Audiobooks - you can learn a new language or listen to the latest novel - all while you work or travel! To find the latest audiobooks of note check out Jonathan Lowe's Audiobooks Review (below). You can find more than 5,000 audiobooks at Amazon.com and over 18,000 audio titles available for download at Audible.com!

Books to Read While Working - March 2005 - Audiobooks Reviewed by Jonathan Lowe

This month, another mix of genres. First, THE PRECIPICE by Ben Bova is book one of a new science fiction series by the six time winner of the Hugo award about a future attempt to mine the asteroid belt for minerals when the earth’s resources have been all but exhausted. Rivalries between companies and entrepreneurs will escalate as the method to make the mining feasible--the production of fusion rockets--becomes reality. There are no space creatures here, just believable science and an introduction to the cast of characters, as narrated by Scott Brick, Amanda Karr and others. So it’s a bit like the original movie "Alien," but minus any slimy creatures, because if you’ll remember, the spaceship Nostromo was a cargo ship carrying ore, and there was bickering between crew members before the chest popping moment. Maybe there'll be more such action next time? (Audio Renaissance)

Next, actor Tom Wopat of "Dukes of Hazzard" fame reads THE COMPLETE WESTERN STORIES OF ELMORE LEONARD. These tales, by the author of “Get Shorty,” were first published in the early 50s in magazines such as Dime Western and Zane Grey’s Western Magazine, and include “Blood Money,” “Trouble at Rindo’s Station,” and “Saint with a Six Gun,” among others. Narrators also include actors David Strathairn, William Atherton and Henry Rollins. The eleven stories add up to six hours on six compact disks or cassettes, and are a must for any western fiction fans. So saddle up in your rich "Corinthian" leather, gun those horses under the hood, and try shifting back into the past for a change. (Harper Audio)

In THE ICE HARVEST by Scott Phillips the setting is Christmas Eve in 1979 Wichita, Kansas. A crooked lawyer and strip club owner intends to steal drug money while framing a corrupt politician with a photo catching him in a compromising position. Anything to get ahead, right? Well, Charlie Arglist is in for some "just desserts" of his own, and how that happens is amusingly ironic in this short "R-rated" crime novel which is a first for the author. Narrator is one of the best, Grover Gardner, whose 13 Earphones awards attest to his abilities in interpreting character. Nevermind that his voice is also one of the most pleasant to listen to, something only God could have bestowed. (Blackstone Audio)

A detective named Elvis Cole is featured in THE FORGOTTEN MAN by Robert Crais, author of "The Last Detective." Here Elvis is confronted by police investigating the mysterious death of a man who, in his dying breath, claimed to be Cole's father. Elvis has been haunted by the lack of news about his father all his life, having been told by his mother that the man was a traveling circus performer. But there is no identification on this dead man, and so Elvis starts an investigation that ultimately uncovers a killer who now targets Elvis himself. It's an unusual noir mystery in that Cole's memories of his past play a part, and although the plot moves slowly at first, the narrative drive sustains it enough to keep you there, despite narrator James Daniels' understated tone. Then a secret is revealed and things quickly turn dicey. Forget Grisham, Crais is better. (Brilliance Audio)

Finally, if you're a wrestling fan--and here I don't mean the WWF--you'll enjoy PINNED by Alfred Martino, as narrated by actor Mark Shanahan. This is one of the most in-depth novels ever written utilizing the subject of high school wrestling. It features two high school seniors named Ivan and Bobby who are seeking the state championship in New Jersey, and in the end they learn what it takes in terms of dedication and resolve. Martino was a sports reporter, coach and college wrestler himself before he became president of his own audio company. Several Olympic wrestlers have also recommended the book for its authenticity, and so it should appeal to both teens and adults. (Listen & Live Audio)

(These audiobooks may be rented from Audio Adventures by calling 1-800-551-6692. Jonathan Lowe's three suspense novels are now available as e-book downloads from Fictionwise.com.)

Books to Read While Working - February 2005 - Audiobooks Reviewed by Jonathan Lowe

Books to Read While Working - January 2005 - Audiobooks Reviewed by Jonathan Lowe

American Idol finalist Clay Aiken reads his new book LEARNING TO SING for Random House Audio. No, Clay doesn't sing on this 2-CD abridgment of his inspirational memoir, but rather tells his fans the whole story of his life so far, starting from when he was a kid singing in the church choir to how he overcame bullies in school while harboring the dream of being a teacher. Little did he know what was in store for him on world stages, as a Christian young man facing the temptations of Hollywood. Whoever said there weren't any innocents left in Tinsel Town anymore. We're rooting for you, Clay! Now let's hope he can hang on, and fame doesn't change him as well.

Next, Victor Slezak reads WHITE HOT by Sandra Brown for Simon & Schuster Audio. It's a suspense novel about the daughter of a tyrannical industrial plant owner who returns to the town of Destiny, Louisiana to investigate the apparent suicide of her brother. But when Sayre Lynch meets her father's slimy lawyer, she begins to realize that all is not what it seems. It's a well written tale appropriately narrated by an actor able to capture the subtleties of the mood established by the story. Slezak's distinctive vocal characteristics in this manner can be compared to narrators Richard Ferrone or even Richard Poe.

Jimmy Buffett sings his new song "A Salty Piece of Land," and if the question you're asking is why you've never heard of it, that's because it can only be found on his audio novel by the same name, written--and sung--exclusively for Time Warner audiobooks. It's Buffett's first novel in a decade, about a cowboy named Tully Mars, who sets sail to the Caribbean for an adventure, and where he meets up with a sea captain who takes him to a lighthouse that needs refurbishing. An assortment of colorful folks from treasure hunters and pirates to rock stars grace the tale, which is part fanciful conjecture and part journal recollection of his own. An afterword is also included on this audiobook, although it's mostly narrated by actor John David Souther to leave time for Jimmy to fish, and to sing.

Geoffrey Cantor reads THE KNOW-IT-ALL by A. J. Jacobs for Highbridge Audio. It's a non-fiction book chronicling an Esquire editor's attempt to read the entire Encyclopedia Britannica from A to Z, all 33,000 pages of it. What he learns are not just limericks and world histories, but what his own friends and family think of his newfound knowledge. The relationship between his daily life and everything he learns about his own world render up some comic moments, too, like when he tries to join Mensa and discovers that knowledge has little to do with I.Q., and verse visa. What's the wisdom here? That what matters is how you use what you know. . .although you won't know much if you just watch TV all the time, unless it's "Jeopardy."

Carson Kressley, one of the stars of "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy," reads his solo audiobook OFF THE CUFF for Highbridge Audio. It's a humorous look into the wardrobes of American men in an attempt to educate and stylize those in most need of help--the frumpy and disheveled. There's advice, too, for all men on choosing clothes that work best for them, experimenting with styles while disregarding trends, and why picking pleated pants or a flannel shirt is always the wrong answer. If you don't mind all the sexual references here--and I didn't because Carson is making fun of himself--you'll enjoy this funny audiobook, and learn a lot as this gay man (also "gay" as in "happy") comes out of his own particular closet to invade ours.

Sandra Burr reads BELIEVING GOD by Beth Moore for Brilliance Audio. It answers the question, "what does believing God mean?" and "what is the nature of faith?" while making a distinction between believing IN God and actually believing God. According to polls, most people believe in God, but the word "God" means about as many things as the words "love" or "radio." Hindus, for example, also believe in hundreds of gods. What Moore means, of course, is the God of the Bible, as she's the author of "Praying God's Word," while Sandra Burr is a staple reader at Brilliance, with many titles, including romance and suspense, in her own lexicon.

Next, Tom Stechschulte reads THE LAST KING OF TEXAS by Rick Riordan for Recorded Books. It's a private eye novel about a gumshoe who's also an English professor, and therefore has an eye for detail as well. Athough not a masterpiece like his book "The Devil Went Down to Austin," any book by Riordan is better than the typical fare you find on bestseller lists, both in terms of writing quality and depth of perception. Stechschulte is also the ideal narrator for this novel about a teacher investigating the murders of colleagues at the University of Texas, as Tom has recently won an Earphones award reading the work of another poetic master novelist, James Lee Burke.

Scary words come from Jared Diamond's new book COLLAPSE--HOW SOCIETIES CHOOSE TO FAIL OR SUCCEED, as read by Christopher Murney for Penguin Audio. The Pulitzer prize-winning author has researched civilizations from Easter Island to Greenland, and from the days of the Mayans to present day Haiti. His conclusion? Whenever people start cutting trees faster than they can grow, collapse is inevitable, and we are no exception. How much time is left? Well, that depends on how many people adopt our lifestyle overseas, and also whether we continue to export our culture while buying SUVs and minivans just because we need the cargo space to restock our refrigerators.

Finally, former Clinton strategist Dick Morris reads his book BECAUSE HE COULD for Harper Audio, a deconstruction of the former President's memoir "My Life" as a self-serving diary that rambles while focusing on his triumphs over his failures. Dick probably also wants a fat paycheck, true, but still, it's an eye-opener from an insider who claims that Bill & Hillary made a career out of being victims, before they began to believe their own lies. Who cares what's true anymore? How did Bill leave office after so many scandals with high ratings? Why did he really do what he did? "Because He Could" purports to answer these questions, including the reason why you may have purchased Clinton's book in the first place.

(These audiobooks may be rented from Audio Adventures by calling 1-800-551-6692. Be sure to ask for the well received mystery/humor hybrid CD "Oscar's Hijack" in time for the upcoming Oscar award show!)

Books to Read While Working - December 2004 - Audiobooks Reviewed by Jonathan Lowe

Simon Prebble reads QUICKSILVER by Neal Stephenson for Harper Audio. It's a literary novel set in Baroque-era Europe about a free-thinking Puritan seeking knowledge during a time when ambitions were often bloody and unthinking. It's also the chronicle of a street urchin turned adventurer, and of a women rescued from a Turkish harem to spy on the royals in order to reinvent Europe through the newborn power of finance. Newsweek calls this epic "sprawling, irreverent, and ultimately profound." At 24 hours on 20 compact disks, it is also narrated by Stina Nielsen, and is part of a coming audio trilogy, by the author of the science fiction masterpiece "Snow Crash." (Don't miss that one!) Science, politics, history, adventure...you couldn't ask for a more spellbinding tale told by more accomplished readers. Still, it's not for everyone.

Next, Dick Cavett reads A CHRISTMAS STORY by Jean Shepherd for Random House Audio. It's the classic tale of Ralphie Parker, a small town boy who craves a Red Ryder BB gun, and will do almost anything to get it despite all the adult warnings he hears about how "You'll shoot your eye out, kid." With music and sound effects, this audio production is the next best thing to watching the holiday movie classic based on this book, complete with the decoder rings, bullies, and Ovaltine that colored a bygone era long before latch key kids played X-Boxes. Cavett is, of course, a former talk show host and Emmy award winning performer, and he negotiates the angst-ridden turns of adolescence with a nimble hand, making this audiobook a much better Christmas gift than, say, a Donald Trump action figure or a generic Happy Meal.

Richard Ferrone reads ABARAT--DAYS OF MAGIC, NIGHTS OF WAR by Clive Barker for Harper audio. It's an odd followup fantasy by the bestselling horror author, about the abduction of a girl from Minnesota named Candy Quackenbush, who must discover why the land of Abarat seem so familiar to her before Christopher Carrion, the Lord of Midnight, takes total control of the islands. She evidently knows magic, although she can't remember learning it. It's a strange and beguiling novel read by one of the best mystery readers in the business. The Audie winning Richard Ferrone can also be heard narrating many titles for Recorded Books.

Oh, my. Here's Tatum O'Neal reading her memoir A PAPER LIFE for Harper Audio. As the youngest actor ever to win an Oscar, (for the classic movie "Paper Moon"), Tatum grew up neglected by her famous father Ryan to marry one of the most iconoclastic tennis players in history, John McEnroe. Their tumultuous relationship is recounted in Tatum's own words as she chronicles what led to her own drug addiction, and how quickly glamour turned into misery as their marriage collapsed amid struggles to raise three kids. It's a revealing book, on the heels of John's own memoir "You Cannot Be Serious." Who's more serious, here? That's for you to decide, but one thing's for sure. Marriage isn't always a piece of cake when one or both of you are headstrong Type A personalities with enough personal baggage to fill a bus.

Ron McLarty reads BLACK WIND for Penguin Audio, a suspense novel by Clive Cussler and his son Dirk Cussler featuring not one but two Dirk Pitts, about two Japanese submarines that were sent to attack the U.S. mainland in the last days of WWII, but sank offshore instead. Now someone intends to retrieve the deadly biological cargo and complete the attack, but there's a pretty marine biologist named Summer and both Dirk Pitt Jr. and Sr. to outwit first. The real life Dirk Cussler has an MBA, and was an active participant in his father's underwater explorations until he was persuaded to join dad in writing more bestsellers. Clive himself has a cameo role in the book, too, much like Alfred Hitchcock, who often appeared in his own films. If there's nepotism involved here, it's all in good fun, while veteran mystery reader McLarty possesses the instincts to carry it off, as he did reading the six-hour abridged versions of "Valhalla Rising" and "Trojan Odyssey." But if you prefer the full unabridged version, the always-on-target Scott Brick also reads that for Penguin Audio.

Want more underwater intrigue? Arguably the best Tom Clancy book was one of his first, THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER, published in 1984, and featuring Jack Ryan as a CIA analyst who believes one of the most technically advanced submarines in the Soviet fleet is attempting to defect. While the US Navy tries to find the sub and guide her to port, the Russians have orders to sink her at all costs. This cat and mouse game makes for some of the most rousing suspense ever written, (but which, unfortunately, Clancy has not been able to match since, opting for ever more politically entangled plots and homages to weapons and war.) To hear it unabridged for the first time on CD, listen to the engaging J. Charles as he narrates the story for Brilliance Audio. In any event, why suffer eye strain and lost time when you don't have to?

(These audiobooks may be rented from Audio Adventures by calling 1-800-551-6692. Jonathan's own new novel is the offbeat adventure "Fame Island," read by Emmy-winning Hollywood actor Kristoffer Tabori for BlackstoneAudio.com on cassette, CD, or Mp3-CD)
 

Books to Read While Working - November 2004 - Audiobooks Reviewed by Jonathan Lowe

Let's start off with an odd and quirky comic fantasy titled GOING POSTAL, a Harper Audio release about a swindler who gets the gallows yet wakes up with an angel telling him he has one chance to redeem himself--namely, to set a post office back up and running. Think Harry Potter meets Jeeves, as English author Terry Pratchett imagines machines which process mail from the future, and characters who may or may not quite literally be mad. Narrator Stephen Briggs, being English, is naturally good with English accents, and is familiar with Pratchett's earlier work, as co-author of "The Discworld Companion." There is little relevance to real postal operations here, (unlike my own mystery "Postmarked for Death," which is now an e-book at Fictionwise.com), but if you prefer Letterman over Leno, and crave a bizarre plot featuring a hero named "Moist von Lipwig," Pratchett's your huckleberry.

Into killer thrillers? Dick Hill reads THE MURDER ARTIST by John Case for Brilliance Audio. It's a mystery about the abduction of a pair of six-year old twins by a twisted killer who is one of the most unusual I've ever heard about. When Alex Callahan's boys disappear from a Renaissance Fair, he goes through all the agonies of doubt, suspicion and rage you'd expect from a young father, but when his own investigation into a few bizarre clues left at the scene leads him to a shadowy magician named "The Piper," the death of some previous twins foreshadows a diabolical link. Dick Hill is good at evoking Callahan's rollercoaster ride of emotions in this story about a parent's worst nightmare, and while the story moves slowly at times, the 14 hour ordeal might not be as believable in an abridged version.

Next, Don Bruns reads his novel BARBADOS HEAT for Blackstone Audio. It's another mystery novel, but about the murder of a congressman named Shapply who once led a crusade against offensive rap lyrics. When the congressman's son Nick gets charged, a music journalist sets off to uncover the truth and clear his friend's name. The trail leads Mick Sever from Washington to the island of Barbados, where the real killer targets him. Bruns is one of the few novelists good enough to read his own book on audio, and this short, fast-paced tale about the sordid music business makes for a diverting who-dun-it. As an advertising executive like James Patterson once was, Bruns hasn't yet taken the path to grisly glory, but time will tell whether his audience grows.

Especially for the ladies, Katherine Kellgren reads SHOPAHOLIC AND SISTER by Sophie Kinsella for Random House Audio. It's a chick lit title by the English author of the "Shopaholic" series, featuring a protagonist who obviously loves stores. This time, though, Becky Bloomwood has taken an around-the-world honeymoon only to return to London with too many souvenirs for their loft apartment, including two huge wooden giraffes. Hubby is furious, and her old best friend has a new one. Then she discovers she has a long-lost sister, but will she hate shopping? Narrator Kellgren is the perfect reader here, with her high energy and natural accent, and although the plot may be shallow, and men won't get it, there's nothing wrong with cotton candy, is there? With a pair of pink shoes to match?

Beth McDonald is one of seven narrators who reads EDENBORN by Nick Sagan for Highbridge Audio. It's a literary science fiction novel about a virus called Black Ep that devastates humanity with a near future apocalypse...as if Al-Qaeda trying to get nuclear weapons isn't enough to worry about. Only a few people survive the virus, and as the children keep diaries of their reactions to the newly empty world, a new strain comes to threaten them too. It's one audiobook that'll get you thinking about how precarious and short life for humans is on earth, and that may in turn reshuffle your priorities and perspective a bit more than watching The Apprentice or the NFL.

Speaking of the Apprentice, Bill Rancic reads his book YOU'RE HIRED--HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS & LIFE for Harper Audio. That's right, the winner of the last Apprentice has become an overnight celebrity, and so he's written a book of advice on how to get ahead in business. Can you blame him for cashing in on his 15 minutes of fame? Should you care? Of course Rancic did okay before he got to Trump's hit show, but until Trump said, "You're hired," he hadn't a prayer of getting anything published. Now other members of the show are writing books, too, including The Donald himself a second time since the show began. "You're Hired" is not without value, though, since it shows how a young man with drive and ideas, plus luck, can add his own name to the roster of guests at the Vanity Fair Oscar party.

Next, actress Kate Reading narrates the unabridged version of TRACE by Patricia Cornwell for Penguin Audio. It's the latest medical mystery novel featuring Dr. Kay Scarpetta in the C.S.I. hot seat as she returns from Miami to her home town of Richmond, Virginia at the request of the new Chief Medical Examiner there. They need Kay to help with a case involving the death of a 14 year old girl who has left only a trace of evidence behind. Besides tracking the killer on the flimsiest of details, Scarpetta faces a now- disorganized department, and must battle internal politics to get at the truth. So it's more of a look behind closed doors than just being a straight thriller. Kate Reading also narrates several other Cornwell titles on cassette and CD, and as with other audiobooks, you can also get this title in abridged format at Cracker Barrel stores or Audible.com.

A "cassette-turner" is found as Kit Flanagan reads ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK? by Sidney Sheldon for Harper Audio. It's a suspense novel by the long-time novelist, TV and screenwriter, who is back with the intriguing tale of two women whose husbands have been killed for what they knew, and who must now join forces to find out why the killers are now targeting them. With a plot involving an international think tank and the manipulation of weather phenomena, the novel develops into a cross between Michael Crichton and Nora Roberts. Although depth of character development takes a back seat to a strong narrative drive and plot twists, that's a good choice here, because the people who inhabit the novel do seem real in the hands of actor Flanagan, who maintains a believable sense of tension and surprise throughout.

For non-fiction lovers, Nigel Slater reads TOAST--THE STORY OF A BOY'S HUNGER for Penguin Audio. It's a memoir reminiscent of "Kitchen Confidential," by the bestselling British author, who remembers his childhood chiefly through what he ate, and how his mother cooked for him. After his mother's death, Nigel's father hires a housekeeper who takes over her duties in a kind of cooking contest for his affections. So it's food and more food against the backdrop of his growing angst, recalled with subtlety, wit and wistfulness by the man who can tell it best. In unabridged (meaning full text format) only, at 6 hours.

Finally, actress Anna Fields reads THE FALLS by Joyce Carol Oates for Harper Audio. It's a literary novel by the author of "We Were the Mulvaneys" about a young woman whose husband has committed suicide by jumping into Niagara Falls on their honeymoon, the day after their wedding. What happens next, as Ariah Erskine waits an entire week for the body to be found, involves an unusual attraction by the man who waits with her--a bachelor named Dirk Burnaby. Narrator Fields' largely subdued reading here suits the sometimes haunting text, and graces the dramatic aspects of the tragedy with timely nuances in the dialogue of this multifaceted and multi-generational story.

(These audiobooks may be rented from Audio Adventures by calling 1-800-551-6692. Jonathan's latest is the new "Fame Island," read by Hollywood actor Kristoffer Tabori for rent at BlackstoneAudio.com.)