Audiobooks: Love 'em or Hate 'em?

I like to read in silence. With no TV, no music, even when I chew gum it's too loud! My reasoning: eyeballs can move faster than a person can speak, and I get really impatient to know what happens next. Because of this, I usually can't stand audio books (books recorded on CDs, tapes, etc.).

When I was in fourth grade, I had a Teacher's Assistant (I'm bummed I can't remember her name) who read The Secret Garden, written by Frances Hodgson Burnett, out loud to our class, complete with different variations of English accents — it was so fun!

One audio book I have listened to is the recording of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling, narrated by Jim Dale. And he’s great! Jim (Mr. Dale? Jimmy? Not sure what to call him . . . ) gets REALLY into it. I mean, REALLLLLLLY into it. He switches in milliseconds between the creepy voice of Voldemort, then a raspy Dumbledore,  then a high-pitched, nervous Hermione. (Only when she’s nervous though. In all other cases, he makes her very smart sounding.)

Another cool thing is that Mr. Dale narrates the TV series Pushing Daisies, which is one of my favorite shows. Now I think of Harry Potter when I watch it!

My personal recommendation is still to read the book on your own first, so you form the characters' voices in your head. Then pick up a copy of the audiobook. What audio books have you listened to? Did you like them?

— Nancy, STACKS Staffer