Sunday, October 25, 2015

Audiobooks I Love


There was a time when I thought that audiobooks weren't really reading. Then I discovered that I was just listening to the wrong books. And who taught me that? Jim Dale. Jim Dale reads all of the Harry Potter series, and he is outstanding. 
 
Jim Dale led me down a road of listening all the time. In the car, while washing the dishes, while folding laundry...but not every book lends itself to audio, or at least not for me. I prefer nonfiction, but I do listen to fiction as long as the story isn't too detailed.

Curious about my favorite audiobooks? Well, you're in luck, because I made a list of them! 

Along the Way: The Journey of a Father and a Son by Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez
One of my requirements for memoirs is that the author is the reader. And who doesn't want to hear Jed Bartlett read a book? (Emilio Estevez reads some, too.)

Anything that Neil Gaiman reads, especially The Ocean at the End of the Lane

The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series by Maryrose Wood. 
Okay. This is a kids' series. No bones about it. But it's so funny. It's a completely ridiculous story about a governess, Miss Penelope Lumley, who's hired to take care of three children who are maybe...possibly...probably partly werewolf. I've no doubt that the print books are good, but the reader makes them hilarious. Bonus: appropriate for all ages! 

Is It Just Me? by Miranda Hart
I have held several of you hostage and made you watch Miranda's sitcom on Hulu (and I'm not sorry). This falls into my "is this as funny in print?" category, because Miranda is hilarious and, as noted in my listening rules, reads her own book. 

The Testament of Mary by Colm Toibin and READ BY MERYL STREEP.
And that is all you need to know.

Do any of you love or completely loathe audiobooks?



5 comments:

  1. My first audio book ever was the first Harry Potter book -- I listened to it on the drive to a wedding. But, when I realized not every audio book would have cool voices, I didn't try any more. I am a Miranda convert -- I'll have to check that out.

    Also, my favorite Jim Dale story: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4792545

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    1. Oh, but so many books do have great readers! Try the Incorrogibles series. The reader is fantastic, and the books are short. You could probably finish one on a round-trip drive to Philadelphia.

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  2. I have never listened to an audiobook. I think it would be good to exercise to so I may try that. I have the Incorrigible series on my to-read list so that would be a good choice.

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    1. That's a great choice, especially since you can listen to it with Lexi in the car.

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  3. Audio books I loved include Bossy Pants by Tina Fey and Rob Lowe's Stories I Only Tell My Friends, so it seems I have a pattern of liking celeb biographies read by the celeb. Must branch out, BUT I'm putting Miranda's audio book on my list for my drive home at Christmas.

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