Recommend audiobooks with great narrators?

meeera · 06-02-2013, 10:50 PM

Hi all,

I'd love to hear recs for audiobooks with terrific narrators. I first started to listen to audiobooks because James Marsters was narrating the Dresden books, but those books aren't necessarily completely my thing (close, though). I tried the Magic or Madness series, but having a USAn voice doing Aussie characters set my teeth on edge for some reason. Have listened to a few others which have been mostly just ok. So I'm looking for recs not just of the books, but of the narrators also.

I read relatively eclectically with a bias toward the speculative: fantasy, SF, YA, magical realism, with some mainstream lit, crime, thriller, historical, and romance. I'm not keen on terribly blokey stuff, though, I'd rather have some competent female characters involved somewhere along the line.

Thanks!

usuallee · 06-03-2013, 10:59 AM

The Passage by Justin Cronin might fit the bill. Scott Brick is an absolutely fabulous narrator.

Also I would highly recommend The Snowman by Jo Nesbo, read by Robin Sachs. That is one thrilling, creepy read, and Robin Sachs is awesome. The Snowman is one of several books in the Crime/Mystery/Thriller series featuring Oslo detective Harry Hole. Nesbo is such a good writer though , that the books transcend genre. They are all awesome but the Snowman is the best I've read so far. It is the only one I've enjoyed in audio format but they are all narrated by Robin Sachs, I believe.

Lastly I'd recommend 11/22/63 by Stephen King. I wasn't sure about the narrator at first but I ended up really enjoying him, and the book itself is terrific.

OK only two more I promise. In the Woods by Tana French is read by an Irish narrator that is terrific, as is the book. Another great Irish book, read by a full cast of Irish voice actors, is Skippy Dies by Paul Murray. Great audiobook.

Marrella · 06-03-2013, 12:25 PM

I would recommend something read by Katherine Kellgren who I think is a really great narrator. If you like SF, maybe Blackout/All Clear by Connie Willis (which is in fact one big book, not two) or Among Others by Jo Walton. She does the latter one with a Welsh accent which perfectly fits the story.

One of my favorite male narrators is Jonathan Davis. I really loved his narration of Robert J. Sawyer's Neanderthal Parallax trilogy (Hominids, Humans & Hybrids).

All those have great female characters (in my opinion).

The audiobooks of the Hunger Games are really good, too. They are read by Carolyn McCormick.

Rich_D · 06-03-2013, 12:47 PM

Will Patton reading James Lee Burke's Robicheaux series. Patton puts you right in the bayou.

BeccaPrice · 06-03-2013, 03:40 PM

Jeff Woodman reading the John Ceepak mysteries by Chris Grabenstein.

Susan Ericksen reading the JD Robb In Death mysteries.

AnemicOak · 06-03-2013, 03:59 PM

The entire Liaden series is well done by all of the various narrators IMO.

pidgeon92 · 06-03-2013, 07:22 PM

There is a lengthy thread on Goodreads in the Audiobooks group on the topic of favorite narrators, if anyone wants to plow through it. I've found a few favorites from going through it.

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...rite-narrators

Synamon · 06-03-2013, 09:13 PM

I buy The Ladies No. 1 Detective Agency audiobooks just so I can listen to Lisette Lecat roll her Rs. Her voice is sooooothing and matches perfectly with the material and setting of the books.

meeera · 06-03-2013, 11:44 PM

Thanks, everyone! Blackout/All Clear, 11/22/63, and The Passage are all on my TBR already, so they might be a great place to start.

dengar · 06-25-2013, 09:42 PM

Wheel of Time by Michael Kramer and Kate Reading. It doesnt get any better than this when it comes to narrating.

Julian Saheed · 06-25-2013, 11:31 PM

Regardless of how many times you have read them, Harry potter by Stephen Fry is a must!

meeera · 06-26-2013, 12:52 AM

I have the Fry Harry Potters - they're brilliant! And have been my son's bedtime audiobooks for some years, only recently to be replaced by The Hobbit movie soundtrack.

usuallee · 06-26-2013, 11:17 AM

John Lee is excellent. I'm listening to Pandora's Star by Peter F. Hamilton right now. Very long and very excellent. He has done a lot of fantasy/ science fiction such as The Terror, Cloud Atlas, and some of Alastair Reynolds's books too I think.

Marrella · 06-26-2013, 02:04 PM

I have listened to Chasm City by Alastair Reynolds a couple of months ago and it took me some time to get used to John Lee's voice. In the end, I decided that he is good, but will never figure among my favorite narrators.

As for the Harry Potter books read by Stephen Fry, I have listened to them countless times and still can't get enough of them. Fry is still at the top of my list of favorite narrators, I think he is just awesome.

Geralt · 06-27-2013, 12:27 AM

I'm currently listening to Simon Prebble's narration of Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell and it's quite superb.

06-02-2013, 10:50 PM	#1
meeera Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,658 Karma: 66420972 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2, iPadMini4, iPad4, MBP; support other Kobo/Kindles	Recommend audiobooks with great narrators? Hi all, I'd love to hear recs for audiobooks with terrific narrators. I first started to listen to audiobooks because James Marsters was narrating the Dresden books, but those books aren't necessarily completely my thing (close, though). I tried the Magic or Madness series, but having a USAn voice doing Aussie characters set my teeth on edge for some reason. Have listened to a few others which have been mostly just ok. So I'm looking for recs not just of the books, but of the narrators also. I read relatively eclectically with a bias toward the speculative: fantasy, SF, YA, magical realism, with some mainstream lit, crime, thriller, historical, and romance. I'm not keen on terribly blokey stuff, though, I'd rather have some competent female characters involved somewhere along the line. Thanks!

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06-03-2013, 10:59 AM	#2
usuallee Media Junkie Posts: 278 Karma: 2039392 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Pennsylvania, USA Device: Kobo Libra H20, Kindle PW	The Passage by Justin Cronin might fit the bill. Scott Brick is an absolutely fabulous narrator. Also I would highly recommend The Snowman by Jo Nesbo, read by Robin Sachs. That is one thrilling, creepy read, and Robin Sachs is awesome. The Snowman is one of several books in the Crime/Mystery/Thriller series featuring Oslo detective Harry Hole. Nesbo is such a good writer though , that the books transcend genre. They are all awesome but the Snowman is the best I've read so far. It is the only one I've enjoyed in audio format but they are all narrated by Robin Sachs, I believe. Lastly I'd recommend 11/22/63 by Stephen King. I wasn't sure about the narrator at first but I ended up really enjoying him, and the book itself is terrific. OK only two more I promise. In the Woods by Tana French is read by an Irish narrator that is terrific, as is the book. Another great Irish book, read by a full cast of Irish voice actors, is Skippy Dies by Paul Murray. Great audiobook.

06-03-2013, 12:25 PM	#3
Marrella Cambrian crab Posts: 2,831 Karma: 3229927 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Germany Device: Kindle, Pocket Book, Kobo, Sony	I would recommend something read by Katherine Kellgren who I think is a really great narrator. If you like SF, maybe Blackout/All Clear by Connie Willis (which is in fact one big book, not two) or Among Others by Jo Walton. She does the latter one with a Welsh accent which perfectly fits the story. One of my favorite male narrators is Jonathan Davis. I really loved his narration of Robert J. Sawyer's Neanderthal Parallax trilogy (Hominids, Humans & Hybrids). All those have great female characters (in my opinion). The audiobooks of the Hunger Games are really good, too. They are read by Carolyn McCormick.

06-03-2013, 12:47 PM	#4
Rich_D Fanatic Posts: 581 Karma: 1314896 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, PA USA Device: Android phone, Kobo Glo HD, nook ST with Glo (backup)	Will Patton reading James Lee Burke's Robicheaux series. Patton puts you right in the bayou.

06-03-2013, 03:40 PM	#5
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,145 Karma: 11174187 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	Jeff Woodman reading the John Ceepak mysteries by Chris Grabenstein. Susan Ericksen reading the JD Robb In Death mysteries.

06-03-2013, 03:59 PM	#6
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	The entire Liaden series is well done by all of the various narrators IMO.

06-03-2013, 07:22 PM	#7
pidgeon92 Wizard Posts: 3,144 Karma: 8426142 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Device: Kindle PW2, Kindle Voyage, Kindle DXG, Boox M90, Kobo Aura HD	There is a lengthy thread on Goodreads in the Audiobooks group on the topic of favorite narrators, if anyone wants to plow through it. I've found a few favorites from going through it. http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...rite-narrators

06-03-2013, 09:13 PM	#8
Synamon Lunatic Posts: 1,691 Karma: 4386372 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Land of the Loonie Device: Kindle Paperwhite and Keyboard, Kobo Aura, iPad mini, iPod Touch	I buy The Ladies No. 1 Detective Agency audiobooks just so I can listen to Lisette Lecat roll her Rs. Her voice is sooooothing and matches perfectly with the material and setting of the books.

06-03-2013, 11:44 PM	#9
meeera Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,658 Karma: 66420972 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2, iPadMini4, iPad4, MBP; support other Kobo/Kindles	Thanks, everyone! Blackout/All Clear, 11/22/63, and The Passage are all on my TBR already, so they might be a great place to start.

06-25-2013, 09:42 PM	#10
dengar Connoisseur Posts: 64 Karma: 2810 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: PW2, K3, Ipad 4, Kindle Fire	Wheel of Time by Michael Kramer and Kate Reading. It doesnt get any better than this when it comes to narrating.

06-25-2013, 11:31 PM	#11
Julian Saheed Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: Asus TF300T	Regardless of how many times you have read them, Harry potter by Stephen Fry is a must!

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06-26-2013, 12:52 AM	#12
meeera Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,658 Karma: 66420972 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2, iPadMini4, iPad4, MBP; support other Kobo/Kindles	I have the Fry Harry Potters - they're brilliant! And have been my son's bedtime audiobooks for some years, only recently to be replaced by The Hobbit movie soundtrack.

06-26-2013, 11:17 AM	#13
usuallee Media Junkie Posts: 278 Karma: 2039392 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Pennsylvania, USA Device: Kobo Libra H20, Kindle PW	John Lee is excellent. I'm listening to Pandora's Star by Peter F. Hamilton right now. Very long and very excellent. He has done a lot of fantasy/ science fiction such as The Terror, Cloud Atlas, and some of Alastair Reynolds's books too I think.

06-26-2013, 02:04 PM	#14
Marrella Cambrian crab Posts: 2,831 Karma: 3229927 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Germany Device: Kindle, Pocket Book, Kobo, Sony	I have listened to Chasm City by Alastair Reynolds a couple of months ago and it took me some time to get used to John Lee's voice. In the end, I decided that he is good, but will never figure among my favorite narrators. As for the Harry Potter books read by Stephen Fry, I have listened to them countless times and still can't get enough of them. Fry is still at the top of my list of favorite narrators, I think he is just awesome.

06-27-2013, 12:27 AM	#15
Geralt Witcher Posts: 933 Karma: 7321117 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Swamp. Slaying Drowners. Device: Kindle PW2	I'm currently listening to Simon Prebble's narration of Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell and it's quite superb.