Spoiler: I’m fully addicted to listening to audiobooks and I’ve amassed quite the list of Audible audiobook recommendations.
Truth be told, I didn’t hop on the audiobook train for the longest time. For many years, I thought audiobooks were something that old, boring people used to entertain themselves. Well, I don’t know if I’m now an old, boring person (tomorrow is my 29th birthday after all!) or if I was just a moron before, but I’m officially on board the audiobook train.
I first started listening to audiobooks last fall. I had just started work after graduating with my MBA, and I was getting used to the commute.
FYI I have quite the commute, friends. I’m talking at least an hour and a half each day. That may not seem like a lot to many of you. For me, it seemed like an eternity. Before this job, my commutes had never exceeded 15 minutes each way; all of the sudden, I felt like I was always in the car. And thus always bored out of my mind, in need of entertainment.
Enter: audiobooks.
My first audiobook was Crazy Rich Asians. I decided I wanted to read the book before the movie came out last year, but I couldn’t find the time to actually read it. So I downloaded the audiobook and I’ve been hooked on audiobooks ever since.
And, yes, Crazy Rich Asians is definitely still one of my top Audible audiobook recommendations. But why?
What Makes a Great Audiobook?
Okay, yes: the story. The plot of the book is a pretty big part of whether or not an audiobook is any good. But there’s one other key component with audiobooks:
Think back to high school. You remember that monotone history teacher? Everybody had at least one. That teacher whose voice never changed, who was – at least in the students’ eyes – frightfully dull. If you don’t remember this teacher, you probably were sleeping through this class: that’s what a monotone voice does to you.
Still with me? Cool.
That teacher would make the world’s worst audiobook narrator.
All of my favorite audiobook narrators have extremely animated voices. With an audiobook, you want a narrator who creates different voices for each individual character. Who brings each character to life – no matter the book or genre.
So, with that in mind, what’s made my list of top 3 Audible audiobook recommendations (so far)?
My Top 3 Audible Audiobook Recommendations
Obviously, Crazy Rich Asians (and China Rich Girlfriend), narrated by Lynn Chen. Chen does a great job of creating different voices and accents for each character. If you haven’t yet read Crazy Rich Asians, I highly recommend listening to this audiobook on Audible – it’s almost better than the movie. And that’s coming from somebody who adored the movie!!
Next on my list of Audible audiobook recommendations? Code Name Verity. I downloaded this book on a whim, and I absolutely loved it. If you’re a fan of historical fiction, you will dig this book. If you like books with a female protagonist, you will super dig this book. And, most of all, if you adore Scottish accents, you will really friggin’ dig this Audible audiobook.
Okay so that last point might only apply to me but whatever. Ever since I started watching Outlander a few years ago (and subsequently visited Edinburgh), I’ve loved Scottish accents and I get really excited whenever I discover an audiobook or TV show featuring Scottish accents or set in Scotland.
Scottish accents and bagpipes. Big fans of both.
Moving on.
Last on my list of Audible audiobook recommendations is a sci-fi pick: Mortal Engines. Yes, this is more YA fantasy than sci-fi. And yes, the movie came out last fall and apparently totally sucked… but trust me when I say that this Audible audiobook recording is really A+. Barnaby Edwards (such a great name) does a great job bringing each unique character to life with his voice. With a fantastical story like Mortal Engines, you need a narrator with an animated voice. And the accent doesn’t hurt!
Do you listen to audiobooks? If so, what are your faves / the ones you’d recommend? Let me know in the comments below!