This year marks the – well, only the 8th year, I guess, of my Serious Audiobook Adventure. Not that long in the scheme of the universe, but in technology years, that is centuries. The first audiobook I ever listened to was decades ago, a particularly good edition of Peter Pan recommended by a friend. A few minutes in, I was snoozing away, which set the tone for my next several years of avoiding audiobooks like the plague.
A post on Diana Gabaldon’s online forum, in the first flush of my puppy love for all thing Jamie-and-Claire, made me rethink my position, and I took advantage of the free audiobook offer from Audible to invest the time in Outlander, narrated by Davina Porter. My love quadrangle grew to include Porter – suddenly, entire scenes I had glossed over, emotions I hadn’t sufficiently infused with meaning, all this went from the rush of reading to the much slower pace of imagination. Instead of interpreting black and white blobs on a page, I had Davina Porter next to me, talking to me, acting out the sound and the fury of Outlander. It was beyond addictive.
In the AudioGals’ Our Valentine to Romance Audiobooks, where all the reviewers talked about the books that started each of our Audiobook Adventures, you’ll see Outlander listed as pivotal in almost all of them. When two phenomenal storytellers merge their talents – one for writing, one for performing – an incredible experience is born.
In the technical-century between the early 2000s and today, readers have seen a transformation from books literally on a box full of cassette tapes to books on multiple CDs to downloaded files that take only minutes to install on your favorite tiny player. The iPod and other MP3 players have radically changed the audiobook experience. But having good technology doesn’t guarantee that magical Porter/Gabaldon experience.
This month we have been adding back into our review inventory all those “long ago” and recent favorites, the hard-to-find, the never to be repeated partnerships, the audiobooks we return to again and again to experience the love, the hardships, the whacky I-Love-Lucy moments, the heartbreaks, the joys and the ever-elusive Happily Ever Afters. We are hoping to induct more and more audio fans into the worlds of Susan Elizabeth Phillips as read by the incomparable Anna Fields, Suzanne Brockmann as read by Patrick Lawlor/Melanie Ewbank/Renee Raudmann, Sandra Brown as read by Victor Slezak, Pamela Clare as read by Kaleo Griffith, Laura Kinsale as read by Nicholas Boulton, Julie James as read by Karen White – well, I could go on and on, but the Oscars orchestra is starting to overpower my voice! There are so many, many romance audiobooks available now; we are trying to help you experience the best!
We hope you will continue to enjoy our tribute to the audiobooks we love – and in the words of The Beverly Hillbillies, you’re all invited back again and again to this locality – take your shoes off and set a spell. Y’all come back now, y’hear?
Melinda
Dear Melinda and Gals,
These past weeks have been hectic for me but I never failed to visit your site daily and read your reviews. i’ve discovered the magic of audiobooks just a few months ago. Like you Melinda, my first incredible listen was Outlander . And I was hooked. Through your site I discovered wonderful books and narrators and I am deeply grateful to all of you for steering me true across the ocean of available titles.
The titles featured in the Audiogals Guide to Romance and the favourites’ list are already among my downloads or in my wish list. Audiobooks have changed my daily life for the best, filling hours with amazing stories and narrators. The voices of Nicholas Boulton, Kate Reading, Anna Fields, Kaleo Griffith and others are now my companions, transforming uneventful hours into something to look forward to.
Thank you so much for being here! Love,
Beatrice
Thanks you Bea! It’s what we love to hear.
Wow! Thanks for the very kind words! It is truly a labor of love here, and it’s terrific to know we have such a positive impact in spreading that love.
Thanks for the post! I have Oulander on audio too, but haven’t had the chance to listen to it yet, though I’ve read the book 3 or 4 times (I know it will be a real time investment :-). Recently I’ve listened to Something About you by Julie James narrated by Karen White, and I love her voice! At the recent Tantor audio sale in March I picked up another Julie James and 2 Jill Shalvis narrated by her, as well as 2 Pamela Clare with Kaleo Griffith. I’m looking forward to listening to those as I gear up for running season, they are my companions during my longer runs and motivate me to run even longer because I don’t want to stop listening! It was a friend of mine who suggested in 2011 that I try listen to audiobooks on my mp3 player while running, and I haven’t looked back. During 2011/2012 I listened to all of the fantasy series of The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson to prepare for the last book A Memory of light which came out in 2013. It was a hefty endeavor, 50-60 hours of listening per book (12 books) but narrated by Kate Redding and Michael Kramer it was wonderful and brought to light many passages and nuances that I had forgotten or glossed over during the preceding 15 years of reading the books.
“it was wonderful and brought to light many passages and nuances that I had forgotten or glossed over during the preceding 15 years of reading the books”
Christine – I know just what you mean! My skimming can sometimes rob part of the story from me when I’m reading the printed page. And a talented narrator can make portions of the general narrative interesting that my mind was playing as “blah, blah, blah” as I read the print version.
I know you will enjoy the James and Shalvis – those are great fun – and Kaleo rocks the Clare I-Team. We should do an Outlander Listen-Along before the Starz series debut!
I absolutely agree with Bea and I too visit your site every day!
kathy – we’re so glad to have you here!
So honored to be on your list, Melinda! I feel so lucky when I get to work on well written funny contemporary fiction – its a great mix of challenge and joy. Challenge to do the writers and characters (and listeners!) justice and joy because its a blast to read, especially to mine every bit of humor. And on top of that, you guys are out there enjoying it while you run, clean, drive, etc. SO MANY rewards!