My Latest Bookish Addiction [16] – Audiobooks (Again!)

MLBA

In keeping with the theme of my blog, I decided to start bringing you updates of the newest and greatest bookish addictions in my life so I can share with you some awesomely bookish things or discuss if maybe we share the same bookish loves. It seemed like a great way to get a little discussion going in a very relaxed way.

This Edition’s Bookish Addiction? Audiobooks… Again! 

I’ve already celebrated audiobooks as My Latest Bookish Addiction but I must must share my love for them again. My original post on audiobooks is already over a year and a half old and oh, how things have changed since then! I have a lot more titles to recommend, favorite narrators, and audiobook habits since my original post so the topic bears repeating!

Audiobooking has become a way of life for me. In my original post, I was already becoming a seasoned audiobook listener but now I’m at the point where I crave a good audio and I’m always on the hunt for more fantastic stories with amazing narrators! There’s just something an audiobook that really lends that extra “oomph” to a book — there’s another layer of performance being able to hear a narrator voice the characters, put action sequences in motion, and add a general tone to a story.

I wouldn’t say that I’m a picky listener but I am choosy. There’s not much that I’ll immediately nix as far as an audiobook option except for a few less-than-thrilling narrators that I’ve run into but I’ve definitely had more amazing experiences than poor. Whether it’s for the better or worse, a narrator can really make or break a book for me. But I’ve also learned that a narrator also can’t save a book for me. Two of my favorite narrators of all time voiced a new book and I swore I could listen to them read the phone book… But I ended up DNFing the audio and returning it to Audible, feeling confident about my decision. I’ll usually finish most audios because I can always speed them up or just listen mindlessly if I’m not thoroughly enjoying. This was one of the rare cases where it just felt like a waste of time.

I feel like audiobooks offer a lot of perks for a reader! It may be challenging for some to focus on listening (I know I have to focus sometimes) but if you’re hesitant about trying some, think about this!

  • You can listen to a book while driving, cleaning, cooking dinner, working out, etc. Ever get annoyed that you have to stop reading when you get in the car to go places? Not anymore! I always have an audiobook running so I’ll pop it on during my drive to work, while I’m making dinner, or doing chores. It feels nice that I’m still making progress with a current read.
  • Audiobooks bring a whole new level of performance to a book. Sure, I can do voices in my head… But if anyone talks with an accent, let’s be honest. I try to do it in my head and slowly it just becomes me reading in my own voice again. The voice actors for audios really do a great job giving each character a different voice and most are great at different accents when needed! They also bring heightened emotions, especially in cases like Wil Wheaton’s narration of Ernest Cline’s books!
  • They’re excellent ways to experience your favorite books in new ways.love re-reading and I often times will pick up the audiobooks of my favorites to experience them in a whole different way! It’s almost always a positive experience and really fun to re-read like that.
  • They bring a more personal connection to the book. I have some favorite narrators that sort of made me fall in love with them — I mean, the characters — a little bit more than I might have just reading the words on the page. Hearing the emotion in a character’s voice or just hearing a character’s voice brings a more personal connection to a story and it tugs on my heartstrings that much more.
  • They can make okay books good or even great. Okay, I’ll be honest. If I had just read ARMADA, I’m not sure I would have loved it. But Wil Wheaton is such a good narrator that he really brought so much to the story and I felt like I was almost watching a movie instead of listening to a book. His enthusiasm is amazing and it really got me into the book when I might have felt some lulls if I had read in print.

So what do you think? Any of these reasons convince you to pick up an audiobook? Which ones would you agree with?


Of course I can’t let you go without making some recommendations. Last time I just threw out some audiobook recs but I’m digging a little deeper this time — audio beginner or master, there’s something here for everyone! 

FAVORITE NARRATORS

  • Steve West | The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
  • Fiona HardinghamThe Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
  • Jim Dale | Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling, The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson
  • MacLeod Andrews | Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown, The Reckoners Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson
  • Michael Kramer | The Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson, The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan
  • Michael Page | The Gentleman Bastard series by Scott Lynch
  • Neil Gaiman | The Graveyard Book and others by Neil Gaiman

CELEBRITY NARRATORS

  • Wil Wheaton | Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, Armada by Ernest Cline
  • Jesse Eisenberg | The Curse Workers Trilogy by Holly Black
  • Anne Hathaway | The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot

MY AUDIOBOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

Check out my audiobook list on Goodreads for even MORE recommendations or you can always comment or email me for recs! These are the ones I would start with but I’ve listened to a bunch more than I’ve also enjoyed! What audiobooks do YOU recommend?

Hi, I'm Brittany!
Hi, I'm Brittany!

I'm an avid reader, candle-maker, and audiobook lover! Here you'll find book reviews, fun blog posts, and my other loves of photography & craft beer!

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20 thoughts on “My Latest Bookish Addiction [16] – Audiobooks (Again!)

  1. Danielle @ Love at First Page

    I still have yet to try an audio book! I don’t think I could listen to a book if it’s my first time reading it, just because I like to be able to digest and go back if I need to, but I definitely want to try a re-read! The Scorpio Races and The Lunar Chronicles are high on my priority list!

    Reply
  2. Audrey Greathouse

    I’ve heard a lot of good arguments for audiobooks, but at the end of the day, they just never jive with me. Reading is such a personal, quiet experience, I like getting away from everything (technology) and everyone else…I always feel awkward when I have a narrator there with me. They read aloud slower than I do in my head, too, so I just feel like the process is in slow motion. When I’m in a story, I like to go at my own pace ^_^ I’m glad they work for so many people…one of my friends is dyslexic and he’d never read for fun if it weren’t for audiobooks!

    Reply
  3. Kay @ It's a Book Life

    Although my mind still sometimes wanders when listening to an audiobook, for the most part I follow along pretty well. I just started doing audiobooks when I got my second job and we moved and I no live a little farther away from both my jobs now. I was SICK of the radio. I even have it on sometimes when I am cleaning! The audiobook I just finished and loved was The Diviners! The narrator did a great job at doing all the different voices. I just picked up How to Train Your Dragon because I heard that series is really good and David Tennant narrates and I heart him.

    Thanks for the recs! I think I may try The Raven Cycle from your list or if I am in the mood for a re-read I will do Scorpio Races because I LOVE that book. 😀

    Reply
  4. Alyssa

    Litttttleee bit worried that Nick Podehl isn’t listed as one of your favorite narrators..but I guess I will allow it as you listed Lord Gaiman…also did you notice that you also like male narrators more than female? INTERESTING!

    Reply
    1. Brittany Post author

      Well that is just pure human error for ya right there. He’s phenom! I want to find more books that he narrates too.
      I do prefer male narrators to female narrators! I think they’re easier to listen to. I pick apart female narrators too much!

      Reply
    1. Brittany Post author

      He does!! I don’t think he’s the BEST narrator out there but I think he was perfect for that series! I loved his voicing of Cassel!

      Reply
  5. Tanya Patrice

    Yes!!!! I adore audiobooks – I’ve probably actually listened to more audiobooks this year, than physically reading a book (lots of changes). From your list, I’ve only listened to The Lunar Chronicles (series) and it has been so awesome. I also love listening to translated works, as opposed to reading them, because the pronounciations / accents.

    Reply
    1. Brittany Post author

      Yes! I think Rebecca Soler does a great job with The Lunar Chronicles. I have a couple things that bother me but overall I think they’re excellent!

      Reply
  6. Valeria @ A Touch of Book Madness

    I wholeheartedly agree! I love audiobooks and couldn’t live without them. I loved Will Wheaton’s performance in Ready Player One, and am looking forward to Armada. I have to admit I listened to the Gentleman Bastards (The Lies of Lost Lamora for now, and moving on to the next one already) and I fell irrevocably in love with the book! I think I wouldn’t have loved it as much (borderline obsessive) if it weren’t for the amazing narration!! I also got The reckoners at your recommendation, but hadn’t gotten to it yet. Bottom line: yay for audiobooks and good narration! Another favourite narrator of mine is Luke Daniels. You’ve got to listen to some of his books. I particularly liked Brilliance!

    Reply
    1. Brittany Post author

      YES! They’re so fantastic. Wil Wheaton is amazing and he honestly just makes those books even better.
      I LOVE Michael Page’s narration of Scott Lynch’s books. He really brings them to life!! They’re so much fun.
      Hope you enjoy The Reckoners!!! I may be a little bit in love with MacLeod Andrews shhhhh

      Reply
  7. Brittany T

    Britt! Yaaaass! Finally someone to share my affinity with audio with!
    I love them for the e act reasons you named driving, cooking, cleaning! One more narrator that must be added is Davina Porter. She narrates the Out,Andre series and while reading those times might seem daunting, her lovely voice has gotten me through the 321 hours of the series like it was a cake walk! I cannot recommend those audiobooks enough. As if Jaime Fraser isn’t enough of a reason!!
    ❤️Britt @ pleasefeedthebookworm.com

    Reply

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