Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde (1854 - 1900) was an Irish playwright, novelist, poet, and author of short stories. Known for his barbed wit, he was one of the most successful playwrights of late Victorian London, and one of the greatest celebrities of his day.

In Wilde’s classic play The Importance of Being Earnest, Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff discover the perils of love, assumed identities, and telling the truth. (Summary by Toby Paradis and Wikipedia)

LibriVox cast:

John Worthing, J.P. - Hans-Stefan Ducharme
Algernon Moncrieff - Simon Ferland
Rev. Canon Chasuble, D.D. - Toby Paradis
Merriman, Butler - Toby Paradis
Lane, Manservant - Toby Paradis
Lady Bracknell - Sarah Farnham
Hon, Gwendolen Fairfax - Nyssa Gatcombe
Cecily Cardew - Rebecca Bailey
Miss Prism, Governess - Eileen Nadeau

• Gutenberg e-text
• Wikipedia - Oscar Wilde
• Wikipedia - The Importance of Being Earnest
• LibriVox’s The Importance of Being Earnest Internet Archive page
• Zip file of the entire book (51.7MB)

Shakespeare’s sequence of 154 sonnets deals with such themes as love, time, death, immortality, lust, and sex. The poems follow but also depart from the Petrarchan tradition of sonnets written by a frustrated male lover to an unattainable idealized female beloved. Shakespeare’s sonnets are addressed to both male and female lovers: the androgynous ‘young man’ and the alluring yet dangerously sexual ‘dark lady.’ (Summary by Elizabeth Klett)

• Gutenberg e-text
• Wikipedia - William Shakespeare
• Wikipedia - Shakespeare’s Sonnets
• LibriVox’s The Sonnets Internet Archive page
• Zip file of the entire book 71MB

Fêtes galantes est un recueil de poèmes de Paul Verlaine, publié en 1869.

(English translation): Fêtes galantes is a collection of poetry by Paul Verlaine, published in 1869. (Summary by Jc)

• Gutenberg e-text 15112
• Wikipedia - Paul Verlaine
• LibriVox’s Fêtes galantes Internet Archive page
• Zip file of the entire book 14.2MB

This excellent book contains many great stories from the various mythologies of man throughout the ages.

• Gutenberg e-text 20740
• LibriVox’s Myths and Legends of All Nations Internet Archive page
• Zip file of the entire book 242.9 MB

The Enchantress of Florence: A Novel
by Salman Rushdie (Author)
Average Customer Review:
Release Date: May 27, 2008

Devil May Care (James Bond)
by Sebastian Faulks (Author)
Average Customer Review:
Release Date: May 28, 2008

The Great Derangement: A Terrifying True Story of War, Politics, and Religion at the Twilight of the American Empire
by Matt Taibbi (Author)
Average Customer Review:
Release Date: May 6, 2008

The Answer: Grow Any Business, Achieve Financial Freedom, and Live an Extraordinary Life
by John Assaraf (Author), Murray Smith (Author)
Average Customer Review:
Publication Date: May 20, 2008

The Spies of Warsaw: A Novel
by Alan Furst (Author)
Release Date: June 3, 2008

What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington’s Culture of Deception
by Scott McClellan (Author)
Average Customer Review:
Release Date: May 28, 2008

The Time Machine is a novel by H. G. Wells, first published in 1895, later made into two films of the same title. This novel is generally credited with the popularization of the concept of time travel using a vehicle that allows an operator to travel purposefully and selectively. (Summary from wikipedia.org)

• Gutenberg e-text
• Wikipedia - H.G. Wells
• Wikipedia - The Time Machine
• LibriVox’s The Time Machine Internet Archive page
• Zip file of the entire book(120Mb)

The Blackfeet were hunters, travelling from place to place on foot. They used implements of stone, wood, or bone, wore clothing made of skins, and lived in tents covered by hides. Dogs, their only tame animals, were used as beasts of burden to carry small packs and drag light loads.

The stories here told come down to us from very ancient times. Grandfathers have told them to their grandchildren, and these again to their grandchildren, and so from mouth to mouth, through many generations, they have reached our time. (Sibella Denton)

• Gutenberg e-text
• Wikipedia - George B. Grinnell
• LibriVox’s Blackfeet Indian Stories Internet Archive page
• Zip file of the entire book (125.0M)

So have you tried our Modern Scholar courses yet? I highly recommend them. These college level courses, presented by a variety of college and university professors, cover all kinds of topics (science, geology, history, literature, religion, art, music and more), and can teach you so much - while your jogging or driving or doing housework!

Three of my favorites are:
1) The Literature of C. S. Lewis, presented by Dr. Timothy Shutt, professor of Liberal Arts at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. The topic is fascinating - especially if you have read (or seen) the Chronicles of Narnia or Lewis’ space trilogy. And Professor Shutt is one of those professors who is intelligent, concise and at times, very, very funny.

2) The People and the Ballot: A History of American Politics, presented by Professor Joshua Kaplan. Election time will be here before you know it. Here is a fascinating view of American politics, delivered by Professor Kaplan, an award winning teacher of political science from the University of Notre Dame. His presentation takes you from ‘The Birth of Political Parties‘ through ‘The Future of the American Party System.’

3) Heavens Above: Constellations and the Sky, presented by James B. Kaler, Professor Emeritus of Astronomy at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. If you graduated from school more than 10 years ago, all the science that you learned is out-dated. And none more so than the science of astronomy. Join Professor Kaler and he brings us all up to date by looking at the stars. Meg

Dark Realms Audio has launched their new horror audiobook line. The initial launch features audiobooks from Richard Laymon, Jack Ketchum, Tim Lebbon, and myself.

You can pre-order the audiobook version of The Rising (9 CDs, approx 10 1/2 hours) from Horror Mall and get it signed at no additional cost. CLICK HERE.

Devil Slayer, the free preview of Scratch, Jack Haringa Must Die!, and now the audiobook of The Rising. This has really been a week full of announcements, hasn’t it?

And there’s another big surprise coming soon:

Some years ago, the editor of an English magazine sent a communication to ‘the hundred greatest men in Great Britain’ asking them this question: ‘If for any reason you were to spend a year absolutely alone, in a prison for instance, and could select from your library three volumes to be taken with you as companions in your period of retirement please to inform us what those three books would be.’ The inquiry was sent to peers of the realm, prominent leaders in politics, judges, authors, manufacturers, merchants, gentlemen of leisure-men who would represent every aspect of successful life. In the answers it was found that ninety-eight of the hundred men named ‘The Bible’ first on the list of the three books to be chosen. (From Book introduction)

• e-text
• Wikipedia - Jesse Lyman Hurlbut
• Wikipedia - Hurlbut’s Story of the Bible
• LibriVox’s Hurlbut’s Story of the Bible Part Five Internet Archive page
• Zip file of the entire book 83.8MB

On Sunday night, HBO aired its new film ‘Recount,’ which delved back into the controversial Florida recount that determined the outcome of America’s 2000 presidential election. Days before the film (watch the trailer here) hit the airwaves, Charlie Rose conducted an interview with Kevin Spacey (actor in the film), Jeffrey Toobin (Senior Legal Analyst at CNN) and David Boies (who argued Bush v. Gore on behalf of Al Gore). In watching the film and interview, my first reaction was to think: yes, it’s been eight long years, but it’s perhaps not been long enough. Perhaps another eight years is what it takes before political trauma can be transformed into pure entertainment. Or maybe it will never quite get there. But that says nothing about the merits of the film or the interview below. If you missed ‘Recount,’ it re-airs tonight on HBO.

National Book Critics Circle:An Evening of Good Reads

The Spring 2008 Good Reads list - the third since the NBCC introduced this alternative to the bestseller list– will be the focus of a panel at Gemini Ink in San Antonio on Friday night. Panelists include author and poet Sandra Cisneros; Steven G. Kellman, NBCC member, author and winner of the 2007 NBCC Balakian citation for excellence in reviewing; San Antonio Current editor Elaine Wolff; Norma Alarcon, editor and publisher of Third Woman Press; and PEN Southwest book award in fiction winner Rod Davis. NBCC member and playwright Gregg Barrios will moderate the event.

The panelists will discuss the NBCC Good Reads 3 list and share with the audience what they are currently reading. Each will recommend a personal favorite book. This NBCC Good Reads panel is co-sponsored by Gemini Ink Literary Center and the San Antonio Current. The event will also include a drawing of books from the NBCC Good Reads 3 list and those selected by the panelists. The event is free and open to the public. Reservations aren’t necessary, but seating is limited. Light refreshments will be served.

Free Audiobook volunteers bring you 16 different recordings of O Solitude! if I must with thee dwell by John Keats. This was the weekly poetry project for the week of May 11th, 2008.

• Bartleby e-text
• Wikipedia - John Keats
• LibriVox’s O Solitude! if I must with thee dwell Internet Archive page
• Zip file of the entire book (9.1MB)

Yoga does not seem to command the same form of respect from modern day society as it once did in the past. It is sad that the beauty of yoga has somehow lost its brilliant luster, tarnished by the fast paced lifestyles of today’s globalization. To make it easy for the common man to understand, the whole philosophy has been reduced to a simple concept.

Yoga of Sound is an audio book that might be interesting:

Yoga in its true form may be a little complicated for the western world to understand. It is a very dangerous and unethical to merely dabble on the surface and then talks about this subject as an expert! Due to the lack of a deeper understanding, most westerners view yoga as a physical activity. Yoga has been reduced to a physical activity to achieve internal balance and serenity.

It originates from the Hindu religion and it is actually a part of the Hindu philosophy. In the faraway land of India, it is recognized as a spiritual practice that includes a series of complex and systematic physical moves. But the western world prefers to refer yoga as a mere physical practice.

Most westerners are aware of the strange symbols associated with yoga practice, but often they are misunderstood. It is practiced as a popular sport. The allure of yoga as an effective way to gain inner peace and balance has beckoned many to embrace this activity as well. Nevertheless many have been attracted to yoga as a form of practice to achieve inner peace and balance.

Almost all who proclaim themselves as yoga masters perpetrate these claims and the masses are undoubtedly fascinated. The numerous amount of fatal errors found in the practice of yoga outside of India shows that this art has been widely misunderstood at large. These errors were caused by each racial group’s internal culture and form. In order to truly understand this concept moments of quiet, peaceful times are necessary to contemplate on this philosophy, and that is certainly an element that is absent in the hectic lifestyle of the western civilization.

Sometimes, the most important part of this practice is neglected, for instance the essential meditation. The west seems obsessed with the desire to accumulate massive amounts of wealth and gaining power, which is a priority according the principles of Hinduism. True wisdom, as defined by the parameters of the Hindu religion would be an impossible feat to achieve when this paradigm is adopted. One crucial aspect essential for a successful meditative session is time and patience. The westerners do not place a high degree of importance in the attainment of philosophical wisdom, as it does for the accumulation of massive wealth and gaining power.

Here, yoga as been practiced by those who desire to look good and stay in style. If you wish to know more, you can get hold of some of the available materials out there which is actively promoting this practice as a form of sports. Yoga can be practiced anywhere. There are famous people who embraced this practice and become fake gurus and still they have enough support from their followers. These followers have become the pillars supporting the growth of this false and wrong philosophy.

Breckinridge Elkins is the roughest, toughest, fastest-shootin’, hardest-fightin’ feller in the Bear Creek settlement, and probably in the entire Humbolt Mountains. As he travels further from home, he single-handedly takes on outlaws, settles (and starts) feuds and tries his hand at romancing the girls. He also discovers a lot of strange customs among other folks, such as building houses out of boards and wearing clothes that ain’t buckskins. Set in Nevada during the late 1800’s, this collection of stories is a great rollicking romp through the American frontier as seen through the eyes of one of the most enjoyable characters created in the history of tall tales.

(Summary by RK Wilcox)

• Wikisource e-text
• Wikipedia - Robert E. Howard
• LibriVox’s Bear Creek Collection Vol. 01 Internet Archive page
• Zip file of the entire book (187.6 MB)

Practically nothing is known about Habakkuk’s personal history, except for what can be inferred from the text of his book, which consists of five oracles about the Chaldeans (Babylonians) and a song of praise to God. Since the Chaldean rise to power is dated c. 612 BC, it is assumed he was active about that time, making him an early contemporary of Jeremiah and Zephaniah. Jewish sources, however, do not group him with those two prophets, who are often placed together, so it is possible that he was slightly earlier than they. Because the final chapter of his book is a song, it is sometimes assumed in Jewish tradition that he was a member of the tribe of Levi, which served as musicians in Solomon’s Temple. According to the Zohar (Volume 1, page 8b) Habakkuk is the boy born to the Shunamite woman through Elisha’s blessing. Habakkuk is unique among the prophets in that he openly questions the wisdom of God.[citation needed] In the first part of the first chapter, the Prophet sees the injustice among his people and asks why God does not take action: ‘1:2 Yahweh, how long will I cry, and you will not hear? I cry out to you ‘Violence!’ and will you not save?’ - (World English Bible).
(Summary by Wikipedia)

• E-text
• Wikipedia - American Standard Version
• Wikipedia - Book of Habakkuk
• Wikipedia - Habakkuk
• LibriVox’s The Book of Habakkuk Internet Archive page
• Zip file of the entire book (5.3MB)

We volunteers bring you 22 different recordings of Dulce et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen. This was the weekly poetry project for the week of May 18th, 2008.

• E-text
• Wikipedia - Wilfred Owen
• Wikipedia - Dulce et Decorum Est
• LibriVox’s Dulce et Decorum Est Internet Archive page
• Zip file of the entire book (23.6MB)

‘A Heart Like His’ by Virgina H. Pearce was a wonderful audio book.
Throughout the book, I found myself feeling uplifted and excited about service opportunities.
The premise of the book is based on a challenge a group of women decided to take upon themselves to prepare
them to meet the needs of the women in their ward.The challenge was to open and enlarge their hearts
without adding tasks or special activities to their very busy lives.I really appreciated that the author
recognized that the lives of most of us are incredibly busy, and we don’t need another ‘to do’ to add to our list.
I loved the idea that the way to open and enlarge our hearts is not about what we do, but how we do things.
My favorite part of the book was when the women of the group,
who each had a unique background and lifestyle, shared their
experiences with the challenge.
I really appreciated the examples of different ways to open and enlarge a heart.
It made the challenge easier to relate to.

‘A Heart Like His’ by Virginia H. Pearce is a great audio book.
I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to know how
to be like Christ despite very busy lifestyles.

I loved the Especially for Youth CD’s as a young man and as a missionary, and I continue to enjoy them now as a young adult.