Need Help Choosing an Audiobook for Long Trip - Vanity

self | 03/27/09 | self

[Yaelle]

We are going on a long car trip, with kids in the back. There will be a long stretch of desert without much radio. We adults would like to listen to something interesting on the trip.

We have already purchased the audio to Mark Levin's Liberty and Tyranny for the way there.

On the way back, we'd love a mystery or something really gripping. Here is where you come in.

Those of you who listen to audiobooks, or read mysteries, can you think of one that you loved, not too feminine please, got to please the guys, that does NOT have overt sex in it? The kids may or may not be listening at any point in time. (They have videos to watch and music players but you never know what they will be doing or whether they might be listening.)

[Yaelle]

Thanks a bunch for some tips on something really fun to follow that is without sex scenes!

[Caipirabob]

Frank Herbert’s Dune series is fun for LONG trips. Also, we enjoy listening to Michael Crichton when we can find one of his books on CD. Tom Clancey is excellent as well.

[1rudeboy]

I'm not a user of audiobooks, but I would imagine the first few books of Asimov's Foundation series would be excellent for a long trip. (And it's sorta' kinda' a mystery).

[Yaelle]

Crichton and Clancy — do they have sex scenes in their books? We do want something in that genre. Dune is more science fiction, no?

I can read a million reviews on Amazon, but the reviewers are not going to mention scenes that are in there, and I’ve read enough mysteries to know that there can be stupid things about how the detective finds himself “reacting” to the lovely blonde witness, in detail, etc...

[PilotDave]

Just finished 1776 on cd. Great.

[bboop]

We have loved Michael Medved’s series on American History. They are fascinating talks, full of information, great delivery. I think his site is Tree Farm or something.

[Yaelle]

Thanks! You are right that Asimov is decent but not gripping enough for me, the chick. LOL.

[MeanWestTexan]

I have really enjoyed several of Stephen King’s short story collections on tape.

The short stories are easier to follow, and keep my interest better, while being distracted by driving.

[Dr. Sivana]

A number of Rex Stout Nero Wolfe stories are available. Some Buried Caesar is excellent. The Doorbell Rang and Too Many Cooks Are also good

Any of the Jeeves audiobooks from PG Wodehouse are suitable for the whole family..

[Lucky9teen]

I say anything from Dean Koontz or Stephen King for the "mystery" or "gripping" perspective.

Also, anything by Frank Peretti...

Set in the apparently innocent small town of Ashton, This Present Darkness follows an intrepid born-again Christian preacher and newspaper reporter as they unearth a New Age plot to take over the local community and eventually the entire world. Nearly every page of the book describes sulfur-breathing, black-winged, slobbering demons battling with tall, handsome, angelic warriors on a level of reality that is just beyond the senses. However, Christian believers and New Age demon-worshippers are able to influence unseen clashes between good and evil by the power of prayer. Peretti's violent descriptions of exorcisms are especially vivid: "There were fifteen [demons], packed into Carmen's body like crawling, superimposed maggots, boiling, writhing, a tangle of hideous arms, legs, talons, and heads." This book is not for the squeamish. But for page-turning spiritual suspense, it's hard to beat.

[Yaelle]

1776 is an excellent book! I have it too.

We are in the market for something like an audio version of 24, that kind of thing. We will be dedicating half the trip to patriotism through Mark Levin as it stands. (Though I see that he is not the reader — shucks!)

[Queen of Excelsior]

Vince Flynn writes great political thrillers. Don’t know if he’s got audio books but worth checking into.

[Yaelle]

Aaaa! Stephen King would scare me right off the road!! I am a sissy! LOL.

[Yaelle]

Thanks — these are the kind of tips I wanted to follow up on — looking them up — thanks!

[Frogtacos]

Don't know if he has anything current but Dave Barry is quite humorous.

[Yaelle]

Oooh, political thrillers! We love that!

(But politicians are always getting entangled in sex - hopefully no boy-brothel-in-basement scenes??)

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

Anything by LeCarre before he went off the deep end, which was about 10 years ago LOL.

[Yaelle]

Hmm, Dave Berry — funny is good too...

[MudPuppy]

the Screwtape letters by CS Lewis

:)

[a fool in paradise]

You can also find old time radio shows (public domain)

www.archive.org/details/oldtimeradio

Dimension X and Suspense both have some interesting programs with established actors.

Oddly enough, I heard a “modern” (post 1970s, not sure how much more recent, e.g. post 2000?) radio drama with Stacy Keach.

[Damifino]

With the risk of being ridiculed form my the other men on this forum; I really liked "The Thirteenth Tale" by Diane Setterfield.

In audio form it is partially read by Lynn Redgrave. She has has a fantastic reading voice. The story is one of the best I've heard on audio - twisting tale that I did not guess the ending. I often have a book pegged before the halfway, not this one. Two thumbs up here.

[Petronski]

Stalingrad, Anthony Beevor
The Second World War, Winston Churchill (in four parts, 40 hours total)

[Yaelle]

RE Vince Flynn:

Itunes has several unabridged: In list from highest popularity, the top three are:

Act of Treason
Consent to Kill
Protect and Defend

Any opinion about which to get? Any of them have scenes we should know about?

Just want to say that violence is OK (in context) but prefer w/o sex scenes, or at least extremely discreet ones.

[Tijeras_Slim]

I listened to Stalingrad going through the Mohave. Excellent book.

[anniegetyourgun]

http://www.amazon.com/Testament-John-Grisham/dp/0385339585/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238179956&sr=1-11

I liked this one, but even better is suggestion in post #10!

[MeanWestTexan]

Actually, many of his short stories are not horror and the ones that are horror tend in the pyscological realm.

[Yaelle]

the Screwtape letters by CS Lewis

While I am impressed by C.S. Lewis, it's not our religion so not quite the same effect. But he was an amazing man and an absolute genius.

[day10]

Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Rand.

[MIchaelTArchangel]

Buy a taser. It’s much more effective.

[Queen of Excelsior]

If you have not read any of Vince Flynn, the first book is Term Limits and they are kind of a series. There are 10 books so far but you can jump in at any book because they are great stand alone stories- you just won’t have as much of some of the characters backgrounds. The most recent book,Extreme Measures, has most of the action occurring towards the end so I wouldn’t recommend this one as a best choice for your trip. And yeah, no “boy-brothel-in-basement scenes”. LOL

[Petronski]

If you liked that, you would probably enjoy the Churchill audiobook. The reader, Christian Rodska, has a very Churchillian sound to his voice...not a caricature, just a close similarity.

It’s a surreal experience, like pouring Winston a brandy and sitting with him by the fire while he tells the whole story.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Excellent, I’ll find it.

[KansasConservative1]

Seriously, the greatest audio book of all time is john krakauer - into thin air. He reads it and the adventure is so awsome it is a prsonal account of the Mt. Everest disaster in 1996 where 11 people died on the summit.

[Yaelle]

Atlas Shrugged is not fiction. (LOL)

No, seriously. Love the Galt Man but his speeches would have my hood ornament impaled in a cactus at some point.

[edzo4]

I like Robert Parker, the Spenser or Jesse Stone Novels, although since they made the TV shows I can only picture Robert Urich or Tom Selleck as the hero.

[DaiHuy]

Atlas Shrugged if you can find it

[Queen of Excelsior]

Act of Treason is one of my favorite books by Vince Flynn. But Protect and Defend and Consent to Kill are very good too.

[Yaelle]

Seriously, the greatest audio book of all time is john krakauer - into thin air. He reads it and the adventure is so awsome it is a prsonal account of the Mt. Everest disaster in 1996 where 11 people died on the summit.

Just bought it. I remember staying up late in Grindelwald reading that book about the Eiger Nordwand - Wall of Death or something. Talk about gripping. And there is no time for sex while climbing the mountain, is there, LOL.

Still looking for a mystery, one of the political thrillers...

[Vinnie]

I like author Vince Flynn, character Mitch Rapp is sort of Jack Bauer on steroids.

Police mystery..author Michael Connelly. Really liked
‘The Closers’. It’s a cold case file mystery.

[Yaelle]

OK, I got Act of Treason.

I think we have enough books now!! (But any further suggestions might help other travelers, of course.)

Thank you all. I love FReepers.

[MeanWestTexan]

Screwtape Letters is actually pretty compatable with Judaism, if you overlook the Devil-as-evil vs. Devil-as-temptor-doing-his-job conflict (which is a pretty fine theological line, really) and which doesn’t come to play in the story in any meaningful way.

It’s the tale of a man struggling with both his religion and the conflict between concentrating on Earthly vs. Divine goals.

Not preachy Christianity, at all.

Favorite seen: the guy is sitting in church (could be a Shul), looking around and thinking “what a bunch of F!@ng crooks and hypocrites”. . . the Temptor encouraging certain thoughts.

[mollynme]

I'll second anything by Connelly.
For a good mystery, you can't beat a classic Agatha Christie or one of PD James' Inspector Dalgliesh books.

[Vinnie]

Flynn is best read in order but not necessary. I started in the middle then went back to book one.
It’s just the development of the main character Mitch Rapp.

If politicians are as bad as he writes about (and I suspect they are) we are lucky to survive as a Country.

[Wife of D]

Hey, Books! My favorite!

Just searched to make sure what I suggest is available, and it is...David Baldacci, “The Camel Club Audio Box Set Box Set”. It’s a set of 3 stories - The Camel Club; The Collectors; Stone Cold - for $19.79 over at “the river” site. (Can we mention retail websites here? can’t on ebay....)
Anyway, I think Baldacci is a great mystery read with light moments thrown in. Lighter than Grisham. Not really any sex scenes and the violence is not too bad. Almost any of his books would be great, the Camel Club series is more timely.

[Tax-chick]

Clive Cussler!

[Tax-chick]

although since they made the TV shows I can only picture Robert Urich or Tom Selleck as the hero

You say that as if it's a bad thing ...

[jagusafr]

Any of the W.E.B. Griffin series (I’m partial to the current “Presidential Agent”) are really excellent - there’s the occasional veiled and tasteful sexual reference, but nothing tender ears will be corrupted by.

Colonel, USAFR

[jagusafr]

“the Screwtape letters by CS Lewis”

The John Cleese version is absolutely classic! The liner notes call it “the perfect blending of man and material”, and they’re right.

Colonel, USAFR

[razorback-bert]

David Baldacci...The Camel Club and any others of his.

[Yaelle]

Favorite seen: the guy is sitting in church (could be a Shul), looking around and thinking “what a bunch of F!@ng crooks and hypocrites”. . . the Temptor encouraging certain thoughts.

You are right that anyone can relate to such thoughts. What about the thought that comes to your mind when an insufferable bore is regaling you with tales of her Perfect Child and how he just got accepted to Yale, bla bla bla... That's why we have Yom Kippur, to ask forgiveness for the horrible second of hoping the kid drops out and goes to Jamaica to study ganja growing...