Audio month starts on Friday, and we’re kicking it off by giving away a selection of six audiobooks—a varied bunch that includes suspense, nonfiction and classics.
A High Wind in Jamaica by Richard Hughes (CSA Word).
Set in the 19th century, this is the gripping story of the Bas-Thornton children, whose parents send them back to England following a hurricane in the postcolonial Caribbean they call home. Having set sail, the children quickly fall into the hands of pirates. As their voyage continues, things take an awful turn.
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson (CSA Word).
This is the disturbing tale of the dual personality of Dr. Jekyll, a physician. A generous and philanthropic man, he is preoccupied with the problems of good and evil, and with the possibility of separating them into distinct personalities. He develops a drug that transforms him into the demonic Mr. Hyde, in whose person he exhausts all the latent evil in his nature.
The Thief by Clive Cussler (Penguin Audio)
On the ocean liner Mauretania, two European scientists with a dramatic new invention are barely rescued from abduction by the Van Dorn Detective Agency’s intrepid chief investigator, Isaac Bell. Unfortunately, they are not so lucky the second time. The thugs attack again—and this time, one of the scientists dies.
Chasing Midnight by Randy Wayne White (Penguin Audio).
At a reception hosted by a notorious Russian black marketeer, Doc Ford uses darkness, and his friend Tomlinson, as cover to get an underwater look at the billionaire’s yacht. By the time Ford surfaces, everything has changed. Environmental extremists have taken control of the island. Or are they thugs hired by the Russian’s competitors?
Some Assembly Required by Anne Lamott (Penguin Audio)
Lamott enters a new and unexpected chapter of her own life: grandmotherhood. Stunned to learn that her son, Sam, is about to become a father at 19, Lamott begins a journal about the first year of her grandson Jax’s life. (read our review)
Shades of Hope by Tennie McCarty (Penguin Audio)
There are millions of people who bounce from one diet to another without understanding why because they never look beyond their plates. McCarty believes that food addiction is a physical and mental problem with a spiritual solution.
TO ENTER: Comment on this post with the best audiobook you’ve ever listened to.
CONTEST DETAILS: One winner will be chosen by random.org from among entries received by 5 pm CST on Friday, June 1. The winner will receive the six audiobooks listed above on CD. Prize must be shipped to a North American address, and Rhode Island residents are not eligible. (Full contest rules here.) Good luck!
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ETA: Congratulations to our winner, Susannah! She loves Ray Bradbury’s reading of Fahrenheit 451. “It is the best film, best poem, best play, all rolled into one.”
Thank you to all who entered! Contest is now closed.
I always feel that I’m being put on the spot when asked to name the “best” of anything because I know as soon as I answer a better selection will come to mind. My first thought was The Pillars of the Earth by Kenn Follet and read by George Ralph. Then I thought of Stephen King’s The Shawshank Redemption read by Frank Muller. Oh, and then there is the entire Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowland and read by Jim Dale.
Typing with somebody else’s fingers today. I meant Ken Follett and J.K. Rowling. I also found out there there have been at least two other narrators for The Pillars of the Earth (John Lee and Richard E. Grant). I’m not sure who narrated the version I listened to.
An easy post for me!
The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry. It was read so well by Wanda McCaddon. A lovely story set in Ireland where you learn the story of Roseanne McNulty who is 100 years old. The twists and turns, the questions about what “really” happened, all while wondering what will happen make for a great story.
McCaddon’s reading voice is FANTASTIC! A real treasure, this one!
I can’t wait to read other suggestions!
The Broker by John Grisham. Read by Dennis Boutsikaris.
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
I love to listen to absolutely anything by George Guidall. My suggestions of favorites narrated by him are: Night, by Elie Wiesel, and The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb. His narrating is so natural, convincing, and he reads at a good pace! It’s amazing what an audiobook can become to a listener with just the right narrator behind it.
I have never listened to an audio book but would love to give it a try
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins – had me sitting in my parked car, long after I’d arrived at my destination with a hand over my mouth in shock!
Thanks for the giveaway!
Katie
I have listened to 191 books on tape. I, obviously, love them. There are so many I loved that this is very hard. One thing is for sure; if the reader isn’t really wonderful, no matter how good the book, it just doesn’t translate. An example of this is The Poisonwood Bible. LOVED the book reading it. Could not stand it as an audio. Stopped. I love the Spencer books read by Joe Montanya. He is great and the books are fun and funny. Any book Dick Hill does is also wonderful. I am going to say that my favorite audio book is The Charm School, by DeMille. The story is totally gripping. I read the book first. Years later I listened to it while I painted my house, interior. Times flies when listening to audio books. They are the best.
The Passage by Justin Cronin! I can’t wait until the sequel is released!!
The best audio is an “oldie but goodie.” It’s “Guardian of the Horizon” by Elizabeth Peters and, in my opinion, is a sequel to one of her best, “The Last Camel Died At Noon.”
I can’t choose just one favorite! Among my favorite audiobooks are My Name is Mary Sutter, by Robin Oliveira; The Help, by Kathryn Stockett; and almost anything read by Scott Brick or Jim Dale.
When my father died (a long while ago) a friend gave me Charlotte’s Web, read by E.B. White. Since then, I’ve listened with my class, & again by myself. It’s a treasure.
Ohh, I should have said this one! You are so right about this recording. I listened to it for YEARS on cassette with the kids in the car. You could pop it in at any part of the story and the car would settle down, everyone engrossed. It was a saving grace for the swim team carpool.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
Catherine Anderson’s Comanche Moon narrated by Ruth Ann Phimister. She perfectly captures the Comanche language from the written page. The voices of all characters are distinct and unique. It’s long (20 hours on audio), but it is well worth it! Plus, any book read by Scott Brick, especially the Frank Quinn series by John Lutz. I also really loved Dick Hill and Suzie Breck’s narration of the first 6 of J.A. Konrath’s Jack Daniels series. Funny! Also love narrator Joyce Bean.
I love listening to books with foreign accents, so I would choose anything by Maeve Binchy.
The best ever was the entertaining one by Gerry Weintraub. Loved it.
hands down, Tina Fey’s book…hilarious and so so enjoyable
Seems like often the latest book I’ve listened to becomes a favorite – so for now it is The Shoemakers Wife by A. Trigiani.
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn rand
Of course a audio is only as good as the reader. A good reader puts the story in my mind like a movie playing. I listened to both ” The Cabinet of Curiosities and Still Life with Crows” and both had me going down the road saying” oh no, oh no and various other comments! I myself was walking down hallways and in the caves of both books!!
I loved listening to Harry Potter on audio. Jim Dale is awesome. Room was a great book to listen to as well.
Years later I’m still thinking about The Memory of Running, read by the author Ron McLarty.
I adored Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson.
I love books about women from all ages of time. Clara and Mr. Tiffany was so wonderful.
Harry Potter and Twilight are the only ones I have listen to on CD but all were great.
I have been an avid audio book reader for many years and trying to name just one favorite book is impossible. Looking over what other people have listed I kept thinking, yes I loved that book as well. Probably it would be easier to say that I love books read by Davina Porter, Barbara Rosenblat, Lisette Lecat and others that read with an appropriate accent.
Oh, mine would be The Thanksgiving Visitor by Truman Capote. Listen to it every year.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, written by Mark Haddon and read by Jeff Woodman. Everyone who happened to ride in my car during the time I was listening to it got pulled into the story and wanted to know how things turned out for Christopher.
My favorite audiobook is A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness.
I love to be able to listen to these books. It has been a very long time since I’ve listen to an audio book.
I’ve never listened to an audio book before and would love to win.
My favorite author to listen to is Stephen King. I am really enjoying listening to 11-22/63, even though I already read it in January. I am listening to refresh my memory for book club and enjoying it just as much the 2nd time.
I loved the Fern Michaels Trilogies Vegas, Kentucky, and Texas. The narrator was awesome. I find myself looking for more books read by the same narrator. I really love audio books. I am addicted to them in my car.
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
I actually gave up on audio books many years ago, because the only time really available to me was during the drive from Maine to Massachusetts and back. I found that I was unable to listen while driving; the books consumed all of my attention. Now I have retired to senior housing, and have plenty of time. I am a voracious reader, and could easily become a voracious listener.
Any audiobook by Lilian Jackson Braun. I grew up listening to them during cross country car trips with my family.
Best audio book I ever heard was Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell. The book is part biography, part inspirational, and for me full of truth. It absolutely was life changing.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. This was the first audiobook (on cassette) I ever listened to, and it had me hooked. The medium has sure changed a lot, but audiobooks have sustained me through years of long commutes and sleepless nights.
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini was the best audiobook I’ve ever listened to because the actress who was doing the recording was amazing. I would listen to the book during my commute and sometimes I was so captivated that I would sit in the car in my driveway until I finished a chapter.
The whole Harry Potter series by JK Rowling are wonderful audio books to be listened to over and over again.
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
I really enjoyed Harry Potter in audio. The actor that did the reading was amazing!
The little boys voice stole the show in ROOM.
I love the Irish Country series by Patrick Taylor. The narration is excellent and makes you feel like you live right in Ballybucklebo! I also enjoy Fannie Flagg’s books-self narrated. Right now I’m enjoying the Shoemaker’s Wife by Adirana Trigiani.
The best audiobook I ever listened to was a Janet Evanovich novel Eleven on Top . It was hysterical!
We were just on a long road trip and brought along some of the Harry Potter audiobooks. It made the trip feel so much shorter for both parents and kids!
Peter Coyote did a fabulous job with LONESOME DOVE and then there’s Phillip Pullman’s own production of THE SUBTLE KNIFE. Loved George Guidell’s versions of THE CAT WHO series and of course, Barabra Rossenblat’s readings of EMILY PEABODY series…
How do I enter the contest??
I liked “Under the Tuscan Sun”.
Bill Bryson’s A Walk in the Woods – I am sure I looked crazy during my commute laughing my head off!
Never listened to audio but Tennie Mccarty and Anne Lamont would be a great way to start!
Little Bee by Chris Cleve
A trans-formative listen!!
The Lovely bones
I haven’t listened to any audiobooks yet.
The best book I listened to on audio was Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. I love audio books! They are great to listen to while traveling in the car.
The best book I listened to on audio was Eat, Pray, Love. I enjoyed listening to books on audio more than I do reading them in print.
In non-fiction, my favorite audiobook is probably Atlantic, by Simon Winchester.
In fiction, there are so many fantastic books, such as Before I Go To Sleep, narrated by the awesome Orlagh Cassidy. I also enjoyed extremely Wolf Hall; and Cutting For Stone.
thanks for the great gifts promised.
I listen to audiobooks while I do my house chores (dishes, ironing, cleaning), and painting – I paint on rocks!
Emma
The best audio book I’ve ever heard is Gabor Mate’s ‘In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts’ that I obtained through my mom who is a librarian.
Possibly the Harry Potter series.
The goblet of fire by J.K. Rowling. This was the first audiobook I’d ever listened to because our cable was out for a week during Hurricane Ike, so I basically had no choice, but I was swept away instantly. Had no regrets about not being able to watch television for a whole week.
I’ve never listened to an audio book but would love to start!
The best audio book I’ve listened to is anything narrated by Jim Dale.
I have read Shades of Hope twice and would love to have the audio. When I read this book a second time, I found additional tidbits that were so easy to apply to life. I would love to have someone read it to me next time and so I would also love to share it with my friends….thanks
that will be eat pray love. first read it on a book then happened to get a copy of the audiobook. the author’s words even left an imprint on me and helped me to reach deep inside myself what do i really really really want. i know i even have an almost bathroom moment and reflected about my life.
Best: “The Girl Who Stopped Swimming,” written and narrated by Joshilyn Jackson.
Worst: I just couldn’t stomach the way Jeremy Irons read “Lolita.” Gave me the creeps. Good voice acting though.
I really enjoyed State of Fear by Michael Crichton.
On audio, I truly enjoyed Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout.
A truly magical reading experience for me was listening to all the audiobooks in The Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency series. Lisette Lacat narrates and gives each character a distinct voice. Her comedic timing is spot on, and she uplifts the already delightful, engaging stories by Alexander McCall Smith.
To kill a Mockingbird. I drove around for hours.
My favorite audio book of all time was The Help by Kathryn Stockett. It was the best narration I’ve ever experienced!
Ray Bradbury’s reading of Fahrenheit 451 is more than the best audiobook I have ever heard. It is the best film, best poem, best play, all rolled into one.
“The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” series. Loved hearing the names/places pronounced correctly – something that wouldn’t have happened in my head.
Wow! All of the above. Audio books have been with me in dark times, and sick times in bed when I did not think I had the engery to turn the tape over, and such joy to start a new one. But I could never pick just one best reader or book. What is playing now is the Best! Judith
Hands down – Bonfire of the Vanities!
The New Testament, read by Jim Caviezel, who played Jesus in Passion of the Christ. Brings a new light to the traditional words of the Bible…almost like a movie osundtrack in the background makes everything all that more “real.”
I really liked the audiobooks for the Maximum Ride series.
Anything read by Theadore Bikel (Name of the Rose, the first “the Cat Who…” series by Lillian Jackson Braun.