I've heard good stuff about London Falling, too.

I just gave up and "returned" two books to Audible: an Iain M. Banks Culture novel, and Atwood's Oryx and Crake. They're not bad, but they're better on the page, I think. I've realized that I have to really trust the writer, or love the narrator, or love the voice of the novel itself, to be happy with an audiobook.

So Pratchett is fine: great narrator, great voice, great stories. Patrick O'Brien is great because the writing is so good, and the narrator is excellent. Rowling is good because even when the writing isn't good, Stephen Fry is awesome. Bill Bryson is good because he's hella funny and he reads his own work so he doesn't mis-emphasize things.

For some reason Elizabeth Moon's novels do well as audiobooks, even though the narrators aren't that great. ::shrugs:: Something about the smoothness of the prose, and the pace of the narrative itself.

But I bounced hard off Oryx and Crake, couldn't listen for more than 45 minutes before putting it down. And you can't skim with an audiobook!

Anyway, Audible lets you return a couple books a year for credit, which is useful.

Ginger, that's on my list too.

Augh, Consuela audiobooks are so hard. Good narrators make so much difference, and not everything works, I don't think. Some books really sit better on the page.

I'd put in a vote for the Culture novels as one of those.

A friend loved a recent book and then got the audio and found the narrator changing accents in the middle of a character bounced her right out.

This is what keeps me up, worrying, at night.

Augh, Consuela audiobooks are so hard. Good narrators make so much difference, and not everything works, I don't think. Some books really sit better on the page.

I'm a few discs into The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, and I wonder whether I would like it better if Christine Lakin weren't reading it in such a dark, dreary monotone. The occasional musical score is fun, though.

Consuela, have you read Oryx and Crake? I love Atwood and I enjoyed After the Flood but I just could not get into Oryx and Crake at all.

have you read Oryx and Crake

Nope! I was thinking I should read some Atwood other than Handmaid's Tale but the audio of O&C is not going to do it. I will pick up a copy at some point, or maybe borrow from the library.

In other news, I've discovered that Audible has The Great Courses available: an entire series for 1 credit or about $25. So right now I'm listening to a 24-hour lecture series about the lives of ordinary people in the ancient world, which is pretty interesting. Doesn't hurt that the lecturer is British: I'm always more inclined to believe a narrator with a British accent. [insert winking icon here]

Kat is me. Love Atwood, enjoy dystopia, totally didn't like Oryx and Crake or its sequel. I haven't read the third book, which says something given my aversion to leaving series unfinished. But I know may people who adore it, so.

The occasional musical score is fun, though.

Oh that's interesting! How was writers with drinks, PC?

Atwood other than Handmaid's Tale

I really liked the Blind Assassin and Alias Grace. I also liked Oryx and Crake and the Handmaid's Tale, but for different reasons.

Alias Grace, Cat's Eye, The Robber Bride -- these are my favorite Atwoods. I have still to read MaddAdam.

I also could not abide Oryx and Crake.