Suggest a "Staff Pick" for archive.org

Comments about LibriVox? Suggestions to improve things? News?
Leni
LibriVox Admin Team
Posts: 16269
Joined: July 27th, 2008, 9:10 pm
Location: Lexington, KY, USA

Post by Leni »

annise wrote: May 3rd, 2020, 6:18 pm Considering the fact that most of our readers speak English and a large percentage of them only understand English - I do like it when non English projects have an English summary as well . I know we must annoy all those who speak their mother tongue and English perfectly but being able to read a summary does help educate us about non English authors and literature so I would be happy with those but less happy about too many of those without an English summary

Anne
Huh... I would be happy to make summaries in English for all non-English projects I have been involved with. I just never thought of it... :hmm: or that it would matter at all. Good to know, I think we could make it a practice whenever possible.
Leni
=================
ToddHW
LibriVox Admin Team
Posts: 19839
Joined: August 14th, 2011, 4:24 am
Contact:

Post by ToddHW »

Kitty's latest World's Story collection seems tailor made for this.

https://librivox.org/worlds-story-volume-x-by-eva-march-tappan/

The World’s Story Volume X: England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales by Eva March Tappan (1854 - 1930)

This is the tenth volume of the 15-volume series of <i>The World’s Story: a history of the World in story, song and art</i>, edited by Eva March Tappan. Each book is a compilation of selections from prose literature, poetry and pictures and offers a comprehensive presentation of the world's history, art and culture, from the early times till the beginning of the 20th century. Part X covers with the second part of the history of England, from the Stuart Kings till the early 1900s. Also included are excerpts from the history of Ireland, Scotland and Wales, as well as Irish and Welsh legends and Scottish ballads.

Thanks, Todd
Availle
LibriVox Admin Team
Posts: 22429
Joined: August 1st, 2009, 11:30 pm
Contact:

Post by Availle »

Thank you Todd! :thumbs: Any plays? Beyond good ole Will I mean? :wink:


As for English summaries for non-English projects: Yes, it would be nice to have something to give an idea what the book is about. I do it for all my German solos, for example:
https://librivox.org/die-stadt-ohne-juden-by-hugo-bettauer/
https://librivox.org/196-tage-auf-treibender-eisscholle-by-emil-bessels/

It's just a couple sentences because either you understand the language, then you have the original summary, or you don't, then a detailed plot description doesn't help you either.
It's also all I need for staff-picking, by the way. :wink: I had to pass on a number of LOTE recordings because I had no idea of what's going on. (And on a number of English ones too. Here's looking at you, Todd... :twisted: )

What I also do every time I come across it is to link different language versions together (using the additional links at the left hand side). My English solo here: https://librivox.org/the-rider-on-the-white-horse-by-theodor-storm/ links to the German original and vice-versa.
If we have the original and translations in several languages, I link the translations only to the original, but give links to all translations in the original if that makes sense.
I think this is also a nice way to explore our catalog.
Cheers, Ava.
Resident witch of LibriVox, channelling
Granny Weatherwax: "I ain't Nice."

--
AvailleAudio.com
Kitty
LibriVox Admin Team
Posts: 38921
Joined: March 28th, 2014, 5:57 am

Post by Kitty »

I could suggest a French project this time: https://librivox.org/a-travers-les-regions-de-france-by-georges-francois-renard/
It's short vignettes about each of the French regions, what can be found there, what quirks the locals may have, historical tidbits, etc from South to North, including a chapter on Paris.

If you are in search for comedy, we finished a Molière in the original only recently :9: https://librivox.org/george-dandin-by-moliere/ (if you want to hear Todd speaking French, he took the plunge into a very short character role here :mrgreen: )
interestingly, exactly one year before we finished the same in English translation: https://librivox.org/george-dandin-or-the-abashed-husband-by-moliere/ it's a typical Molière farce about a cuckolded husband, you can read the synopsis and plot in the English version

Sonia
I will be on vacation from Wednesday 27 March till Sunday 14 April
and unable to PL during that time. Thank you for your patience.
Kitty
LibriVox Admin Team
Posts: 38921
Joined: March 28th, 2014, 5:57 am

Post by Kitty »

ToddHW wrote: May 4th, 2020, 3:07 pm Kitty's latest World's Story collection seems tailor made for this.
https://librivox.org/worlds-story-volume-x-by-eva-march-tappan/
actually there is also a part about Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland, which may fit well too and maybe you have less books from that area (I mean specifically Switzerland). There are two longer excerpts from Wilhelm Tell in there as well, played with full cast: https://librivox.org/the-worlds-story-volume-vii-germany-the-netherlands-and-switzerland-by-eva-march-tappan/

Actually Wilhelm Tell is also in our catalogue in German, but not as full cast, mainly as solo...not sure if you accept that as theatre then. https://librivox.org/wilhelm-tell-by-friedrich-schiller/

I still haven't finished any solo in Luxembourgish :( maybe I should get one finished for our next world tour :lol: I guess you never link to multilingual projects just to show one section in Luxembourgish, so that doesn't count. Sorry.

Sonia
I will be on vacation from Wednesday 27 March till Sunday 14 April
and unable to PL during that time. Thank you for your patience.
RSlabaugh
Posts: 1238
Joined: June 29th, 2019, 6:43 pm
Location: USA

Post by RSlabaugh »

What about a not-so-well-known Johanna Spyri book? This one was cataloged in February, solo’ed by Anitazz.

https://librivox.org/vinzi-a-story-of-the-swiss-alps-by-johanna-spyri/
~Rosebud
Availle
LibriVox Admin Team
Posts: 22429
Joined: August 1st, 2009, 11:30 pm
Contact:

Post by Availle »

Spyri is always on the list when Switzerland is mentioned... :wink:

Kitty wrote: May 5th, 2020, 12:20 am I still haven't finished any solo in Luxembourgish :( maybe I should get one finished for our next world tour :lol: I guess you never link to multilingual projects just to show one section in Luxembourgish, so that doesn't count. Sorry.
You have 26 days left for THIS World Tour. :mrgreen:

I don't link to collections if I can find something else. It's hard to link to a single recording to begin with, plus I don't want to give the impression that this one piece is the only thing worth listening to or something. So, stand-alone projects only.
Cheers, Ava.
Resident witch of LibriVox, channelling
Granny Weatherwax: "I ain't Nice."

--
AvailleAudio.com
RSlabaugh
Posts: 1238
Joined: June 29th, 2019, 6:43 pm
Location: USA

Post by RSlabaugh »

Availle wrote: May 5th, 2020, 12:51 am Spyri is always on the list when Switzerland is mentioned... :wink:
I figured as much, but still decided to make a lame effort at a suggestion. :lol: You totally don’t have to include it, they’ll anyway think of her too, right?! :wink:
~Rosebud
ToddHW
LibriVox Admin Team
Posts: 19839
Joined: August 14th, 2011, 4:24 am
Contact:

Post by ToddHW »

Okay, so you want some plays from the British Isles or Europe? Far too many to choose from. But here's a smattering.

https://librivox.org/the-cabinet-minister-by-arthur-wing-pinero/
A British Cabinet Minister gets a satirical comeuppance in this farce. Includes scenes in Scotland.

https://librivox.org/the-castle-spectre-by-matthew-lewis/
Set in medieval Conway, Wales, the play is filled with every delicious Gothic trope imaginable: a menacing castle, a villainous nobleman hiding terrible secrets, a virginal damsel in distress, an heroic lover trying to save her, several comedic supporting characters, and, yes, the presence of a ghost.

https://librivox.org/catherine-howard-by-alexandre-dumas/
Subtitled "The Throne, The Tomb, and The Scaffold - An Historical Play in 3 Acts From the Celebrated Play of that Name by Alexandre Dumas" - How can you resist a play about English history - the doomed fifth wife of Henry the 8th - by the celebrated French author of The Musketeers??

https://librivox.org/doctor-johnson-a-play-by-a-edward-newton/
The life of Doctor Johnson, told in his own words and (mostly) those of others around him.

https://librivox.org/the-lady-of-the-lake-by-edmund-john-eyre/
A play based on Sir Walter Scott’s Poem of “The Lady of the Lake”

https://librivox.org/wappin-wharf-a-frightful-comedy-of-pirates-by-charles-s-brooks/
We had hoped that our drama's scene might lie on a pirate ship at sea. We had wished for a swaying mast, full-set with canvas—a typhoon to smother our stage in wind. We had hoped to walk a victim off the plank, with the sea roaring in the wings. But our plot deals stubbornly with us. Alas, our pirates grow old and stiff. They have retired, as we say, from active practice and live in easy luxury on shore. Yet we shall see that their villainy still thrives. - Summary from Prologue

Thanks, Todd
Piotrek81
Posts: 4684
Joined: November 3rd, 2011, 2:02 pm
Location: Goat City, Poland

Post by Piotrek81 »

Since the Netherlands qualify, and one of their claim to fame is their maritime legacy, I propose we include: https://librivox.org/the-golden-book-of-the-dutch-navigators-by-hendrik-van-loon/
Want to hear some PREPARATION TIPS before you press "record"? Listen to THIS and THIS
ToddHW
LibriVox Admin Team
Posts: 19839
Joined: August 14th, 2011, 4:24 am
Contact:

Post by ToddHW »

Howsabout https://librivox.org/the-fate-of-fenella-by-various/

One book, twenty-four authors. Fenella is the beautiful, girlish and headstrong heroine of a sensational Victorian novel which continually passes from one writer's cliffhanger to another's resolution. Violence, misunderstanding, love, intrigue, kidnapping, disaster ... mystery, sensation, social commentary, wit and romance combine across continents as each writer takes up the story.

It was the idea that it went across the continents that made me suggest it for this pick.

Thanks, Todd
Availle
LibriVox Admin Team
Posts: 22429
Joined: August 1st, 2009, 11:30 pm
Contact:

Post by Availle »

Thank you very much! Lots to choose from indeed!

The Dutch Navigators, right! A brand new one too. :D
Cheers, Ava.
Resident witch of LibriVox, channelling
Granny Weatherwax: "I ain't Nice."

--
AvailleAudio.com
Availle
LibriVox Admin Team
Posts: 22429
Joined: August 1st, 2009, 11:30 pm
Contact:

Post by Availle »

The staff has picked for June, thanks for your suggestions! Please have a look at this page for the current list. You can also check out our wiki page for a plain vanilla list that contains all the staff picks for this year plus the readers!


This year, let's go on another world tour, which means, I'm looking for books written by authors of the respective continents / places or books and stories set there. All languages welcome!

For now, our path is clear, we'll move further north towards

Northern Europe and the Baltics


That means I'd like to have suggestions about Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania.

Just as before, I would prefer books written by authors from these parts, bonus points for non-English books!

Especially welcome are suggestions of plays and poetry.

All languages welcome!
Cheers, Ava.
Resident witch of LibriVox, channelling
Granny Weatherwax: "I ain't Nice."

--
AvailleAudio.com
mightyfelix
LibriVox Admin Team
Posts: 11105
Joined: August 7th, 2016, 6:39 pm

Post by mightyfelix »

Does that include the Cossacks? I'm not real good at geography. :roll:

https://librivox.org/cossack-fairy-tales-by-robert-nisbet-bain/
Availle
LibriVox Admin Team
Posts: 22429
Joined: August 1st, 2009, 11:30 pm
Contact:

Post by Availle »

From the summary:
The Cossacks are a group of people living mostly in what is now Ukraine and Russia.
Patience, we'll get there soon enough! ;-)
Cheers, Ava.
Resident witch of LibriVox, channelling
Granny Weatherwax: "I ain't Nice."

--
AvailleAudio.com
Post Reply