Friday, April 1, 2011

A Few Interesting Links I Want To Share


I normally don't do these type of posts but I have come across some rather interesting things on the Internet that I feel compelled to share with you.  They have occupied quite a bit of my time and hopefully they will do the same for you.  This may turn into a semi regular thing as I find items that excite me so much that I have to share them.

I have Sheila over at Book Journey to blame for the first item I want to share with you.  She reviewed an audio book of Dracula by Bram Stoker and it reminded me of my favorite version of it.  I have always loved The Mercury Theater on the Air version that Orson Wells produced back in the 1930s.  I own it on CD but I figured I could find it online for others to listen to as well.  I eventually found it as part of a free podcast on iTunes.  It's called The Horror! (Old Time Radio).  You can subscribe to get a new podcast downloaded to your iTunes account every week.  If you don't have iTunes go to RelicRadio.com and you can not only find The Horror station but many others as well.  I've been listening for days now to old time radio shows that most times are more entertaining than television.  They knew how to tell stories back then.  Today's scribes could learn a lesson from them.  If you want to listen to Dracula go to this page and it's listed along with some other great shows.

I'm a big fan of public radio and one of the shows I listen to quite often is The Diane Rehm Show.  She is an excellent interviewer and can readily discuss politics, economics, defense, movies, literature, and social policy at any given time.  I found two book discussions to be very interesting.  On 3/21/11 she talked with Robert Lane Greene, author of "You Are What You Speak: Grammar Grouches, Language Laws, and the Politics of Identity".  It was an entertaining look at language and the way people use it, most times without thinking about it.  On 3/10/11 she talked with David Brooks, the author of "The Social Animal:  The Hidden Sources of Love, Character and Achievement."  I've since seen him on various shows discussing his book, which I really want to read.  If you click on the titles of the books it will take you to the corresponding episode of the show.

I think most of you know that I'm a huge fan of Daryl Gregory, the author of Pandemonium and The Devil's Alphabet.  He has a new book, titled Raising Stony Mayhall, slated to come out in June.  I can't wait to get my hands on it, but in the meantime the author generously put the prologue and first chapter on his site for everyone to read.  After reading it, I was even more excited to get hold of the book.

The last item I want to leave you with is a gorgeous song from Chris Botti.  It features Gladys Knight on vocals.  So please enjoy their rendition of "Lover Man".

6 comments:

Michelle Stockard Miller said...

Thanks for sharing, Ryan.

Yvette said...

Thanks Ryan, for posting the old time radio links and info. I've been meaning to listen to some old shows and just haven't gotten around to it. DRACULA, for sure. Although it give me the shivers. :)

Anonymous said...

I didn't know that Orson Wells read Dracula. The possibilities make me shiver with delight; he had such the voice for radio.

And how exciting that Daryl Gregory has a new book out! Off to read the excerpt. Thanks!

Simcha said...

I'll have to check out that review of Dracula. I've been considering listening to the audio book, which I can download from my library, but I'm afraid it might be too scary for me (yes, I'm a wimp)
I also love listening to old time radio shows, but the humerus ones, not horror. One of my favorites is Burns and Allen.

Michelle (Red Headed Book Child) said...

This is great. I adore Chris Botti and my father in law and I were just talking about the new David Brooks book.

Kaye said...

Fantastic links Ryan, especially the old time radio. How fun is that? Have a good weekend.