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[CCBC-Net] Odyssey, some more thoughts
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From: Lesesne, Teri <LIS_TSL>
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 09:40:11 -0500
Ginny's recent post about flaws in audiobooks made me think (always a good thing). Having served on Odyssey and some other selection committees, I think we are all astonished when a book comes to us with flaws that could have been "fixed" at some point in the process. Sometimes the flaws are the fault of a copy editor (think of all the comments about HUNGER GAMES this past year and the errors that apparently crept into the final text). More often than not, though, we on the committee see contrivances in plot, stereotyped characters, too-neat endings, and the like.
The same is true for audiobooks. Sometimes the flaws are fleeting. I was listening to an audio today on the drive to work and there was a sentence where the emphasis was just all wrong. Minor thing, but it pulled me out of the book just like a flaw in a novel would.
As for listening on long commutes: I do drive some 400 miles to teach off campus classes once a month. That is perfect audiobook time. However, I listened to several chapters of the Alexie book while waiting in the doctor's office the other day. I learned to cook and clean wearing my earphones and iPod or CD player. It's like fitting in reading time for the other awards; it gets to be a part of everything you do.
And, in case I forgot to say this, kudos to the 2009 committee for fabulous selections.
teri
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Teri S. Lesesne, Professor of Library Science Sam Houston State University Huntsville, TX doctorl at shsu.edu Author of MAKING THE MATCH and NAKED READING (Stenhouse) Winner of the 2007 ALAN Award
Blog site: http://professornana.livejournal.com Web Site: www.professornana.com
________________________________________
>As for the audio winners for 2009, I am absolutely thrilled with the
>selections. While I had not had the chance to listen to the
>read-alongs, I did know the other audiobooks well. I am listening a
>second time to the Alexie narration and am just struck dumb with awe
>at how he, and he alone, I think, brings Junior to life. ELIJAH OF
>BUXTON was, I admit, my personal favorite of the audiobooks. That
>was not an easy or simple book to voice and this narrator was simply
>brilliant making Curtis' rhythm and dialect totally accessible to
>the listener. Katie Kellgren's narration for the Bloody Jack books
>is simply beyond belief. She manages all sorts of accents and even
>sings beautifully in these books. And NATION made me laugh out loud
>during my morning commute (and let me tell you how strangely folks
>look at you alone in a car laughing and/or crying uncontrollably).
>
>In addition to the stacks of books next to my bed, there are now
>stacks of audio in the car and many more to be downloaded onto my
>iPod. I can read with my eyes AND with my ears now.
>
>teri
>_______________________________________________
Received on Mon 13 Apr 2009 09:40:11 AM CDT
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 09:40:11 -0500
Ginny's recent post about flaws in audiobooks made me think (always a good thing). Having served on Odyssey and some other selection committees, I think we are all astonished when a book comes to us with flaws that could have been "fixed" at some point in the process. Sometimes the flaws are the fault of a copy editor (think of all the comments about HUNGER GAMES this past year and the errors that apparently crept into the final text). More often than not, though, we on the committee see contrivances in plot, stereotyped characters, too-neat endings, and the like.
The same is true for audiobooks. Sometimes the flaws are fleeting. I was listening to an audio today on the drive to work and there was a sentence where the emphasis was just all wrong. Minor thing, but it pulled me out of the book just like a flaw in a novel would.
As for listening on long commutes: I do drive some 400 miles to teach off campus classes once a month. That is perfect audiobook time. However, I listened to several chapters of the Alexie book while waiting in the doctor's office the other day. I learned to cook and clean wearing my earphones and iPod or CD player. It's like fitting in reading time for the other awards; it gets to be a part of everything you do.
And, in case I forgot to say this, kudos to the 2009 committee for fabulous selections.
teri
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Teri S. Lesesne, Professor of Library Science Sam Houston State University Huntsville, TX doctorl at shsu.edu Author of MAKING THE MATCH and NAKED READING (Stenhouse) Winner of the 2007 ALAN Award
Blog site: http://professornana.livejournal.com Web Site: www.professornana.com
________________________________________
>As for the audio winners for 2009, I am absolutely thrilled with the
>selections. While I had not had the chance to listen to the
>read-alongs, I did know the other audiobooks well. I am listening a
>second time to the Alexie narration and am just struck dumb with awe
>at how he, and he alone, I think, brings Junior to life. ELIJAH OF
>BUXTON was, I admit, my personal favorite of the audiobooks. That
>was not an easy or simple book to voice and this narrator was simply
>brilliant making Curtis' rhythm and dialect totally accessible to
>the listener. Katie Kellgren's narration for the Bloody Jack books
>is simply beyond belief. She manages all sorts of accents and even
>sings beautifully in these books. And NATION made me laugh out loud
>during my morning commute (and let me tell you how strangely folks
>look at you alone in a car laughing and/or crying uncontrollably).
>
>In addition to the stacks of books next to my bed, there are now
>stacks of audio in the car and many more to be downloaded onto my
>iPod. I can read with my eyes AND with my ears now.
>
>teri
>_______________________________________________
Received on Mon 13 Apr 2009 09:40:11 AM CDT
