My love of audio-books goes way back to the time when it was assumed that they only appealed to people who had problems with their sight and has grown stronger and stronger by the year.
In fact, I consider myself to be quite an expert on them because I’ve been listening to them for over thirty years now! There are a few points that I’d make as an auido-book addict.
1. The voice of the reader is hugely important; a great reader can enhance almost any book.
2. Listening to a book being read engages one with the whole story and not just the plot. I’m often surprised when I hear a book that I’ve read how much I must have skipped over what is wonderful descriptive writing.
3. Audio-books have lured me into a all sorts of different genres from my usual reading material. For example, I’ve never particularly enjoyed reading thrillers but they I’ve found them to be very engaging listening material.
Now to my list of favourites:
1. Maeve Binchy’s books read by Kate Binchy
2. Dick Francis’ books read by either Tony Britton or Martin Jarvis
3. The Camomile Lawn by Mary Wesley read by Anna Massey
4. Rosamund Pilcher’s Books read by Lynn Redgrave
5. The Gathering by Anne Enright read by Fiona Shaw
Are you an audio-book person and, if so, what are your recommendations?
SOCIAL BRIDGE ~ Jean Tubridy connecting with you from Ireland 
Aren’t they a bit pricey though?
Hi Roy, libraries here have brilliant collections and overall they’ve gone down in price since I started buying them in the early 80s or even before!
I mostly just use them for long car trips. Stephen King has some good ones – I think he’s the one reading but I’m not sure. I love Maeve Binchy and will have to try one of her audio books now. I had never stopped to think of it before, but it must be much more fun hearing it with the Irish accent in there!
Hi Sheila, you just have to listen to Maeve Binchy’s books on tape. Kate Binchy reads them all, I think, and she’s got the perfect voice and accent for them.