Welcome to another edition of “Top Ten Tuesday”, a weekly blog linkup spearheaded by the lovely folks at The Broke & The Bookish. This week is an “all about audio” freebie, but because I’m not a huge fan of audiobooks I’m sticking to the basics. In other words, I’m going to talk about the select few audiobooks I do actually enjoy and then end with a plea for certain books to be available in audio.
(Clicking on the covers will take you to Amazon where you can listen to an audio sample)
Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
as read by Jim Dale
These are by far my favorite audiobooks – and my husband’s. It’s really more like radio theater! His mastery of all the different voices is incredible.
Sylvester by Georgette Heyer
as read by Richard Armitage
This came highly recommended by author (and blog follower!) DeAnna Julie Dodson – and oh my goodness! SWOON! Richard Armitage could read a phone book and I would be happy. As it is, he does a marvelous job with Heyer’s books too. Also worth checking out by Richard Armitage – Classic Love Poems and Heyer’s Venetia and The Convenient Marriage.
Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
as read by Carolyn Seymour
The narrator for this classic is spot-on in her characterizations of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet and adds exactly the right touch of humor to her tone as appropriate.
Now & Forever by Mary Connealy
as read by Barbara McCulloh
Actually, anything by Barbara McCulloh makes my list. I love her natural way of reading, her faster pace (so I don’t feel like I’m waiting around for the narrator to get on with it), and her comedic timing.
Like There’s No Tomorrow by Camille Eide
as read by Becky Doughty
Becky gave new life to the adorable elderly Scottish sisters in Camille Eide’s novel, not to mention the hunky Scottish hero! Her variety of accents is marvelous!
A Damsel in Distress by P.G. Wodehouse
as read by Frederick Davidson
My husband loves Wodehouse – and audiobooks. And he kept insisting I listen to this one. Well, I confess I haven’t had time to listen to the whole thing yet but the clips he’s played for me are hilarious and droll and the narration is perfection!
Ramona Quimby series by Beverly Cleary
as read by Stockard Channing
It’s clear that Channing is an actress and yet it feels not so much like she’s performing a play but that you’re curled up beside her on the couch listening to her read the book. Because… well… you are, rather.
A Proper Pursuit by Lynn Austin
Confession: I haven’t actually listened to this audiobook reading of one of my favorite novels but it comes highly recommended by my husband who, he wants it noted, is not ashamed to admit he “read” this book.
Charlotte Sometimes by Penelope Farmer
Another one I haven’t personally listened to but comes highly recommended by my husband in his quest to read some of my favorite books!
As You Wish by Cary Elwes
as read by Cary Elwes et al
This one is a no-brainer if you love The Princess Bride. Cary Elwes’ narration is smooth and delightful PLUS he’s joined by several cast members – the icing on the cake.
The following books are some that i NEED in audiobook form ASAP.
Please.
Powers that be, are you listening?
Five Days in Skye by Carla Laureano
Umm… all I really need to say is #myJames. And Scotland. MyJames in Scotland. SWOON.
A Class of Their Own series by Jen Turano
Ok. Any series by Jen Turano. These books are so delightful that it’s a travesty for them not to be available on audiobooks.
Ok, what about you? What are your favorite audiobooks/narrators?
Yay!! The entire world needs to hear Richard Armitage read Georgette Heyer (and just about anything else ever written).
AND now you can get him reading Great Expectations. I just started listening, but it’s greatness already. He’s so good at differentiating characters’ voices and really getting the flow and meaning of the words.
And that voice! :::swoons:::
Ooooo yay! Must check that one out post haste!
I’m not able to listen to as many audiobooks as I’d like, but I recently listened to the modern classic The End of the Affair by Graham Greene narrated by Colin Firth and it was EXCELLENT! I purchased As You Wish, but haven’t had an opportunity to listen to it yet.
oooo thanks for the recommendation!
“As You Wish” was great! Did you see the WinWin sale at audible.com? I picked up a couple. $4.95 each. I only have 2 months left on my membership 🙁 I started listening to “Until the Dawn” by Elizabeth Camden. I got it for $1.99 because I already had the kindle book. I know I read it but it was a long time ago. LOVE Jim Dale reading the Harry Potter series. We have it some on cassette tape and some on cd’s.
The Jim Dale audiobooks – those are just genius. Everyone should own them 😀
I know a few Scottish guys we could get to read Five Days in Skye, but you probably wouldn’t be able to understand them! LOL One has such a deep brogue and talks so fast that I’m always 3 sentences behind trying to translate!!
I don’t really care for audiobooks. I’m too distractible.
I love audiobooks because I can listen while I drive or clean or sew or whatever. 😀
That’s why my husband loves them too – well, not the sewing part 😀
hahahahaha – the Scottish guy I know is the same way LOL! And yes, that’s another of my problems with audiobooks. I’ve solved that problem by listening to books I’ve already read – doesn’t matter as much lol
I love audiobooks for when I drive and do housework…whatever that is! One narrator I really loved is John McDonough who did a number of Jan Karon’s Mitford series. And you are so right about Jim Dale and the Harry Potter books. When I first was introduced to audiobooks, I was doing a lot of embroidery and it was such a wonder to think that I could actually do the two things I loved to do at the same time…read and embroider. I almost always have an audiobook in the works…
oh that’s a good idea – listening to audiobooks while I cross stitch. I hadn’t thought of that yet – duh. LOL. And thanks for the narrator recommendation!
I have only recently (past 6 months) started listening to audiobooks. I don’t particularly like them, because the narrator’s voices rarely meet my expectations as the voices I imagine. I, also, struggle with male narrator’s voicing females and vice versa. I tend to read fast and if you speed up an audiobook, it just sounds silly. A happy compromise is listening at 1.25. I hope I haven’t sounded too negative, because I do know that there are many advantages to listening rather than reading. I look for audiobooks that I have physical or digital copies of so that I can interchange the two when it is not possible for me to be physically reading.
no, you are exactly describing why I don’t particularly like audiobooks either! The ones I put on this list are more entertaining to me than anything – I use them more to listen with a new perspective to books I’ve already read.
Oh, phew. That makes me feel better. Similarly, my favorite audiobooks have been books that I have already read and became a favorite. I do prefer Scottish and British accents much more than American English when listening to audiobooks. I probably would like Australian, as well, but haven’t had that opportunity, yet. 🙂
Yes, a British accent makes everything better 😀
Sometimes I listen at 1.5 or 2.0 It just depends on the accent of the narrator! I feel like I’m speed reading! I often watch taped things on TV and I speed the sound up on those too!
LOL! love it!
Wow, good for you. That just makes time for more reading. 🙂 I just like the voice to be as close to normal as possible since I already have a hard time with most narrator’s voices.
Great list! Thanks for adding it to my audiobook tbr! And I sooooo agree on Jen Turano’s books need to be in audiobook format! As to Five Days, what if they mess up your James?!
that’s true…. hmmm… I hadn’t thought of that….
I love audiobooks too! Julianne Donaldson’s Blackmoore is great. I forget the name of the narraror, but she did a wonderful job. I’ve also enjoyed listening to Jan Karon’s Mitford Series on audio. The narrator is outstanding and makes the journey even better. Hooray for audiobooks!
ooo thanks for those recommendations, Carrie! I will have to check them out!
with the Mitford series, he truly was outstanding. I loved those books, listening to them really made the characters come alive.
Haven’t “read” a single audio book….but if Five Days in Skye becomes available, that would be my first audiobook. My second would be A Stray Drop of Blood by Roseanna White.
ooo i haven’t even read that one but now i must! 😀
Audiobooks always sounded boring to me. “So, I’m just going to listen to a person read? Fun.” It wasn’t until I started listening to old radio programs based off of old novels that got me interested. The books weren’t necessarily read, they were performed. The narrator paid attention to character, voice and tone and made it come alive. The flip side is if a narrator does a poor job on a good book and you aren’t going to hang with them for 7 hours.
A good audio book is a precious gem that adds to the experience of an already great novel — bonus if they have an English accent.
double bonus if it’s Jim Dale 🙂
The first audiobook that I listened to was Sword of Forgiveness by Debbie Lynne Costello, narrated by Anne Flosnik. I LOVE Anne’s voice and she did a wonderful job! It was so much fun to listen to her accent, that I had to sometimes rewind it and listen again. Audiobooks are perfect when I need to be busy in the kitchen or cleaning.
i will have to check that one out!! Thanks!
Oh I totally agree with your choice of “must be an audio book now” list!!!
And, I have to say that the audio book I loved was Randy Alcorn’s “Safely Home”….very well done and I loved the voices so much!
oh yes! I forgot that you loved that one – i should have included it!
Um. I just can’t. I’ve tried doing Audio books and honestly, I despise it. I want to ‘read’ a book myself. I want the reader experience, the whole thing. The only books I can do audio are non-fiction.
I certainly understand the need for audio books and why people like them, but I’m not a fan. And I suppose if my books are ever made into audio, I will be curious enough to listen, but I doubt I’d stick out for the whole thing. Just my opinion. 🙂
I’m the same way – i mostly listen to books I’ve already read. Because then I can just be entertained and not have to completely engage.
I tried listening to the Jim Dale versions, but I had already heard the first one as read by Stephen Fry and I just couldn’t do it.
My TTT.
see, I don’t think I could listen to Stephen Fry’s version lol
Richard Armitage?!?!? To quote a semi-famous friend- “I die!!!”
ha! Indeed 🙂
Yes, THAT Richard Armitage.
His audiobooks should carry a warning label: “Do not listen to this audiobook while operating heavy machinery or making important financial decisions. Your spine could melt into a sparkly pink puddle of gelatinous goo at any given moment. Take appropriate precautions.”
hahaha! Exactly!
I love the Ramona audiobooks! She did such a great job narrating. 🙂 One of my faves in the audio world is The Penderwicks (I’m a sucker for juvie/ya books!). Love the stories, love the narration. Perfect for family trips.
ooo I’ll have to check those out! Thanks, Jennifer!
I’m not usually a historical romance fan but A Class of Their Own sounds really good – even if it’s not available on audio lol
that series is so much fun!
Anything read by Jim Dale is always the best!! He is so fantastic. Great list!
yes he is!
Harry Potter & Jim Dale are legendary & classic. I love P&P and will have to check out the Carolyn Seymour version (I already have 2 and am always up for another.)
My TTT: “Dear Audiobook Producers: I Really Want These”
You can never have too many versions of P&P 🙂
As You Wish would be awesome! I remember when that book came out and then I forgot about it- argh! I wanted to read that !! I think P&P would be awesome on audio too, and Ramona Quimby by Stockard Channing? Interesting!
I highly recommend all of them 🙂
I like the idea of listening to classics like Pride & Prejudice. It would be less taxing than reading one. Nice picks! Thanks for stopping by My TTT.
thanks, Deanna!
As You Wish, yes! I listened to that one a few weeks ago, and it was wonderful. But I haven’t listened to any of the others you mention, so I guess I’ll have to check them out. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Hallie!
I don’t really listen to audiobooks, but yay for fast-paced narrators.
I’m really not one for audiobooks, but I think if I had to choose one to listen to it would be Harry <3 Pride & prejudice though <3 😀
Harry is a must! Even for people who don’t like audiobooks … because I don’t but I love that series read by Jim Dale on audio!!
Jim Dale is truly a god of narration and he really did do the HP audios incredibly well.
yes! he so is!
Thou shalt have no narration gods before Richard Armitage.
Second Opinions 3:25
Hahahahahahaha!!!! Best. Comment. EVER.
Hee hee.
Do I get a trophy? 😀
Yes. I’ll get right on that 😉
Yay!
I’m dancin’ like a monkey! 😀
LOL!
This is a great audiobook list! I wouldn’t mind giving most of these a listen. I love a good audiobook. They are perfect for when I’m exercising or coloring my hair. Haha! I think I’ll bookmark this page so I don’t forget your suggestions. Thanks for stopping by my blog as well. Keep it shiny!
yay! thanks, Jazz 🙂
Richard Armitage narrates audiobooks?! 😀
mmmmhmmmm 😀
Considering I have such a difficult time with classic lit, perhaps I should try them as audio books. Your “Pride and Prejudice” recommendation has me excited. 🙂
Thanks, as always, for the Finding Wonderland visit, Carrie. 🙂
I think audio helps the classics a lot!
I will have to give As You Wish a try–it’s been on my TBR since it came out a while ago, but I never thought about the audiobook. Now that I know it’s read by Cary Elwes I will have to get it at the library!
it makes it so much more fun!