Reading as a cheap hobby

Quasar

@PipneyJane ,  Yes, many of those youtube audiobooks are librivox recordings. Haven't tried Librivox per se, but I think I will.

For Jane Austen, look for readings by Karen Savage on youtube. She is amazing and correct, I believe, but reads rather fast. However, on a speed setting of 0.75 she is ok, although I'm getting used to her "normal" speed. She has only recorded four of Austen's book (and other authors of course). Then I found Emma and Northanger Abbey, but read with an American accent - LOL, sorry but NO!

Huxley's Brave New World, is on youtube, read by no less than Michael York. Now that WAS a treat. Orwell's 1984 also well read but can't remember by whom. Kafka also has some good readers.


PS. I hadn't posted for ages on MSE and I feel almost like a newbie, but why can't we quote posts anymore? Just curious.

Nonnadiluca

I'm never without a few books on the go, some physical and some ebooks and audiobooks from Borrowbox  I also like the Ellie Griffiths Ruth Galloway series and her other books are good too, especially The Postscript Murders and The Stranger Diaries. I love Perfume by Patrick Suskind and anything by Claire North, my favourite is probably The Sudden Appearance of Hope. Frederick Backman is also well worth a read. oh ,not to forget The Salt Path and the 2 sequels by Raynor Wynn . I'll stop listing now or I'll be here all night! Reading is just the best thing, free or very cheap, takes you to another world, there's always something to learn. I've had a bit of a tough year and nothing helps lift your mood and lower stress levels than a good book, a cup of tea and feet up on the sofa - bliss!
It's good to hear what others recommend, always something new to try.

MrsStepford

Perfume was great. I'll lob some recommendations into the mix.. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, The Swimming Pool Library by Alan Hollinghurst, the Hidden Norfolk series by J M Dalgliesh, the Grimm Up North series by David J Gatward, the Tales of the City series by Armistead Maupin and Orlando by Virginia Woolf, as well as The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald. 

Brambling

I like a good Scandi murder some recommendations are Camilla Lackberg both her Patrick Hedstrom / Erica Falck and her new series Mina Dabiri/vincent Walker.  Jo Nesbos - Harry Hole series but not his other books, Chris Ould - Faroes Island series, Mons Kallentoft - Malin Fors series

I'll also add Stuart Macbride, James Oswald, Stephen Booth, Karen Slaughter, Peter James and Peter May and I've just picked up cheap Ian Rankin Rebus series to reread 

there are non crime books on my book shelf honest 😁 Robert Goddard, Barbara Erskine, Ken Follett, Neville Shute to name some 

MrsStepford

A Town Like Alice is a fantastic book as is On The Beach. Pa moved his books into my bookshelves when I was a teenager so that Ma could have a fourth wardrobe in their bedroom. I discovered Nevil Shute, Dennis Wheatley, John Steinbeck and one which got me snuffly , Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keys. 

Quasar

@ MrsStepford, Flowers for Algernon is one of the best books I've ever read. Heart-breaking and exhilarating at the same time.

Brambling

I've not read Flowers for Algernon so that's been added to the list 🙂  

i would recommend Birdsong for anyone who hasn't read it although I suggest not for holiday reading which is when I first read it!  I also recommend The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver but I haven't enjoyed all her books and did give up on Poisonwood Bible 

MrsStepford

Absolutely agree @Quasar and husband did cry when he read it. 

-taff

I'm another fast reader and after an initial feeling of no, I want real books, I bought a kindle One of the best things I've ever done. There are about 700 books on mine now and I do re read quite a few of my favourite authors, I like to see bits I haven't noticed. I love sci fi and sometimes fantasy, favourite authors are Gemmell, Richard Morgan, Alistair Reynolds,Terry Pratchett, Peter Morowood, Guy Gavriel Kay, John Connolly, Lee Childs, Mark Lawrence and many more. I am not an intellectual of any decription, i like my books simple, good v evil type stuff. The only other books I have in abundance are cookery books. Much like I cn't resist kitchenalia, I can't resist a cookbook.

MrsStepford

I can't resist a cookbook either @-taff especially vintage ones. Quirky does it too, so I have  cookbooks from Len Deighton, Frankie Dettori, Deborah, Duchess of Devonshire and Dirk Benedict.