Audio book Mother's day idea
 

I have been thinking of buying an audio book for mother's day. There are a few offerings, which include, downloading and even by mail clubs.

There are a few things I have been considering.

I would like to know, what some of you consider the best audio book service.

I need a c/d or mp3 to c/d service.

Books about old Americana or other old time stories.

My list so far includes,

The Grapes of Wrath

The Secret Life of Bees

Water for Elephants

(classics)
A Christmas Carol

Oliver Twist

Then there are some other classic young adult titles I thought an elderly person might like as well.

The speaking(er) has to be clear.

SO, which audio book service do you like? and do you have any good title ideas for the elderly who like old time stories?

Current titles are

Bloodroot
The Kite Runner
The Help
Cutting For Stone
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
Sarah's Key

Has anyone read any of those?

The Kite Runner is wonderful. I don't know anything about audiobooks, but that is a great story.

The Help's good.

Secret Life of Bees is a great read. Don't know what the audiobook is like.

I bought Ma a bunch of audiobook downloads from Audible for Mother's Day. About two thirds what I get from Audible is for her :p

Some recent ones that she really liked:

A Kind of Vanishing, by Lesley Thompson

When Will There be Good News, by Kate Atkninson

Astonishing Splashes of Colour, by Clare Morrall

The Forgotten Garden, and The Distant Hours, both by Kate Morton


I like the Audible service. You can choose the quality of download, so if you are downloading for MP3 player you get a lower bitrate, and if you're intending to burn to a CD you can get a higher quality.

I also like the fact that it holds your library. There is no DRM on the files and they can be redownloaded (again in whatever format you choose) whenever you like.

I'd be willing to give you access to my library if you want to check it out?

Pm me if you do. But bear in mind I am on the UK site, so some of the narrators are different. Only some though, most are the same.

THANK YOU!

Great suggestions from someone who is doing the audio gifting too. :jig:

I may take you up on your offer at a future date, because I plan to continue to do this for her. However,I do see there is a free trail, and I will do that a future date too, when my schedule is less busy. ( after I graduate )


For right now, I ordered her Snow Flower and the Secret Fan to be delivered tomorrow. My mom came from a huge strict family so I thought she might be able to relate,even though the culture is different.

I enjoyed your suggestions and as I said, after graduation I will look into it a bit more but will continue to read this thread for any updates.

I will keep your suggestions on my 'audio book list for mom', and I again thank you Dana. I'll get back to you. Probably mid June.She has cataracts and cannot read easily so I'll be back. I think this is a great gift idea for parents.

Cheers!

I should probably get her an mp3 player huh?

Probably easier than burning c/ds although she can barely manage the cell phone. Maybe I'll just stick with the c/ds for someone with failing vision.

Audiobooks rock!



[eta] Might be worth a go with an mp3 player. Something relatively simple. Especially if you're available to 'fill it up' for her when she's heard a batch of stories.

Does she have a computer?

I am just beginning to discover them, for her, as I prefer a book.

I second the recommendation for audible.com. I've been very happy with their site interface and downloading.

It sounds like my taste in books is pretty different from your mom's, so I don't have any good recommendations, other than classics like To Kill a Mockingbird and The World According to Garp.

Thanks fobble. To Kill a Mockingbird and The World according too Garp is out of her league.

In fact she isn't a book reader( except for Christian things) BUT she does like a good story. Does that make sense?

I hope this opens up a whole new world to her.

Anyway, Happy Mother's day to all!

Maybe she would like the "Left Behind" series then? I've heard it's decent for people who like that sort of thing.

Great idea. I heard those were good books to read too. I'll put them on the list for a future date.

I'm afraid if I start on the Christian genre I won't be able to get her to experience anything else. You know, something she hasn't heard of before or known about but not too much of a stretch in other ways.


I heard they were good too. I wonder if they would be good for people who don't usually read the Christian genre?

Thanks Clodfobble.

Kate Atkinson does some really good yarns. They're usually quite multilayered with a mystery at the core, but not too oblique. They feel like little sagas. Really well-drawn characters.

Jodi Picoult is another author who is pretty accessible to non-readers and generally writes stuff that appeals to women.

Has she read Mitch Albom's The Five People You Meet in Heaven ( I think that's the title). Not sure if it's available as an audiobook, but if it is I highly recommend it.

Oh, and what do you think she'd make of a medieval whodunnit like the Cadfael stories?



[eta] I just checked and several of his are available, including Five People You Meet in Heaven. Speaking as an atheist, it's one of the most engaging 'religious' stories I've read.

I liked this fellow. Mystery-Thriller with a bit of romance.

But before I really get into suggesting things, what does your mom like on TV? That might help guide book choices.

Wow, talk about a plot firmly grounded in the zeitgeist. That's fascinating.

I've gotten each of the books in the series when they've been free promotional copies for Kindle, although I am quite willing to pay for them, they're that good.

Kate Atkinson seems interesting but probably too many subplots going on for her. Jodi Picoult, whom I have never read, isn't an author I would consider. ( but I appreciate the thought) I find her subject material is like what one would find watching the news. I hate the news and don't approve of my mom watching too much of it. lol

So, to answer Wolf's question. She watches the news! Maybe not so much anymore because I haven't heard any terrible headlines for a long time.

She likes documentaries, the show Intervention and shows about animals, some biographies
She might like a little simple mystery and something funny. The Five People you meet in Heaven sounds like something she would like.

As I was searching out the titles you guys suggested, I found a few more that I think my 76 year old mom might like.

Mudbound

Bonobo Handshake: A Memoir of Love and Adventure in the Congo

Watership Down

The last fiction book she ever read was The Clan of the Cave Bear. btw

She liked that.

Ooooh.

You know that whole series is available on audio now? There are about 5 books Ithink.

There's also one called *thinks* Wolf Brother, I think, by a different author set around 5000 BC.

great dana!

Oh and I haven't had a text from her in a couple of days. I hope she is enjoying 'Snowflower and the Secret Fan'