Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: White Fang

Author: Jack London

Narrator: Matthew Steward

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 45 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-26-13

Publisher: Dreamscape Media, LLC

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 13 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Five wolf pups are born, but only one survives. The lone pup and its mother must fend for themselves when the pup's father is killed by a lynx. Later, the pair is discovered by Native Americans. Grey Beaver, who recognizes the she-wolf as his late brother's wolfdog, adopts the pup and names him 'White Fang.' Targeted by the other pups in the Native American camp before being sold to a dog fighter, White Fang grows to be fierce, distrustful, and morose.

Members Reviews:

Incredible book, the best version I've found

I sampled all of the many different narrations of this book available on Audible, and i thought that this one was the best. I am so glad i bought it, because what a gorgeous, gorgeous book. I saw the movie when i was a kid. They played it a lot on the Disney channel, but the movie was a whole different thing. This is not a story about a boy as the movie was, but about a wolf, and about the harshness of his life and of the wild, and... well i won't ruin it for you. Just know that the language of the prose is beautiful and exact, and so vital that it makes this novel seem too short. Definitely a credit well spent.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: The Call of the Wild

Author: Jack London

Narrator: Matthew Steward

Format: Unabridged

Length: 3 hrs and 20 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-26-13

Publisher: Dreamscape Media, LLC

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 49 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Commonly considered to be Jack London's tour de force, The Call of the Wild tells the story of Buck, a domesticated dog ripped from a comfortable life when he is stolen from his home on a California ranch. Sold to a pair of men in Canada, Buck is trained as a sled dog in cold wilderness of the Klondike region. However, Buck's ordeal has only begun, as he is forced to learn how to overcome both in the brutal conditions and as the primal social facets as a member of a dog sled pack.

Members Reviews:

I loved it again.

I read this book years ago. Even though I had read it, it was as though it was new to me.

I enjoyed the story, because it was so natural and realistic. The narrator was excellent, too. I think this should be required reading for anyone who's interested in life, animals and humanity.

Narrator M. Steward delivers a solid performance

I have never been a big fan of listening to books as I've always preferred to read them. During a solo, 7 hour road trip for work recently , I decided to listen to Matthew narrate my favorite book. The 500 miles from my office to our client's flew by considering I never stopped nor even considered stopping as the narrative was stellar.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Classic Humorous Stories

Subtitle: From the Great Storytellers of the World

Author: Saki, W. W. Jacobs, Ambrose Bierce, Mark Twain, O. Henry, Katherine Mansfield, J. M. Barrie

Narrator: Cathy Dobson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 20 hrs and 7 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-01-13

Publisher: Red Door Audiobooks

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 13 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Over 24 of the best humorous stories ever written.

Members Reviews:

An enjoyable listen

Any additional comments?

The stories are subtle; some are whimsical, others maliciously funny. The narrator has a lovely voice and accent.

Not my favorite narrator

Would you listen to Classic Humorous Stories again? Why?

I already have. I fall asleep to these and so miss a lot of parts. It's kind of fun going back through them finding "new" story parts and even stories I'd missed while asleep. To do the narrator justice, she does read well and create distinguishable characters. i simply didn't find her soothing to listen to.

What did you like best about this story?

Love the variation and that these were not horror stories though a few were borderline but even those were tongue-in-cheek.

What aspect of Cathy Dobsons performance would you have changed?

She's very talented. I guess I got tired of listening to her voice in every story.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I felt different emotions for each story was very different.

Any additional comments?

I would love another book of humorous stories but with various narrators or perhaps a less jarring narrator voice.

Too many same same

What disappointed you about Classic Humorous Stories?

"Classic" here evidently means "public domain" and nearly all are British to boot.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Narration was professionally done.

You didnt love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

The Mark Twain stories, and those by Ambrose Bierce (particularly "Dog Oil") really stood out for me.

Any additional comments?

My fault for assuming that "Classic" meant "Famous," and not looking at the table of contents before buying.

not particularly humorous......

perhaps styles have changed greatly, but some of the stories are only mlldly amusing at best, and the stories are strangely repetitive.

The chapters aren't labeled, so there is no why to figure out which story is by which writer, unless you play them.

I usually prefer british narrators, but there is something odd hearing mark twain or ambrose bierce w/ an american accent.

Couldn't make it through more than part of the first download

Awful

What disappointed you about Classic Humorous Stories?

Not humorous in the least.

Has Classic Humorous Stories put you off other books in this genre?

Yes

Who might you have cast as narrator instead of Cathy Dobson?

Someone that didn't sound like a digital construct.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Classic Humorous Stories?

I listened to 3/4 of part one and there is nothing I would keep.

Any additional comments?

Waste of my credit for trying this service. May I have another? I won't be listening to any more of this and am happy to undownload it.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: America and Americans and Selected Nonfiction

Author: John Steinbeck

Narrator: Henry Strozier

Format: Unabridged

Length: 17 hrs and 24 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-01-13

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 50 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

More than three decades after his death, John Steinbeck remains one of the nation's most beloved authors. Yet few know of his career as a journalist who covered world events from the Great Depression to Vietnam. Now, this original collection offers a portrait of the artist as citizen, deeply engaged in the world around him. In addition to the complete text of Steinbeck's last published book, America and Americans, this volume brings together for the first time more than 50 of Steinbeck's finest essays and jouralistic pieces.

Members Reviews:

Really good Steinbeck journalism.....no kidding!

The title of this book kept me from reading it for many years even though I love Steinbeck. The title suggested that the book was a vapid piece of bragging about what a wonderful place America is....well, I do not disagree that America is wonderful and great, but I did not want to hear my beloved Steinbeck doing some kind of Readers Digest puff piece on America. Wow! Was I wrong! This book is great Steinbeck writing....nothing short of his usual perceptive and feeling prose. It reminds me a bit of Travels with Charley in that this book is non-fiction and a report on the state of American and Americans during the fifties and sixties mostly, with some World War II stuff added. One or two pieces are among the last of Steinbeck's last writings....the essays on Vietnam deal with his trip to that county during the war in 1967, and Steinbeck died less than two years later. His mature, late-life writing is simply great, as indeed most of his work was from at least 1939 forward. Thank God I took a chance on this book....good Steinbeck prose is as good as any prose ever written, and there is very good stuff here. Finally, much of what he includes here is humorous, very reminiscent of some of Twain's journalism with tongue in cheek, such as his Innocents Abroad or Roughing It. Listen and enjoy! (PS...the narrator is excellent, the sound quality excellent also)

America read America and Americans

No collection of non-fiction is more important and necessary than America and Americans. This book should be required reading for every high school student. As important as Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men, so too is Steinbeck's collection of essays, advice to writers, letters to friends, and war correspondence.

A valuable tour of Steinbeck's best non-fiction

America and Americans is a still-relevant discussion of some of our culture's most important topics, and some just for fun. All of the skills of the literary master are on display here as he paints a scathing view of 20th Century America while still retaining a hopeful tone and an unrelenting faith in humanity. The Penguin collection of the works does an excellent job of contextualizing the pieces without providing too much interpretation. Henry Strozier's baritone voice lends the weight to the text that it deserves.

Highly recommended for fans of Steinbeck or thought-provoking journalism.

History repeats itself

A must read for all Americans! The true history how we got here and were were going as the citizens of this great nation. It is sad to see it crumbling

Great novelist, average essayist.

I love Steinbeck as a novelist, but his non-fiction does not quite reach the very high bar set by his fiction.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: The Lone Ranger Rides

Author: Fran Striker

Narrator: Jeff Wiens

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 53 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-02-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 35 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

The lifeless bodies of Texas Rangers lay scattered on the floor of Bryants Gap. One man, wounded and left for the buzzards, comes back to consciousness and vows to bring the killers to justice. Now known only as the Lone Ranger, this man, his steadfast horse, Silver, and trusted friend, Tonto, set out to bring justice to the men who ambushed him and his fellow rangers.

With a Hi-Yo Silver, Away-y-y-y, the Lone Ranger embodies classic American ideals of the champions of the Wild West. The Lone Ranger first found success as a 1933 radio show, then expanded into books, television, comics, and motion pictures. This iconic character has been portrayed George Seaton, Clayton Moore, and by Armie Hammer in the 2013 movie release The Lone Ranger (with Johnny Depp as Tonto).

Members Reviews:

Hi-Yo, Silver!

The original and still the best, this is essentially the expanded version of the radio series origin story, straight from the typewriter of the Ranger's creator. The details play out a bit differently than it did on air, and not wholly to my satisifaction, but the basics are there. Why go back to the well? Because it's been a very long time since anyone told this story properly, and because I'm sick of seeing classic heroes being slapped up on the big screen only to be torn down to the level of dysfunctional society or just played for cheap laughs. They used to inspire us to live better; this book represents that time when they did just that, playing to an audience that are more familiar with hard times than we are today.

There's nothing overly sophisticated about this book. It's a classic pulp and all that implies. The characterizations are products of their time, which means some will see it through the modern lens and call it racist, and others will see it through the lens of yesteryear and be astonished at just how equal and complimentary the partnership between the Ranger and Tonto really is. And let's be honest here: while English is clearly not Tonto's first language, his broken dialect is actually more grammatically correct than many of the other characters they encounter in the stories. This book has some secondary character expansion that we never really got on the radio or the TV, and it fumbles a bit with the newfound freedom to tell more than an old script ever could. At the same time, that simplicity is a breath of fresh air. This book has its flaws, but this is the template for how it should be. Two American icons out for justice on the plains of the Old West... simple, easy, heroic, and a good setup for the series of books that follow.

The narrator could be better. His straight voice is acceptable for the Ranger, but his female lead is a bit unsteady, and his villains come across more like Yosemite Sam. Actually, that might be in keeping with the tone of the old radio/TV versions. He does, however, project a general lack of enthusiasm, which is unfortunate because anyone who has ever listened to the other versions knows, the dynamic narration is needed to push things along. It's not Shakespeare, but it does need that extra "umph" that Jeff Wiens didn't provide for whatever reason. He may not have knocked it out of the park, but he didn't kill it either, so it'll come down to personal preference. This reading might actually work better for some because it's not so over the top.

Great Classic

Loved it.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Expert Book Review

Author: Brainy Book Reviews

Narrator: Joe Bandy

Format: Unabridged

Length: 1 hr and 46 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-01-13

Publisher: Brainy Book Reviews

Ratings: 1 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Warning:This book contains spoilers!

Who is Mr. Gatsby? What happens in each chapter? What major themes are discussed? In this review of F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic you'll learn this and more...

Book Reviews gives readers an efficient way to quickly go through and digest famous and well-loved titles. Offering easy-to-read and comprehensive synopsis of every chapter of bestselling books, each Brainy Book Review highlights the key ideas behind critically acclaimed titles, helping listeners swiftly get the most out of a book.

Today, with hundreds of millions of different books in the market, time-efficiency is more important than ever for those who want to get the most out of their listening experience; Brainy Book Reviews give you an opinion and review of some of the most popular books on the market. These reviews are not intended to replace these titles, they are recommended to be used in addition.

Members Reviews:

very useful

Would you listen to The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Expert Book Review again? Why?

yes, because the information contained is very helpful

What other book might you compare The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Expert Book Review to, and why?

no comparison, maybe with another expert book review...

What does Joe Bandy bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you had only read the book?

an overall view and insight

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

n/a

Any additional comments?

no

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Anthem

Author: Ayn Rand

Narrator: Mike Vendetti

Format: Unabridged

Length: 1 hr and 57 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-23-13

Publisher: Spoken Realms

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 35 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

First published in 1937, this dystopian novella by Ayn Rand was conceived as a play when Ms. Rand was a teenager in Soviet Russia. Mankind has reached a dark age somewhere in the future. Individuality is a crime, and the word "I" does not exist. Men live for the good of their brothers. Equality 7 - 2521, seems, although he tries not to, to be continually breaking the rules.

Members Reviews:

amazing performance by the narrator.

vendetti delivers an outstanding performance as narrator. Ayn Rand delivered the most amazing short story ever.

Novel Idea

What did you like best about Anthem? What did you like least?

I appreciate the sentiment and the ambition of the novella but it was slightly drab for my taste and for what's typical of Rand. She does a good job presenting her moral prerogatives, but the story is just lackluster. I get the idea and appreciate its intention.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

I liked it, i wasn't particularly moved and having much understanding of the writer's viewpoint led to seemingly obvious conclusions, it wasn't surprising or suspenseful. Descriptive, mechanical, and expressive are my impressions of the story as a whole. The ending was predictable but i still enjoyed Rand's unique perspective and one liners.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

Narration was good.

Was Anthem worth the listening time?

Its short, so probably- i likely wont listen again tho.

Any additional comments?

a satirical approach to a fundamental concept exemplifies where taking a collective can go to far in egalitarian societies.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: The Awful German Language

Author: Mark Twain

Narrator: Cathy Dobson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 49 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-21-13

Publisher: Red Door Audiobooks

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 27 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Mark Twain's classic satire on the German language. A must listen for anybody learning German or living in a German-speaking country.

"The Germans have another kind of parenthesis, which they make by splitting a verb in two and putting half of it at the beginning of an exciting chapter and the other half at the end of it. Can anyone conceive of anything more confusing than that?

These things are called 'separable verbs'. The German grammar is blistered all over with separable verbs; and the wider the two portions of one of them are spread apart, the better the author of the crime is pleased with his performance."

Members Reviews:

This is a terrific piece of writing!

Twain's viewpoint on the German language was written a long time ago. He has been one of my favorite writers since I was a child and this is one of his funnier pieces. It is only surpassed by his story about crossing the Platte River near Julesburg CO where I currently live.

He tells a story about a buffalo climbing a tree after a hunter that makes most people laugh out loud.

I advocate reading more Twain for the good of your digestive and respiratory system!

Die Storyestmosthilariouslyfunnying

Great Twain. Sarcastic, but oh so true. How many words can YOU stick together? Hint - the Germans will beat you every time.

Is it worth the cost?

You judge. The full book (of which this is just one of the apprendices) is called a Tramp Abroad and is available on Audible for not much more and with a narration that sounds like Mark Twain!

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: The Prince and the Pauper

Author: Mark Twain

Narrator: James Conlan

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 29 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-03-12

Publisher: Cherry Hill Publishing

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 5 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

In this classic Twain tale, a poor commoner and a young prince each find out how the other half lives. Tom Canty is a young man from a laboring family who bears a striking resemblance to Prince Edward, the son of King Henry VIII and heir to his throne. Tom and Edward meet by chance, and they decide to exchange places briefly, as a lark; Edward will get to live as an ordinary boy, and Tom will enjoy the perks of royalty. But the two are separated before they can let everyone in on the joke, and Tom discovers as he pretends to be Price Edward that the castle is awash in corruption.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: The Awakening

Author: Kate Chopin

Narrator: Kim Basinger

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 38 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-19-12

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 313 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Kate Chopins novel, a landmark work of early feminism, is seen as a pre-cursor to the works of American novelists such as William Faulkner and Ernest Hemingway. The upper-class Creole society of New Orleans and the Southern Louisiana coast at the end of the 19th century is brought to audio in a stirring performance by Academy Award-winning actress Kim Basinger.

Edna Pontellier, vacationing for the summer with her family on Grand Isle, has a great desire to find and live fully within her true self. However, her struggle to reconcile her unorthodox views on femininity and motherhood with the prevailing social attitudes of the turn-of-the-century South brings the story to a tragic conclusion. The Awakenings blend of realistic narrative, incisive social commentary, and psychological complexity is the first in a tradition that would culminate in the modern masterpieces of Flannery OConnor, Eudora Welty, and Tennessee Williams.

Editorial Reviews:

Matriarch of fine literature Kate Chopin unfailingly delivers psychologically complex characters and stunningly visceral environments. Set in an upper-crust section of Louisiana towards the end of the 19th Century, The Awakening is meant to be performed. Award-winning actress Kim Basinger employs a crystalline tone when narrating this insightful and irony-rich work of fiction. Her voice is nimble enough to allow for dead-on mimicry of characters ranging from parrot to Frenchmen. Protagonist Edna Pontellier struggles to overcome feminine stereotype in a society that is determined to thwart her freedom. Rebelling against her cruel husband, Edna dallies with a young man of rakish character. Basingers taut voice enables listeners to hover with Edna between want and denial. Basingers cerebral yet poignant performance illuminates this profound novel.

Members Reviews:

Like Seeing a Movie with Your Eyes Closed

Would you consider the audio edition of The Awakening to be better than the print version?

The tension in the story along with the description make this a book that is best as an audiobook.

Have you listened to any of Kim Basingers other performances before? How does this one compare?

Her performance in The Awakening proves that Basinger can bring that taught tension we have come to recognise in her movie performances to audio books.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I couldn't wait to have the time to complete this book. It felt like Basinger was in the room telling me the story, and it was a rare treat to be able to picture her as the narrator of the story.

Any additional comments?

Published in 1899, The Awakening is a much over-looked novel by Kate Chopin, panned in her life time an dubbed "vulgar" undoubtedly because it was a novel ahead of its time. The story of a married woman opening up to life in spite of her husband's neglect and verbal abuse, The Awakening explores the murky space between loyalty and infidelity as the protagonist enjoys the company of a flirty, questionable young man who makes a habit of sweeping married women off their feet. Kim Basinger delivers a riveting performance, interpreting each character's voice with careful consideration. She captures the sultry mood of this rare story that juxtaposes snippets of beautiful description with mouth-clenching tension. Basinger captures the author's sympathy with Edna Pellier and the playfulness of Robert, who speaks in French.