.png)
Click the image to watch my Studio 5 segment on audiobooks!
I love the feel of a real book in my hands, but I admit that some books are even better when you listen to them. Plus, mixing in a few audiobooks helps me get through my TBR list much more quickly! Here are my ten favorite audiobooks:
1. My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Cynthia Meadows, narrated by Katherine Kellgren
This parody on the classic story of Lady Jane Grey is so unexpected and hilarious. The narrator is PERFECT. Reading this book would not have the same affect. This story is so witty and has historical accuracy, which had me looking up the true story of Lady Jane. (Spoiler alert: She is queen of England for nine days then gets beheaded at 16 years old!) I definitely like this book’s version better than the real one.
2. Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery, narrated by Rachel McAdams
Anne with an “e” is one of the most lovable characters I’ve ever read about, and her story transports me to the beautiful Prince Edward Island. (If you know me, you know how much I love a setting-driven story!) Rachel McAdams brings even more life to this classic story.
3. The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton, narrated by Caroline Lee
This is a dual timeline tale of two women, fifty years apart, and how the one in the present day uncovers secrets about her family’s past that allow her to understand an event from her own past and let go of the guilt she’d been holding onto about it. There’s a jaw-dropping twist at the end, and the story is woven together so beautifully. I love the WWII context too. I thought Caroline was a fantastic narrator.
4. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle, narrated by Hope Davis
I’ve loved this book since I first read it as a kid. It’s a powerful story of how love prevails despite human imperfection, told in the context of a magical world and well-developed characters. I listened to and read it with my 1st-grader and we loved it. “A Wrinkle in Time” is imaginative and intriguing, and it had me crying during the scene when Meg expresses her love for her little brother. The way Madelaine L’Engle weaves in the power of the love of God is incredibly moving. It’s refreshing to see those themes in a popular sci-fi/fantasy. Hope Davis (a Tony-award-nominated actress) does a great job narrating this one.
5. Where the Crawdads Sing, by Delia Owens, narrated by Cassandra Campbell
I found myself swooning out-loud over Delia Owens’s writing on several occasions. She wrote so beautifully about the setting (the marshes off the North Carolina coast) and I loved watching Kya, the main character, come into her own strength despite a rough childhood (and adulthood). The narrator is fantastic!
6. Irresistible by Adam Alter, narrated by Adam Alter
A fascinating book about modern technology and what it does to our brains and our behavior. Plus, Adam’s South African-Australian accent makes it an even better listen!
7. Emma by Jane Austen, full cast narration by BBC
Just when I thought the BBC couldn’t get any better, I find out they’ve produced full-cast narrations of British classics. It’s like listening to a live play.
8. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, narrated by Jake Gyllenhaall
One of my favorite classics. I love being transported to the Roaring Twenties and don’t mind Jake Gyllenhaal being the one to take me there.
9. The Year of Living Danishly by Helen Russel
I read it once, and listened to it after that for book club. Not only is it an interesting travelogue, but it’s a thought-provoking study on what makes a society (and an individual) happy. I love the way journalist Helen observes life in Denmark and tells her story as an expat from London. Just a heads up that there’s some adult content in this book.
10. The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom, narrated by Orlagh Cassidy and Bahni Turpin
This is the first audiobook I listened to as an adult, so it holds a special place in my heart. It’s a rich and heart-wrenching story about class distinction, family ties, and slavery in the 18th and 19th centuries. Not a fluffy read, but a good one.
UPDATE:
Here are a few more favorite audiobooks I’ve discovered!
Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid: The fictional, riveting story of a 70s rock band narrated by a full cast.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig: A book about jumping into different variations of your life by sifting through books in a magical library? Yes, please.
The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner: I loved escaping into the (actual) English village of Chawton for this charming story about a group of men and women from different walks of life who come together over their love for Jane Austen.
Last Christmas in Paris by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb: This was a lovely book to listen to during the holidays. It captured the heartache of WWII without being too heavy, and the epistolary format gave it a fresh take on a saturated genre. Short and sweet.
What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon: A time-travel romance set in Ireland? Yes, please. This book was beautifully written, the setting was rich and atmospheric, and the romance was excellent.
Four Thousand Hours: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman: This non-fiction will have you re-thinking the way you spend your time. A great road trip listen for couples, I think.
