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Days left to nab free audiobooks by top-rated authors for three months at Amazon

Days left to nab free audiobooks by top-rated authors for three months at Amazon

Audiobooks have become a favourite for those who enjoy literature on the move, be it during a stroll, household chores or driving. With an extensive range of books available in audio format, keeping up with the latest releases can be costly - but an Amazon Prime deal offers Prime Members the chance to indulge in audible literature at no cost.
Prime Members can nab themselves 3 months of Audible for free. Members can select one bestseller or new release each month, which will be theirs to keep, and they can listen unlimitedly to thousands of included audiobooks, podcasts, and originals from July 6 to July 31. After the three-month period, the subscription continues at £8.99 per month.
Audible boasts a vast selection of audiobooks. For instance, listeners could tune into Sunrise on the Reaping: A Hunger Games Novel, narrated by actor Jefferson White, known for his role as Jimmy Hurdstrom in Yellowstone. The book chronicles the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, where twice the usual number of tributes are taken from their homes, reports Wales Online.
Another choice is A Court of Thorns and Roses Book 1 by Sarah J. Maas, the first dramatised audiobook adaptation of the number one New York Times bestselling series. The novel now features a full cast of actors, immersive sound effects and cinematic music.
For those keen on farming tales, there's also Diddly Squat: A Year on the Farm by Jeremy Clarkson which welcomes listeners into Jeremy's agricultural adventure - alongside his partner Lisa, Kaleb the tractor operator, Charlie, Ellen the shepherd and his head of security and dry stone wall builder Gerald.
If Audible isn't the preferred choice for enjoying favourite books, readers could alternatively explore Google Play Books which offers a selection of both complimentary and paid titles, collections and options spanning fiction, non-fiction and real-life accounts to select from. Spotify also provides a variety of Audiobooks through its Premium service that permits up to 15 hours of audiobook listening with numerous titles to pick from.
Nevertheless, the titles available on Audible have received excellent ratings. For instance, Sunrise on the Reaping: A Hunger Games Novel has achieved an impressive 4.7 out of 5 star rating on the Amazon platform. One reviewer commented: "'Sunrise on the Reaping' is one of those rare prequels that deepens the original story rather than simply leaning on nostalgia. I genuinely loved this book."
Another said: "Sunrise on the Reaping is everything I hoped for in a Hunger Games prequel - and more. Suzanne Collins dives deep into the twisted roots of the Games, set 24 years before Katniss volunteers, and the result is equal parts chilling and fascinating."
"This book captures the emotion of the characters better than any of the other books in the series," remarked another listener. However, not everyone was enamoured with all of the audiobooks. One individual reviewed Diddly Squat: A Year on the Farm and said: "I was expecting this to be a full narrative of the first year on the farm. Turns out it's extracts from his column in the Sunday Times which have been arranged in a sort of yearly order. No doubt there will be snippets I've not heard of before from watching the TV series, only read first few chapters, but initially I'm disappointed."
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British acting legend confirmed as Lord Voldemort in new Harry Potter series
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British acting legend confirmed as Lord Voldemort in new Harry Potter series

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Riz Ahmed, best known for starring in Oscar-winning movie Sound of Metal, also joins the cast as Professor Snape alongside Scottish actress Michelle Gomez, who will voice Professor McGonagall, and Cush Jumbo as the narrator. Speaking about the casting, Laurie's shared: 'I'm honoured to have been trusted with the keys to Albus Dumbledore, and thrilled to be able to take him around the track of this beautiful incarnation. 'I'm also deeply conscious of previous drivers Richard Harris, Michael Gambon, Jude Law and the iconic narrations by Jim Dale and m'colleague Sir Stephen Fry. 'Just below the horizon, but headed our way, is the rough beast John Lithgow, his hour come round at last. This is great company, and it's a privilege to be among their number,' he added, referencing Lithgow's involvement in the HBO series. Newcomers Frankie Treadaway, Max Lester, and Arabella Stanton will play Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger respectively in the first three audiobooks, while Jaxon Knopf, Rhys Mulligan, and Nina Barker-Francis will voice the trio in the final four. Soon after the news was announced, fans said online they were 'loving the sound of this'. 'Magic is coming alive as these brilliant actors lift iconic characters off the page and into our ears,' Audible's chief content officer Rachel Ghiazza said. 'Hearing these spellbinding performances in our state-of-the-art studios has been nothing short of extraordinary. We're overjoyed to share that fans of all ages can now mark their autumn calendars for a truly breathtaking experience with Audible and Pottermore Publishing – one that promises to reignite the magic for longtime fans and captivate a whole new generation of listeners.' 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He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2007 New Year Honours and CBE in the 2018 New Year Honours, both for services to drama. Matthew Macfadyen sent pulses racing with his break-out role as Mr. Darcy in the 2005 adaptation of Pride & Prejudice. From 2018 until 2023 he played Tom Wambsgans in the drama Succession, a role that earnt him a Golden Globe, and two Emmy and two Bafta nominations. Other notable roles include Hareton Earnshaw in Wuthering Heights, Tom Quinn in Spooks and Inspector Edmund Reid in Ripper Street. Riz Ahmed began his career staring in independent films like The Road to Guantanamo and Four Lions, but had his break-out role in Nightcrawler, before being cast in the blockbusters Jason Bourne and Rogue One. He's also starred in The Night Of, Girls, Venom and Sound of Metal. The performer is also a rapper and part of the Swet Shop Boys. Scottish actress Michelle Gomez is best known for her roles in The Book Group, Green Wing, Bad Education, Doctor Who, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and The Flight Attendant. Cush Jumbo played attorney Lucca Quinn in the drama The Good Wife and its spin-off series The Good Fight. Other notable credits include Criminal Record, Vera and Torchwood. -Development began in 2021, with plans for the series set to span a decade as part of a faithful adaptation of the books -More than 32,000 children applied to play the three main characters – It will star Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley and Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger. -John Lithgow, Janet McTeer, Paapa Essiedu, and Nick Frost have supporting roles (as Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall, Severus Snape and Rubeus Hagrid) -Filming began Leavesden Studios in the UK last month -Its due to premiere on HBO in the United States in early 2027, with an eight-episode first season. 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Hugh Laurie and Matthew Macfadyen to star in Harry Potter audiobook series
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Actor and comedian Hugh Laurie and Succession star Matthew Macfadyen are to star in a brand new full-cast Harry Potter audiobook series. The stars are among 200 actors lending their voices to bring to life the characters from JK Rowling's wizarding world for an immersive audio series, Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions. Laurie, best known for starring in the medical drama series House, has been cast as Hogwarts Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, while Macfadyen will voice antagonist Lord Voldemort. Laurie said: 'I'm honoured to have been trusted with the keys to Albus Dumbledore, and thrilled to be able to take him around the track of this beautiful incarnation by Pottermore and Audible. PA Media Hugh Laurie will voice Albus Dumbledore in the series (Ian West/PA) 'I'm also deeply conscious of previous drivers Richard Harris, Michael Gambon, Jude Law and the iconic narrations by Jim Dale and m'colleague Sir Stephen Fry. Just below the horizon, but headed our way, is the rough beast John Lithgow, his hour come round at last. This is great company, and it's a privilege to be among their number.' The novels have previously been produced into single-voice recordings by Jim Dale and Stephen Fry. Produced by Audible and Pottermore Publishing, the new audiobook series will include a full cast, original music and real-world sound capture to create an immersive audio experience. Emmy award-winning actor, Riz Ahmed, also joins the cast as Professor Snape alongside Scottish actress Michelle Gomez who will voice Professor McGonagall and Cush Jumbo as the narrator. PA Media Riz Ahmed will voice Professor Snape (Ian West/PA) Rachel Ghiazza, chief content officer at Audible, said: 'Magic is coming alive as these brilliant actors lift iconic characters off the page and into our ears. 'Hearing these spellbinding performances in our state-of-the-art studios has been nothing short of extraordinary. We're overjoyed to share that fans of all ages can now mark their autumn calendars for a truly breathtaking experience with Audible and Pottermore Publishing – one that promises to reignite the magic for longtime fans and captivate a whole new generation of listeners.' Newcomers Frankie Treadaway, Max Lester, and Arabella Stanton will play Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger respectively in audiobooks one, two and three. From audiobook four through to the last book in the series, the three protagonists will be played by Jaxon Knopf, Rhys Mulligan, and Nina Barker-Francis (Harry, Ron, and Hermione respectively). PA Media Matthew Macfadyen takes on the role of Lord Voldemort (Ian West/PA) It comes after production for the new HBO TV adaptation of the popular fantasy novels began earlier this summer. Each season of the show will be a faithful adaptation of the Harry Potter books, from author and executive producer JK Rowling. The novels had already been made into movies with Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint playing the trio. The first of the seven audiobooks, Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone, will be released on November 4 followed by Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets on December 16. The remaining books will be released monthly in the new year starting with Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban on January 13 2026, Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire on February 10, and Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix on March 10. Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince will be out on April 14 with the final book of the series, Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows, scheduled to be released on May 12. Additional cast members will be announced this autumn. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country

The One Show's Alex Jones supported by fans after major career milestone
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The One Show's Alex Jones supported by fans after major career milestone

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