Audio books advice

[ssusan]

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Audio books have never appealed to me (I want the voices in my head). That said, although I have always been an avid reader. I have not read a lot the past few years.
My vision is messed up and it is exhausting. I find myself falling asleep or at least closing my eyes.

I had lunch with family today and brought this up. One of my sister in laws said the best audio book She has'read' is the Nighting gale. Ironically I read that last year (on my kindle, adjusting the size of the font and increasing the contrast). Loved the book.

Looking for suggestions of good audio books (fiction). Apparently the readers really matter. I love contemporary , historical fiction . Not so much scifi or romance although there are exceptions. I love Barbara Kingsolver, Marge Piercy, Maeve Binchy, on occasion a John Grisham. It have read a lot of Sue Grafton...
Looking for suggestions and advice.

[Sunshine]

Great question! I can’t help you as I can’t focus on audio tapes.

I bet your library rents them.

[agate]

Many with MS are eligible for the National Library Service Talking Books program even without being legally blind. Being visually impaired or being unable to manage turning the pages or holding a book up can qualify you. They have a HUGE list of available titles, and more and more of them are downloadable so you don't need to return them.

I usually still get the returnable cartridges but they are easy enough to deal with, and the lending period is long--about 7 weeks.

Every couple of months they send out a catalog of their recently added titles. Sometimes recently they use a commercial audiobook but their own narrators are always excellent, I think. Occasionally one will be British but I don't mind that much, though with hearing problems I find British accents harder to understand.

ssusan, I've "read" quite a few books by Barbara Kingsolver and Maeve Binchy through that program.

[ssusan]

Thank you. I will check this out. Logistically, what is the cartridge ?

[ssusan]

Checking out bard. Apparently you can download books onto iPhone and iPad/. There are some glitches but looking forward to trying out.
Thank you so much.

[agate]

I don't know if you made your way to the FAQ for the program:

Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...

A few years ago the library system changed over to digital cartridges for the recordings. Before that we used audiotapes that ran at a special speed playable only on one of the library's machines. Now the library still lends out the players but they're more compact and easier to use. The digital cartridges are also easier because tapes used to jam and break sometimes.

If you don't want to receive the cartridges in the mail (they need to be returned), you can often download a book through BARD.

[ssusan]

I filled out basic application and a guy from the Perkins Institute called. I asked him a number of questions. I qualify clearly. I asked who are the Readers. Generally volunteers or staff.
A terrific service. I may try an audio book from Amazon and see if I can focus . I’ve learned a lot about audio books. Thanks for pointing me .

[Howie]

I had a Steven King short story on cassette. I don't remember where I got it. It was before MS. I lived in Atlanta Ga. for a few years, and there was a radio station that carried the old time radio shows like The Shadow, and Charlie Chan, and all types of old radio shows that ran before TV came along. They were very entertaining, and let your imagination fill in the story.

[ssusan]

I filled out basic application and a guy from the Perkins Institute called. I asked him a number of questions. I qualify clearly. I asked who are the Readers. Generally volunteers or staff.
A terrific service. I may try an audio book from Amazon and see if I can focus . I’ve learned a lot about audio books. Thanks for pointing me. In Massachussets (it’s the Perkins Institute (where Helen Keller and her teacher were trained and studied.)it varies from state to state.
Thanks, Agate.

[ssusan]

Thanks Howie

[agate]

The Perkins Institute must be where the Regional Library branch of the NLS is located. Yes, each state has its own regional library, and you get your books and the equipment through them, either by phone or e-mail. I request specific titles of books on their Website.

I've been using this service for 99% of my reading material since 1982. They check and double-check their recordings--the ones that their volunteers do--and there's hardly ever any problem with the narration.

Some of the commercial audiobooks they're using sometimes now can be more of a problem, particularly those with music in the background. I find it hard to follow the narration with the music playing. But that is my hearing. People with better hearing probably aren't bothered so much by the background music.

Some of the commercial versions use different voices for the dialogue parts. It sounds more like a radio drama. I find that hard to get used to after years and years of listening to one narrator per book.

[stillstANNding]

For Howie: Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...

ANN

[Howie]

For Howie: Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...

ANN

Thanks Ann, I have a new entertainment source now. I saved that.

[funnylegs4]

I bought some audio books through Barnes & Noble for my blind friends as Christmas Gifts. One of my favorite books "True Strength" by Kevin Sorbo is available as an audiobook as well and Sorbo narrates it himself. Check that one out! I believe copies are sold via Amazon. I think to find audiobooks you can just google the title with "audiobook" after it and versions being sold online will pop up.