Must have audiobooks

[uppon2]

Just want some ideas, perhaps by genre. Would also be excellent to hear if people have enjoyed audiobooks over literature

[pwalker8]

Interesting. Probably top of the list would be the Harry Potter books (I have the Jim Dale version). I would argue that to a certain extent, they are the books that launched audio books into the big leagues. If you are a fantasy fan, then next would be The Lord of the Rings audio books with Rob Inglis.

Kind of interesting, I went back and looked at my audibook collection to get an idea of what I had. Prior to starting on audible in 2006, I had about twenty audio book CDs, including the Harry Potter books that had come out at the time, the LOTR books, the Chronicles of Narnia, the first several of the Dresden series and a number of non fiction.

The ones that I have that I consider the best -

Harry Potter series
Dresden Series
LOTR Series
Monster Hunter Series by Larry Correa.
Honor Harrington Series by David Weber

I listen to mostly SF&F and non fiction.

[David Munch]

The Wheel of Time series has set the top standard for me, when it comes to audiobook narration, without being a full cast. Epic fantasy if that is your thing.

[JSWolf]

In November, I listened to the full cast version of Ender's Game. It was really good. Well worth the listen even if you've read the book before.

[pidgeon92]

These are favorites of mine:

Fiction
The Blood of Flowers: A Novel
Behind the Scenes at the Museum
The Great Gatsby (my version was narrated by Anthony Heald)
The Kitchen House: A Novel
Ketchup Clouds


Non-Fiction
Don't Leave Me This Way: Or When I Get Back on My Feet You'll Be Sorry
In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin
Boomerang: Travels in the New Third World
All the Devils Are Here: The Hidden History of the Financial Crisis
The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer
Polio: An American Story

[owly]

I love listening to Stephen Fry and he's just come out with his third biography.

[uppon2]

That gives me plenty of selection. I love all of the Harry Potter books and also the Darren Shan Saga. I have not read or heard of a lot of the titles mentioned, so that's a bonus. You guys have mentioned the exact things I would like too! Thank you and feel free to keep then coming. Luckily, I have a rather broad taste in film, music and literature. I remember reading a book series called 'Crimebusters: The three investigators' when I was a young teenager and they were awesome. I think I enjoy adventure the most and then fantasy/SF that is not too far fetched to the point of disassociation of realism.

[uppon2]

I think autobiographies read by the actual person would be cool.

[David Munch]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

In November, I listened to the full cast version of Ender's Game. It was really good. Well worth the listen even if you've read the book before.

I can only agree with this.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

Interesting. Probably top of the list would be the Harry Potter books (I have the Jim Dale version).

I'd prefer the Stephen Fry versions myself.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (narrated by the author)
The Lord of the Rings (Rob Inglis)
A Song of Ice and Fire by Roy Dotrice (I only have the first three by him, the fourth is by John Lee, but I haven't heard that one...)

[CRussel]

The entire Aubrey/Maturin series from Patrick O'Brian. Read by either Patrick Tull or Simon Vance. (Both are excellent. I happen to prefer Patrick Tull, but there are those here who prefer Simon Vance.)

There are 20 books in the series which cover the time of the Napoleonic Wars. Forget any preconceptions you may have, and just enjoy these books.

[WillAdams]

Science Fiction --- H. Beam Piper's _Little Fuzzy_ from Librivox --- the reader has a lovely voice (I wish she'd do more) and impeccable pronounciation and a nice awareness of grammar and word usage.

I really enjoyed Roger Zelazny's (abridged) readings of his Amber Chronicles --- I had it on cassette though, and it doesn't seem to've made the transition to the digital age.

[Ranny]

For crime fiction fans I've found the later Rebus novels by Ian Rankin excellent.

Have also enjoyed John le Carre more as audio books than the written versions.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by CRussel

The entire Aubrey/Maturin series from Patrick O'Brian. Read by either Patrick Tull or Simon Vance. (Both are excellent. I happen to prefer Patrick Tull, but there are those here who prefer Simon Vance.)

There are 20 books in the series which cover the time of the Napoleonic Wars. Forget any preconceptions you may have, and just enjoy these books.

This gets a hearty second from me, of course.

I pretty much was forced to start this series at virtual gunpoint. Ah, what I had missed all those years! But it doubly worked to my advantage, as I have the pleasure of them now and they came at a time when I was open to trying audiobooks. In fact, the second book of the series was my first audiobook and what a wonderful introduction to the pleasures of listening.

As good as the books are to read, they're an even better listen. Pure enjoyment.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by CRussel

The entire Aubrey/Maturin series from Patrick O'Brian. Read by either Patrick Tull or Simon Vance. (Both are excellent. I happen to prefer Patrick Tull, but there are those here who prefer Simon Vance.)

There are 20 books in the series which cover the time of the Napoleonic Wars. Forget any preconceptions you may have, and just enjoy these books.

Thanks; I forgot about this series. I think I might start it this year. A quick check finds all 21 books available at my libraries. So cost will be zero.