From My Bookshelf: Nephew, Watchmaker, Scrappy
June is audiobook month, so this month I’m featuring three books From My Audio-Bookshelf. I started listening to audiobooks last year, and I’ve really enjoyed the [very] few I’ve added to my digital library. I have almost an hour commute to work (one way) every day, so that’s when I do most of my listening. If you have any audiobooks to recommend, leave them in the comments below, and let me know if you’ve listened to The Magician’s Nephew, The Watchmaker of Filigree Street, or Scrappy Little Nobody.
The Magician’s Nephew C.S. Lewis
Narrated by Kenneth Branagh
This was my first audiobook. I didn’t want to listen to a book I hadn’t read yet, because I was afraid that if I did and didn’t like it, I would swear off audiobooks forever (no, you’re being dramatic). If you are in the same boat I was in, I highly recommend listening to Kenneth Branagh’s narration of The Magician’s Nephew from The Chronicles of Narnia series. He voiced each character perfectly and added even more life into the story. As a matter of fact, I listened to this audiobook in one sitting because I couldn’t stop, and then wrote a review blog post about it.
The Watchmaker of
Filigree Street
Natasha Pulley
Narrated by Thomas Judd
My second audiobook was longer, more complex, and excellent. Although I wasn’t overjoyed with the narration, I still enjoyed all the twists, turns, and secrets within The Watchmaker of Filigree Street. I also reviewed this audiobook, and looking back at it reminds me that I need to read The Bedlam Stacks.
Scrappy Little Nobody
Anna Kendrick
Narrated by Anna Kendrick
My Audible library tells me that this was actually the first audiobook I downloaded, although I didn’t listen to it until after the previous two. I’m so glad Anna Kendrick narrated her own book, because who better to put more life into the words than the person who wrote them – especially when it’s Anna Kendrick? If you’re a fan of hers or just want to laugh/listen in wonderment to some stories I would certainly recommend this audiobook.
Do you have any audiobook recommendations? Where do you listen to audiobooks? If you’ll be celebrating Audiobook Month this June (or any other time of the year), let me know below.
12 Comments
You Can Always Start Now
Audio books are great. I have never listened to the author read their own book so that would be neat. Jotting recommendations down.
Kelsey
It’s very cool – to hear their emphasis and tone makes the words really come alive! Do you have any recommendations?
Gary
Good choices, but so far I’ve not tried audio books. Maybe old school there, I hardly ever use digital books and just prefer turning real pages. Mind you that generates boxes of books lol. I can see their use though. Commuting, as you mentioned, is ideal for digital media, be it audio or e-books. They are also media authors can’t afford not to publish on.
Do you find the audio narrator can make or break a book though? Some people have the right voice for certain stories, but if they read the wrong one for them does it affect the enjoyment of listening? I liken it to bands who don’t play in the right key for the vocalists range.
Kelsey
Yes, if I didn’t have such a drab commute, my audiobook listening would be reserved for the walks I take on the trail around town – sitting down to listen to an audiobook in my apartment/the library/etc. doesn’t quite appeal to me. And yes, the narrator is definitely very important. Like in The Watchmaker of Filigree Street, I almost didn’t get really into the story because the narrator had quite a dry tone. I pushed through, but I know that many readers/listeners wouldn’t (with good reason). This is why I’ve lately been listening to memoirs/biographies narrated by their authors/subjects, because the book is already written in their style and tone. Listening to an audiobook is certainly more work than choosing a book and reading its pages yourself; the latter is often more pleasurable for me, but sometimes I just like hearing a story. Have I flip flopped enough in this comment? 😛
Gary
Lol, one can never overdo comments. That way they become a conversation rather than a quick one liner! Either that or write a post like mind and let Ritu take care of the banter 😂
I figured audio books might get constrained by the narrator. It must be quite a skill finding the right one for the book in question. I can see the advantage on a commute though. Less to carry and with a thick book then space gets lost and it becomes a cumbersome thing to wander round with.
Kelsey
I love it!
Haha, Ritu, are you there? 😛
And I see I didn’t mention anywhere (silly me) that I’m driving my car during my commute – not taking public transportation driven by someone else – so audiobooks are the less dangerous option. 😉
Gary
Had you mentioned the car then an audio book would have made far more sense 😂
Kelsey
I knew it. 😝😎
Lorna
I need a laugh, and I have the Anna Kendrick book somewhere, so thanks for the nudge.
Kelsey
Oh good! I hope you enjoy it. 🙂
Claire Saul (PainPalsBlog)
I don’t know the second two but will have a look for them. have just bought White Chrysanthemum (our book club choice for this month) and whilst I’m going to read, hubby is listening on audio – apparently he had tears running down his face whilst delivering papers the other morning!!! I’m still going with Labyrinth on Audio – loving it, but v long!
Kelsey
Oh wow! I’m going to have to check both of those out! I’m due for a good book cry.