John Rayburn has narrated 7 audiobooks on Listento.it by 7 authors. The most-rated is The Little Lame Prince.
Kahlil Gibran: Selected Works
Summary
The words of Kahlil Gibran give his book The Prophet a broad range of inspiration and philosophy. They provide exceptional insight into human desires and understanding. The vivid observations are vibrant with feeling and acceptance of life’s many questions and hopes. One review saluted the story as being untouched by the harshness of life. Gibran’s other two books, The Forerunner and The Madman, are of deep assistance in the same manner.
Public Domain (P)2021 John D. Rayburn
The House Without a Key
Summary
The sublime beauty of Hawaii nearly a century ago is captured in this first book featuring the fictional Honolulu police detective, Charlie Chan. Author Biggers was staying at a hotel on Waikiki Beach in the 1920s when he was inspired to write the book. The Chan role at first was relatively minor, and he didn’t say anything until several chapters had gone by. However, the concept caught on when the literary public wanted more of him. That prompted five subsequent books as the character became more prominent. Altogether, Chan developed into a personality that fascinated mystery fans of all eras. In addition to the print episodes, more than four dozen successful movies eventually followed in the 1930s and 1940s. The overall idea is a pleasure to hear, as we invite you now to listen to this novel that established a completely new pattern for mysteries.
Public Domain (P)2021 by John D. Rayburn
Master of the Macabre
Summary
Originally published 1839-1849 Just who was Edgar Allan Poe? Of course he was an author, but there were parts of his life that were shrouded in mystery, like many of his stories. The differences between fact and fiction were intermingled and became even more so after his death. Readers around the world had their imaginations stimulated by his tales of mystery and sometimes horror. He was able to arouse emotions by making implausible subjects and events into believable happenings. That ability made them into literary classics. Affairs of his real-life sometimes echoed the frequent bizarre viewpoints that he brought to startling life in his manuscripts. This book features two of his horror variety tales, “The Fall of the House of Usher” and “The Tell-Tale Heart”, as well as two of his more famous poems, “The Raven” and “Annabel Lee”.
Public Domain (P)2021 John D. Rayburn
Thrilling Days of Yesteryear
Summary
Radio was the number one form of family entertainment for a quarter century. In a dazzling step back in time, veteran broadcaster John Rayburn talks about the fantastic era of broadcasting in fascinating interviews with a sterling list of guests, including Durward Kirby (Garry Moore Show), Parley Baer (original “Chester” on radio’s Gunsmoke), Arthur Anderson (Let’s Pretend), Carmel Quinn (Irish singer on Arthur Godfrey), Ezra Stone (Henry Aldrich), Minnie Pearl (Grand Ole Opry), Fred Foy (Announcer on The Lone Ranger), Gale Gordon (I Love Lucy, Our Miss Brooks), Charles Correll (Andy of Amos ‘n’ Andy), Himan Brown (Inner Sanctum, Grand Central Station), Chet Lauck (Lum of Lum and Abner), Frankie Carle (Big-band leader). There are great stories about Red Skelton, Jack Armstrong, Lights Out, Quiz Kids, Little Orphan Annie, Jimmy Durante, Time Marches On, Hindenburg disaster, President Roosevelt’s declaration of war against Japan on December 8, 1941, and many, many more.
©2018 John Rayburn (P)2020 BearManor Media
The Red House Mystery
Summary
The author’s birth name was Alan Alexander Milne, but his pen name used only the initials A. A. Milne. He eventually won worldwide acclaim for his renowned youth-oriented stories about Winnie-the-Pooh. However, he tried something different a few years before that, a story based on parental devotion. He explained his reason for that in his preface: To John Vine Milne, my dear father, Like all really nice people, you have a weakness for detective stories, and feel that there are not enough of them. So, after all that you have done for me, the least that I can do for you is to write you one. Here it is, with more gratitude and affection than I can well put down here. - Alan How’s that for an introduction to a “whodunit”? Just listen to what he wrote. Originally published in 1922.
Public Domain (P)2021 John D. Rayburn
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Summary
Originally published in 1900. Back in 1900 author L. Frank Baum says he wrote The Wonderful Wizard of Oz to please children of his time. He called it a modernized fairy tale, totally unlike older stories often filled with blood-curdling events. He left out the heartaches and nightmares. He pointed out youngsters have long had a love of fantastic stories, but times change and they look forward more to entertainment that still has the wonderment and joy of time gone by. His fantastic creation of Oz provides exactly that.
Public Domain (P)2021 John D. Rayburn
The Little Lame Prince
Summary
Originally published in 1875. This story is about the birth of a prince. He was actually in line to be the next king replacing his father. However, he was accidentally injured at his christening, was crippled, and couldn’t walk. He was banished by an evil uncle who usurped the throne. The little prince became unhappy and worried, but his discomfort was eased by his magical fairy godmother, and he eventually took over the monarchy he had been born to govern.
Public Domain (P)2021 John D. Rayburn