Recommended Librivox Audiobooks

July 6, 2011 7:38 AM

Great Librivox audiobooks?

I'm a big fan of Librivox audiobooks, but sometimes they can be hit or miss. Either the original work may not be intriguing or the reading may be poor, but when they both are good - wow! So what are your Librivox recommendations?

Here are some of my favorites I've listened to in the last year:

The Turn of the Screw- An eerie ghost story that is fantastically read by Nikolle Doolin.

The Virginian- A great Western novel. I found myself unconciously parodying the main character's drawl in everyday life.

Sailing Alone Around the World- An engaging account of a solo journey.

The Man-Eaters of Tsavo and Other East African Adventures- The first part is what the movie "The Ghost and the Darkness" is based on.

The Extraordinary Adventures of Arsène Lupin, Gentleman-Burglar- Sort of like Sherlock Holmes for the criminal world.

Also, this question has been asked before several years ago: Librivox Recommendations.

posted by John Frum to Media & Arts (9 answers total)

On a road trip last fall, I quite enjoyed Upton Sinclair's "King Coal". Enjoyment may depend on your politics, but the book and the narration were quite good. (Sorry, can't get the exact Librivox info here at work.)
posted by Capt. Renault at 8:00 AM on July 6, 2011

It's a bit raunchy, but I'm a fan of Mark Twain's "1601: Conversation, as it was by the Social Fireside, in the Time of the Tudors," which LibriVox does as a dramatic re-enactment with a cast of readers. Fart jokes have never been so high-falutin' ("fragrant gloom" is such a glorious turn of phrase!).
posted by DingoMutt at 8:18 AM on July 6, 2011

Powell's "Canyons of the Colorado". A little dry at times, but really a great read of a great adventure. One chapter has an off-kilter reader but it's generally really great.
posted by notsnot at 9:05 AM on July 6, 2011

Here is the link for King Coal:
http://librivox.org/king-coal-by-upton-sinclair/
posted by hughmcguire at 10:34 AM on July 6, 2011

Opps, with html:
http://librivox.org/king-coal-by-upton-sinclair/
posted by hughmcguire at 10:35 AM on July 6, 2011

The first half of Nicholas Nickleby, as sustained by the easy voice of one "Czechchris," is fantastic. Sadly, he abandons the book around Chapter 26, leaving the field to well-meaning but lead-tongued Americans. Still: there's some 14 hours of exemplary Dickens for you.

Also good, and more consistent: Barnaby Rudge.
posted by Iridic at 12:37 PM on July 6, 2011 [1 favorite]

I really enjoyed the P.G. Wodehouse books that were read by Mark Nelson. That links to just one of them, but there are a bunch. so fun!
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 6:11 PM on July 6, 2011 [1 favorite]

I just listened to the Picture of Dorian Grey, which had a pretty good reader, and am currently in the middle of Tarzan, which I am loving. Can't remember who the readers are for those off the top of my head, but I'll definitely be looking for other things they've read.
posted by lollusc at 8:32 PM on July 6, 2011

Response by poster: Thanks, guys! I should also mention that I've started listnening to G.K. Chesterton's "The Man Who was Thursday" and so far it's quite good and well read.
posted by John Frum at 8:36 AM on July 7, 2011