Suggest Audiobooks with bits of non-English language and accents

January 29, 2016 8:44 AM

I'm currently enjoying the audiobook of "Lost in Translation" by Nicole Mones. The narrator often uses a phrase in Mandarin, and then says the English translation afterwards. She also uses lots of accents. It has a very nice ear-feel, if that's a word. What are some other audiobooks you enjoyed that feature these techniques? Thanks! (Don't say Shantaram, it is already my favorite audiobook ever).
posted by bluesky78987 to Media & Arts (7 answers total)

Best answer: If I remember correctly, the audiobook for Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose is similar.
posted by neushoorn at 9:02 AM on January 29, 2016 [1 favorite]

Best answer: The "languages" are those of the author in most respects, but I'd definitely say that the audible.com version of Cloud Atlas, read by Scott Brick, Cassandra Campbell, Kim Mai Guest, Kirby Heyborne, John Lee, and Richard Matthews, fits this bill.
posted by bearwife at 9:17 AM on January 29, 2016

Best answer: The audiobook for Marlon James' A Brief History of Seven Killings does a fantastic job with language, with excellent code switching and accents for each character's sections.
posted by Dip Flash at 6:55 PM on January 29, 2016

Best answer: Similar, but also awesome, is the new Carly Simon memoir 'boys in the trees'. She sings, there's other music, her voice is like honey, and she's amazingly erudite and well spoken. Plus it's pretty racy in parts which makes it a lot of fun...
posted by sexyrobot at 7:19 PM on January 29, 2016

Response by poster: Excellent suggestions, Thank you! I ordered all of them, except Cloud Atlas, which I've listened to already and liked. Always looking for books so any other suggestions, bring 'em on!
posted by bluesky78987 at 7:53 PM on January 29, 2016

Anansi Boys uses a number of different accents, and is hilarious. I am a big fan of audiobooks, and this may be my favourite, because the narrator is just so good.
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 1:24 AM on January 30, 2016

I just listened to "After Dark" by Murakami. This is narrated by a woman who does various accents and involves Japanese and Chinese words or sentences which are translated into English as well. I enjoyed it.
posted by guy72277 at 4:59 AM on February 3, 2016