Not sure if it’s an exeption that proves the rule, but Thomas Harris reads *Hannibal *and I’ve listened to it at least three times, he’s just that good. Very much a southern storyteller voice.
He also reads Hannibal Rising but, feh, don’t bother. Even I can’t apologize for that mess.
Hopefully my bumping this thread is OK, since I’m announcing that Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is now available at Audible.com 
I’ve got a couple of credits to use up - renewed my membership and got 3 months at half off. I usually don’t buy audiobooks, since so few of them seem worth purchase price and the library has nearly everything I’d want for free, for listening to in the car via CD.
So - asking for any updated recommendations here.
Something to purchase has to be [ul]
[li]very good (e.g. the full-cast performances of the Golden Compass series, Lenny Henry reading Anansi Boys), [/li][li]pretty good (very good story, competent reading, e.g. the Outlander series) and long enough that I’d never finish it off if I borrowed it, [/li][li]or the sort of thing I’d listen to again and again (that’s a rare thing. Harry Potter might do it but audible doesn’t carry those and they’re too pricey any other way).[/li][/ul]
Ideas for books that are borrowing-worthy also gratefully solicited. I’m working through the Stephanie Plum books now (just finished #11 and I do NOT like the new reader), I’ve had all the Amelia Peabody mysteries; other authors I’ve enjoyed are MC Beaton (Agatha Raisin is a hoot!), Lisa Gardner, Tess Gerritsen. None worth owning, all worth borrowing.
Mysteries are ideal - can’t sneak ahead to the ending in an audiobook; narratives and Literature are right out, as they’d put me to sleep right away. Bad idea when driving. Comedy would be great (I need to get some of the Christopher Moore books).
Let’s see. I’ve been digging the Starship series by Mike Resnick, and actually I’m a bit bummed about having to wait for ‘starship flagship’. It’s a slightly fun and very SMART take on a slightly star-trekish universe - the main character, Wilson Cole, is the kind of guy who wins by thinking his way around the cliches instead of stepping into them.
Also really loved ‘a charmed life’ by Diana Wynn Jones - one of those old English fairy-tale inspired fantasy books, a bit like Narnia or a pre-Harry Potter. There really are witches and warlocks in England, even if some people look down their noses at ‘that disreputable element’ - and I was blown away by the twist ending. 
I love audio books too. My mother gave me an Audible 1-year subscription a while back, and I was dubious at first, but grew to enjoy the listening experience. Especially when I’m on my morning walk, or lounging in the backyard and don’t want to wear my glasses.
Two titles have merited a second listening, and I recommend them:
-Memoirs of a Geisha; I would never have picked this book up for a read, but the woman who reads the audio version is absolutely wonderful at channeling the main character’s voice/experience/emotions. I know that Goldman totally made up the story, but the audio book really feels like you’ve submerged yourself into an alternate time and place that really did exist.
-In** a Sunburned Country**; I am a Bill Bryson fan and have read (on paper) most of his books. So I have a positive bias to begin with. This travelogue of Australia is read by Bryson himself, and captures his awe, fear, and admiration of the continent. His voice conveys wry humor, tells of humble and epic experiences, and makes me alternately want to go there/avoid it at all costs.
The Big Over Easy and The Fourth Bear, by Jasper Fforde, without question. They’re humorous mysteries, the readers are very good (the second book has a different reader from the first, which is a little annoying, but both are quite competent), and the books are very well written. I love them and have listened to them two or three times each.
I just listened to B Is For Beer by Tom Robbins and thought it was hilarious. While definitely written in Robbins’ style, this is quite a departure for him. It’s a quasi-children’s book about a kindergartener, Gracie, who with the help of a friendly beer fairy and her ne’er-do-well uncle learns about that most magical of libations: beer.
Even unabridged it’s only about two hours, but it really is a most excellent tale. I liked it, anyway.
Janet Evanovich’s “Stephanie Plum” series is funny and easy listening.
“My Lobotomy” is great. It’s about a man who had a lobotomy as a kid, not because he needed it but because his step-mother saw it as a method to control him
“If This Was Happiness,” a biography of Rita Hayworth was so good it had me up all night listening to it.
“Rebecca” was another great book to listen to. I couldn’t stop listening to it.
Don’t forget iTunes, even if you don’t have an iPod you can download free podcasts. My favourite are the podcasts of “How Stuff Works” From the website of the same name
I might also suggest to check out Archive (dot) Org. They have FREE downloads of old time radio shows, and free downloads of other things. You can’t beat Old Time Radio. “Jack Benny” Or “Burns and Allen” will keep you laughing a LOT longer than six hours.