Call for Contributions to Essay Collection on The Audiobook
This essay collection will consider the significance of the audiobook. The growing popularity of audiobooks over the last several decades means that literary critics may no longer be able to turn a deaf ear to the ways in which oral delivery influences the reception of literature. The essays gathered here will explore the extent to which the audiobook not only enables us to hear literature but to hear it in new ways. While audiobooks are responsible for only a fraction of the total book publishing market, their use is among the minority of reading practices found to be increasing as the number of overall readers continues to decline. Recent advances in digital audio technology in particular make this an opportune moment to reflect on the evolution of our reading practices. All critical perspectives on the history and culture of the audiobook are welcome. Some questions that might be considered: In what ways do audiobooks adapt printed texts? What skills in “close listening” are necessary for their reception? How is audio technology influencing our understanding of narrative?Prospective contributors should submit a proposal (500-700 words) and one-page cv to Matthew Rubery (rubery_at_post.harvard.edu) by 1 May 2009. The deadline for submission of completed essays by selected contributors will be 1 May 2010.
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Dr. Matthew Rubery
School of English
University of Leeds
Leeds LS2 9JT
UKWeb: http://www.leeds.ac.uk/english/staff/pages/staffindex.php?file=rube
on the web
Call for Submissions: The Audiobook
Emaildesk: Letter from Japan
Hi Hugh,
I am writing this mail just to say thank you for the wonderful project you have started.
I have been introducing Audio Books form LibriVox to learners of English in Japan in the past year, and I have had a great time.
The Secret Garden, Anne of Green Gables, The Winds in the Willows…those are the wonderful audio books I truly enjoyed to listen and to introduce in my blog.Since last month, I have started “Audio Book Club” where I introduce a particular audio book form LibriVox and exchange comments about the story with readers of my blog. This month, I picked up the Great Big Treasury of Beatrix Potter, and my first choice was The Tale of Two Bad Mice, without knowing that it was read by the founder of LibriVox.
When I found that you are the founder, I thought it is time to say thank you.Lots of people are learning English in Japan, and in other countries, and we have paid awfully lots of money to listen English. Audio Books are, although very interesting, prohibitively expensive to buy. But with LibriVox, we can enjoy wonderful books at free and also can share the pleasure with friends on internet.
It is indeed marvellous.
Thank you again and best regards,
MT
LibriVox on O’Reilly
O’Reilly TOC blog has an interview with … me! …. about LibriVox:
LibriVox is a volunteer effort with a big goal: record audiobook editions for every title in the public domain. In the following Q&A, LibriVox founder Hugh McGuire discusses the project’s beginnings, the organic development of the LibriVox community, and the distinctions (or lack thereof) between “professional” and “amateur” efforts. [more…]
Literary Readings and What We Should Do About Them
I recently came upon an article decrying the awfulness of most literary readings, pointed at by Frank Wilson of Books, Inq. Frank thinks it’s not all literary readings that make ears bleed, but that North American (versus British, Irish and other) writers have little command of the oral medium, and thinks that’s the problem.
I have no idea if he’s right, but I do know that reading a few books for LibriVox will help any writer read better aloud. Maybe publishers should require that all novelists record at least two chapters for librivox, as part of their contract?