
[ [removed]@rand.lcl.lib.ne.us ]
[ "A book is still the most exciting thing to me." ]
[ --Jane Pope Geske ]
[ *All opinions are strictly my own.* ]
-------------------------------------------------------------

FROM: "Waznis, Betty" <[removed]@sdcl.org>
REC'D: 12/4/00, 1:35 PM

I think the many excellent reader advisors on our list who work with the
Talking Books programs will have insight and experience to share on this
topic. What I learned from eight years of working with talking book readers
is that to succeed with most people, audiobook, fiction needs a strong
narrative flow that moves in a straight line from A to Z. Novels with
flashbacks, dream sequences, unusual narrative structures don't seem as
successful. Our number one preferred author was Louis L'Amour. Even little
old ladies who would never have dreamed of picking up a western in their
sighted days were delighted with his story-telling ability. I read an
interview once of his, in which he described himself as an inheritor of the
tradition of wandering storytellers. It really shows in the ability of his
books to make it as read-alouds.

Betty Waznis
San Diego County Library


Subject: picking audiobooks
From: "Mary K Chelton" <[removed]@pop.mail.rcn.net>
Date: Fri, 1 Dec 2000 19:26:03 -0800

I was talking with a friend today who mentioned that she was
listening to a book that she was enjoying but probably would never
have read in another format. Since I often do the same with books I
listen to rather than read, I wondered if any of you can articulate
the differences, if any, between what you choose to read as text and
what you choose to listen to. I think there's something going on
here that we should attend to, but I can't figure it out yet.

Mary K.
--
****************************************************************************
**********
Home: 35 Mercury Ave., East Patchogue, NY 11772-4609. Phone: (631)
286-4255 or 776-2166
Work: Graduate School of Library and Information Studies, Queens
College, 254 Rosenthal Library, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing, NY
11367. Phone: (718) 997-3790 general office; 3667 direct voice; 3797
fax, e-mail [removed]@pop.mail.rcn.net
****************************************************************************
**********

FROM: Jocelyn Bach <[removed]@wclc.org>
REC'D: 12/4/00, 2:49 PM

I, too, am in the minority of people who don't enjoy audiobooks. When I
try to listen to one, I keep wanting to turn on some music, and then remind
myself that I already am listening to something. Also, [traditional]
reading is a tactile experience, and it's much easier to re-read an
interesting (or eloquent or suprising or confusing) section of text than to
try to replay it.

Jocelyn Bach
Western Connecticut Library Council

>.... To me, much of the pleasure of
>reading is in the act of reading itself; while audiobooks (or movies
>and such, for that matter) may also offer intriguing plots, quirky and/or
>lovable characters, witty and/or moving dialog etc. etc. the one thing
>they cannot, by definition, offer is the pleasure of translating words
>on paper into mental images on your own terms and at your own pace.
>
>
>Dennis Lien / U of Minnesota Libraries // [removed]@tc.umn.edu

FROM: "Roberta S. Johnson" <[removed]@nslsilus.org>
REC'D: 12/4/00, 3:03 PM

I too read very fast, and so often choose audiobooks so that I will have to hear every
word, and remember better what I've heard -- as for a book discussion. In my case
perhaps "reading very fast' equals "skipping the exposition".

I also use audiobooks as RA training, to get a taste of those books I wouldn't enjoy
*reading* but are fabulous when read by Richard Ferrone. Be still my heart. I have a
boring commute (40 minutes with two turns) and alternate between music and
audiobooks. Barbara Rosenblatt leaves me cold, though, all her kids voices sound like
Disney employees. "You betcha, Mom!"

My three favorites that you must listen to:

Richard Pullman's full cast recording of His Dark Materials. I have sat out in the car in
the parking lot and been late to the desk because I could not bring myself to turn the
story off.

Liam Neeson reading How the Irish Saved Civilization. Need I say more?

Triple (Ken Follett) read by Graeme Malcolm. He's only read a few alas, but he's
brilliant with accents.

We do find when talking to patrons that we recommend readers as much as books.
George Wilson is so funny that I suggest anything he's read to people, especially for
husbands and wives trying to settle on things they'll both enjoy on vacation.

What a helpful and interesting thread!

RSJ


Roberta S. Johnson
Readers' Services Librarian
Des Plaines Public Library
[removed]@nslsilus.org
www.fictional.org
Opinions my own.

FROM: "Laura McCaffery" <[removed]@acpl.lib.in.us>
REC'D: 12/4/00, 3:41 PM

I know, but my spellcheck outfoxed me.
> Unabridged means the whole
book word for word.
>
> Martha
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Laura McCaffery [[removed]@acpl.lib.in.us]
> Sent: Saturday, December 02, 2000 11:52 AM
> To: Fiction_L
> Subject: Re: picking audiobooks
>
>
> I, too,am a fast reader and get really annoyed waiting for the next
> word. The PBS show where the gentleman read books to the auduence
> drove me wild. I wanted to finish his sentences for him or pull the
> words from his mouth. The reader would be a big part of my
> decision is listening to something if I did so. I also would not
> want the unabridged book. That would be like getting the Readers
> Digest version of the best seller. McBook?
> >
> > I am a very fast reader and if the audio reader isn't reading at a pretty
> fast clip, I can't listen to it. I have found that I am not as picky about
> the reader's voice as long as they are a fast read>
> > I guess I will read absolutely anything once and will listen only under
> certain conditions. The visual versus the auditory experience are two
> completely different things for me and it took me along t>
> > Customers have distinct and widely varying reasons for what audiobooks
> they like. The majority I talk with prefer the unabridged versions and if
> they enjoy the abridged, it is usually because of the >
> > I recently worked with a customer who had macular degeneration and swore
> she would never be able to tolerate audio books after having been a
> life-long reader and an actress. When she could no longer >
> > As you can tell, the question of the relationship between audio book
> listening and book reading is very interesting to me... fun thread and now I
> will shut up!
> >
> > Martha Garbison
> > Denver Public Library
> > [removed]@denver.lib.co.us
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ......................................................................
> > Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> > Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html
> >
>
>
> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> Laura Hibbets McCaffery
> Readers Services
> Allen County Public Library
> Fort Wayne, Indiana
> "All opinions are mine alone. Others are
> free to agree..or disagree."
> "...all things are to to be examined and called into question. There
> are no limits set to thought." Edith Hamilton, THE GREEK WAY.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html
>
> ......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html
>


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Laura Hibbets McCaffery
Readers Services
Allen County Public Library
Fort Wayne, Indiana
"All opinions are mine alone. Others are
free to agree..or disagree."
"...all things are to to be examined and called into question. There
are no limits set to thought." Edith Hamilton, THE GREEK WAY.

FROM: Joanna Hazelden <[removed]@chipublib.org>
REC'D: 12/4/00, 4:01 PM

I generally listen to audiobooks during my "putter time" at home, when I'm doing the dishes,
sorting laundry, cooking, etc. My friends think I'm nuts since I will occasionally get up
_earlier_, just to have some putter time. I take the train to work, which is too loud to
listen to books (but not too loud to read them, go figure) I'm probably the opposite of the
person who listens to each word, as I listen for plot, narrative flow, and general style. I
generally listen to the unabridged versions, and usually to materials I'm trying to get the
flavor for and wouldn't normally read. I rarely listen to the abridged version, only if it's
unavailable unabridged or the reader is someone I want to hear. I'll have to admit the reader
has become more crucial--I couldn't get through "Toyer" because they let the author read it,
versus a trained actor/talented voice person. It was terrible. Some audiobooks have
introduced me to print, like Elizabeth George, and some the other way round, as I picked them
specifically because I enjoyed the print version.

I don't have a tape player or CD Player in my car--so I generally listen to NPR.

Joanna Hazelden
Chicago Public Library

FROM: Mary Van Dyke <[removed]@CLSN3046.glenview.lib.il.us>
REC'D: 12/4/00, 4:23 PM

I'll also add my thanks to Mary K for this thread.

I started audiobooks because I was so frustrated by not being able to
read as much as I wanted(I know this condition is usual for RA librarians)
Audiobooks have helped tremendously. I listen everywhere--in the car--at
home while I am getting ready for work--baking--cleaning house(which I
hate and a good audiobk makes bearable),etc. I just finished London by
Rutherford--currently am listening to A Star Called Henry--next will
be Girl with a Pearl Earring. Perhaps I enjoy these books because one of
my fondest memories is sitting on my father's lap while he read me bedtime
stories.

I agree that (for me) unabridged is the only way to go. The reader is
crucial to the enjoyment--just compare the Recorded Bks to the Books on
Tape versions of the Patrick O'Brian Aubrey-Maturin series--Patrick
Tull's voice on Recorded Bks. makes all the difference(this is a series
I probably would not have read--but loved on tape.)

I also agree that authors can be deadly as readers: however Walter
Cronkite, Shelby Foote, and Frank McCourt are notable exceptions.

Non-fiction on audiobks can also be a wonderful experience--
Schoolchildren by Tracy Kidder has the listener journey through a
fourth grade teacher's year --with her successes and some failures.
I probably would not have read the book, but I now have a new respect
for grade school teachers.

I could go on and on--butI find the reasons for people listening books is
as varied as I'm rushed & cannot find time to read to I am taking a long
trip and want to a book to keep me awake, etc., etc. I have had great
success in turning patrons on to audiobks when all the copies of the book
they have to read for their Book Club is out, but we have it on tape.
Even a reluctant listener is usually hooked once they give audiobks
a chance.

Mary Van Dyke
Readers Advisory Librarian
Glenview (IL) Public Library

FROM: "Fairlie Kinnecom" <[removed]@slco.lib.ut.us>
REC'D: 12/4/00, 5:23 PM

I will try to ask some of our regular avid listeners what makes them choose to read the text. It's an interesting question!

For me, if I have a title assigned for a book discussion I generally read the text. I do that so I have a personal reaction to the written words. I imagine characters, am moved along by the rhythm of the words and story, get irritated by poor proofreading, whatever... (ie when my primary reaction has to be between the author and me)

A colleague just said that she likes to listen to poetry read by the author. For her it brings it alive and explains itself better. (when her primary reaction is between the author and herself?!)

I tend to continue a series in the same format I began it, so that the voice, my own or a reader's, is consistent.

If I don't like the recording company or the reader, I would go text ... or the opposite.

Like others, I get to many titles on my 'someday' list via audio.

Fairlie

FROM: "Martha Garbison" <[removed]@denver.lib.co.us>
REC'D: 12/4/00, 5:26 PM

thought of another fairly popular use...

I have several customers who are learning English (usually they seem to know the language pretty well) and they request the unabridged tape and the corresponding book so they can follow along in the book to hear the punctuation breaks, the flow of the language and the pronunciation of some combinations of letters...

and yes to the person who couldn't leave the car because she was listening to the Pullman audio... when the bear's voice came on I practically wore the tape out playing that voice over and over again...

why is it that the reading on audio does not conjure the same mental picture that the reading of the book does?? I don't know who mentioned that point, but I sure agree...

by the way...if you ever get to hear Barbara Rosenblatt in person, she is a wonderful speaker and really knows the audio business...I don't like her southern men voice, but enjoy a lot of her work

Martha Garbison, Senior Librarian
Burnham Hoyt Room
Denver Public Library

ps...who is Askey and what has he read; we have nothing in our database by him...

FROM: Jennifer Obee <[removed]@jefferson.lib.co.us>
REC'D: 12/4/00, 5:37 PM

I have to admit that I haven't read every word of this thread, but I have
tried to skim well in hopes of seeing all my points already said. And two
haven't been, so here's my extra bit on audiobooks:

1. I don't fall asleep well. Takes hours some nights. So I listen to a
book. If the volume is down low, it works very well. I just rewind the
next night to what I can remember happening, and go on. I don't lie there
and think all night, and I have something entertaining to fill the time.
These days, I go to bed a full hour or more earlier than I used to, just to
get the book time in. And, more and more I want to listen during the day
too (someone called it "puttering time". That's it exactly!) Of course,
that last tape is rough because I should have been asleep ages ago, but I
*have* to finish the book!

2. I listen to books that I'm scared to read. For example, the first book
on tape I ever got was "Phantom of the Opera." All those French names! I
could never have understood the book reading it on my own. When I can't
pronounce a word, I tend to skip over it. So I would have never gotten the
characters straightened out in my head. But, the narrator, he could
pronounce those names, and do it the same way every time, so it wasn't a
problem. Loved it. And I realize now that he wasn't even a very good
narrator.
I also listen to things that I think will not hold my attention. I
listened to the Hobbit and the whole Lord of the Rings series quite happily
(wonderful narrator). I had never been able to get more than a chapter or
two into the Hobbit in previous attempts.

And I'd like to reiterate the good narrator is very important point. I
*hated* Beloved by Toni Morrison because it was read by Morrison. She was
awful! Pausing half way through sentences and running off on descriptions,
and the whole thing didn't make much sense because of it. I have heard
other books that I spent so long trying to get used to the narrator that by
the time I did, I had no idea what the story was about. And now, I'll check
out a book that only sounds remotely interesting, simply because I know I
like the narrator.

My two pennies,
jennifer


Jennifer [removed]@jefferson.lib.co.us
Patron Services Librarian 8485 Kipling St.
Standley Lake Branch Arvada, CO 80005
Jefferson County Public Library (303)456-0806

How many reference librarians does it take to screw in a light bulb?
--Just a minute, I'll look that up for you.

-----Original Message-----
From: Madeline Guzman [[removed]@CapAccess.org]
Sent: Saturday, December 02, 1972 12:56 PM
To: Fiction_L
Subject: Re: picking audiobooks


I often get the same book on audio tape and in hardback version. I read
at home and listen to the tape on my long commutes to and from work. In
this way, I've been able to read so many more books than I ever had in
the past.

In addition, I think non-fiction books are sometimes easier to grasp when
heard rather than read. The experience is equivalent to listening to a
public radio station.

Madeline

Madeline T. Guzman
Rockville, Maryland
http://strictlyc.tripod.com/nonfiction.html

FROM: J Heuer <[removed]@itol.com>
REC'D: 12/4/00, 6:36 PM

I am the selector for audiobooks at my library but my reasons for listening
to them are varied. I also listen to both abridged and unabridged.

I drive 10 miles one way to work so that is the time I listen. I can not
imagine sitting in a chair with headphones in because I would be wanting to
do something else while I am listening and then I would be paying less
attention to the story. But listening in the car is like listening to the
radio and I definitely have something to occupy my hands.

I primarily listen to books I probably wouldn't choose to read myself but
feel I should have knowledge of them for RA or I having a passing but not
strong interest. So I listen to Amanda Quick, Nora Roberts, Nicholas Evans
and lately "Mr. Perfect" by Linda Howard. Well I've never driven off the
road but Mr. Perfect almost did it. Geez, Sam, the neighbor!... well,
enough.

I started listening to the abridged version of the Left Behind series. I
read the first three books but they started to get so repetitious I just
couldn't stand it but I wanted to find out how the story progressed. The
abridged tapes were perfect.

I have indulged in unabridged when I just wanted to keep up on some titles I
wanted to read but also had 2 others going in print. I am not a super fast
reader. So I read Golden Compass by Pullman but listened to Subtle Knife
(great on both!). And I will listen to Amber Spyglass as soon as my reserve
comes up. I have also listened to unabridged versions of "Memoirs of a
Geisha" and "Poisonwood Bible" and thought the readers excellent. I
recommended "The Poisonwood Bible" tape to a woman who kept renewing the
book because it was taking her forever to get through it.


One of my favorite readers is Peter Coyote. I do not care for Frank Muller
even though he gets all the press except for Green Mile. He did that very
well.

Out, Jeanne

--
Jeanne Heuer
Brown County Library
Green Bay, WI
[removed]@itol.com

"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes, Art is knowing which ones
to keep." -anonymous

FROM: [removed]@aol.com
REC'D: 12/5/00, 12:10 AM

I don't usually "read" audiobooks, although I have good friends who wouldn't
dream of getting into the car without at least sets of books at the ready.

BTW - when people are referring to "Pullman," would that be Bill Pullman, the
actor who played the Prez in Independence Day? If so - I'm off to start
checking out what he's reading!

Binnie Syril Braunstein
romance novelist/former librarian

FROM: [removed]@aol.com
REC'D: 12/5/00, 12:18 AM

Oh well -

This dork of a reader has just figured out that Pullman is not the erstwhile
American Prez, but the author of The Golden Compass. Pity. Now if Pullman
were to read Pullman.....


Binnie Syril Braunstein
romance novelist/former librarian, whose copy of The Golden Compass is edging
toward the top of the TBR pile.

FROM: [removed]@aol.com
REC'D: 12/5/00, 8:17 AM

From the many responses I think we can conclude that the type of audio books
appeals to a person is based on individual tastes - as it is with reading
books. I have patrons who only want abridged audios because their comute is
short others like a long-distance trucker who wants the longest possible
audios - no matter what the subject. Personally I usually listen to audis
that don't take a great deal of concentration. I try not to listen in the
car because I get caught up in the story and forget where I'm going. I love
to listen while I "putter" at housework and if even drag my boom box into the
bathroom to listen while I shower. (My family thinks this is great because
then I don't sing in the shower. I first got hooked on audios when I
listened as I did counted cross stitch or other hand work.
Our Friends group and another town's Friends group were very lucky a year or
so ago to go to New York and visit the Recorded Books studio. It was a real
eye opener. All the work that goes into producing a quality audio book -
from procuring the rights to finding the right reader and making sure the
pronunciation is correct. And yes they often consulted the author as well as
other authorities for the right way to say a word - at least at Recorded
Books they did. We were able to watch and listen to a portion of a taping and
it wasn't as easy as you would think. The reader had to repeat some sections
a number of times if the director felt the voic for the character didn't
match the way it sounded previously or a word was not clearly understood. I
have a new respect for good quality audio books.
Sorry for running on like this.
Linda Wallace

FROM: Spencer Ms Martha <[removed]@usmc-mccs.org>
REC'D: 12/5/00, 8:41 AM

I belong to a listserv re audiobooks that includes Barbara Rosenblat, Frank
Muller and Grover Gardner as well as many listeners and producers, etc.
We've been on this pronunciation thread recently and Barbara said that if
they discover midstream that a word has been mispronounced, they go back and
correct it all the way from the beginning. Have you ever had the experience
of a correction midway through?

Martha S.

-----Original Message-----
From: [removed]@aol.com [[removed]@aol.com]
Sent: Tuesday, December 05, 2000 5:49 AM
To: Fiction_L
Subject: picking audio books


From the many responses I think we can conclude that the type of audio books

appeals to a person is based on individual tastes - as it is with reading
books. I have patrons who only want abridged audios because their comute is

short others like a long-distance trucker who wants the longest possible
audios - no matter what the subject. Personally I usually listen to audis
that don't take a great deal of concentration. I try not to listen in the
car because I get caught up in the story and forget where I'm going. I love

to listen while I "putter" at housework and if even drag my boom box into
the
bathroom to listen while I shower. (My family thinks this is great because
then I don't sing in the shower. I first got hooked on audios when I
listened as I did counted cross stitch or other hand work.
Our Friends group and another town's Friends group were very lucky a year or

so ago to go to New York and visit the Recorded Books studio. It was a real

eye opener. All the work that goes into producing a quality audio book -
from procuring the rights to finding the right reader and making sure the
pronunciation is correct. And yes they often consulted the author as well as

other authorities for the right way to say a word - at least at Recorded
Books they did. We were able to watch and listen to a portion of a taping
and
it wasn't as easy as you would think. The reader had to repeat some
sections
a number of times if the director felt the voic for the character didn't
match the way it sounded previously or a word was not clearly understood. I
have a new respect for good quality audio books.
Sorry for running on like this.
Linda Wallace

FROM: "Karen A.K. Keller" <[removed]@tln.lib.mi.us>
REC'D: 12/5/00, 8:53 AM

I have to lend my voice (no pun intended) to the positives of listening to
books. I'm an avid reader but got hooked on audio when I listened to
"Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" and I don't think I could ever
have created the voice of the transvestite saying "I am ser-i-ous!" in
my own head.

Also, I think some books are genuinely enhanced by the voices such as "The
Devil's Dream" by Lee Smith. This is the story of a country music singing
family. There are about a half dozen readers and they add much richness
to the story with their voices and singing. This one is, I think, one of
the *best* book to audio adaptations. For those of you who are listeners
and if you haven't heard this one I highly recommend it. I am referring
to the Recorded Books (unabridged) version; I don't know if there are
others out there.

Karen Keller
Brighton (MI) District Library

FROM: Lisa Price <[removed]@MtLaurel.Lib.NJ.US>
REC'D: 12/5/00, 9:27 AM

Just have to chime in here: we have a patron who _adores_ George Guidall's
reading. I think she'd listen to the phone book if he read it! Personally, I
don't listen to audiobooks often because I use my getting dressed and commute
times to catch up on the news (I listen to NPR, mostly) since I don't have time
to sit and read the paper. I have always thought it would be nice to listen on
long car rides, and my family has listened to a couple of kids' books while
traveling. My biggest difficulty has been finding something interesting to the
adults but without language and/or situations which I'd consider inappropriate
for my kids (now 8 and 5).
Lisa Price
Mount Laurel (NJ) Library
Opinions are my own.

Spencer Ms Martha wrote:

> Are you listening to commercially recorded books or those recorded by
> volunteers? You might have a different opinion if you ever heard George
> Guidall, Frank Muller or Barbara Rosenblat. Those are three whose work is
> wonderful. I read a great deal and listen a great deal. You get a different
> perspective from hearing a word read from reading it with your eyes.
>
> Martha S.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Becky H [[removed]@blarneymail.com]
> Sent: Monday, December 04, 2000 9:45 AM
> To: Fiction_L
> Subject: audio books
>
> As one working in a largely audio collection, I have found this discussion
> familiar & interesting. I work in Texas' Talking Books Program, which
> provides materials for folks who can't use standard print. Most of our
> patrons are visually impaired, with the rest being either physically
> handicapped or learning disabled. The patrons I talk to have usually have
> strong preferences for either male or female voices (over half of the people
> I talk to are elderly, and have some hearing impairment as well), and Bob
> Askey is the most popular narrator. All of our books are unabridged - it's
> the reason we exist. Our special players have speed adjustments, and we
> know of a web site where a "book marker" can be purchased. As far as things
> like sex & violence being more disturbing when heard rather than read, we
> have a way in our setup to at least raise a flag that a book contains them
> if the patron requests it.
>
> When I started here, they gave me one of our tape players to use, and
> encouraged me to check out a few books, so I would be familiar with their
> workings & potential problems. I must say that listening to books doesn't
> work for me & I would be in big trouble if I ever needed to use them. I
> usually read while doing something else, and kept trying to read while I was
> listening, or lost track of the story. I suppose it's what you're used to
> -- our patrons who have lost their sight after being able to read most of
> their lives seem to enjoy the program just fine.
>
> Just wanted to add my 2 cents' worth. Someone said they had worked with a
> patron with macular degeneration -- just wanted to say that this program is
> in every state, so your patron could contact the Talking Books program,
> which is frequently associated with the State Library.
>
> Becky H.
> (all opinions/information/mistakes, etc. are my own & do not represent my
> employer)
>
> _______________________________________________________
> Sent by Blarneymail
> To get your own Blarneymail account, visit www.virtualireland.com
>
> ......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html
>
> ......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html

FROM: Spencer Ms Martha <[removed]@usmc-mccs.org>
REC'D: 12/5/00, 9:39 AM

The Mrs. Pollifax novels by Dorothy Gilman, produced by Recorded Books, Inc.
are a very popular choice in our library for this particular need.

Martha S.

-----Original Message-----
From: Lisa Price [[removed]@MtLaurel.Lib.NJ.US]
Sent: Tuesday, December 05, 2000 7:30 AM
To: Fiction_L
Subject: Re: audio books


Just have to chime in here: we have a patron who _adores_ George Guidall's
reading. I think she'd listen to the phone book if he read it! Personally,
I
don't listen to audiobooks often because I use my getting dressed and
commute
times to catch up on the news (I listen to NPR, mostly) since I don't have
time
to sit and read the paper. I have always thought it would be nice to listen
on
long car rides, and my family has listened to a couple of kids' books while
traveling. My biggest difficulty has been finding something interesting to
the
adults but without language and/or situations which I'd consider
inappropriate
for my kids (now 8 and 5).
Lisa Price
Mount Laurel (NJ) Library
Opinions are my own.

Spencer Ms Martha wrote:

> Are you listening to commercially recorded books or those recorded by
> volunteers? You might have a different opinion if you ever heard George
> Guidall, Frank Muller or Barbara Rosenblat. Those are three whose work is
> wonderful. I read a great deal and listen a great deal. You get a
different
> perspective from hearing a word read from reading it with your eyes.
>
> Martha S.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Becky H [[removed]@blarneymail.com]
> Sent: Monday, December 04, 2000 9:45 AM
> To: Fiction_L
> Subject: audio books
>
> As one working in a largely audio collection, I have found this discussion
> familiar & interesting. I work in Texas' Talking Books Program, which
> provides materials for folks who can't use standard print. Most of our
> patrons are visually impaired, with the rest being either physically
> handicapped or learning disabled. The patrons I talk to have usually have
> strong preferences for either male or female voices (over half of the
people
> I talk to are elderly, and have some hearing impairment as well), and Bob
> Askey is the most popular narrator. All of our books are unabridged -
it's
> the reason we exist. Our special players have speed adjustments, and we
> know of a web site where a "book marker" can be purchased. As far as
things
> like sex & violence being more disturbing when heard rather than read, we
> have a way in our setup to at least raise a flag that a book contains them
> if the patron requests it.
>
> When I started here, they gave me one of our tape players to use, and
> encouraged me to check out a few books, so I would be familiar with their
> workings & potential problems. I must say that listening to books doesn't
> work for me & I would be in big trouble if I ever needed to use them. I
> usually read while doing something else, and kept trying to read while I
was
> listening, or lost track of the story. I suppose it's what you're used to
> -- our patrons who have lost their sight after being able to read most of
> their lives seem to enjoy the program just fine.
>
> Just wanted to add my 2 cents' worth. Someone said they had worked with
a
> patron with macular degeneration -- just wanted to say that this program
is
> in every state, so your patron could contact the Talking Books program,
> which is frequently associated with the State Library.
>
> Becky H.
> (all opinions/information/mistakes, etc. are my own & do not represent my
> employer)
>
> _______________________________________________________
> Sent by Blarneymail
> To get your own Blarneymail account, visit www.virtualireland.com
>
> ......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html
>
> ......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html

FROM: "Becky H" <[removed]@blarneymail.com>
REC'D: 12/5/00, 12:21 PM

Martha, you asked who Bob Askey is - he narrates quite a number of books in the Talking Books collection. I don't know if his work is commercially available -- all of his work that we have is from the National Library Service -- but apparently he "voices" books extraordinarily well. The 2 I listened to were both professionally done -- it wasn't the narration or the story, I just couldn't sit still long enough to enjoy them. I ride my bike the 22 blocks to work, so listening to books while commuting isn't a option for me.

Someone else said they kept wanting to turn on some music when they listened to audio books -- I kept wanting to pick up another book when I was listening. I read print books while I do pretty much everything else - watch TV, eat, on the treadmill or stationary bike at the gym... If I ever have to make the adjustment to being a patron of Talking Books rather than a Reader Consultant, I'll probably start crocheting again - since I'm used to reading while doing something else. Currently, I'm re-reading Dune while watching the SciFi Channel's mini series.

This brings me to a question - do folks on this list read one book at a time, or more than one? I usually read at least 3 at a time (1 each at home, work & in my purse), and have had people comment that they'd lose track if they read more than one book at a time. It may be that the different genres keep them separated (I'm reading 1 science fiction and 2 theology right now, & that is the usual mix) but I wondered if other "book people" did the same as I do.

I'll add my gratitude for this line of discussion. It is giving me insight into aspects of listening to books I wouldn't have thought of, and so really helping me serve my patrons better!

Becky


"The more I read, the more questions I have. Every time I pass a library I get an anxiety attack."
(SeaQuest DSV episode. Props to Linda Absher, author of The Lipstick Librarian)


_______________________________________________________
Sent by Blarneymail
To get your own Blarneymail account, visit www.virtualireland.com

FROM: "Lisa Colcord" <[removed]@ci.glendale.az.us>
REC'D: 12/5/00, 1:11 PM

I just have to chime in here, also. I LOVE listening to books on audio. I have about a half hour drive to and from work and it is a great way to TRY to keep up with my reading. I am, sadly, not a very fast reader and there are SO many books that I WEANT to read, but don't have the time. Listening to books on tape really does help.

I really prefer unabridged, but will listen to abridged versions of books that I probably wouldn't read anyway, just want to become familiar with for RA's sake.

The reader makes all the difference, definitely! I listened to an abridged version of the Sparrow (I had already read it twice but wanted to review for a book discussion). The only thing available was the abridged version. I HATED it. Partly because of the format, but mostly because of the reader. I ended up reading the book a third time (one of my all time faves!)

I have listened to a couple read by George Guidall (Widow for One Year and, currently, Snow Falling on Cedars) and he is WONDERFUL! Of course, the books are great, too, so that helps, but boy, what a reader!

I also like, and I haven't seen her name mentioned yet, C.J. Critt. She does the Evanovich books, some Kinsey Millhone books, and I have also listened to some YA books read by her. She is also great.

Lisa

Lisa Colcord
Librarian
Glendale Public library
Glendale, AZ

....my views are my own....

-The secret to life is enjoying the passage of time- James Taylor

>>> [removed]@MtLaurel.Lib.NJ.US 12/05/00 08:44AM >>>
Just have to chime in here: we have a patron who _adores_ George Guidall's
reading. I think she'd listen to the phone book if he read it! Personally, I
don't listen to audiobooks often because I use my getting dressed and commute
times to catch up on the news (I listen to NPR, mostly) since I don't have time
to sit and read the paper. I have always thought it would be nice to listen on
long car rides, and my family has listened to a couple of kids' books while
traveling. My biggest difficulty has been finding something interesting to the
adults but without language and/or situations which I'd consider inappropriate
for my kids (now 8 and 5).
Lisa Price
Mount Laurel (NJ) Library
Opinions are my own.

FROM: "Fairlie Kinnecom" <[removed]@slco.lib.ut.us>
REC'D: 12/5/00, 5:10 PM

One last post. Am I wrong Mary K? I thought your question was NOT why do folks listen to audiobooks and should they. I thought you were assuming that people who listen to books will also read them with their eyes. So, if, for instance, we have a selection of titles in both audio and text in front of us, what would make us pick one title to read as tape but another as text? (To me, a much more interesting question!) Fairlie

FROM: Spencer Ms Martha <[removed]@usmc-mccs.org>
REC'D: 12/5/00, 5:24 PM

Yes, I am usually reading two or three books in print and listening to
another. At the moment, I'm reading Continental Drift for my book discussion
group and Adrian Mole Diaries for fun.

Wow, anyone who rides 22 blocks to work has my admiration.

Martha S.

-----Original Message-----
From: Becky H [[removed]@blarneymail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, December 05, 2000 8:47 AM
To: Fiction_L
Subject: Audio Books


Martha, you asked who Bob Askey is - he narrates quite a number of books in
the Talking Books collection. I don't know if his work is commercially
available -- all of his work that we have is from the National Library
Service -- but apparently he "voices" books extraordinarily well. The 2 I
listened to were both professionally done -- it wasn't the narration or the
story, I just couldn't sit still long enough to enjoy them. I ride my bike
the 22 blocks to work, so listening to books while commuting isn't a option
for me.

Someone else said they kept wanting to turn on some music when they listened
to audio books -- I kept wanting to pick up another book when I was
listening. I read print books while I do pretty much everything else -
watch TV, eat, on the treadmill or stationary bike at the gym... If I ever
have to make the adjustment to being a patron of Talking Books rather than a
Reader Consultant, I'll probably start crocheting again - since I'm used to
reading while doing something else. Currently, I'm re-reading Dune while
watching the SciFi Channel's mini series.

This brings me to a question - do folks on this list read one book at a
time, or more than one? I usually read at least 3 at a time (1 each at
home, work & in my purse), and have had people comment that they'd lose
track if they read more than one book at a time. It may be that the
different genres keep them separated (I'm reading 1 science fiction and 2
theology right now, & that is the usual mix) but I wondered if other "book
people" did the same as I do.

I'll add my gratitude for this line of discussion. It is giving me insight
into aspects of listening to books I wouldn't have thought of, and so really
helping me serve my patrons better!

Becky


"The more I read, the more questions I have. Every time I pass a library I
get an anxiety attack."
(SeaQuest DSV episode. Props to Linda Absher, author of The Lipstick
Librarian)


_______________________________________________________
Sent by Blarneymail
To get your own Blarneymail account, visit www.virtualireland.com

FROM: Ann Wilson <[removed]@gcfn.org>
REC'D: 12/5/00, 5:46 PM

A family trip with two teenagers (one a reader and one not) and the
unabridged Pillars of the Earth, turned the non reader into an audio book
fan. he's now 27 and buys and trades his audio books...he still isn't a
library user. I guess we can't win all our battles...

FROM: Tracey Callison <[removed]@addison.lib.il.us>
REC'D: 12/5/00, 6:26 PM

It occurs to me now, three or four digests later - is anyone compiling a
list of these wonderful suggestions about which readers/writers/combination
make the best listening? Could make a neat display...

Tracey Callison
Addison PL

FROM: Connie Jo Ozinga <[removed]@elkhart.lib.in.us>
REC'D: 12/6/00, 3:10 PM

No you're not Dennis, I have never listened to one either. For me it is
NPR or silence. I have driven the round trip between Indiana and
Minnesota a dozen or more times in the last four years, and I have
proven that you can listen to All Things Considered three consecutive
times as you pass from state to state.

I've heard Barbara Rosenblatt read in person twice though and she was
wonderful.

Connie O

Dennis Lien wrote:
>
> Can't help; I may be the only person in the country who's never listened to
> an audiobook, and finds the concept a bit -- disquieting. When I drive etc.
> if I listen to anything other than music, it's tapes of old-time radio
> shows (only another 150 or so hours' worth before it will be time to
> find more...).
>
> Having someone else do my reading for me strikes me as like having someone
> else eat my pizza for me, and then tell me about it. Not the same...
>
> Dennis Lien / U of Minnesota Libraries // [removed]@tc.umn.edu
>
> ......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html

--
*********************************************
Connie Jo Ozinga, Library Director
Elkhart Public Library
Elkhart, Indiana
(219) 522-3333
[removed]@elkhart.lib.in.us
http://www.elkhart.lib.in.us
*********************************************

FROM: [removed]@carmel.lib.in.us (Mary Boyden)
REC'D: 12/7/00, 4:58 PM

What a good question! I listen to several books each month and the main selection criteria I use is that it is unabridged and on my "to read" list. I also try to select books where I know that there will be foreign names or phrases which I will find difficult to pronounce or where the characters speak english as a second language. Often the narrator adds to the book by using different voices for the charactes and getting the accents right. One good example is Amy Tan's reading of One Hundred Secret Senses.

Mary Boyden
Carmel Clay Public Library
>
>From: Mary K Chelton <[removed]@pop.mail.rcn.net>
>Date: Fri, 1 Dec 2000 19:26:03 -0800
>To: Fiction_L <[removed]@maillist.webrary.org>
>Subject: picking audiobooks
>
>I was talking with a friend today who mentioned that she was
>listening to a book that she was enjoying but probably would never
>have read in another format. Since I often do the same with books I
>listen to rather than read, I wondered if any of you can articulate
>the differences, if any, between what you choose to read as text and
>what you choose to listen to. I think there's something going on
>here that we should attend to, but I can't figure it out yet.
>
>Mary K.
>--
>**************************************************************************************
>Home: 35 Mercury Ave., East Patchogue, NY 11772-4609. Phone: (631)
>286-4255 or 776-2166
>Work: Graduate School of Library and Information Studies, Queens
>College, 254 Rosenthal Library, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing, NY
>11367. Phone: (718) 997-3790 general office; 3667 direct voice; 3797
>fax, e-mail [removed]@pop.mail.rcn.net
>**************************************************************************************
>
>
>......................................................................
>Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
>Everything Fiction_L: <a href="http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html">http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html</a>
>

FROM: "Barbara Scanio" <[removed]@gwmail.plano.gov>
REC'D: 12/11/00, 10:44 AM

I listen to books whose authors have a distinctive voice and read the books themselves. Examples: Garrison Keillor, Tom Bodett, Bailey White, Daniel Pinkwater, the Hank the Cowdog series.

>>> [removed]@pop.mail.rcn.net 12/01/00 09:26PM >>>
I was talking with a friend today who mentioned that she was
listening to a book that she was enjoying but probably would never
have read in another format. Since I often do the same with books I
listen to rather than read, I wondered if any of you can articulate
the differences, if any, between what you choose to read as text and
what you choose to listen to. I think there's something going on
here that we should attend to, but I can't figure it out yet.

Mary K.
--
**************************************************************************************
Home: 35 Mercury Ave., East Patchogue, NY 11772-4609. Phone: (631)
286-4255 or 776-2166
Work: Graduate School of Library and Information Studies, Queens
College, 254 Rosenthal Library, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing, NY
11367. Phone: (718) 997-3790 general office; 3667 direct voice; 3797
fax, e-mail [removed]@pop.mail.rcn.net
**************************************************************************************

FROM: Mary K Chelton <[removed]@pop.mail.rcn.net>
REC'D: 12/12/00, 9:39 AM

You are right. That's exactly what I'm interested in, and what I
suspect RAs should also be interested in. The only Dick Francis title
I ever read in a print book was one where the audiobook tape at the
end needed replacing. I freely admit to being in love with his
readers, Tony Britton and Simon Preeble, but I'm still trying to
figure out why I'm doing this.

Mary K.

>One last post. Am I wrong Mary K? I thought your question was NOT
>why do folks listen to audiobooks and should they. I thought you
>were assuming that people who listen to books will also read them
>with their eyes. So, if, for instance, we have a selection of
>titles in both audio and text in front of us, what would make us
>pick one title to read as tape but another as text? (To me, a much
>more interesting question!) Fairlie
>
>
>......................................................................
>Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
>Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html

--
**************************************************************************************
Home: 35 Mercury Ave., East Patchogue, NY 11772-4609. Phone: (631)
286-4255 or 776-2166
Work: Graduate School of Library and Information Studies, Queens
College, 254 Rosenthal Library, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing, NY
11367. Phone: (718) 997-3790 general office; 3667 direct voice; 3797
fax, e-mail [removed]@pop.mail.rcn.net
**************************************************************************************

FROM: "Sherri Fink" <[removed]@bellsouth.net>
REC'D: 12/19/00, 10:36 PM

Sorry, for not reading my mail sooner, but want to comment on this...

I am one of the visually impaired who read by using audio tape. I am in the
talking book program, have been since the age of 7. I am now 38. I don't
know what I would ever have done without this. I probably would never have
been a reader. I also read books in large print, often having 2 going at
the same time(one on cassette and one large print). One thing about audio
is that you can do other things such as cleaning the house and still be able
to 'read'. I have the tape recorder that comes with the books (different
format then normal) and will now be getting (for Christmas) the walkman
type - so now I can listen to books on the way to work in the morning.

Thank to the State Libraries out there and the librarians who get us these
books(mailing).

Sherri
----- Original Message -----
From: Becky H <[removed]@blarneymail.com>
To: Fiction_L <[removed]@maillist.webrary.org>
Sent: Monday, December 04, 2000 12:44 PM
Subject: audio books


> As one working in a largely audio collection, I have found this discussion
familiar & interesting. I work in Texas' Talking Books Program, which
provides materials for folks who can't use standard print. Most of our
patrons are visually impaired, with the rest being either physically
handicapped or learning disabled. The patrons I talk to have usually have
strong preferences for either male or female voices (over half of the people
I talk to are elderly, and have some hearing impairment as well), and Bob
Askey is the most popular narrator. All of our books are unabridged - it's
the reason we exist. Our special players have speed adjustments, and we
know of a web site where a "book marker" can be purchased. As far as things
like sex & violence being more disturbing when heard rather than read, we
have a way in our setup to at least raise a flag that a book contains them
if the patron requests it.
>
> When I started here, they gave me one of our tape players to use, and
encouraged me to check out a few books, so I would be familiar with their
workings & potential problems. I must say that listening to books doesn't
work for me & I would be in big trouble if I ever needed to use them. I
usually read while doing something else, and kept trying to read while I was
listening, or lost track of the story. I suppose it's what you're used
to -- our patrons who have lost their sight after being able to read most of
their lives seem to enjoy the program just fine.
>
> Just wanted to add my 2 cents' worth. Someone said they had worked with
a patron with macular degeneration -- just wanted to say that this program
is in every state, so your patron could contact the Talking Books program,
which is frequently associated with the State Library.
>
> Becky H.
> (all opinions/information/mistakes, etc. are my own & do not represent my
employer)
>
>
> _______________________________________________________
> Sent by Blarneymail
> To get your own Blarneymail account, visit www.virtualireland.com
>
> ......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
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>

FROM: Mary K Chelton <[removed]@pop.mail.rcn.net>
REC'D: 12/31/00, 12:01 PM

Thanks, Kim.

Mary K.

>Mary K:
>This is also a phenomenon I have noticed, but I break it down into two
>categories--
> 1) Books I have plenty of time to finish (since I read much faster
>silently to myself than any audiobook narrator, who is essentially acting
>out the book with pauses for emphasis, etc) and which sound like a good
>"listen". I look for a story. Not non-fiction, because I feel like I'm
>being preached to when I listen to nonfiction audiobooks. Generally, I have
>to find new authors that I haven't already read to myself before, because
>even good narrators don't match my mind's portrayal of "alpha male" or
>"feisty female", so my favorite romance authors (as an example) just don't
>translate to audiobook for me. However,
> 2)Authors I have first started in audiobook--John Sandford's "Prey"
>series and Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum novels--I now must always listen
>to, not read. My mind cannot possibly duplicate the nuances of Richard
>Ferrone as he depicts psychotic serial killers and the moodiness of Lucas
>Davenport; or of C. J. Critt in her brilliant, ROFL voices for Stephanie,
>Lula, Grandma Mazzur, and Co. And that's why the two formats seem so
>distinct to me. Not a particularly coherent theory, but my own. Thanks for
>validating it.
>
>Kim Rutter
>Lake Villa Library
>Lake Villa, IL
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Mary K Chelton [[removed]@pop.mail.rcn.net]
>> Sent: Friday, December 01, 2000 9:26 PM
>> To: Fiction_L
>> Subject: picking audiobooks
>>
>> I was talking with a friend today who mentioned that she was
>> listening to a book that she was enjoying but probably would never
>> have read in another format. Since I often do the same with books I
>> listen to rather than read, I wondered if any of you can articulate
>> the differences, if any, between what you choose to read as text and
>> what you choose to listen to. I think there's something going on
>> here that we should attend to, but I can't figure it out yet.
>>
>> Mary K.
>> --
>> **************************************************************************
>> ************
>> Home: 35 Mercury Ave., East Patchogue, NY 11772-4609. Phone: (631)
>> 286-4255 or 776-2166
>> Work: Graduate School of Library and Information Studies, Queens
>> College, 254 Rosenthal Library, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing, NY
>> 11367. Phone: (718) 997-3790 general office; 3667 direct voice; 3797
>> fax, e-mail [removed]@pop.mail.rcn.net
>> **************************************************************************
>> ************
>>
>>
>> ......................................................................
>> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
>> Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html
>
>......................................................................
>Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
>Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html

--
**************************************************************************************
Home: 35 Mercury Ave., East Patchogue, NY 11772-4609. Phone: (631)
286-4255 or 776-2166
Work: Graduate School of Library and Information Studies, Queens
College, 254 Rosenthal Library, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing, NY
11367. Phone: (718) 997-3790 general office; 3667 direct voice; 3797
fax, e-mail [removed]@pop.mail.rcn.net
**************************************************************************************

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