A growing fad for
actors "between movie projects" is narrating recorded
books. Here are a few of the celebrities you can listen
to on recorded books from the Fairfax County Public Library:
The Grass Crown by Colleen McCullough
Academy-Award-winner F. Murray Abraham ("Amadeus")
presents McCullough’s novel of power struggles
in Republican Rome.
Red Storm Rising by Tom Clancy
Using the latest advancements in military technology,
the world's superpowers battle it out on land, sea, and
air for the ultimate global control.
Interview With the Vampire by Anne Rice
F. Murray Abraham seems to inhabit the Vampire as he
pours out the erotically charged confessions of his
first 200 years as one of the living dead.
Exit to Eden by Ann Rice (Writing as Anne Rampling)
"
X-Files" T.V. and film star Gillian Anderson reads
an Ann Rice novel about a couple’s visit to The
Club, an erotic vacation paradise where nothing is
taboo. Also narrated by Gil Bellows.
Her Mother’s Daughter by Marilyn French
Academy-Award-winner Kathy Bates ("Misery," "Titanic")
presents French’s story of four generations of
magnificent women.
Blood Shot by Sara Paretsky
Kathy Bates narrates this V.I. Warshawski mystery.
Gunman's Rhapsody by Robert B. Parker
Spencer creator Robert B. Parker turns his eye to the
Old West with this stirring rendition of the legendary
exploits of Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, The Clanton Gang,
and the fateful meeting of blood and bullets that became
known as the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.
Exit to Eden by Ann Rice
Gil Bellows and film star Gillian Anderson read an
Ann Rice novel about a couple’s visit to The
Club, an erotic vacation paradise where nothing is
taboo.
The Beach House by James Patterson
The tale of one man's search for his brother's killer.
The Moral Compass: Stories for a Life's Journey by
William J. Bennett
Author William Bennett; his wife, Elayne; T.V. and
film actors Stephen Collins ("7th Heaven," "First
Wives Club"); Vondie Curtis-Hall ("Sirens," "Eve’s
Bayou"); T.V. actress Megan Gallagher ("Hill
St. Blues," "China Beach"), veteran
film star Charlton Heston ('Gideon," "Planet
of the Apes"); film veteran Rita Moreno ("West
Side Story," "Resurrection"), daytime
series regular Tonya Pinkins ("All My Children");
film and T.V. star Richard Thomas ("Swiss Family
Robinson," "The Waltons") and Emmy-Award-winner
Betty White ("Golden Girls," "The Mary
Tyler Moore Show" ) narrate William Bennett’s
companion to his bestseller, The Book of Virtues. Also
read by Simon Jones.
The Moral Compass: Stories for a Life's Journey by
William J. Bennett
Author William Bennett; his wife, Elayne; T.V. and
film actors Stephen Collins ("7th Heaven," "First
Wives Club"); Vondie Curtis-Hall ("Sirens," "Eve’s
Bayou"); T.V. actress Megan Gallagher ("Hill
St. Blues," "China Beach"), veteran
film star Charlton Heston ('Gideon," "Planet
of the Apes"); film veteran Rita Moreno ("West
Side Story," "Resurrection"), daytime
series regular Tonya Pinkins ("All My Children");
film and T.V. star Richard Thomas ("Swiss Family
Robinson," "The Waltons") and Emmy-Award-winner
Betty White ("Golden Girls," "The Mary
Tyler Moore Show" ) narrate William Bennett’s
companion to his bestseller, The Book of Virtues. Also
read by Simon Jones.
Murder on the Aisle edited by Mary Higgins Clark
T.V. actor David Birney ("St. Elsewhere," "Star
Trek: Deep Space Nine,"); former "Laugh-In" regular
Arte Johnson; T.V. series actor Perry King ("Riptide"),
the late film actor Roddy McDowall "Planet of
the Apes," "How Green Was My Valley")
and comic Joan Rivers read award winning mysteries
from this Mystery Writers Association of America anthology.
The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher by Beatrix Potter (cassette & book)
Stage actress Claire Bloom ("The Belle of Amherst"),
actor John Cunningham and Academy-Award-winner Meryl
Streep ("One True Thing," "Sophie’s
Choice") narrate this classic Potter children’s
tale as Jeremy attempts to catch his dinner, but comes
up with more than he bargained for!
The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin by Beatrix Potter (cassette & book)
Squirrel Nutkin would rather ask an old owl riddles
than gather nuts with the other squirrels.
The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle by Beatrix Potter (cassette & book)
Lucie visits the laundry of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, a hedgehog,
and finds her lost handkerchiefs.
Prince Caspian by C. S. Lewis
How Caspian and his army of talking beasts conquered
the Telemarines unfolds in Book Four of the Chronicles
of Narnia.
Hansel and Gretel: and Other Fairy Tales by the Brothers
Grimm. Retold by Amabel Williams-Ellis.
Hansel and Gretel -- The golden goose -- Mrs. Owl --
Shiver and shake.
Romeo and Juliet by Williams Shakespeare
Shakespeare's tragic play about two star-crossed lovers
and their feuding families is brought to life.
All’s Well That Ends Well by William Shakespeare
This adaption from the Boccaccio Decameron of Shakespeare's "dark" comedy
eloquently explores human virtue and gullibility.
Message in a Bottle by Nicholas Sparks
Film actress Kathleen Quinlan ("A Civil Action," "Apollo
13") and T.V. actor Bruce Boxleitner ("Babylon
5") narrate Sparks bestseller. When a love letter
is found inside a bottle on the shores of Cape Cod,
it changes the life of a single mother forever.
The Holy Road by Michael Blake
A dramatic sequel to the tale of army Lt. John Dunbar
(Dances With Wolves) and his life with the Comanche
Indians on the Great Plains.
Heart of the West by Penelope Williamson
"
Judging Amy" star Brenneman reads Williamson’s
frontier saga of Clementine Kennicutt, a ladylike New
Englander who comes to the wilds of Montana in 1879
with her new husband.
Black Light by Stephen Hunter
Film actor Beau Bridges ("The Fabulous Baker Boys," "Seven
Hours to Judgement") reads Stephen Hunter’s
thriller about a former combat soldier investigating
the forty-year-old murder of his father.
Montana 1948 by Larry Watson
The events of that small-town summer forever alter
David Hayden's view of his family: his self-effacing
father, a sheriff who never wears his badge; his clear
sighted mother; his uncle, a charming war hero and
respected doctor; and the Hayden's lively, statuesque
Sioux housekeeper, Marie Little Soldier, whose revelations
are at the heart of the story. It is a tale of love
and courage, of power abused, and of the terrible choice
between family loyalty and justice.
Rose Madder by Stephen King
The author and film actress Blair Brown ("The
Bad Seed," "Altered State") narrate
this thriller about Rosie Daniels, who abruptly leaves
a nightmare marriage and must hide in a new identity
to keep her husband from tracking her down.
All Is Vanity by Christina Schwarz
At once darkly comedic and moving, this witty exploration
of female friendship, envy, and misguided ambition
by the author of the number-one bestseller Drowning
Ruth, deliciously satirizes the desire to shine in
the world.
Portrait In Sepia by Isabel Allende
Portrait in Sepia, Isabel Allende's third book in a
loose trilogy about a Chilean extended family in
the 19th and 20th centuries, is a full bottle of
wine -- warm, robust, and intoxicating -- a mesmerizing
bildungsroman of one young woman's journey of self-discovery.
Rainbow Fish And The Big Blue Whale by Marcus Pfister
Rainbow Fish's third exciting adventure is available
in this mini book and audio package. In this tale,
when a terrible misunderstanding escalates, Rainbow
Fish and his friends are in great danger, and Rainbow
Fish must make peace with a big blue whale to save
them all from disaster.
Back When We Were Grownups: A novel by Anne Tyler
Nineteen-year-old Rebecca didn't just fall for Joe
Davitch, she drowned in his turbulent family during
30-plus years of marriage that squelched her once-ardent
idealism and ambition. Now, at 53, she resolves to
set things right in Back When We Were Grownups, a
wise, moving, and sublimely lyrical novel from the
Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Accidental Tourist,
and Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant.
The Great Good Thing by Rod Townley
Twelve-year-old Princess Sylvie's storybook kingdom
really is a storybook, where nothing ever changes,
even the character's mad scramble to reach their
places whenever the book is opened, until Sylvie
discovers she can enter new worlds with the Reader,
and find new adventures.
Daughter of Fortune: A Novel by Isabel Allende
From acclaimed international bestselling author Isabel
Allende, comes this dazzling historical novel, a
sweeping portrait of an unconventional woman carving
her own destiny in an era defined by violence, passion,
and adventure.
When The Wind Blows by James Patterson
James Patterson (Cat and Mouse, Audio Reviews, LJ 10/1/98)
brings together three interesting characters in this
story of genetic testing, abuse of power, and murder.
Sun & Spoon by Kevin Henkes
Gr 3-6-Kevin Henkes' moving story of adjusting to loss
(Greenwillow, 1997) is beautifully narrated by Blair
Brown. After the death of his grandmother, ten-year-old
Spoon observes the changes in his grandfather and
tries to find the perfect artifact to preserve his
memories of her.
Unnatural Exposure by Patricia Daniels Cornwell
Virginia's chief medical examiner, Kay Scarpetta, is
called in to examine the remains of a woman found
in a landfill, her body dismembered in the same expert
way she'd seen before. And while Scarpetta is investigating,
the bold killer contacts her through the Internet,
inviting her to download the police photos, and signs
off with the chilling name, deadoc.
Airframe by Michael Crichton
On the heels of several timely successes (e.g., The
Lost World, Audio Reviews, LJ 11/15/95) comes this
latest novel from Michael Crichton, which, contrary
to what you may have been led to believe by the hype,
should reassure even the most jaded U.S. air traveler;
read by film actress Blair Brown ("The Bad Seed," "Altered
State").
Cause Of Death by Patricia Daniels Cornwell
From the New York Times bestselling author of From
Potter's Field and The Body Farm comes a mesmerizing
new thriller that takes Dr. Kay Scarpetta into the
very vortex of evil--far beyond anything she has
heretofore encountered as Chief Medical Examiner.
A Long Fatal Love Chase by Louisa May Alcott
A romantic suspense novel about a reclusive woman.
She marries a charming man and finds intrigue, cruelty,
and deceit. She flees him and he chases her across
Europe, for she has become his obsession.
From Potter's Field by Patricia Daniels Cornwell
Dr. Kay Scarpetta, on assignment with the FBI, gets
involved in a Christmas Eve murder in New York City.
She must identify the dead female before the serial
killer whose work this is finds Scarpetta's niece.
The Client by John Grisham
Eleven-year-old Mark Sway witnessed the suicide of
a New Orleans attorney. Before he died he told Mark
a deadly secret about the recent murder of a Louisiana
senator whose accused killer, a Mafia thug, is about
to go to trial. Mark hires a lawyer, Reggie Love,
who loves helping kids overlooked or abused by the
system.
Maps in a Mirror: the Short Fiction of Orson Scott
Card
Professional narrator Scott Brick; author Orson Scott
Card; film actors Robert Forster ("The Black Hole," "Delta
Force"); Michael Gross ("Avalanche," "Tremors"),
Roddy McDowall, Grammy-Award winner Stefan Rudnicki
("Best Spoken Album," 1999), horror star
William Windom ("Children of the Corn IV: The
Gathering"), and T.V. actor Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.
("77 Sunset Strip," "Remington Steele")
present eight short stories by the sci-fi master Orson
Scott Card.
Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? by Dr. Seuss
A children’s morality tale on how to appreciate
one’s lot in life. Read by John Cleese.
The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
"
Monty Python" actor John Cleese narrates Lewis’ classic
spiritual allegory.
The Moral Compass: Stories for a Life's Journey by
William J. Bennett
Author William Bennett; his wife, Elayne; T.V. and
film actors Stephen Collins ("7th Heaven," "First
Wives Club"); Vondie Curtis-Hall ("Sirens," "Eve’s
Bayou"); T.V. actress Megan Gallagher ("Hill
St. Blues," "China Beach"), veteran
film star Charlton Heston ('Gideon," "Planet
of the Apes"); film veteran Rita Moreno ("West
Side Story," "Resurrection"), daytime
series regular Tonya Pinkins ("All My Children");
film and T.V. star Richard Thomas ("Swiss Family
Robinson," "The Waltons") and Emmy-Award-winner
Betty White ("Golden Girls," "The Mary
Tyler Moore Show" ) narrate William Bennett’s
companion to his bestseller, The Book of Virtues. Also
read by Simon Jones.
Trial by Fire by Nancy Taylor Rosenberg
Dallas D.A. Stella Cataloni has been haunted by her
inability to solve the murder of her parents, especially
since she is the prime suspect.
Mitigating Circumstances by Nancy Taylor Rosenberg
When District Attorney Lily Forrester's daughter is
raped in their own home, she takes matters into her
own hands in her search for justice.
Gerald's Game by Stephen King
Gerald and his wife Jessie are consenting adults, but
his kinky little game takes an unforeseen twist,
leaving Jessie trapped, locked to her bed and alone.
The Witching Hour by Anne Rice
Two people with special powers are drawn together to
attempt to unlock the mystery of the woman's past
and the secret of the man's unwelcome gift.
The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher by Beatrix Potter (cassette & book)
Stage actress Claire Bloom ("The Belle of Amherst"),
actor John Cunningham and Academy-Award-winner Meryl
Streep ("One True Thing," "Sophie’s
Choice") narrate this classic Potter children’s
tale as Jeremy attempts to catch his dinner, but comes
up with more than he bargained for!
The Happy Day by Ruth Krauss
Snow is falling. All the animals are fast asleep in
their animal homes. Slowly they awake. They open their
eyes and sniff. They run. And in the middle of the
forest they find a bright yellow flower growing in
the snow--and they dance and laugh with joy at this
first sign of spring.
Nightmares & Dreamscapes: Volume 1 by Stephen King
Film actor Tim Curry ("The Rocky Horror Picture
Show," "The Addams Family Reunion");
actress Whoopi Goldberg ("The Color Purple");
sci-fi author Stephen J. Gould; author Stephen King;
his wife, Tabitha; T.V. and film actor Rob Lowe ("West
Wing," "St. Elmo’s Fire"); author
Robert B. Parker; and film and T.V. actress Yeardley
Smith ("As Good As It Gets," "The Simpsons")
narrate a collection of Stephen King’s best tales
of horror. This short story collection features stories
of vampires, lurking spirits and ordinary individuals
driven to unthinkable extremes by the perversities
of fate.
Abhorsen by Garth Nix
Abhorsen-In-Waiting Lirael and Prince Sameth, a Wallmaker,
must confront and bind the evil spirit Oranis before
it can destroy all life.
The Ersatz Elevator by Lemony Snicket
The woeful saga of the Baudelaire orphans continues
as evil Count Olaf discovers their whereabouts at
Esme Squalor's seventy-one bedroom penthouse and
concocts a new plan for stealing their family fortune.
The Carnivorous Carnival by Lemony Snicket
On the run as suspected murderers, the unlucky Baudelaire
orphans find themselves trapped in the Caligari Carnival,
where they must masquerade as freaks in order to
hide from the evil Count Olaf.
The Hostile Hospital by Lemony Snicket
On the run after being falsely accused of murder, the
three Baudelaire orphans find themselves in the Heimlich
Hospital, with the evil Count Olaf in close pursuit.
The Vile Village by Lemony Snicket
Under a new government program based on the saying "It
takes a village to raise a child," the Baudelaire
orphans are adopted by an entire town, with disastrous
results.
Lirael: Daughter Of The Clayr by Garth Nix
When a dangerous necromancer threatens to unleash a
long-buried evil, Lirael and Prince Sameth are drawn
into a battle to save the Old Kingdom and reveal
their true destinies.
Sabriel by Garth Nix
Sabriel, daughter of the necromancer Abhorsen, must
journey into the mysterious and magical Old Kingdom
to rescue her father from the Land of the Dead.
The Reptile Room by Lemony Snicket
After narrowly escaping the menacing clutches of the
dastardly Count Olaf, the three Baudelaire orphans
are taken in by a kindly herpetologist with whom
they live happily for an all-too-brief time.
The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket
After the sudden death of their parents, the three
Baudelaire children must depend on each other and
their wits when it turns out that the distant relative
who is appointed their guardian is determined to
use any means necessary to get their fortune.
Morgan's Run by Colleen McCullough
From the bestselling author of "The Thorn Birds" comes
the saga of Australia's first settlers, based on the
extraordinary life of one man. This is the story of
Richard Morgan, a roistering, down-on-his-luck, 18th-century
hero, irresistible to women and full of wily charm.
Jewels by Danielle Steel
Awaiting the arrival of her family on her 75th birthday,
Sarah Whitfield recalls the years and events that
have brought her to this moment.
The Horse You Came In On by Martha Grimes
Inspector Jury leaves Scotland Yard to visit an old
friend in America, and the two encounter clues involving
three seemingly unrelated murders.
The Old Contemptibles by Martha Grimes
Grimes' British-based whodunits are all have been authentic
successes with American readers. Scotland Yard Superintendent
Richard Jury is drawn into a passionate affair--and
becomes a suspect in a murder investigation.
The Moral Compass: Stories for a Life's Journey by
William J. Bennett
Author William Bennett; his wife, Elayne; T.V. and
film actors Stephen Collins ("7th Heaven," "First
Wives Club"); Vondie Curtis-Hall ("Sirens," "Eve’s
Bayou"); T.V. actress Megan Gallagher ("Hill
St. Blues," "China Beach"), veteran
film star Charlton Heston ('Gideon," "Planet
of the Apes"); film veteran Rita Moreno ("West
Side Story," "Resurrection"), daytime
series regular Tonya Pinkins ("All My Children");
film and T.V. star Richard Thomas ("Swiss Family
Robinson," "The Waltons") and Emmy-Award-winner
Betty White ("Golden Girls," "The Mary
Tyler Moore Show" ) narrate William Bennett’s
companion to his bestseller, The Book of Virtues. Also
read by Simon Jones.
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