I am an obsessive audiobook fan.
Every day around 1pm I push back from my desk to give this guy an adventure and immerse myself in a great narrative.
HOWEVER, I am INCREDIBLY picky about the quality of the vocal performance. I look for actors who can paint pictures with their voice. If they have a flat delivery, I don’t care how much I wanted to buy the book, I just won’t.
Also, the trend in the industry is for the artist to speak slowly in the booth for clarity and inflection because the expectation is that the listener will speed it up to their preferred setting. So if any of these feel too slow, adjust to your liking!
Here are some of my FAVORITES:
SURRENDER by Bono read by the author. Using the highest quality sound engineering, this sublime book about faith, creativity and humanity is interwoven with music to make your heart soar.
WOLF HALL by Hilary Mental narrated by Simon Slater. You know the gist of the story and yet suddenly you are inside a thriller as Cromwell maneuvers and manipulates to serve — and survive — the King.
BRINGING UP THE BODIES by Hilary Mantel narrated by Simon Vance. (Note the 3rd installment is not listed because it has only been recorded by Ben Miles who, while a wonderful actor, is a terrible audiobook narrator, hence the hundreds of reviews BEGGING the publisher to re-record it with one of the Simons.)
THIS IS HAPPINESS by Niall Williams narrated by Dermot Crowley. The rare Irish novel that is pure joy. Set in 1958, the year this tiny parish finally gets electricity, this coming-of-age story will swell your heart.
TOM LAKE by Ann Patchett narrated by Meryl Streep. What could be better than a perfect novel read by one of the great actors of all time, who happens to be a FANTASTIC audio talent? Nothing. There is nothing better.
BREATH by James Nestor read by the author. Rare is the author who can also narrate their own book but Nestor’s voice has a Michael Pollan quality that I could not get enough of. In addition to being full of life-changing information this was an all-around pleasure to have in my ear.
DEMON COPPERHEAD by Barbara Kingsolver narrated by Charlie Thurston. This dazzling modern retelling of Dickens’ David Copperfield tells the story of the opioid crisis with searing compassion for the vulnerable people whose lives have been cut down by greed again and again. You won’t forget it.
UNTANGLED: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the 7 Strands to Adulthood by Lisa Damour read by the author. Not only is Dr. Damour a genius when it comes to all things parenting but her voice is pure ASMR. I find her so soothing, I want her to narrate my life.
MY NAME IS LUCY BARTON by Elizabeth Strout narrated by Kimberley Farr. As well as the sequels Oh, William and Lucy by the Sea, all read flawlessly by Farr. Stunning novels by one of our best living writers about how we renegotiate our definition of love, family, and connection over a lifetime.
NUTSHELL by Ian McEwan narrated by Rory Kinnear. This modern retelling of Hamlet from an in utero perspective is pure rocket science. We blocked Atonement from hitting #1 and that is all the proof you need that publishing is not a meritocracy.
BORN A CRIME by Trevor Noah read by the author. If you have never treated yourself to this hilarious, poignant, insightful memoir about Noah’s childhood in South Africa during Apartheid, order it now. But only buy for car trips if you can drive while crying laughing.
GIRLS & BOYS by Dennis Kelly performed by Carey Mulligan. This devastating one-woman show was originally performed Off-Broadway and recorded as an Audible original. If you want the catharsis of a powerful night of theatre from the comfort of your couch, do not miss this phenomenal performance.