THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE TALKING BOOK

Jim Denison narrates this audiobook about audiobooks--it doesn't get more meta than that for listeners. Rubery reveals the audiobook's history from its technological emergence in the late nineteenth century to the commercial explosion of audiobooks in the last 50 years. Throughout, he contemplates the many complicated considerations that authors, narrators, producers, and listeners have grappled with, all addressing this question: What does listening to an audiobook mean in terms of reading? Denison delivers the discussion in a straightforward and clear voice that has strong projection and good cadence. He's easy to listen to, for the most part, but it's not always clear when he switches from narrative to quotations--which can be confusing. Overall, he enhances this production, so essential for audiophiles. L.E. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2016]