Clear Heart, by Joe Cottonwood, on podiobooks
October 12th, 2008You all know I am a fan of Librivox, the website and community that publishes free audiobooks recorded by volunteers from public domain books.
Podiobooks.com is another model. On this website, you can download free audiobooks, but these are not in the public domain : they are mostly brand-new (often unpublished) stories read by their authors to get exposure while struggling to get the book published.
For my first step into podiobooks, I was lucky and selected the novel ‘Clear Heart‘, by carpenter/writer Joe Cottonwood. The story is a wide human saga woven around the construction of a bilionnaire’s ‘perfect house’ in the Silicon Valley, and the life of Wally, the widowed contractor on the brink of retirement. The reading is perfect, the story is gripping, the construction backdrop is something new and worth discovering, and the characters are very very … endearing. I could not say about language skills, but as far as narration and humour are concerned, the book reminded me of a blend of P.G. Wodehouse and Mark Twain.
In the three weeks it took me to listen to the whole novel, I think I have smiled more while riding to work than in the three years before that.
Apparently, the book will soon be available in print. I will definitely order it. Hope it comes with a CD with the audiobook version: the voices were so great…
Sounds great. And thanks for introducing me to yet another podcast site that was unfamiliar to me until now. Must go check it out.
I do not know about the other works available at podiobooks, but this piece really convinced me.
Thanks for the plugs, Mandarine. Joe’s book is a favorite of mine as well. I think it stands as a fine example of the kinds of work you can find on our site.
Emily, I think you’ll find our offerings a bit different than the other podcast sites you’re familiar with. At the heart, the authors are creating an audiobook, but using podcasting technology to deliver it to you over time in a true serialized format. I hope you like it.
E.
Flattered to have you here, Evo.
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