Here are 10 books that I really enjoyed on audiobook in the past year or so:
1) The Martian by Andy Weir - This was kind of my first audiobook, and I absolutely loved it. I would have missed out on a lot of this story in print because I would've skipped over some of the science-y parts. I would highly recommend this on audio. I could not put it down.
2) Pride & Prejudice (& all of the other Jane Austen novels too) - I love Elizabeth Klett as a narrator on Librivox for this one. For some reason, Jane Austen's books just work really well for me on audio, although I have read 2 of them in print as well.
3) Little Women by Louisa May Alcott - One of the best books I read (listened to) last year. The March girls' adventures are so much fun. I enjoyed the narration on this one and it felt really fun listening to it. I think I will try Anne of Green Gables on audio sometime because it has a similar feel to it.
4) All the Light we Cannot See by Anthony Doerr - I thought this one would be confusing on audio, and I did switch back and forth between the two formats, but the words really came alive for me in the audio version.
5) The Book Thief By Markus Zusak- I felt much the same about this one as All the Light. I tried this in an e-book and abandoned it for 9 months but gobbled it up on audio.
6) A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith - I read some of this, and listened to some of it. I am just finishing it up, and it is a long book. I will say that I wasn't initially extremely captivated, but it is such a lovely story with characters that you can't help but love.
7) As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes - the narration and including tidbits from the cast really made this book amazing on audio. I think a lot of that would be lost in the actual print version.
8) When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi - this book was so amazing and I cried a lot. I really felt like it was Paul himself reading the story and actually forgot at times that it wasn't. Memoirs are amazing in audio form.
9) Hank the Cowdog by John R. Erickson (children's book!) My family absolutely loved these books when I was growing up and we listened to them on our drives across the country. The narration and characters' voices are SO GREAT and so fun for kids. Molly isn't super into them yet, but I haven't tried in awhile, so I think I'll put them on again soon for her.
10) The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown- I just started this one and I am loving it. Non-fiction just really works well for me when I can listen to it. I will definitely be taking some notes on this one and talking about it soon.
A couple of honourable mentions: One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid (I recently really enjoyed this on audio), Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli (read by John Ritter), and Where'd you go, Bernadette by Maria Semper.
Do you listen to audiobooks? I try to have an audiobook and a regular print or e-book on the go at the same time most times. I am a HUGE fan of audiobooks via the Overdrive app (aka the library), and of course on Audible, although I am not a regular user. I also LOVE audiobooks for my kids.
Here are some audiobooks on my radar, too:
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
Anna Karenina read by Maggie Gylenhaal
I'm pretty big on nonfiction for audio. Usually in my Goodreads "currently reading" I have at least 2 - one will be a paper book and the other (usually a self help or comedian memoir) is audio. That being said, The Golden Compass was amazing as an audiobook! Different voices for each character, which blew me away. I might have to try P&P to see if I can't get more into listening to fiction.
ReplyDeleteThe Martian was amazing on audio book. There is no way I could have read through the science stuff in a book but I can listen to it on audio and be ok. I did all the Moriarty books on audio book as well since they are so long. I want to try Pride and Prejudice on audio because I haven't been able to get in to it in regular book form. And All the Light We Cannot See and Book Thief will be audio for me as well. I really loved The Nightingale on audio.
ReplyDeleteOh awesome list! This is good to know as I have not delved into the world of audiobooks yet. I'm so weird about that.. I feel like I need to actually read them. Ha. It's good to know these are some good choices. I have heard good things about The Help on audio as well. :) XO - Alexandra
ReplyDeleteSimply Alexandra: My Favorite Things
aw man, i saw this topic and was like i'm gonna do that! and then i forgot. i agree with almost all of yours except i think the narrator for bernadette turned me off the book.. i mean she was good but she was like purposefully annoying and it hurt my head. she has a new book coming out - it's on netgalley!
ReplyDeleteI haven't listened to an audiobook in months now...I struggle to find a book that I want to listen to over reading it. I'm always so worried that listening to it will "ruin" the book for me, you know? But I will keep this list in mind for the next time I need one! I usually stick with YA or humour when I pick one though. Seems to be a safer choice in terms of a good narrator!
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