Monday, June 3, 2013

What the Feck (WTF): June is Audiobook Month



What the Feck?! (WTF?!) 
Every Monday we will post a book related topic 
that had us thinking WTF?! while reading a book 
or talking to others in the book community.


JUNE IS AUDIOBOOK MONTH

This week's WTF post is brought to you in part by Audible.com.



You guys know by now that I have a love for audiobooks.  I try to turn other readers and bloggers on to them. I've been successful in getting a few bloggers and a real life friend to give them a try. And now that they are hooked. I feel like an audio "dealer". Just one listen and you'll be coming back for more. LOL That's why I decided to host an audiobook challenge this year. Which I totally completed my chosen level within the 1st quarter. Just look at the update post.




I don't know if you guys have noticed but there's usually at least one audio review a week here by me. Honestly if it was for me listening to audios in the car and at work I would only get 1 book read every other week. I've been spending more and more time online at night chatting on Twitter or catching up on my new favorite TV show, Supernatural that my reading time has slowed down.

And truthfully, I've been enjoying listening to books more than reading them lately. But it's all about the narrators. A great narrator can really add to an already great book. See a few examples in one of my earlier WTF posts.


Where do you get your audiobooks from?

I've been asked this question by many people on Goodreads, Shelfari and Twitter. The answer is my local library and Audible.com.

I try to use my library system as much as I can to save money but their selection is limited; although it's getting better all the time. But when I purchase my audiobooks I do it 98% of the time through Audible.com.

Audible.com has been my provider of choice for audiobooks since becoming a member in 2010. They have the biggest audio library to choose from (at the moment). And if you listen to audios you know that sometimes a narrator just doesn't work for you and now with their exchange/return policy you can't loose. I've exchanged two audios after not liking the narration with no questions asked.


Why do you like audiobooks?

Another question I get asked by non-listeners. Again if the narrator is great it's like having someone "act out" the book for your listening enjoyment. Authors can bring characters and worlds to life on the page but with an awesome narrator it's like having a book in 3D. It makes the experience richer.


How do you listen to your audiobooks?

I downloaded the free Audible.com app for iPhone. It's really easy to use.


  



What audiobooks do you recommend?

I get this question from readers wanting to pop their audiobook cherry. Well here is my audiobook auto buy list.

Downside Ghosts Series by Stacia Kane, Narrated by Bahni Turpin
Kate Daniels Series by Ilonda Andrews, Narrated by Renée Raudman
Dreg City Series by Kelly Meding, Narrated by Xe Sands
Elemental Assassin by Jennifer Estep, Narrated by Lauren Fortgang
Jane Yellowrock by Faith Hunter, Narrated by Khristine Hvam Kies
Immortals After Dark by Kresley Cole, Narrated by Robert Petkoff
Anything by Molly Harper and Narrated by Amanda Ronconi
Charley Davidson Series by Dyrand Jones, Narrated by Lorelei King


Disclaimer Time.

I was contacted by Audible.com. They wanted to know if I would share my customer comments about their audio services. I said sure. The timing was perfect since I had this WFT topic already on my calendar.


Audible.com gifted me with 2 audio credits for being a customer and for agreeing to givie my feedback to my readers. But I feel a little icky keeping the credits for myself. So that means.....GIVEAWAY TIME. Two lucky readers will get 1 audio of their choice.



This giveaway is sponsored by Audible.com


a Rafflecopter giveaway





What audiobooks will you be listening to this month?



38 comments:

  1. Faith Hunters Jane Yellowrock series if my favorite of all times!

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  2. Yay! Thank you for the chance, one can never have enough credits :)
    Awesome recommendations!

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  3. Totally unfair question. I mean really my favorite? Like top 10 right?

    I am going to list my favorite narrators:
    Karen White
    Luke Daniels
    Phil Gigante
    Lauren Fortange
    Amanda Ronconi
    Khristine Hvam
    Angela Dawe

    These are just a few :)

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    Replies
    1. It took me a little bit to like Phil Gigante's JZB narration. It felt a little over the top at first but I love it now.

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    2. That is probably my least favorite narration by him. He does some awesome mystery/thrillers. His voice is just perfect for the grittiness of them.

      (I like him doing the highlanders more that JZB)

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    3. I've been tempted to try the highlanders out on audio but I'm worried about his female voice. LOL

      Plus I have them in paperback so I'm trying to save $ and credits.

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  4. I can't just name one book in this series, they are all fabulous, but I ADORE the Guild Hunter series by Nalini Singh and narrated by Justine Eyre. These books are the ones that convinced me to give audiobooks a second chance.


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    Replies
    1. Good to know. I picked up the series during one of audible's sales a month or so back. Once I finish a couple of series I already have going I'm going to start this one.

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  5. Oh my gosh, I absolutely LOVED listening to the Harry Potter series on audio. I also very much enjoyed listening to the Wheel of Time series on audio! Great books. :D

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  6. My favorite is likely Lauren Fortgang and Khristine Hvam.

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  7. I haven't read a series on audio yet...

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    Replies
    1. Check with your local library. That's a good place to start to see if you enjoy audios.

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  8. Love audios so much! I get most from Audible because I love their iphone app, but I do get some from my local library as well.

    Thanks for the heads up on Audiobook Month, definitely will go and post about it on my blog.

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  9. My fav is still the Elemental Assassin series but I've listened to almost all of the ones you've listed above and it's a close race for sure. I wish I could squeeze more of them in but unfortunately I read faster than I listen so it's just not gonna happen.

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    Replies
    1. YES EA series is in my top 3 favorites. I think once your try Downside Ghosts, you'll love it too.

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  10. I love the Twilight series. I love audio books. They are awesome. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com

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  11. I love to listen to the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich and the In Death series by JD Robb. Thanks for hosting this giveaway!

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  12. I have just started on audiobooks with my library so I really don't don' a favorite yet.

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  13. Ack, I can't decide, so here are a couple that had such great story/narrator combinations that I'd love to listen again:

    Beauty Queens by Libba Bray is narrated by the author.

    I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella is narrated by Jayne Entwhistle.

    Thanks for hosting the giveaway! An audio book addict can never have too many credits. :)

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    Replies
    1. I know what you mean about being an addict. It's hard letting these two go. ;p

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  14. I've never really listened to an audiobook before, except for one by Neil Gaiman, which was free, so I was all like, why not? And it was a short story: "Shoggoth's Old Peculiar."

    I really liked a lot of things. Neil Gaiman's accent (accents!). And at the beginning, with a few phrases that normally wouldn't be funny if I read it, but with the way he said it, I was really close to laughing.

    I'm going to take advantage of this giveaway and see if I can find some nice YA book that has some funny parts in it.

    Thanks a lot for hosting this giveaway!

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    Replies
    1. It's really about finding great narrators. At least for me.

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  15. I really enjoyed Daughter of Smoke and Bone on audio.

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  16. How funny. i was chatting on twitter about audio books and looking to try one. I've only tried one, a few years ago and was so bored. But it was Pride & Prejudice and the narrator made me almost fall asleep. I;d love to try another one of a book I'm interested in.

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  17. I've just started listening to audio books so I don't have a favorite yet. Gonna try some that are listed here. Thanks!

    kidsue99@yahoo.com

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  18. Truth be told, I've never tried an audio book. I meant to but never had the chance to. Firstly I don't have an Iphone and secondly the samples I've heard were pretty lame narrators. I hope to rectify that error soon.

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    Replies
    1. You don't have to listen on an iPhone. Any MP3 players will work. And you still have the option of buying them on CD.

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  19. I've only listened to 5 or 6 audio books, so I don't have a lot to pick from, but I really liked Poison Princess and Splintered.

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  20. I am a newbie to audiobooks but I like the idea of them. I think they could make my gym time more enjoyable.

    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  21. I don't think I've listened to enough audios yet to have a favorite so of course I need to win so I can decide a favorite!!! :)

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  22. Kate Daniels and anything read by Khristine Hvam.

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  23. I love the Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jone. It's my favorite audio series.

    The Highlander series by Karen Marie Moning is also good. I'm not a huge fan of the stories, but the narration is wonderful. Great old world Scottish accents.

    I'm all about the narration. I'm more likely to listen to an okay book with great narration than a great book with okay to poor narration.

    Other great series:
    Kate Daniels by Ilona Andrews
    One the Edge by Ilona Andrews
    Night Huntress by Jeaniene Frost
    Downside Series by Stacia Kane
    Mercy Thompson by Patricia Briggs

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