The eMusic Library
This past week has been a busy one for me. As eMusic’s resident librarian, I’ve had the pleasure of sifting through the nearly 600 audiobook titles that are newly available on the site. I’m especially pleased to see offerings from some of my favorite authors ever: Philip Roth, Don DeLillo, and Junot Diaz. Find your favorite authors in the fabulous new wing of the eMusic library by browsing some of the most exciting new arrivals here and see my book list below for some commentary. I’d love to know which books excite you the most, so do let me know. You’ll never be shushed in the eMusic library—I promise!
Special Topics in Calamity Physics
The most talked about literary debut of 2006. I initially felt wishy-washy about this novel—I had a love/hate relationship with the precocious teenage heroine—but I still find myself thinking about it a lot. And isn’t the sign of a great book when you just can’t get it out of your head?
This Is Your Brain on Music
A must-read for anyone who’s obsessed with music (I’m assuming that’s most of us here on 17dots, right?). Why does music touch us so deeply? How does your body react to music that you love or hate? What causes ear worms, anyway? Neuroscientist Levitin answers all of these questions and more.
The Color of Water
James McBride’s heartrending memoir of growing up in a biracial family. The memoir was a runaway bestseller when it was published a decade ago, and now McBride’s new novel, Song Yet Sung, is getting raves.
Raymond Chandler
I’ve never read Chandler before, but something tells me that audiobooks are the perfect format for delving into noir detective stories. I’m thinking of starting with The Long Goodbye, which was just selected as the latest title for the “One Book, One Chicago” book club run by the Chicago Public Library.
Under the Banner of Heaven
Jon Krakauer’s bestselling examination of Mormonism. I realize that Mormons aren’t down with polygamy, but its splinter groups are. And that’s salacious material for a Big Love fan, such as myself.
The Stephen King Collection
We don’t have a complete Stephen King catalog just yet, but this story collection is sure to offer enough thrills and chills to hold you over.
Forgot to tell you to stay tuned for Kurt Vonnegut, exclusive content from a very hip literary magazine, and many more new titles…
Philip Roth, Philip Roth, Philip Roth. You need “The Plot Against America,” tho.
I stopped toward the beginning of “Special Topics in Calamity Physics.” Something about the book made it hard for me to dig deeper: Too precious, too gimmicky/cutesy. Can’t explain it well. Anyway, I’ve been promising myself that I will give it another try, along with that other big book from 2006, about high-powered recent college graduates in post 9/11 New York (the title escapes me now).
The Emperor’s Children by Claire Messud, right? I was supposed to love that book in the same way I was supposed to love My So-Called Life and Ani DiFranco in the 90′s. They were supposed to be “so me,” and yet. Something was missing.
Yeah, that’s the one. Another novel where I couldn’t get past the second chapter.
I feel a stronger emotional connection to the “Junie B. Jones” books I read with my 7-year old daughter.
My advice on Chandler: start with Red Wind. For one thing, it’s unabridged (it’s a novella-length story); for another, it’s one of his best stories, and it has an amazing opening:
The Long Goodbye is best done after some of the earlier novels (The Big Sleep; Farewell, My Lovely), at which point the world-weary quality of the novel will make a lot more sense.
Under the Banner of Heaven is fascinating, and part of the fun for a fellow Big Love fan is recognizing all the details they lifted directly from this book (or, at the very least, from actual polygamist communities).
Thanks for the great recommendation, Tom. Red Wind, it is!
I don’t think I have the attention span for the whole audiobook thing. However, should Frank Portman’s (Dr. Frank of Mr. T Experience) King Dork ever be added, I might be convinced to give it a shot. It would be a perfect addition.
Totally agree ptolemyclark. I hope we can convince random house to have Frank record it. It would be amazing.
I’m there with you on King Dork. So many great books are not yet available in audio format, and I’m hoping that will change. Surprisingly, none of Charles Bukowski’s works have made the transition. With the right narrator, that stuff could be amazing.
There’s an audio excerpt of King Dork available for download on Frank’s site. I downloaded it but haven’t listened to it yet. I think it would be brilliant to hear him read it himself.
And I’d love see Bukowski added too, maris! I find myself reading Last Night of… Poems out loud all the time.
I came to post a comment saying Vonnegut, Vonnegut, Vonnegut! However, you beat me to it. Good news on an Easter Sunday.