I'm going on a week-long beach trip for summer vacation and would love to download some audio books for the 12-hour car trips. Any good suggestions for titles, authors, etc?
Will probably use itunes to download the books, but if you have other suggestions for venues to get them, let me know.
Thanks 
May 2008 CSR 
Do you prefer fiction or non-fiction?
If you enjoy Non-Fiction I'd get anything by Malcolm Gladwell. They move really quickly and are really interesting. Good car material to make the time pass.
We really enjoyed the LotR trilogy (by the BBC) on a recent road trip.
We really enjoyed the LotR trilogy (by the BBC) on a recent road trip.
That would be cool. Who did the reading?
It's not so much read as acted; with the dramatic music, sound effects and all.
From the box:
"Widely regarded as a broadcasting landmark, this thrilling dramatization by Brian Sibley and Michael Bakewell boasts a truly outstanding cast including Ian Holm, Michael Hordern, Robert Stephens, and John Le Mesurier. Tolkien's tale relates the perilous attempt by Frodo Baggins and company to defeat the evil Saruman and dispose of the Ruling Ring.
Brian Sibley, one of the original dramatists, wrote the opening and closing narration for the character Frodo, played by Ian HOlm, who now stars as Bilbo in the feature films based on The Lord of the Rings.
This program includes a bonus CD featuring Stephen Oliver's complete musical score and a demo version of John Le Mesurier singing Bilbo's Last Song. Also included is a fold-out version of the original Middle-earth map, by Christopher Tolkien."
Also on the box:
"This dramatization of Tolkien's epic is eminently suited for audio, and it's hard to imagine anyone doing it better than the BBC does here. This ambitious and lavish recording offers generously orchestrated musical accompaniment and settings, good vocals, truly outstanding sound effects, a vast cast...and excellent acting." -- AudioFile
It's 13 hrs 15 min and we likey.
We really enjoyed the LotR trilogy (by the BBC) on a recent road trip.
Ooh, I like that idea.
Also like the Gladwell idea, but it depends on who's in the car with you!
It's 13 hrs 15 min and we likey.
13 hour should get you to most places you're likely to drive!
Thanks for the suggestions, guys! Now I need to figure out how to get my ipod to hook into the car... I don't think it has a hook-up. Maybe I get little portable speakers...
May 2008 CSR
Thanks for the suggestions, guys! Now I need to figure out how to get my ipod to hook into the car... I don't think it has a hook-up. Maybe I get little portable speakers...
There are lots of options now-a-days bali. If your car does not have iPod compatibility (most cars more than a few years old do not), I like to use an FM Transmitter like this one (note I am not recommending this particular model, just using it as an example). It is a very simple device. You just find an FM frequency (like 87.9) that is not used in your area, preferably with nothing above or below that frequency, then set the transmitter to the same frequency you found on your car stereo. On a cross-country trip, you may have to find a new frequency once or twice but it's not a big deal. We drove for twelve hours across multiple states and I think we had to change the frequency once. It's not the best quality option, versus hard-wiring a connection into your stereo, but it's cheap and very simple. I personally prefer this to the more professional options, just because it's so easy. I'm perfectly capable of installing an iPod-capable stereo (or otherwise facilitating a direct connection), but I feel no need to as my FM transmitter works just fine and best of all I can take it with me when not in the car.
The sound quality will certainly be fine for an audiobook I think.
Yeah, it's not as good as it would be if it weren't being transmitted via FM certainly; but the reason you use an unoccupied frequency is so there is no (or minimal) interference. I used it listen to music most every day before I got an XM receiver as a Christmas gift.