# Looking for some good audiobooks **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 12, 2005, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-good-audiobooks/316717 "2005-08-12T13:14:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-good-audiobooks/316717/21 "2005-08-12T19:53:53Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > I’ve listened to several books that were crappy but had good narrators… and other wonderful books with awful narrators…I’ve been impressed with how much difference a good narrator makes on these things. Ain’t that the truth. There are a lot of audiobooks in which the author decided to do the recording himself so as not to have to split the royalties, but they almost always interfere with my ability to “see” the script flow in front of me. David McCullough is an exception, of course - not only are his histories fascinating and his delivery completely professional, but his books fill up a lot of commuting time. A professional actor’s performance almost always makes what would be an irritatingly dull dialogue on paper stand out simply by changing his/her accent or even just cadence (any detective novel read by Jerry Orbach, for instance). Humor stories seem to be especially enhanced - I’ve never laughed so hard at Dorothy Parker stories than when performed by Shirley Booth. ---
**Author:** ![Kiminy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Kiminy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiminy)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-good-audiobooks/316717/22 "2005-08-12T20:14:43Z")
I love audiobooks, but our library has a limited collection. Other sources I have used: [audible.com](http://audible.com): Mostly pay options, but the subscription options are generous. [Tell Tale Weekly](http://www.telltaleweekly.org/): Lots of short stories, mostly priced under $1. [Audio Books for Free](http://www.audiobooksforfree.com/DEFAULT.ASP): While you can get the downloads free, you can pay small amounts for convenience features or better quality files. All books are in the public domain, so it’s mostly old stuff. As for specific titles, I love listening to Peter Mayle, who narrates his own books, including A Year in Provence, and several other books either about or situated in southern France. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-good-audiobooks/316717/23 "2005-08-12T20:48:25Z")
> [@Pixisis](#): > > the original radio broadcast is also very good, though perhaps too lively for bedtime … (and also only availble on tape) They’re available on CD. > **[BBC Shop](https://shop.bbc.com/)** > > The Best of British TV and Culture. Celebrate your favourite shows: Doctor Who, Top Gear, Sherlock, and many more! Shop bestselling DVDs, Blu-rays and merchandise direct from the BBC Shop. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-good-audiobooks/316717/24 "2005-08-12T20:51:43Z")
If you want something to put you to sleep I find the Naxos Audio version of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire to be wonderfully dull. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2005, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-good-audiobooks/316717/25 "2005-08-13T00:13:47Z")
John Krakauer does a wonderful job reading his “Into Thin Air”, his story of the disasterous 1996 Everest climbing season. I had already read the book and still enjoyed the audiobook immensely. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2005, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-good-audiobooks/316717/26 "2005-08-13T01:52:01Z")
The audiobooks of Stephen King’s _Dark Tower_ series are excellent. I particularly enjoyed _The Drawing of the Three_. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2005, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-good-audiobooks/316717/27 "2005-08-13T01:57:45Z")
All in all, it is hard to beat the Lake Woebegone stories in audio form while on the plane. Some are funny, some are sad. All paint a lovely mental picture. ---
**Author:** ![rackensack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@rackensack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rackensack)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2005, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-good-audiobooks/316717/28 "2005-08-13T03:54:19Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Yep. I’ve never been a fan of audiobooks, but now that I can stick the headphones on and listen while I ride my stationary bike, I’m delighted. > > Currently listening to _The Hermit of Eyton Forest_, by Ellis Peters. Read by Roe Kendall. This is my first exposure to Brother Cadfael and I’m enjoying it. If that’s the case, you really owe it to yourself to track down some of the Recorded Books editions of Ellis Peters’ Brother Cadfael novels read by the amazing Patrick Tull. I’ll listen to anything he reads, and have never been disappointed. I’ve raved about his readings of the Patrick O’Brian Aubrey-Maturin series in other threads, as well as his take on John Mortimer’s Rumpole, etc. ---
**Author:** ![rackensack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@rackensack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rackensack)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2005, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-good-audiobooks/316717/29 "2005-08-13T04:07:43Z")
> [@rackensack](#): > > If that’s the case, you really owe it to yourself to track down some of the Recorded Books editions of Ellis Peters’ Brother Cadfael novels read by the amazing Patrick Tull. I’ll listen to anything he reads, and have never been disappointed. I’ve raved about his readings of the Patrick O’Brian Aubrey-Maturin series in other threads, as well as his take on John Mortimer’s Rumpole, etc. BTW, NetLibrary doesn’t have any of the O’Brian, Ellis Peters, or Mortimer novels read by Patrick Tull, but they do have Goldsmith’s _The Vicar of Wakefield_, which Tull does his usual outstanding work on. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2005, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-good-audiobooks/316717/30 "2005-08-13T12:36:52Z")
Just downloaded _Geek Love_ by Katherine Dunn fron netlibrary, sounds interesting. “Geek Love is the saga of a traveling carnival, the owners of which try to save it from financial failure by using ingested chemicals and toxins to create the birth of amazing freaks for the show. The outcome is a family that is both proud and vain about its specialness.” ---
**Author:** ![kindaclever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7993a0/32.png) [@kindaclever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kindaclever)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2005, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-good-audiobooks/316717/31 "2005-08-13T19:30:16Z")
Next time you have a looong car trip and want something truly engrossing (and entertaining) may I recommend Tom Robbins _Fierce Invalids Home from Hot Climates_ . Am listening to Chuck Palahniuk’s _Lullaby_ on my trips home from work and enjoying it. ---
**Author:** ![Merejane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@Merejane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merejane)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2005, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-good-audiobooks/316717/32 "2005-08-14T01:24:21Z")
I agree with those who find that the narrator can make a big difference. I have an [audible.com](http://audible.com) subscription, and I always listen to the sample (I think it’s usually 15 minutes) to see how I feel about the narration before deciding on a book. (My husband, on the other hand, doesn’t pay any attention to this, so YMMV.) I find that author-narrated books work better with non-fiction, for some reason, although that’s not always the case. As others have noted, Douglas Adams is wonderful on **The Hitchhiker’s Guide** series. Some fiction audiobooks that I have enjoyed include: - **Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close** by Jonathan Safran Foer, narrated by Jeff Woodman, Barbara Caruso, and Richard Ferrone - **The Dogs of Babel** by Carolyn Parkhurst, narrated by Erik Singer - **The Time Traveler’s Wife** by Audrey Niffenegger, narrated by William Hope and Laurel Lefkow - **Brick Lane** by Monica Ali, narrated by Elizabeth Sastre - the Robert B. Parker **Spenser** mysteries narrated by Joe Montegna - the Janet Evanovich **Stephanie Plum** mysteries narrated by Lorelei King. Some good non-fiction audiobooks: - **Shadow Divers** by Robert Kurson, narrated by Michael Pritchard - **Longitudes and Attitude** s by Thomas L. Friedman, narrated by the author - **Freakonomics** by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, narrated by Stephen J. Dubner ---
**Author:** ![Fionn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fionn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fionn)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2005, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-good-audiobooks/316717/33 "2005-08-14T01:54:30Z")
I’ve recently started listening to audiobooks on long drives. My favorites so far have been: _Bangkok 8_, by John Burdett-the death of a Marine on embassy duty in Thailand is investigated by the only honest cop on the Royal Thai Police Force. It’s got really engrossing storylines, good twists, some really funny parts, and B.D. Wong does a good job narrating. _Sailing the Wine Dark Sea_, by Thomas Cahill-this is by the author of _How the Irish Saved Civilization_. It’s about the influences of ancient Greek literature and culture on modern life. It covers Homer’s epics, Sappho’s poetry, and the range of Greek philosophy. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2005, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-good-audiobooks/316717/34 "2005-08-14T02:00:00Z")
> [@DoctorJ](#): > > The audiobooks of Stephen King’s _Dark Tower_ series are excellent. I particularly enjoyed _The Drawing of the Three_. Which version do you have? I have the first three read King. His voice takes a little getting used to, but it’s not so bad. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2005, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-good-audiobooks/316717/35 "2005-08-14T04:16:36Z")
The ones I have were read by Frank Muller. He does a wonderful job of making each character sound distinctive, and of bringing out their personalities. It’s like a whole layer on top of the book, the way a great storyteller can make a story that much better. ---
**Author:** ![Alpine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpine/32/17813_2.png) [@Alpine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpine)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2005, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-good-audiobooks/316717/36 "2005-08-14T23:38:49Z")
I listen to several audio books a month - it’s how I get myself motivated to exercise. I agree that the narrator is key - my favorite is Barbara Rosenblat. Some highlights (I like series): **Amelia Peobody** and **Vicky Bliss** mysteries, by **Elizabeth Peters** They are fun to listen to, a bit cutesy to read **Mary Russell & Sherlock Holmes** series, by **Laurie R. King** - excellently written. Not sure if the first 3-4 are available in audio. **Thursday Next** novels, by **Jasper Fforde** - even funnier when listened to than read. I’m currently listening to his new one: **Nursery Crimes**. super “lite” fare: PG Wodehouse, the Rumpole stories, Simon Brett’s Mrs. Pageter mysteries. Jim Dale reading Harry Potter is AWESOME. I’ve listened to all of them multiple times. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2005, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-good-audiobooks/316717/37 "2005-08-15T14:53:59Z")
I managed to get my hands on Al Franken’s _Lies and the lying liars who tell them_ It’s Liberal porn 😉 but as a pinko I’m liking it a lot. I’ll check out some others and report back. Thanks all. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-good-audiobooks/316717.md?page=1)