My opinion on audiobooks has changed completely – here are some recommendations
I never really saw the point of audiobooks before as I adore books and the act of reading. Why listen to someone else’s voice when my own mental voices are so great?
Then the pandemic happened. I know that sounds dramatic, and I have been fortunate to have been largely left unscathed. I was, however, fired from my office-based content writing job just as the lockdown began. So, I went freelance and thanks to the internet, I’ve barely left the house since.
As the months wore on, wary of getting fat, I started walking in my condo. I try to walk at least 4000 steps a day, back and forth, like a caged tiger going insane. I needed to listen to something.
I had never listened to audiobooks much before, even though I walked a lot around the city in pre-plage times. It is partly that I love to read but also because my mind wanders. I write fiction as well and ideas often come when I’m out walking around Bangkok seeing interesting things.
In my own condo, however, I found that I needed more entertaining. So, I tried an audiobook and was hooked. Having a good reader/actor, someone who can do different voices, really brings a book to life. I still love and prefer reading, but certain books are superb on audiobook and add an extra element. They are superb for monotonous activities and mean I can enjoy more fiction.
I had previously listened to the radio and had gotten into a couple of radio plays on BBC Radio 4. There is a ton of great stuff on BBC radio and it is all free. So, when I joined Audible to build a bigger library, I went for some dramatisations. Then I tried a few straight books. There is a lot to out there to like but I might as well give a few recommendations. The selection is broad but short, and covers different styles and genres.
As I said, I started with some radio play dramatisations and you can get some great compilations.
One of the best dramatisations is a collection of Poirot’s Finest by Agatha Christie. I love Agatha Christie, she was a genius. I have read a lot of her stuff and it is rare that I could guess who did it. The best technique is to work out who could not possibly have done it (excluding the detective), and that’s who did it. Her genius is that you still get it wrong most of the time.
This has some great stories and they are really well acted and written. I had read Death on the Nile, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, and Murder on the Orient Express but still really enjoyed listening to them. (Embarassingly, I’d forgotten who did the murder in Death on the Nile and still got it wrong.)
I had read Hyperion before but it was a long, long time ago. I had loved it but for some reason hadn’t read the sequel, The Fall of Hyperion, which I intended to do. So, I thought I’d listen to Hyperion first.
The book is a science fiction tale told in the style of the Canterbury Tales. It has a larger narrative but the bulk is seven pilgrims telling their stories as they go on a journey to the mysterious Valley of the Time Tombs. It is a brilliant book but what made this audiobook so superb was that there is a narrator for the main story, and each character is voiced by a different actor. And they’re all great. It really adds to the tale. It was at this point I realised how audiobooks can enhace a story.
I had never heard of Peter Clines before but I had a shiny audible credit and was looking for something different. I read reviews for some of his stuff and one book called 14 kept being mentioned. In particular, people kept praising the audiobook.
Given that I had no idea what it was even about, the story took some turns that completely caught me off guard. I loved it and it was all voiced by a guy called Ray Porter, who was brilliant and seems to be a very popular reader. You might want to check the genre first though, as it won’t be for everyone.
Sorry if it is weird to go from book recommendations to Stephen Fry but the man needs his own category. His own books brilliant – I just finished Mythos but have read loads more than I can mention here. He also happens to be superb at reading audiobooks.
He is obviously hugely popular for the Harry Potter novels. I haven’t heard them but apparently they’re great. What I have particularly enjoyed, however, have been his readings for Sherlock Holmes: The Definitive Collection and The Jeeves Collection by P.G. Wodehouse. I think we all know he can do a damn good Jeeves!
It is strange that I had been a member of Audible on and off for years, yet had never really cared all that much for audiobooks. Being confined to the house has meant that when I walk, I am not distracted by life around me. Also, in Bangkok where I currently live, you need to be aware of your surroundings at all times as you get motorbikes on the pavements and missing manhole covers. It’s treacherous out there.
If you haven’t tried one out, give one of the above a try. I have listened to dozens now, but I tried to keep the selection limited and picked a broad variety of genres to cater to all tastes. I’m nice like that. If you fancy trying Audible, and I hate sounding like an advert, membership is a lot cheaper. Not so much the tokens, which are cool, but more the sales – there are loads of them and are when I get most of stuff.
I should also add that the links above are affiliates. They won’t cost you any extra but I need audiobook money. Enjoy!
