I think I’ve mentioned a time or two that I adore audiobooks. I listen to them on the drive to work (or really anywhere else I’m driving.) A co-worker and I are taking a road trip next week so of course I’ve already planned our listening entertainment (The Hobbit for those interested!) I really just love the way an audiobook can bring a story to life for me. I know they’re not for everyone but I HIGHLY SUGGEST that you give them a try if you never have before.
My friend Anna from Anna Reads just posted today about her newfound love of audiobooks. She asked for recommendations and as I began to leave a novel in her comments I decided to just write up a post highlighting some of my favorites. April from Good Books and Good Wine is a great source of audiobook recommendations as well. She is way more well read (and well…. listened?!?) than I am!
The True Meaning os Smekday by Adam rex. Read by Bahni Turpin. My review.
I’m not gonna lie. The summary for this book didn’t have me sold. The audiobook won the Odyssey Award for Excellence in Audiobook Production in 2011 so I decided to pick it up. It. was. amazing. Like, so incredibly good. One of the best audiobooks I’ve ever listened to, hands down. You should totally listen to it before Dreamworks releases the movie in 2014!
The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness. Read by Nick Podehl. My Review.
This was a book I kept meaning to read but never got around to. Some friends were raving about the audio so I looked in to it. Once I saw that it was read by Nick Podehl (my very favorite audiobook narrator) I was sold. The story and the audio production are incredible. I was drawn to the story and did not want to stop listening. Book two, The Ask and The Answer was just as well done (Angela Dawes joins in for the narration.) I’ve been too emotional about the books to finish the series but when I do it will certainly be by listening! It’s read by Nick Podehl, Angela Dawes and MacLeod Andrews… three awesome narrators!
Chime by Franny Billingsley. Read by Susan Duerden. My Review.
As I said in my review, this book was made to be read aloud. It is so beautiful and lyrical. When I tried to read the book I couldn’t get in to the rhythm but the audiobook had me right away. Seriously. It was incredible. Susan Deurden is a fabulous narrator. She really captured the story. I listened to this one months ago but bits of it still run through my head.
Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan. Read by Nick Podehl amd MacLeod Andrews. My review.
(Not a review of the audio. Also, one of the first reviews I wrote so keep that in mind!)This one was an Odyssey honor the year The True Meaning of Smekday won. It’s a book by two of my favorite authors read by two of my favorite narrators. Basically, it was made for me! The audio made me love the book even more! I don’t recommend listening at work or around little ones as there are lots of F bombs 🙂
White Cat by Holly Black. Read by Jesse Eisenberg. Apparently I never reviewed this one. I fail. It’s stellar.
I am a total Holly Black fangirl. The Curse Workers series is one of my all time favorites. The world building and storyline are both just incredible. And the audiobook? Read by Jesse Eisenberg. So. Good. All three audiobooks are super well done and you really just need to read these or listen to them ASAP.
The Dead Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan. Read by Tara Sands. My Review.
This is book two in a triology but the only one I listened to on audio. It’s my favorite of the three and I still can’t decide if it’s because I like the story best or because I was so in love with the narration. Either way, these are the only zombie books I’ve ever made it through! Carrie Ryan is pretty much amazing.
The Demon’s Covenant by Sarah Rees Brennan. Read by James Langton. Another one I didn’t review. You can see my photo review of book one though 🙂 It’s embarrassing.
Sarah Rees Brennan is one of my all time favorite authors. I’ve read all of her books and every short story I can get my hands on. This is another situation where I read books one and three but listened to book two.
Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King. Read by Lynde Houck. My Review.
I had to pull off the road while listening to this one because I was sobbing so hard. It’s an incredible book. Listening to it made it even more personal. I really can’t even express to you how much it touched me. It’s one of those books that I want everyone to read. A.S. King is real and honest and just amazing.
The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima. Read by Carol Monda. My Review.
Yeah. Pretty much the best thing ever. Lovers of high fantasy need to read this series. Cinda Williams Chima is a master storyteller. This audiobook was fantastic and really set the stage for the series. I like listening to fantasy on audio because then I know how to pronounce the names 🙂
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare. Read by Jennifer Ehle. My Review.
Did you see who read this one? Lizzie Bennet from the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice!?!?! Total win. I just adore this series by Cassandra Clare. I love the steampunk elements, the place, the time period… all of it. The audiobook was the perfect way to experience it!
Others audiobooks that I’ve enjoyed:
Wrapped by Jennifer Bradbury. Read by Elissa Steele.
Heist Society and Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter. Read by Angela Dawe.
A Brief History of Montmaray by Michelle Copper. Read by Emma Bering.
The Ranger’s Apprentice books by John Flanagan. Read by John Keating.
The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge. Read by Katie MacNichol.
Cinder by Marissa Meyer. Read by Rebecca Soler.
Mastiff by Tamora Pierce. Read by Susan Denaker.
Legend by Marie Lu. Read by Mariel Stern and Steven Kaplan
Changeling by Phillipa Gregory. Read by Charlie Cox (AKA the guy who plays Tristan in Stardust!!!!!!!!!!)
Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld. Read by Alan Cummings.
For those of you wanting to give audiobooks a try but don’t want to spend the money or wait on library hold lines I suggest checking out Sync. They give away two free YA audiobooks a week during the summer. One is a newer title and the other is a classic. I cannot wait until Daughter of Smoke and Bone goes up as I’ve heard great things about the audio version. That book was one of my very favorites last year 🙂 I also really want to listen to Beauty Queens by Libba Bray and Fire by Kristen Cashore!
So what about you? Which audiobooks have you loved? Where do you listen to them? Which are you dying to listen to?
5 Awesome Fantasy and Science Fiction Audiobooks | Thoughts on Fantasy
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