Listen Legally to Best Full Audiobooks in Classics, European Literature

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Title: The Cloud of Unknowing

Subtitle: And the Book of Privy Counseling

Author: William Johnston, S.J. (editor), Huston Smith (foreword)

Narrator: Murray Bodo

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 35 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-29-10

Publisher: St. Anthony Messenger Press

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 62 votes

Genres: Classics, European Literature

Publisher's Summary:

The first work of its kind to be written in the English language, The Cloud of Unknowing is a spiritual guide to contemplation from an anonymous English monk of the 14th century. It has inspired spiritual teachers from St. John of the Cross in the 16th century to contemporary teachers of prayer Basil Pennington and Thomas Keating.

The author explains that ordinary thoughts and earthly concepts must be buried beneath a "cloud of forgetting" while our love must rise toward a God hidden in the "cloud of unknowing". While this medieval masterpiece has been translated many times, this edition is especially accessible to the modern listener.

Members Reviews:

A work by the spirit

One of the best books I've read that helps point you on the pathway to resting in God without spoiling the journey by explaining all the spiritual intricacies beforehand. Too much knowledge in this area can hurt most Christians who aren't ready by fueling their pride. But the author was careful not to make such mistake.

Great opening for those looking for meaningful worship.

Part One: The Cloud of Unknowing was terrific. Great underpinning for meditative contemplation and wonderful discussion of pride versus humility.

Part Two: Advice to the Privy Council was denser as the author described in the preface

The performance was read a little slow for my preference. However, it allowed me time to consider what was being read.

I do plan to go back and listen to it once again in the future.

A good book for the Christian.

For a Christian all other meditation is sub-fused

through Christ. This book shows the way through Christ. But a Protestant has to tunnel through or around the sacramentalism.

An Essential

Would you listen to The Cloud of Unknowing again? Why?

I would not only listen to the book again I would listen to it again and again. The nuggets of wisdom are so tightly packed that no minute goes by without seeing something that is worth meditating on.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Cloud of Unknowing?

Too many to mention. And I would also say that this is a very personal book that seems to change each time it is listened to or read.

What about Murray Bodos performance did you like?

Not my favorite but as I listened more I got used to the pacing and cadence of his voice.

Whats an idea from the book that you will remember?

Prayer is essential. Prayer is personal. Prayer is possible in each and every moment of our lives.

Any additional comments?

Be patient with the language of the book and you will be greatly rewarded.

Exceptional and necessary spiritual direction

For all serious Christians, this is indispensable for the practice of true prayer and discernment.

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Titel: Kostbarkeiten aus dem deutschen Märchenschatz. 61 wiederentdeckte Volksmärchen

Autor:: Elisabeth Hering

Erzähler: Wolfgang Gerber, Brigitte Trübenbach

Format: Unabridged

Spieldauer: 20 hrs and 13 mins

Sprache: Deutsch

Veröffentlichungsdatum: 08-05-10

Herausgeber: BUCHFUNK

Kategorien: Classics, European Literature

Zusammenfassung des Herausgebers:

Wolfgang Gerber: Geboren 1948 in Leipzig. Nach Schlosserlehre Studium an der Theaterhochschule Leipzig. Abschluss als Diplomschauspieler. 1973 bis 1979 Schauspieler am Landestheater Altenburg. Danach freiberuflich tätig als Schauspieler, Puppenspieler, Sprecher und Regisseur. Seit mehr als 10 Jahren liest Wolfgang Gerber in der Zentralbücherei für Blinde zu Leipzig Hörbücher ein.

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Title: The Red and the Black

Author: Stendhal

Narrator: NBC Theater

Format: Original Recording

Length: 56 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-22-10

Publisher: Saland Publishing

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 3 votes

Genres: Classics, European Literature

Publisher's Summary:

The Red and the Black is a historical, psychological novel chronicling a provincial young mans attempts to socially rise beyond his plebeian upbringing with a combination of talent and hard work, deception and hypocrisy yet who ultimately allows his passions to betray him.

Members Reviews:

The Red and the Black

Julien is an ambitious young man thrown into society. He steadily gains success, but in the end he gets in his own way by committing an unthinkable act.

Any English major will enjoy this book. It encapsulates a time period beautifully and is darkly humorous. It is a bit slow at times, but Julien is an interesting enough character that even the longest psychological monologues are interesting.

Why is this version Identified as Annotated? Annotation would vastly improve apreciation.

Stendhal has written a sharp, dark satire of post revolutionary France. The humor is dark, trending into melodrama. So much of the content is based in the history of that moment that an annotated version is very much needed. Despite the presence of the word "Annotated" in the title, this edition is not annotated. The error does not appear to belong to Amazon

Having read Stendhal's The Charterhouse of ParmaThe Charterhouse of Parma (Penguin Classics), I find this book to be more of a pleasure to read. The translation may be more modern, but I was looking to avoid some of the older writing styles. Even so I would love to know if there was a better translation of whatever French word was returned as "Wiseacres".

One does not hear or read the word 'droll' very often. (Dictionary.com: amusing in an odd way; whimsically humorous; waggish.) Droll is down played, roguish rather than slapstick. The wink of a non-glinting eye. Definitely not a pie in the face. Directed to the mind, not the belly. It seems perfect for a certain type of French humor and it is here in Red and The Black.

In order to appreciate droll humor, one must have a fairly deep understanding of the context of the joke. In This case much of the humor is based on class, politics, education, religious orders and French life at the time of the story.

All of this begs for Annotation. As near as I can tell, the Kindle edition has no annotation. Non-English quotes are not translated. Political parties are not identified. References to possibly real newspapers, events or people are not discussed. Even some details on church titles and hierarchies would help.

The Red and The Black follows the not so comic misadventures of Jullian Soral. Julian is a young Frenchman on the make. Note that a `soral' is a young buck. He is the bright, bookish, romantic, ambitious son of a relatively poor carpenter. His father has no patience with him. His remote country village society has little respect for the social aspirations of a peasant. He must trust to luck and his ability to navigate an increasing complex path into the more sophisticated larger world.

Some reviewers write him off as a social climber, seducer, and opportunist. Even Stendhal heaps all manner of negative judgments on Julian's personality. I suggest that he followed the path of his destiny, given his belief in his own value. He did not live in a world that permitted people to obtain promotion absent preferment and contacts. The two women who would come to love him seduced themselves.

Underneath, the general social satire, Stendhal proposes a more general observation on the human condition.

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Title: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Author: Robert Louis Stevenson

Narrator: Dick Hill

Format: Unabridged

Length: 3 hrs and 10 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-19-10

Publisher: Alpha DVD

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 20 votes

Genres: Classics, European Literature

Publisher's Summary:

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is a novella written by Robert Louis Stevenson and first published in 1886. It is about a London lawyer named Gabriel John Utterson who investigates strange occurrences between his old friend, Dr. Henry Jekyll, and the misanthropic Mr. Edward Hyde.

The work is known for its vivid portrayal of a split personality, split in the sense that within the same person there is both an apparently good and an evil personality each being quite distinct from the other. The novella's impact is such that it has become a part of the language, with the phrase "Jekyll and Hyde" coming to mean a person who is vastly different in moral character from one situation to the next.

Members Reviews:

I recommend this book it is a must read

I enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the way it showed both Dr. Jeckyl and Mr.Hyde. This book was easy to follow.

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Title: Journey to the Center of the Earth

Author: Jules Verne

Narrator: Ed Sala

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 18 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-18-10

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 15 votes

Genres: Classics, European Literature

Publisher's Summary:

An eccentric geology professor acquires an old book and hidden within its pages finds an ancient parchment. On it is a coded message that reveals directions to a secret passageway that leads deep within the earth's interior. The professor immediately sets off on a daring journey to Iceland, where he and his companions enter into an extinct volcano and make their way to the center of the earth. They soon find a strange underground world where the laws of science are turned upside down. They discover huge caverns, luminous rocks, a subterranean sea, primitive forests, and fearsome prehistoric creatures that time had forgot. The travelers encounter one stirring adventure after another as they explore deep within the bowels of the earth.

Members Reviews:

Verne doesn't disappoint

I have read a lot of Verne's novels. In this one again Verne's imagination and mastery of story telling find a synergy together. Excellent book. Narrator's voice seamlessly fits the genre and characters of the story.

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Titel: Der Zwerg Nase

Autor:: Wilhelm Hauff

Erzähler: Hans Jochim Schmidt

Format: Unabridged

Spieldauer: 1 hr and 26 mins

Sprache: Deutsch

Veröffentlichungsdatum: 02-17-10

Herausgeber: Vorleser Schmidt Hörbuchverlag

Kategorien: Classics, European Literature

Zusammenfassung des Herausgebers:

Die wundersame Geschichte eines Jungen, der - in einen Gnom verzaubert - zum Leibkoch seines Herzogs wird, dabei aber in Todesgefahr gerät und nur mit knapper Not gerettet wird.

(c)+(p) 2009 Vorleser Schmidt Hörbuchverlag

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Title: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea

Author: Jules Verne

Narrator: Noel Gibilaro

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 35 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-18-10

Publisher: Alpha DVD

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 51 votes

Genres: Classics, European Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, by Jules Verne, is a classic science-fiction novel first published in 1870. Professor Pierre Aronnax boards an American frigate commissioned to investigate a rash of attacks on international shipping by what is thought to be an amphibious monster. The supposed sea creature, which is actually the submarine Nautilus, sinks Aronnax's vessel and imprisons him along with his devoted servant, Conseil, and Ned Land, a temperamental harpooner. The survivors meet Captain Nemo, an enigmatic misanthrope who leads them on a worldwide, year-long underwater adventure.

Members Reviews:

Gothic Sci Fi classic, narrated for kindergartners

This is a fun, gothic, nineteenth century sci fi novel with one of my favorite antagonists (Captain Nemo). Unfortunately, and somewhat inexplicably, the narrator seems to assume his audience is made up of 5 year olds. His silly, chirpy, "for kids" narration completely undermines this atmospheric story, so much so that I couldn't listen beyond the first thirty seconds. Audible is doing its readers a disservice by not clearly labeling this a children's edition.

Annoying Narrator Takes Away From A Great Book

I could have enjoyed reading this book, but I found the narrator to be annoying enough to take my concentration away from the words he was reading. He consistantly emphasized parts of sentences which shouldn't have been emphasized, and didn't emphasize parts which should have been. It was as if he was reading the book for the first time and just wasn't paying attention to what he was reading. It was especially annoying to listen to him end a sentence which hadn't ended, as if he thought the sentence ended on one line only to realize that it carried on the next line.

While I applaud any narrator who "acts" out the book by giving each character a different voice, this narrator's voices were annoying at best. He gives Aronnax's faithful assistant Conseil the mad scientist's Igor's voice, while Mr. Land gets an especially annoying version of Dirty Harry. And most annoying of all, he doesn't give Captain Nemo any of the strong impression that the character is described as having.

I cannot recommend this version to anyone. I feel this is one of the great adventure stories and it is impossible to get any enjoyment out of this version because you are constantly distracted and annoyed.

Good story, terrible narrator.

The narrator sounds like he is reading in parody. Get this book with some other narrator.

Great book. Children's narration

I never thought of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea as a children's book. Obviously Noel Gibilaro did. The narration is intolerable to anyone over the age of 12, and probably to most who are under. Fortunately I got this as added narration to the Kindle version so I can still read it for myself

Narrator doesn't do justice to the story

The Jules Verne story is a classic I'd been looking forward to listening to. However, the narrator lacked the verbal skills I had expected, and I found listening to his narration so annoying that I didn't finish the book.

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Titel: Durchs wilde Kurdistan (Orientzyklus 2)

Autor:: Karl May

Erzähler: Peter Sodann

Format: Unabridged

Spieldauer: 16 hrs and 2 mins

Sprache: Deutsch

Veröffentlichungsdatum: 06-25-09

Herausgeber: Karl-May-Verlag

Bewertung: 5 von 5 von 4 Stimmen

Kategorien: Classics, European Literature

Zusammenfassung des Herausgebers:

In "Durchs wilde Kurdistan" setzt Kara Ben Nemsi zusammen mit Halef und dem spleenigen Sir David Lindsay seine Orientreise fort. Bei den allseits verachteten "Teufelsanbetern" gibt es weitere Abenteuer: Amad el Ghandur, der Sohn von Scheik Mohammed Emin, ihrem Gastfreund, soll aus der Festung in Amadije befreit werden...

(c) 2009 Karl-May-Verlag, Bamberg

Mitglieder Bewertungen:

Amazing the description of the Kurdish lands 150 years ago ...

Amazing the description of the Kurdish lands 150 years ago by someone who had never been there ! Recommended reading!

Altes Schriftdeutsch

Nett, dass man nun auch Karl May zu lesen bekommt. Aber dass alles in altem Deutsch (Thun etc) geschrieben ist, mindert das Lesevergnügen erheblich.

Karl May

First time I read one of his books in the original, old German language, version. He still captures me like he did when I was a boy. Today I am more tuned to his messages. He certainly shaped my character.

Lower rating is based on the fact that parts of the book seem to be missing. The beginning does not seem to be the beginning of the story. May have been a mistake during the download.

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Title: Interior Castle

Author: Teresa of Avila

Narrator: Susan Denaker

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 28 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-13-09

Publisher: christianaudio.com

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 240 votes

Genres: Classics, European Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Thus begins Teresa of Avila's Interior Castle, one of the most celebrated books ever written by a mystic on abiding in union with Christ. Writing in obedience to the requests of two of her superiors, the humble 16th century Spanish sister protests "...for the love of God, let me get on with my spinning and go to choir...like the other sisters...I am not meant for writing; I have neither the health nor the wits for it."

However, in her pre-coffee-house conversational style, Teresa of Avila charmingly proves to her listeners that she does have the wits for conveying that "the most essential thing is that we should love God..." as she takes us by the hand and lead us on a visually beautiful spiritual journey into the soul, that Interior Castle where Christ abides, and where we may abide with Him in holy, intimate communion.

Members Reviews:

Beautiful, Truthful and Warm

It is as if a beautiful peaceful and loving grandma is being ever so truthful and so humble in her writing, you can't help but listen and know she is speaking from a power higher than us. She is not once trying to think she knows anything, but knows the truths from God. Her insights get a little bit too complicated, but at the same time soothing to the soul.

falling in love with the Divine

Christian Classic! This is the measuring stick I read every few years. It's not to be read as a measure for achievement for bragging or boasting but a cultured humility garnered through failing and surrendering into the arms of grace.

The voice of another century long ago

If you could sum up Interior Castle in three words, what would they be?

The Interior Castle offers a brilliant framework for self reflection, spiritual maturity, and transformation.

What other book might you compare Interior Castle to and why?

This book is a good companion to works written by St. John of the Cross as both he and St. Teresa of Avila share similar interior insights and perspectives on mystical experience with the Divine.

What about Susan Denakers performance did you like?

Ms. Denaker has a good nun voice :) She speaks with clarity and excellent diction. Listening to her is like sitting at the feet of St. Teresa of Avila and listening to her spiritual experience as it was shaped in her particular world view of Catholicism in the 1500's. Yet, what Teresa shares about the mystical experience is timeless! Susan Denaker gets better and better at capturing the nuances of St. Teresa's writing voice as the Castle progresses.

A Spiritual Classic Well Read

Would you consider the audio edition of Interior Castle to be better than the print version?

In many ways, yes. You still need the printed book to study, and make notations, but the reader makes it seem as if St. Teresa herself is reading to you.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Interior Castle?

It is hard in a spiritual classic like The Interior Castle to pick a most memorable moment, for each insight is worth thought and contemplation. Pressed to answer, I have to say the explanation of intellectual visions.

Have you listened to any of Susan Denakers other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, I have not, but I will look for her in the future.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The entire book moves me.

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Title: The Glass Bead Game

Author: Hermann Hesse

Narrator: David Colacci

Format: Unabridged

Length: 21 hrs and 17 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-01-08

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 392 votes

Genres: Classics, European Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Since childhood, Knecht has been consumed with mastering the Glass Bead Game, which requires a synthesis of aesthetics and scientific arts, such as mathematics, music, logic, and philosophy, which he achieves in adulthood, becoming a Magister Ludi (Master of the Game).

Members Reviews:

One of Mankind's Best Books

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

It is not enough to say that this is a GREAT story for it's depth, wisdom and beauty are so evident that each word of Hesse's award winning novel moved me into places that only a true master could so magically conjure. I loved the reader as well and felt that the entire production was perfect. Thanks audible for providing such a service.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Glass Bead Game?

The masterful way in which Hermann Hesse concluded his story. It was pure genius.

Have you listened to any of David Colaccis other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Too many to mention. But the story of how Knecht sacrificed himself was brilliantly conceived.

Any additional comments?

To me this book has been a favorite of mine for years and each time I read (and in this case listen) I am moved to new levels of just how vulnerable we are as humans and just how beautiful each of us plays out our unique role.

Great but be warned

This is an excellently written book but is much more an exploration of the ideas around the life of the mind than it is a novel. The first part of the book is written as a future history of an individual player of the glass bead game and (like most histories) has rather weak characterization and story. Instead this history is used to explore philosophical ideas around thought and knowledge, belief and religiosity, and education and learning. If you are looking for a light science fiction story, this is not the book for you! If you have read Jung, Nietzsche & Mann you will likely appreciate the allusions to their ideas. If you love German histories and philosophers, you will likely love this book. The last chapter of the book leaves the historical narrative format and is touching. This is followed by the inclusion of three fictional stories written by the fictional protagonist. These are very nice and have the spirit of parables or religious teaching stories. The stories are only linked by their common exploration of the life of the mind. This is a great book, but many a reader may likely wonder what the heck is going on.

Modern Spirituality devoid of Magic Tricks

Someone I met, was saying about Hermann Hesse that he did not wish to read his book as he perceived them to be new age litterature. This is such a misunderstanding of the beautiful universe of wisdom and thoughtfulness to which Hesse invites his readers. As a strong atheist - Hitchen like, I am very suspicious of any author who inflicts upon us superstitious fallacies. This is far from being the case of Hesse. The spiritual essence of his books is truly modern and devoid of supernatural claims. He is not concern with magics or miracles but with the true nature of being human experience.

It had been a while since I've read a book by Hesse, and reading the Glass Bead Game felt like rediscovering an old friend. This book being its masterpiece, I shall say it was quite a reunion.