I guess this is the right place to ask this. I'm considering ordering a book CD. It's read by the author. I'd have a hard time listening to one that wasn't since people would put their own inflections in the reading. But anyway, I don't know how they work. Can you stop at each chapter. Are the chapters separated like songs? I tried to research this online and couldn't find an answer. Thanks in advance.
I have a few. I have used them driving across country; they work well for that. I have also let them play all night, while in bed, and after playing them through a couple of times, I'll to pretty good idea what the book is about, but not as well as actually reading the book.
To answer your question though, I don't know if they are arranged just like music CDs; although maybe, since there are chapters. Normally, I played them straight through. Otherwise, I think they remembered my place but I am not sure. It's been awhile.
If you have a pause button on the CD player it would seem you could stop anywhere you want to @Kitty Carmel and then just undo the pause when you are ready to continue. I do this with my Bible audio CD's.
I was wondering about listening vs reading and how much you remember or pay attention to a audio book since your mind can still wander when listening. When you read, you concentrate on reading more. I think they would be great for long distance driving which I don't do. Thanks for your replies, it's helping with my decision.
I think I posted this somewhere before but my sister and I listened to an audio book on our drive to Florida one time. She was driving so I don't know if she was really able to concentrate on the book being read or not. I was able to though and I did enjoy it. The audio book would have to be on a subject I'm interested in to even get my attention and if I was driving I don't know if it would be such a great idea for me to get to interested in it and not pay attention to the road, etc. You can always give it a try and see how it works. If you do...let us know how it works out for you.
I think that an audio book needs a good narrator. Even a brilliant story can be ruined by an emotionless tinny voice. When we read we are actually listening to our own inner narrator from our own minds and imagination. The better our imagination the more we enjoy reading. How many times have we heard 'It was a great film but not as good as the book' and yet every person who read that same book will have got a different something out of it. The joy we get afterwards when talking with others who have read the same book as us comes from the points we find in common as in 'Oh I loved that bit when' etc. A long time ago I heard a radio play of a book published in 1939 called 'Rogue Male' by Geoffrey Household. . . The story line is ; an un-named man stalks an un-named European leader (clearly Hitler at Berchtesdaden) in the months leading up to WW2. He is caught, tortured and left for dead, but escapes back to England. His adversaries discover that he is still alive and pursue him, forcing him to take to ground. . The book was reissued in 2007 and was serialised for the radio. I recorded that radio series and have listened to it many times. Eventually I added a picture to the audio and made my own set of audio books from it. Even if you have no interest in the story itself just listen to the way it is read by Michael Jayston. This for me is the standard that all narrators should aspire to, listen to the voice control and delivery. It amazes me that this is not available to buy but fear not I will post the story here. If only all audio books were to this standard. Have a listen, will add part two tomorrow God willing. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> PS A television series was made in 1976 of this book starring Peter O'Toole , he said it was his favourite part ever. It will soon be released as a major film with Benedict Cumberbatch in the lead role.
The 1975 Grammy Award-Winnng Antoine de Saint-Exupery's classic novella comes to life with an amazing cast of performers and sparkling music score. The poignant life and death odyssey offers timeless lessons when The Little Prince miraculously appears in the Sahara desert and tells a downed Aviator of his love for a Rose, and of the very strange grownups he has encountered on his interplanetary travels. Confused and saddened his childlike innocence is regained when The Little Prince tames a Fox who tells him: It is only with the heart than one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye. . "One of the most treasurable audio recordings ever made" -- Los Angeles Times CALENDAR, October 7, 2004 <br \><br "An amazing cast of performers" --WGBH Classical Radio Boston, January 6, 2003 . "Four Star ...a tour-de-force Recording" --LOS ANGELES TIMES CALENDAR . "Space traveling enchantment and a noble child hero. A treasure for families to share" --TV GUIDE (Parents' Guide to Children's Entertainment) <iframe width="560" height="315" src="" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
So true about a good narrator Been watching Andrew Mars on Britain through the 1900s to more recent times 'He' is so good at telling the story, he would have made a first class actor too !
@Jeff Tracy, Thank you for uploading the first chapter. You are right. Excellent reading of this work. I look forward to the other installments.