Hi Caffeinated Readers!
While Kimberly is off for some R&R, she gave me permission to stop by Caffeinated Reviewer and share a special June Is Audiobook Month event post. I chose to do a book tag to give you a feel for my audiobook tastes.
Some of the tag questions are nigh until impossible to have just one answer so what I chose to do was pick from a pool of possible answers. I wouldn’t want to give the impression that I’m that so decisive as to have one top or favorite choice for something like books. Haha!
Well, let’s get to it.
I enjoy a few YouTuber vloggers who are audiobook fans so I picked a tag that a pair of vloggers had done. One created the tag and the other re-worked it hence the title they gave it.
Audiobook Tag 2.0
hosted by Today in Jen Talks Audiobooks and Sol Means Sun
1. Name a book that is better on audio:
I am choosing the whole Southern Ghost Hunter series by Angie Fox narrated by Tavia Gilbert. I enjoyed reading the first and fifth books in this series, but Tavia’s audio work takes it to a whole new level up.
2. Name a book that is worse on audio:
Sadly, I have one. The Old West Collection anthology is by four authors I have read in the past. I really struggled to finish this anthology when I was listening. The narrator gave a few of the heroines whiny voices, she had trouble with giving distinct voices to other characters particularly men, and her pacing was off with oddly placed pauses which affected the rhythm of the stories. Some of her female voices were spot on so it was not a complete disappointment.
3. Name your top female narrator:
I’m choosing Janet Metzger. I loved her work on Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen and Patricia Sands’ Love in Provence trilogy. She has a soothing, subtle voice who does gender and accents well and is a perfect match for gently paced stories, particularly Women’s Fiction.
Name your top male narrator:
I’m choosing John Glouchevitch who narrated RM Meluch’s Tour of the Merrimack series. This is an all-galaxy Space Opera with big space battles, personal clashes, and political intrigue. He captured the spirit of the writing and the world of the stories so well (I could have chosen this one to answer a series better on audio, too). His ability to act out a large diverse cast of various genders, accents and social status kept all of it straight.
4. What is the longest audiobook I’ve listened to?
I’m still listening to it. LOL Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon narrated by Davina Porter. 44 hours and 54 minutes.
5. What is the shortest audiobook I’ve listened to?
Christmas Eve 1914 full cast 1 hour and 13 minutes.
6. How do you listen?
Honestly, it depends on what’s charged up, where I’m at, and if I’m alone. I listen on my phone or iPod with earbuds when someone else is around so they can do their thing, too. If I’m alone in the house, I prefer to listen through the speakers of our stereo or my computer.
7. Should authors narrate their own books?
I really don’t feel strongly about this one other. If they’ve got the chops to do it well then I say let them go for it, but I do expect good quality narration work. JA Rock narrated her own Minotaur and she did a fab job.
8. Is there an audiobook that you wish could be redone?
I’m going to cheat on this one, but it’s also true. My answer is any audiobook that I found a disappointing listen- whether it was quality of the recording or a narrator mismatch for the book. I’m also going to add that I prefer to have narrator consistency for a series so all those series that switch I want to go back and re-record.
9. Best audiobook:
Yeah right, picking only one, nuh uh. So, I chose one from my growing lists of favorites. Cold Dish by Craig Johnson narrated by George Guidall.
10. What is the most recent audiobook you’ve listened to?
At this moment, I am about half-way through The Thief by JR Ward narrated by Jim Frangione. It is my first experience with this series on audio and I’m loving the narrator work.
11. What is a book that I wish was on audio?
Again, I’m cheating because I don’t have an answer to that one other than books I’m waiting for release. I’m going to pick one I wish my library carried. That would be Fate’s Edge by Ilona Andrews. They have the first two books in the Edge series, but not the last two. I find this is true of several series where a book in the middle is missing. Grr.
Well, there you have it!
Tell me what you think of my replies or share some of your own responses. Or, feel free to do the tag and link back so I can visit your post.
Sophia Rose popped in at Caffeinated Reviewer to play Audiobook Tag 2.0. Come check out how she listens #JIAM #iloveaudiobooks Share on X
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
blodeuedd
Lol, well that short one was truly short. I wonder who short my shortest was…it was this little shrot story 🙂
Sophia Rose
Haha! It makes up for the 44 hour one.
MarthaE
Thanks for sharing! I have added two of your mentioned titles to my wish list. I checked my Audible Library and I did listen to a 26hr book. I have a handful longer but haven’t read those yet. I’ve listened to a couple of short Dr. Seuss titles under 10 minutes.
Sophia Rose
Oh, super! Glad I could add to your list, Martha!
Twenty-six hours is a long one, too. Oh cute! Dr. Seuss would be fun on audio.
Mary @StackingMyBookShelves!
I have just really started listening to Audiobooks about a year ago – might not even be that long and really enjoy the narrator Emily Sutton-Smith for Stillhouse Lake and I believe she does the voices in Stillman Creek so I know I will enjoy that book also. I can’t wait to get the chance to listen! =)
Mary
Sophia Rose
I enjoy Emily Sutton-Smith, too, Mary. Oh neat that you listened to this one. Its on my list.
Dani @ Perspective of a Writer
Wooooheeeee this is a super fun tag!! I soooooo badly want to love audiobooks… I tried two this month and nada… it was hard to spend the time that way instead of breezing through a book. 🙁
Sophia Rose
Yeah, I got off to a slow start with liking them, too, Dani. It was when I started listening during chores and I was able to up the listening speed on the Audible ones that I started loving it.
Kimberly
Thank you Sophia!
Sophia Rose
You betcha!
Lorna
What a fun post! I enjoyed reading your answers. I haven’t listened to any that you mention. I need to get on that!
Sophia Rose
I did two audio tags this year and I tried hard to come up with new responses for both so if someone read them both then they would see something new. It was fun, Lorna. 🙂
Christy LoveOfBooks
44 hours and 54 minutes?? Put that on double time. lol! Fun tag, Sophia!
Sophia Rose
Haha! It’s tempting. I already listen at 1.5x normally. I think I’m about 20 hours in. I don’t listen to it all the time, though. I’ll listen to shorter ones for reviews and go back to it between them. Its a reread so this method doesn’t really mess me up.
ShootingStarsMag
Fun post! I keep trying to get into audios, but I just have a tough time following. I think celebrities reading their own books is fun – but as for an author in general? Yeah, if they’re good at it – otherwise, I don’t think I’d care. I’d just want a good narrator!
-Lauren
Sophia Rose
Yes, memoirs or autobiographies would probably be the exception even if they aren’t polished, but other writing? Yeah, I want a good narration. LOL 🙂
Jeanette
A year ago I finally gave audiobooks a try and so happy I did, it saved me so many times when I wasn’t able to sit down and read. I prefer audiobooks than music in my ears now 🙂 So much fun to read and do the laundry in the same!
Sophia Rose
You said it, Jeannette! Chores are now a time I anticipate having a good book for company. 🙂
Tyler H. Jolley
I live off audio books in the summer. And spring. And fall. Ok, so my kids are wide ranging in age and in a ton of activities. No matter how often it’s detailed, my truck is usually disgusting; full of crumbs, football pads/lacrosse crap/various junk and smells like a locker room, but I’ve got a great story being read to me and thats all that matters.
Sophia Rose
Yes, a busy summer getting the kiddoes to their doings would make audiobooks a godsend. Ha! No worries about the truck. They’re still good if that can wade through it and find the seat belt. *glances out the window at the messy beast in the driveway*.
Anne
This is great! I really enjoyed this. Thank you ! Anne – Books of My Heart
Sophia Rose
My pleasure, Anne!
Angela
Great audiobook tag. Thank’s for sharing your picks. ^_^
Sophia Rose
It was a fun one. I’m glad to pass along my favorites. 🙂
Lynn Poppe
Those Outlander books are really long. But I find that the audio makes it so much easier to commit to the longer books.
Sophia Rose
I agree. I listen while I do chores and on my walks. Its a great way to still enjoy books when I don’t always have time to read (especially the long ones). 🙂
Janie McGaugh
Fate’s Edge and Steel’s Edge are both available from Audible. You can also purchase the download of Fate’s Edge directly from Tantor media, and it’s on sale until the end of the month!
Sophia Rose
Good to know, Janie! I’ll have to check out the Tantor sale. I’ve been waiting for my library to get them through Overdrive, but I guess its not happening soon.
Janie McGaugh
Always happy to help, especially when it comes to audio books!
Melliane
I think I only tried 2 audiobooks
Sophia Rose
I started out slowly, too. I think I listened to three my first year trying audio.
Angela Adams
Enjoyed your interview, Sophia Rose. When it comes to audio books, I think the narrator has a lot to do with the listener’s enjoyment. Thanks for the post.
Sophia Rose
You are so right, Angela. I nearly stopped before I really got started b/c the second and third books I listened to were not a good narrator-book match for me.
S. J. Pajonas
Oh! I love this tag-meme! I’ll have to set it aside and participate sometime this summer. 🙂 I loved all of your answers and you gave me some more books to check out!
Sophia Rose
Definitely! Its a fun one. 🙂
Haha! My list gets longer when I go visiting for the JIAM events, too.
Debbie Haupt - The Reading Frenzy
Hey Sophia Rose you’re everywhere today LOL
I LOVE Angie’s Southern Ghoast Hunter series, I haven’t read it but yes the audio is fab!
And as you know 😉 I LOVE Jim narrating the marvelous Ms. W’s BDB novels.
I usually listen to my audios while on my morning walks with Princess Pippa but I have been known to zone out sitting on the couch with my earphones in too. Thanks Sophia Rose xo
Sophia Rose
It keeps working out that way. LOL Good thing I love visiting about. 🙂
Yep, you and some others had me sold to the idea that I had to finally go for the audio of BDB and try Jim’s work. 🙂
Yeah, I can’t just sit and listen or I fall asleep. It has to be with chores or on walks.
kindlemom1
I really do need to give audiobooks another try and see if I can get into them. For some reason I end up tuning them out but maybe I just haven’t found the right narrator for me yet?
Sophia Rose
I found that if I listened while I did chores and started with books I already liked in print that I was able to gradually get used it and then like it. And yes, the narrator can make or break a book, for sure.
Ailyn Koay
Nice tag Sophia! I haven’t gotten into the audio hype yet. maybe one day
Sophia Rose
Thanks, Ailyn!
It snuck up on me when I was hooked by the free trial. 🙂
Kathryn Trask
Another lovely audiobook tag Sophia. I have listened to Janet Metzger with the Kristy Woodson Harvey books and you’re right she does an excellent job. In fact I just put a few more of the books she narrates into my wish list. I have listened to many of the books by Diana Gabaldon on audio. Davinia Porter is such an outstanding narrator.
Sophia Rose
Neato, Kathryn!
I’ll have to look up the Kristy Woodson Harvey books. I haven’t had a Janet book in a while.