"A timeless classic with voice"
I came into this adaptaion of the Hobbit knowing little of the world of middle-earth and I was hooked in an instant! What made this books come to life was the way the actors perfectly protrayed their characters in a spot on performance of the tale of a Hobbit named Bilbo who learns to rise above his lowly charcater and win back treasure for dwarves and a wizard named Gandolf on one of the greatest adventures of his life. I was never much into Lord of the Rings (a little to rpic for my taste) but this book was perfect for being more lighthearted but still fun and adventurous, I strongly recomend you download this book.
"An out of this world adventure!"
In a world saturated with vampires and fantasy, this novel dared to buck the tends of young adult novels and take readers on a sci-fi adventure that's out of this world (literally and metaphorically, of course). As I sci-fi fan I of course was hooked by this novel's primes from the start, and Ms. Revis certainly does an excellent job world building (even if that world is a spaceship the size of Iwo Jima), and I had no problem visualizing every aspect of life on the ship Godspeed. I though Amy was well written, and reacted realistically the situation she was thrown into, and, thankful, didn't just swoon over the love interest all the time unlike certain other books (I'm looking at you Shadow and Bone; and Twilight!). I could relate to Elder's desire to be different in a world that stresses conformity, and the two narrators did an excellent job of bringing the characters and their world to life. All in all, recommended for sci-fi fans, and even for people who aren't (who knows, this might get you into sci-fi if you give it a shot).
"A Real Horrorshow Story Me Droogs!"
This had been on my list of dystopias for a while, and I'm glad I finally got around to reading it. It has great social commentary about free will and the nature of what it means to be human, as well as questioning how far society is willing to go in the name of personal security. I must say, what I loved best was the way Burgess crafted the Nadsat slang, and Tom Hollander's performance really made it shine in a way that simply reading the book just couldn't do, and the bits of classical music interspersed added to the effect. What's it going to be then, eh? A horrorshow performance if ever there was one me droogs!
"A Tall Order Delivered Well!"
We all know the basic story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, so delivering an audiobook takes a certain talent to bring this classic to life. Martin Jarvis has that talent and a lot more! As a companion on my nightly patrols of my campus grounds (and, it was required reading for one of my classes, and something I'd always been meaning to read for pleasure) Mr. Jarvis performance made the characters come to life, and I often found myself looking over my shoulder, just to make sure Edward Hyde wasn't really following behind me. In closing, if you???re looking for a version of the classic, this is it!
"Short, but a treat"
I'd been looking for the Carnacki stories for a while on audible, and seeing as this is the only one currently available I feel perhaps I had to work with what I got, but not too bad if you ask me. The story is wonderful, Carnacki is rather like a supernatural Sherlock Holmes, and though the performance was a little lacking in quality that, along with the narration, gave it an air of an old radio horror anthology program. It's not terribly expensive at all, so even if you don't like it you won't waste much money, but I rather enjoyed it. A good start, but I would like to see more of the Carnacki stories available on audible in the future.
"The Bard For the Rest of Us!"
We all know Shakespeare is arguably the greatest writer in the English language, but not many of us can appreciate his work due to its out-date/nearly-another-language English, but SmartPass comes to our aid with this and other fine translations of the Bard's works. You not only lively running commentary that explains what just happened, the jokes, and the nuances; you also get a wonderful production in the original language by and all-star full-cast, historical background and context, all the jokes explained, and much more. If you're looking to truly appreciate and enjoy Shakespeare, this series is for you!
"Canada's answer to Clark and Asimov"
This was the first book I ever listened to on Audible, and I still recall the magic of the experience, how I was longing to discover more even before it was over, and looking back on it all, I couldn't have picked a more perfect book to start than this. Mr. Sawyer does a wonderful job of combining cutting edge science, likeable and believable characters, and even crafts and alternate world that's totally alien, yet still relatable and easy to comprehend. I also loved the vivid descriptions of Canada (both from our world, and the alternate world of the Neanderthals), that almost made it feel like I was there with the characters, though I suppose Sawyer had an advantage as a native (and proud) Canadian. I loved how Sawyer introduces the book, and gives it the quality of being like an old friend when you've read all the books (like I have), and Jonathan Davis did a superb job narrating. For me, this was the start of a wonderful experience that still continues to this day, I only hope this book will do the same for my fellow listeners.
"A Timeless Tale, Still As Relevent Today"
I had to do a school project about Gulliver's Travels, so naturally audible was my go-to destination. At a low price and high quality, this version was a life-saver! The narrator did a wonderful job bringing Swift's witty social commentary to life, and is (in my opinion anyway) one of the best readers of this book. If you thought you knew Gulliver, get ready for delightful new discoveries, from the flying island of Laputa, to the island of the Houyhnhnms. With remarks just as pointed today as they were when this book was first written over 300 years ago. If you're ready to travel with Gulliver, this is the version you want!
"Non-Stop Trillride From Start To Finish"
I decided to take a chance on this book after hearing a lot of my friends say good things about it, and I'm glad I did! The world of this book is starkly divided between the futuristic Capitol (think a high-tech/sci-fi version of Rome) and the dystopian reality of the 12 districts of Panem. I found Katniss (the protagonist) to be both strong in the face of adversity, but also with internal doubts and struggles that made her easy to relate too; the first-person narration made it feel like I was being personally guided through the events of the book, side-by-side with Katniss, but it felt at the cost of fleshing out some of the other characters (though I suppose Katniss was really the important one, so it's easily forgiven). From the Reaping Day to the final triumph in the Games it was a non-stop trill ride all the way, and it was almost as if I was there beside the characters (something I haven't felt in a while, so Brava to the author and narrator for a spectacular story and performance). I've already finished the series, and can't say enough to praise it! For the next sensation to rival even the great Harry Potter franchise, look to further than the series before you!
"A Wonderfully Imaginative Book"
I was drawn to the series over the controversy surrounding it, but frankly I don't see what all the fuss is about. Granted, this might come up in future books, but if you don't like those kinds of themes, then don't read, and let the rest of us enjoy these wonderful books. Now that I've taken care of that I can talk about this book; from talking polar bear knights to flying cowboys, it's clear this author has a lot of imagination and originality. It might seem odd to somehow Lyra handles some of these situations so maturely, but still retains a certain youthful wonder, but as someone who is both gifted and learning disabled, I felt a certain ability to relate (rather like Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game striking a cord with gifted kids). I especially enjoyed how the Mr. Pullman envisions the exotic landscapes and the people's that inhabit them, and his renaming of familiar places and things with unfamiliar terms (though perhaps a glossary would be useful, but thankfully Wikipedia helps with that somewhat). All in all a wonderful and truly imaginative work, I can't wait to read more, and I would encourage those who scoff off these books to dare to give them a try, you might just enjoy them!
"Like Percy Jackson for adults"
I found this book among the new releases and decided to give it a try. After finishing this I think a more appropriate title would be hooked, because I sure was! Our protagonist Atticus is like a witty Druidic Highlander, and his cast of supporting characters (ranging from his dog Oberon to his vampire Viking lawyer...and no, I'm not making this up) are just as excellently written and performed. I liked the mix of the modern and the mythological, and how multiple mythologies were mixed in (the author does a great job explaining some of the lesser known ones). Over all a great plot that could stand on its own, but leaves room for future adventures, and with prices like this, how can you not getting into the next Iron Druid Chronicle? Very much reminds me of Percy Jackson and the Olympians meets American Gods and Highlander for adults, and that makes me love it even more!