Tuesday, February 12, 2019

Thank You, Edward


I usually have a real book, one on Kindle, and an audio book in progress. I've got plenty of real and Kindle books queued up, but have been searching for a good audio book. Nothing in my Audible library appealed to me, and I was getting frustrated searching Overdrive when I remembered Edward.

I have a voice crush on Edward Herrmann. His voice sounds simply perfect to me, and I will watch or listen to almost anything he does. I first knew him as Richard Gilmore on The Gilmore Girls and thought he was a wonderfully comforting presence on the show. I was happy to come across his characters on The Practice, How I Met Your Mother, and Grey's Anatomy. Someday I hope to see his portrayal of Franklin D. Roosevelt in Eleanor and Franklin.

Then I discovered that he narrated hundreds of audio books when I listened to The Boys in the Boat, a wonderful book about the 1936 US Olympic rowing team, made even better by Edward Herrmann's excellent narration. Next was Unbroken, which was also an ideal listen. So when I was at a loss for a decent audio book, I searched Edward on Overdrive. I now have hours of Edward Herrmann to listen to, ranging from The Tommyknockers to The Mysterious Edge of the Heroic World to Thomas Jefferson. I'm sure I'll have to take a break some time, but there are plenty on Audible that also interest me, like fiction by Wallace Stegner and David Guterson to biographies of Eddie Rickenbacker and Einstein.

I've started with The Tommyknockers, and while I was initially a little skeptical (it's authored by Stephen King and the reviews are all over the place), the first few hours have flown by. With more than 27 hours of Edward Herrmann in my ears, I'm like a pig in poop (just like my MiL used to say).


It's not Edward Herrmann's best, but you can listen and judge for yourself. 

15 comments:

  1. I like the sound of this! :-) I'll be interested in your review of The Tommyknockers - I had jumped off of the Steven King train around then. (It did me in...)

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  2. It's a good day to stay inside, knit the day away and listen to a book.

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  3. I think that's a great way to find audiobooks you will enjoy. I always liked Edward Herrmann, too!

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  4. New "voice" for me...I'll check him out...especially if he narrates David Guterson! I absolutely love, love, love Snow Falling on Cedars and I'd like to hear that, I think. Thanks for the tip! To be continued...

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  5. I haven't listened to enough audible books to have favorite narrators, although I hear that it makes a huge difference, and that makes perfect sense. He does have a lovely voice. My husband has a fabulous voice. All the people who call me want to know if he is a radio announcer. Now if he could just read to me...

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  6. Hmmm - this seems like the most excellent plan! I have written down a few of these for the near future! I am in the midst of a bit of a book avalanche from Overdrive!

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  7. I do love his voice and I bet it makes the book! I haven't dipped my toes into listening to books yet. I read on my kindle and then I do love the physical book so very much.

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  8. The narrator can make or break an audio book for me. Excellent idea to search by narrator, I am adding this to my search ideas for Overdrive. And "a pig in poop." I've never heard that one before but it makes me smile. Once in a workshop I attended, the icebreaker was to offer a saying from your family. It was one of the more memorable and fun icebreakers I participated in during my teaching career.

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  9. audio books sound wonderful - i might have to look into this for when i am doing my chores.

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  10. I had no idea! This is the kind of thing that might finally get me into audiobooks, to be honest. I usually have trouble keeping my attention, but a good voice might be the trick. And I've with you in being a fan of Edward Hermann. The GG reboot just wasn't the same without him.

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  11. Oh, I DO love his voice! (I have several favorite narrators.) And I am a "secret" Stephen King fan . . . (his books are always my "guilty pleasure" summer beach reads). Enjoy!

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  12. A friend of mine loves the voice of George Guidall, another great narrator. I have quite a few favorite voices (Simon Vance is one) and I'm doubly thrilled when the book I want to read is narrated by one of my faves. Enjoy many, many hours by Edward!

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  13. YES! Your advice about familiar voices is what finally got me into audio books. I've been slacking in that area lately -- for a couple of reasons, but this might be one of them. Also YES to Edward Hermann!!

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  14. So far I haven't been able to get into audio books. I am now starting to listen to podcasts (99% invisible and Serial) at lunch when I knit. It surprises me because I've always enjoyed being read to. I may need to give audio books another try.

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  15. *raises hand* another Edward fan here, too! I have William Stegner on my TBR ... I'll have to search out the audio!

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