I love to read but sometimes all I want to do is rest my eyes and have someone else tell me a story.
If, like me, you don’t have someone at your beck and call to read to you, audiobooks are a fantastic way to experience books. They are full of beautiful narration and amazing dramatic performances. The books are either read by the author or read by professional actors from the likes of Meryl Streep to Brad Pitt. You can listen to them pretty much anywhere while you do pretty much anything.
Here are some of the best I’ve ever… heard:
• One More Thing: Stories and More Stories by B.J. Novak (read by Novak): You may know B.J. Novak from the hit TV show The Office but acting is just one of his many talents. As it turns out, he’s definitely got a future in writing fiction. These clever short stories offer a lot of thought-provoking cultural commentary while being laugh-out-loud hilarious. The audiobook features a range of amazing guest stars, from Lena Dunham and Mindy Kaling to Julianne Moore and Emma Thompson.
• Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman (read by Lenny Henry): The performance on this audiobook is astounding not only for the narrator’s ability to make the story come alive but for the numerous accents, voices and songs that he performs. Anansi Boys is the story of two brothers who don’t get along but who learn to love each other over time. The story is infused with elements of magic and fantasy, and can be read as a sequel to Gaiman’s American Gods or as a standalone. If you love this audiobook, try listening to literally anything else by Gaiman (who often reads them himself and whose voice is wonderful) but in particular The Graveyard Book.
• The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling (read by Jim Dale): The Harry Potter books might be for kids but anybody can enjoy these audiobooks read by the talented Dale. He does voices for each character and does them so well you might forget that a man is voicing Hermione and Mrs. Weasley. Dale set a world record by performing 134 voices on Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, and also won Grammy Awards in 2000 and 2008 for his work. He is theatrical and emotional, and brings the stories to life in a new way. If you love fantasy but you want something more mature, try the Game of Thrones audiobooks by George R.R. Martin.
• The Help by Kathryn Stockett (read by Jenna Lamia, Bahni Turpin, Octavia Spencer and Cassandra Campbell): This 2009 literary smash hit has become an audiobook favourite. The story takes place in Mississippi in the 1960s and focuses on the relationships of three women as they struggle against the oppressive social norms and laws of this difficult time in the southern United States. The book is narrated by four actors so that each character has a unique voice. If you’ve seen the film of the same name, you might recognize the voice of Spencer, who reprises the role of Minny Jackson on the audiobook. This book is infused with rich Southern accents and beautiful performances that make it an instant classic. If you love this dramatic story with interesting characters and accents, then try the Pulitzer Prize-winning Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt for an equally moving experience.
Audiobooks are a great way to explore reading in a new way. Try listening to some of your old favourites or try something different to spice things up.
Other notable audiobooks include Yes Please by Amy Poehler, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon and Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris. If you’re looking for more suggestions, come to the library, where we’re happy to help you find something new.
--A Good Read is a column by Tri-City librarians that is published on Wednesdays. Sarah Dearman works at Terry Fox Library in Port Coquitlam.
