Audiobooks So Good, You’d Listen Twice


Elizabeth Bluemle - July 8, 2010

For anyone who works in the book world, re-visiting books one has already read (or listened to) is a luxury rarely afforded. There are piles of new titles to be ordered, as well as that stack of last year’s darlings you meant to get around to, not to mention classics you can’t believe you haven’t read yet — and so on. Deciding to dive back into a favorite book feels like an act of secret rebellion; it’s extremely pleasurable, if only because it cannot be tied to work. The re-read is a tiny party of pure decadence.
The same is true for audiobooks, and more so. Because a narrator delivers the story at the pace of human speech, it takes much longer to experience a book aurally than to read it. Therefore, to listen to an audiobook twice means that book must be supernally good. (In my world, audiobooks exist always and only in the unabridged version; I’d rather skip one than listen to pieces of it, no matter how well-sewn- together it claims to be.)
There are only a few audiobooks I’ve succumbed to more than once. These are titles I read and loved in book form first, so in effect I’ve experienced these books fully at least three times. (O fabulous sin!) My guilty pleasures?

  • Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman. This is a nonstop ride of an adult book, funny and wild and fantastic. A middle-management schmo, inaccurately nicknamed Fat Charlie by his dynamic father, has been slogging through his boring work life and tepid romance (complete with virgin fiancee). Adventure comes knocking, literally, as a brother Charlie never knew existed pays a visit and drags him on a life-changing journey. The father they share, a ladies’ man who lives to have a good time, is none other than Anansi, the spider god, a trickster of the first degree. This feels more like a comic novel than a fantasy, though, appealing even to readers who prefer realism in their fiction. Lenny Henry, the actor narrator, does a beautiful job bringing the characters to life in all their variety, and with several authoritative dialects/accents. This is our bestselling audiobook at the store. Older teens love it, too.
  • The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. How does anyone narrate a book this exquisite, funny and heartbreaking — and told, no less, from the point of view of Death itself? I don’t know, but narrator Allan Corduner pulls it off gloriously. A resonant (but never ponderous or pompous) British accent helps, as does a narrator who immerses himself so fully in the story that he seems to become the story, if that makes sense. His emotional range — wisdom, humor, anger, surprise, etc. — is as broad and deep as the wide human world of the book, but also manages to embody the sorrowful omniscience and necessary distance of Zusak’s storyteller, Death. A magnificent book, beautifully read. Truth be told? I’d listen to it again.
  • Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt; narrated by Jeff Woodman. I can’t remember when or where I first listened to this riveting real-life suspense story/Savannah moodpiece, but I enjoyed it so much that first time that I chose it again years later to be my car-ride companion at a difficult time, driving back and forth between one small town in Indiana and a hospital 45 minutes away in another. Something appealed to me about the oppressive heat in the book, the snobbish socialite parties and late-night impromptu honkeytonks, the gorgeous antiques and misfit dangerous young men, summer Georgia nights spent in cemeteries, the author’s brief foray into voodoo, the flirtatious, outrageous drag queen he befriends, the cafe characters and restless beauties he comes upon in his southern sojourn. Berendt is a little like the main character in Styron’s Sophie’s Choice: always an outsider, grateful to be included, an observant and literary satellite recounting tales of tawdry glamor and ruined lives. Good stuff.
  • David Sedaris’s Live at Carnegie Hall. This last is short enough that it may not officially count as an indulgence, but I can make an argument for it — and will, since I’ve listened to the entire CD at least ten times, usually when I walk the dogs. Sure, my neighbors think I’m a little odd, weeping with laughter in the farmer’s field while I march along and my dogs run around sniffing cow dung, but I don’t care; “Stadium Pal” alone is worth the reputation of eccentricity.

Audiobooks I’ve heard once and would love to hear again? Both Because of Winn-Dixie (narrator: the inimitable Cherry Jones) and The Tale of Despereaux (narrator: the marvelous Graeme Malcolm) by Kate DiCamillo; The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, narrated by Dean Robertson; The Shipping News by E. Annie Proulx (the unabridged version narrated by Kimberly Schraf is now OP, sadly — it’s a pity, because this was a book I kept trying and failing to like, until I turned to the audio in desperation because of its near-universal accolades. I was so glad I did).
What do these books have in common, aside from marvelous writing and gifted narrators? What makes them worth experiencing, over many long hours, more than once? Anything hinging on surprise won’t cut it; most whodunits are a one-time read.  I suppose it has something to do with the human truths at the hearts of the stories, and the language that reveals, and revels, in them, that make me want to live in those worlds again.
Are there audiobooks you’ve listened to more than once? And any you’ve heard once that are beckoning to you for a second audience?

63 thoughts on “Audiobooks So Good, You’d Listen Twice

  1. Melinda

    I started listening to the Walt Longmeir series by Craig Johnson, midseries. I absolutely love the series and plan to go back and listen to books one and two, then “relisten” to the rest.

    Reply
  2. Ellen Mager

    I spend a lot of time in the car and have listened to a tape again, especially to review for a new book in a series. The first time this happened was to review Harry Potter books when the newest book was coming out. It happened when I relistened to ALCHEMYST by Michael Scott’s before I read #3 THE SORCERESS. And then there is just the WONDERFUL readers that you want to hear a book read a story to you again. This happened with Jim Dale’s reading of AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY DAYS and Brendon Frasier’ reading of Cornelia Funke’s DRAGON
    Rider.

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  3. Melissa

    ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN, but I don’t recommend it while driving – Sherman’s deadpan hilarity does not do well when crossed with traffic.

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    1. maneuver12

      I’m glad to hear this, but a bit surprised; the illustrations in the print version of the book are an integral (but apparently not all-important) element.

      Reply
  4. Sue Corbett

    Mamie Gummer (Meryl Streep’s daughter) is an excellent reader. I loved the way she voiced the Emma-Jean Lazarus books. And Arte Johnson (of laugh-in fame) is fantastic, too. I did not much care for The Willoughbys but it went down like strawberry lemonade on July 8th in the car with his narration. We liked it so much we also tried his version of The Case of the Case of the Mistaken Identity: equally good. All of these are great choices for family car trips.

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  5. Laurie

    Blair Brown reading Whitney Otto’s NOW YOU SEE HER has got to be the best audiobook I’ve ever listened to. As someone who needs her audiobooks to make those long road trips as a book rep, that’s saying a lot!

    Reply
  6. Paul Meyerson

    My “List of great reads”:
    1, The Harry Potter series. Jim Dale is the best reader I’ve ever heard.
    2, Anansi Boys. Totally agree with you. Lenny Henry does a brilliant job.
    3, almost anything by George Guidell, but specifically American Gods is just a wonderful read (of course, that it was written by Neil Gaiman, my favorite author, doesn’t hurt.)
    4, Snowcrash, read by Jonathan Davis. I’ve listened to this brilliant book at least 3 or 4 times. Wonderful, subtle and a great read.
    There are many more, of course, but I’d unhesitatingly recommend any of these as a great audiobook.

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  7. Kaaz

    CRY, THE BELOVED COUNTRY – beautifully read, with a lovely South African accent by Maggie Soboil (sp?). A wonderful way to experience this amazing and powerful novel.

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  8. Paul Murray

    The Road by Cormac McCarthy as narrated by Tom Stechschulte is splendid.
    The stark production perfectly echoes the bleakness of the dying world the characters inhabit and Tom Stechschulte delivers the dialogue in voices that fleshes out the tender father/son relationship at its core. This modern ecological fable manages to be as terrifying as it is touching and is absolutely heartbreaking at the conclusion. Recommended.

    Reply
    1. Bobby Riedel

      I concur! Never was able to get through a Cormac McCarthy novel but this was a very listen-friendly one, thanks to the narration!

      Reply
  9. Karleene

    OMG, I’m so surprised that no one has mentioned James Lee Burke’s marvelous book/audiobook, “Black Cherry Blues, read by Mark Hammer, who is nothing short of terrific. Burke’s lyrical prose and artful style are incredible. He is a story-teller so marvelous that it is almost required for one to listen to him – or read him – more than once.
    Audio books are absolute requirements when I’m on the treadmill and if I find myself between new books, one of Burke’s (sometimes Black Cherry Blues again) gets popped into the player, on goes the headset and time just disappears.

    Reply
  10. Children's Book Cellar

    I’m totally hooked on the Bloody Jack series by L A Meyer and read, incredibly, by Katherine Kellgren. She’s an amazing reader and the books are rollicking, good fun.

    Reply
  11. Sue Weber

    Farenheit 451 read by Ray Bradbury. A sublime experience to have the author’s interpretation of his work. Since then, author narration is my first choice.

    Reply
  12. Vicki Kouch

    I still remember one of the first audio books I ever listened to. It was about Walter Cronkite’s and I believe he was the reader. We were on 4 hour ride and when we arrived at our destination, we sat in the car until it was finished 10 minutes later. Maggie’s Door by Patricia Reilly Giff read by Fionnula Flanagan is fantastic. Also I have listened to Pirates! by Celia Rees read by Jennifer Wiltsie is devastatingly enthralling.

    Reply
  13. emkokie

    Hands down, the best audio books I’ve heard (and reheard) are the Skulduggery Pleasant series books, read by Rupert Degas.

    Reply
  14. marie

    I have listened to Jan Karon’s Mitford series on audio at least four times. It is my all time favorite. I have listened to the Left Behind Series by Tim Lahaye and Jerry B. Jenkins three times. I used to have a long commute which was a great way to forget about traffic and enjoy a story.

    Reply
    1. Eileen

      Yes. Be sure to start at the beginning Of jan karons series “at home in Mitford ” you will want to proceed in chronological order. these are great favorites of mine too.

      Reply
  15. Elizabeth Dulemba

    I’m surprised nobody has mentioned Stephen Briggs. His reading of Terry Pratchett’s Wee Free Men series is positively FABULOUS!! Nation is also Wonderful! 🙂
    Elizabeth Dulemba

    Reply
  16. Shelftalker Elizabeth

    These are such wonderful suggestions, and the list of what I haven’t heard (but now want to!) is growing. I forgot to mention Philip Pullman’s incredible His Dark Materials trilogy (beginning with The Golden Compass). He is a riveting narrator, and the voices of every single character (with the possible exception of Iorek, which had to grow on me) was dead-on. Just writing about it makes me want to listen to it again….

    Reply
  17. Connie Rockman

    Ditto on Skulduggery and Bloody Jack – both of which were Odyssey honor recordings when I was on that award committee – love them!
    Another Celia Rees book that I could listen to again is The Wish House, read by Christopher Cazenove.
    And a new book – Heidi Durrow’s The Girl Who Fell From the Sky will make you want to listen again immediately when you finish it – three narrators blend their voices incredibly to create a seamless story that is riveting and heart-wrenching.

    Reply
  18. Pam Spencer Holley

    My all-time favorite is To Kill a Mockingbird read by Sissy Spacek. I couldn’t put it down and even went grocery shopping with my headphones on. Next I love listening to George Guidell for his comforting voice and am on a Tony Hillerman kick right now. Oh gosh, another great “listen” is The Help by Kathryn Stockett.

    Reply
    1. SC Poe

      “Comforting” is exactly the word for George Guidell’s voice, and during times of turmoil or aggravation (such as when hanging wallpaper), I reach for one of his recordings in THE CAT WHO mystery series.
      Same goes for Barbara Rosenblatt reading . . . well, anything!

      Reply
  19. Lisa

    For younger children:
    Peter Dennis reading A.A. Milne’s original Winnie the Pooh stories. I’ve heard several narrators do Pooh, but Peter Dennis is the best (and is also endorsed by Christopher Robin Milne).
    Arnold Lobel narrating his own Frog and Toad stories.
    The picture book THE MOUSEHOLE CAT has a terrific narrator, a British actor whose name escapes me.
    I concur with Sissy Spacek reading TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD and Jim Dale’s Harry Potter narrations. They’re masterful.

    Reply
  20. Bobby Riedel

    “America – The Audiobook” John Stewart and his crew; so frickin’ hilarious!
    “Six Months that Changed the World” by Margaret McMillan; technically not an audiobook; it’s a series of lectures about the Paris Peace Conference of 1919. Want to understand the world’s problems? Listen to this one!
    The Lord of the Rings Trilogy narrated by Rob Inglis–amazing!

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  21. Elizabeth

    The Bartimeaus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud, masterfully read by Simon Jones, is one I’ve listened to multiple times. Jones nails the sarcastic tone of unreliable narrator Bartimeaus and expertly reads the alternating 3rd person passages. He makes me laugh and cry every time.

    Reply
  22. Ben

    Jim Dale’s readings of the “Harry Potter” books (of course!)
    Neil Gaiman’s reading of his own “Graveyard Book”
    Nick Podehl’s reading of “Carter Finally Gets It” by Brent Crawford. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed out loud as much during an audiobook (nor do I think my wife has either…after the first disc I had to start it over so I could listen to it with her instead of just by myself).
    Michael Scott’s “The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel
    series (though unfortunately the first three books all have different narrators [all are good though]… book 4 has the same narrator as book 3, so hopefully he’ll stick around for books 5 and 6)

    Reply
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  24. Chris Sullivan

    I’m listening to “The Moor’s Last Sigh” by Salman Rushdie, read by Art Malik. Fantastic! It’s abridged but I don’t care. Art Malik’s voice is so wonderful. I could listen to him reading the phone book.
    Also, “Angela’s Ashes” read by the author Frank McCourt is also a great treat.

    Reply
  25. Richard

    My favorite readers, are people who read books with a better voice and understanding of the dialogue than my own inner voice. My favorites to date are:
    Jim Dale – The entire Harry Potter Series
    Frank Delaney (author, reader) – Ireland (this is a book about storytelling so..)
    Jeremy Irons – The Alchemist
    Irene Sutcliffe – Pride & Prejudice (wow so hard to read aloud)
    Michael Prichard – Treasure Island (old school, but excellent)

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  26. churble

    “Fool” by Christopher Moore, read by Euan Morton. I have never been so entertained by an audiobook in all my life. He read it with such humor and life and I felt sure he must be a famous actor I just hadn’t heard of. I have never laughed so hard at a book.

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  27. Bill

    Roy Dotrice on the first 3 books of Song of Ice & Fire, for fantasy fans. For anyone watching HBO’s Game of Thrones, I highly recommend listening to the books FIRST, especially since it seems likely there will be subsequent seasons.
    I was also very impressed with the audiobook for Ender’s Saga, but I don’t remember the author.

    Reply
  28. Rich

    I’m not sure how there could be this many comments and no one has mentioned the great, late Frank Muller. I have listened to hundreds of audio books and frank was far and away the best reader I have ever heard. He has read a great variety of books from Stephen king (who dedicated and contributed all audio book proceeds from the dark tower VI to Frank and his foundation) to george orwell (1984) and even Jack London (Call of the Wild)

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  29. mrt

    No list of great readers should fail to include Patrick Tull and his treatment of all of Patrick O’Brian’s Aubrey/Maturin novels

    Reply
  30. Nancy Conlon

    I googled “Good audio books” and this was the first site I visited. I knew i was in the right place when I have listened to four of the ones mentioned in the op. Thanks for the suggestions!

    Reply
  31. Jane

    I have listened to these audiobooks both twice. Wonderful! The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield, read by Bianca Amato and The Hertic’s Daughter by Kathleen Kent, read by Mare Winningham.

    Reply
  32. Terri

    These are wonderful suggestions since I listen all the time. Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man was read with such passion…I wish I could remember the young man’s name. It was absolutely fantastic!

    Reply
  33. Lauren

    “Mudbound,” written by Hillary Jordan, read by multiple actors/actresses, is a sobering, thoughtful story told from several different points of views, hence the numerous voices. Excellent book!!

    Reply
  34. Amber

    I’ve listened to dozens of audiobooks and nothing beats the epic novels by Ken Follett. Pillars of the Earth was amazing!

    Reply
  35. Shawn

    Nelson Mandela’s “A Long Walk to Freedom” read my M. Boatman was outstanding. A great history lesson and wonderful use of the English language.

    Reply
  36. Eileen

    Prodigal summer read by the author Barbara kingsolver is one I’ve repeated. It’s one of those books that has great characters, compelling plots that tie together, and also teaches you some interesting natural science.

    Reply
  37. Rickey Mathews

    The late great Frank Muller’s reading of anything is a “must” listen. I’ve had the good fortune to “live” most of his work. I’m an audiobook addict and it’s FRANK MULLER’S fault. I would like to mention a few of his readings that are worthy of the website title. Apt Pupil, The Green Mile, All Quiet on the Western Front, 1984, Darkness at Noon, Polar Star, …. to name a few. I have listened to The Dark Tower series dozens of times, and George Guidall does a spectacular read of the final three books of the seven book series with Muller doing the first four.. …… Thanks for the site and audiobooks. ….. fyi, i’m currently listening to Salems Lot, narrated by Ron McClarty. After 5hrs of 17 it looks like McClarty is gonna be ok.

    Reply
  38. Leah

    Ernest Cline’s “Ready Player One” read by Wil Wheaton is a great listen. I’ve already listened to this more than once.

    Reply
  39. Alison

    Libba Bray reading her own Beauty Queens – truly fabulous. I especially like how she channels Tiara (Miss Mississippi) to read the Disk numbers (Disk Five – oh, I’ve used up all the fingers on one hand!)

    Reply
  40. Brian

    Improve your reading list with these… if you read and loved them… improve mine and suggest more like them to me.
    Here is a book that blew me away… The Power of One, by Bryce Courtenay, narrated by Humphrey Bower. It is followed up by another amazing book, Tandia. I listened to them both a few times. I have contemplated writing the Courtenay to complain about the lack of a third book. Bower was the first audio book narrator that I ever researched to find out what other books he narrated so I could find them and listen to them. I am an audiobook fanatic.
    I also listened to Atlas Shrugged four or five times. Long book but it is one that NEEDS to be listed to/read at least twice.
    I haven’t been a fan of King since I struggled through Hearts of Atlantis (actually needed to be abridged)… but I just listened to 11-22-63 and decided to give him one more shot.
    Pillars of the Earth/World Without End…and Fall of Giants by Ken Follett read by John Lee are also wonderful multiple reads.

    Reply
  41. edith

    Paul Hecht was the PERFECT choice to narrate Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes. Absolutely perfect for the wonderful old-fashioned, small town setting of the book. I never get tired of listening to it. Soothing and captivating at the same time (just as I find Jim Dale to be with the Harry Potter audiobooks).

    Reply
  42. Justin

    I listened to a couple of the books I found from this string of comments. The first book I tried was “I Know This Much is True” by Wally Lamb. I made it through the first three CD’s and found myself extremely depressed due to the awful life the main character leads and then stopped listening. The second book I listened to was “The Pillars of the Earth” by Ken Follet. This book was amazing and I would recommend it to anyone. All the characters became almost real to me.
    The next book I’m going to try is “Ready Player One” as when I wore a younger man’s clothes I enjoyed video games quite a bit.
    I was extremely interested in how rich people became rich and listened to “The Millionaire Next Door” by Thomas Stanley and William Danko and “The Millionaire Mind” by Thomas Stanley. I listened to each about six or seven times.
    I loved the books “Ender’s Game” and “Ender’s Shadow” written by Orson Scott Card. As well as “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo,” “The Girl Who Played With Fire,” and “The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest” by Steig Larsson. The main character in these books is at genius level intelligence and I love imagining a far and away brilliant person as a main character.

    Reply
  43. Kristine Kopp

    I had the same experience with The Poisonwood Bible. Everyone in my book group loved it, but I just couldn’t get into it. When I borrowed the audio version from the library, I was immediately enchanted by the language of the book as narrated by Dean Robertson. Amazing book!

    Reply
  44. DOGBY

    I usually prefer reading books more than listening to them. I listen to audio books so that I can get through boring tasks such as housework. Even if a story is good, the audio-book fails if the narrator is not good. I recently truly enjoyed the narration of “The Help” and “Sarah’s Key”

    Reply
  45. Jimmy

    I commute 2 hours a day and owe my sanity to audio books. My favorites are:
    Hatchet series read by Peter Coyote
    Harry Potter read by Jim Dale (of course)
    The Night Circus read by Jim Dale
    Seal Team Six read by Ray Porter I thought he sounded like Tom Hanks
    A Long Way From Chicago (very funny)
    Inkheart read by Lynn Redgrave
    Milkweed
    Stumbling on Happiness read by the author Daniel Gilbert
    Spin by Robert Charles Wilson and read by Scott Brick

    Reply
  46. Sohara

    I’ve listened to a few hundred books in the last few years, and my absolute favorite has been _Anansi Boys_. That said, I’ve listened to none of them twice. _Anansi Boys_ will be getting a second listen, as will the short (and beautifully read) _The Education of Little Tree_. I truly enjoyed and will relisten to _Going Postal_ by Terry Pratchett. I’ve enjoyed many Dickens novels, chiefly read by Martin Jarvis. _Nicholas Nickleby_ was an absolute delight, and I had previously read and disliked _David Copperfield_, but enjoyed listening to it. A book I thought was greatly improved by its narrator was _Artemis Fowl_, read by Nathaniel Parker (Inspector Lynley.) The book was a weak imitation of Harry Potter, but Parker made it exciting and far more interesting than the material itself.

    Reply
  47. Laura Caprini

    A book I never get tired of listening to is Edwin de Waal’s “The hare with the amber eyes”. I have listened to it at least 20 times and have just bought the hardcopy version as I want to look at the illustrations. Another one is “Rococco” by Adriana Trigiani but it must be the vesion read by Adam Gruper. Both are fantastic~!!!

    Reply

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