Audiobooks with Great Characterisation by the Reader.
August 3, 2024 7:24 AM Subscribe
Looking for English Fiction Audiobooks of 20th-century and later books - where resonant voiced readers - classically trained (voice) actors - really bring the story alive.
Am interested in fiction audiobooks from the 1920s onwards - no english older than a century, please. Genre neutral but prefer scifi, literary fantasy (not potboilers), contemporary fiction, historical drama.
Two very different ones I loved, where the actors' voices just brought the story alive
Translation State , Ann Leckie read by Adjoa Andoh
Sam Dale (who has the most resonant voice) in a short 8 minute story
'How It happened' - Arthur Conan Doyle - if you want to listen to it here:
I loved the adaptation of the Sandman Series by Neil Gaiman (yes, I know).
Can be shortform, longform, novellas, 20hrs. Note it doesn't have to be bombastic (e.g. Patrick Stewart, Brian blessed) - I love that stuff, but it can be quietly powerful too. It just has to suck you in.
What can scratch my itch for Really Good Voice Acting with a Good, Chewy Story?
Am interested in fiction audiobooks from the 1920s onwards - no english older than a century, please. Genre neutral but prefer scifi, literary fantasy (not potboilers), contemporary fiction, historical drama.
Two very different ones I loved, where the actors' voices just brought the story alive
Translation State , Ann Leckie read by Adjoa Andoh
Sam Dale (who has the most resonant voice) in a short 8 minute story
'How It happened' - Arthur Conan Doyle - if you want to listen to it here:
I loved the adaptation of the Sandman Series by Neil Gaiman (yes, I know).
Can be shortform, longform, novellas, 20hrs. Note it doesn't have to be bombastic (e.g. Patrick Stewart, Brian blessed) - I love that stuff, but it can be quietly powerful too. It just has to suck you in.
What can scratch my itch for Really Good Voice Acting with a Good, Chewy Story?
Kevin R. Free's reading of The Murderbot Diaries (by Martha Wells) fits the bill for me. Kevin's depiction of female voices, in particular, stand out: his creates those voices with authority and compassion and intelligence and personality: too many other audiobooks (particularly older ones) create female voices that sound petulant or pouty or sex kitten-y to my ears. The first book in the series is "All Systems Red".
posted by Silvery Fish at 7:57 AM on August 3 [5 favorites]
posted by Silvery Fish at 7:57 AM on August 3 [5 favorites]
Shantaram. The premise of an Australian man living in India really lends itself to different voices and accents, with the different Indian characters really popping as a result.
posted by bluesky78987 at 8:03 AM on August 3
posted by bluesky78987 at 8:03 AM on August 3
I just listened to Running Close To The Wind by Alexandra Rowland, read by Casey Jones.
It’s a queer pirate adventure comedy fantasy, and I’m convinced that Jones’ performance informed my very high opinion of it. While I wouldn’t call it potboiler, it may not rise to your standards of literary. It is very silly, but also very endearing.
posted by itesser at 8:27 AM on August 3 [1 favorite]
It’s a queer pirate adventure comedy fantasy, and I’m convinced that Jones’ performance informed my very high opinion of it. While I wouldn’t call it potboiler, it may not rise to your standards of literary. It is very silly, but also very endearing.
posted by itesser at 8:27 AM on August 3 [1 favorite]
The audible version of 'Children of Time' by Adrian Tchaikovsky (2016) is fantastic. Mel Hudson really brought the book alive for me with a humorous and thoughtful reading.
posted by 0bvious at 9:22 AM on August 3
posted by 0bvious at 9:22 AM on August 3
Most of the Smiley novels by John le Carré, including Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, are read brilliantly by Michael Jayston. (Fun footnote: Jayston played Guillam in the Beeb's production of Tinker Tailor with Alec Guinness as Smiley.)
posted by rabia.elizabeth at 10:08 AM on August 3 [2 favorites]
posted by rabia.elizabeth at 10:08 AM on August 3 [2 favorites]
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride has incredible voice acting. The narrator Dominic Hoffman does an outrageous amount of voices, accents, and speaking styles -- it's very cool.
posted by luzdeluna at 10:23 AM on August 3
posted by luzdeluna at 10:23 AM on August 3
It might not be precisely what you were thinking, but I love the Rob Inglis versions of the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings for injecting a lot of emotion and heart into Tolkien's prose.
posted by Alensin at 10:55 AM on August 3
posted by Alensin at 10:55 AM on August 3
I used to tell people that Lenny Henry's narration of Anansi Boys (written by Neil Gaiman, sigh) was one of the best audiobooks I've ever heard.
The New Moon's Arms by Nalo Hopkinson, narrated by Gin Hammond, is also pretty nice. It sits at the intersection of menopause, mermaids, caribbean island folks, and cashews.
posted by Archer25 at 12:03 PM on August 3 [2 favorites]
The New Moon's Arms by Nalo Hopkinson, narrated by Gin Hammond, is also pretty nice. It sits at the intersection of menopause, mermaids, caribbean island folks, and cashews.
posted by Archer25 at 12:03 PM on August 3 [2 favorites]
I'm not sure if she's "classically trained", but I believe that Mary Robinette Kowal was an audio book maker before she started narrating her own stuff. I've listened to books 1-3 of the "Lady Astronaut Series", and her voice really brings them to life.
posted by Cheese Monster at 12:17 PM on August 3
posted by Cheese Monster at 12:17 PM on August 3
They're "kids" books, but I miss listening to Jeremy Irons read "James and the Giant Peach"; and "Magyk" (Septimus Heap Book 1) read by Allan Corduner. They both have resonant, crafty, sneaky voices that convey a lot.
Here's a list of all the books where Corduner narrates some or all.
And a list of those where Irons narrates.
posted by cocoagirl at 12:30 PM on August 3
Here's a list of all the books where Corduner narrates some or all.
And a list of those where Irons narrates.
posted by cocoagirl at 12:30 PM on August 3
No Country for Old Men read by Tom Stechschulte and True Grit read by Donna Tartt.
(and bonus older book for other people who might be reading this, Middlemarch read by Kate Reading was unbelievably good. I have actually thought of writing her a fan letter about her characterizations. )
posted by exceptinsects at 12:43 PM on August 3
(and bonus older book for other people who might be reading this, Middlemarch read by Kate Reading was unbelievably good. I have actually thought of writing her a fan letter about her characterizations. )
posted by exceptinsects at 12:43 PM on August 3
Madeleine Miller’s Circe, read by Perdita Weeks. As far as I am concerned, this is the perfect marriage of a beautifully told story and gorgeous narration. You can listen to a sample of it here.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 1:21 PM on August 3
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 1:21 PM on August 3
Myself and several friends love the Aubrey/Maturin series and we will absolutely swear by Patrick Tull's narration.
posted by OHenryPacey at 1:38 PM on August 3 [3 favorites]
posted by OHenryPacey at 1:38 PM on August 3 [3 favorites]
Anything that meets your criteria that is read by Juliet Stevenson.
Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson read by Jason Watkins.
Warlight by Michael Ondaatje read by Steve West
Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones read by Beata Pozniak.
Seconding the Aubrey/Maturin recommendation even though it's outside your timeframe.
posted by kingless at 1:41 PM on August 3 [2 favorites]
Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson read by Jason Watkins.
Warlight by Michael Ondaatje read by Steve West
Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones read by Beata Pozniak.
Seconding the Aubrey/Maturin recommendation even though it's outside your timeframe.
posted by kingless at 1:41 PM on August 3 [2 favorites]
some excellent suggestions above, and a bunch I'm going to be checking out from the library soon :) Thanks for this question.
The first audiobook I listened to where I sat up and noticed that an audiobook could be more than just somebody reading the text was Neal Stephenson's The Diamond Age, read by Jennifer Wiltsie.
Not sure if full-cast recordings are outside your target, but I enjoyed the Dark Materials audiobooks too. (Philip Pullman reads a bit of it, but it's mainly acted by the cast.)
posted by adekllny at 2:03 PM on August 3
The first audiobook I listened to where I sat up and noticed that an audiobook could be more than just somebody reading the text was Neal Stephenson's The Diamond Age, read by Jennifer Wiltsie.
Not sure if full-cast recordings are outside your target, but I enjoyed the Dark Materials audiobooks too. (Philip Pullman reads a bit of it, but it's mainly acted by the cast.)
posted by adekllny at 2:03 PM on August 3
Rosamund Pike has been narrating the Wheel of Time audio books. Her versions of these books really make them shine and pull you into the story.
posted by Nerro at 3:33 PM on August 3
posted by Nerro at 3:33 PM on August 3
Humphrey Bower narrates all of Booker Prize winning novelist Richard Flanagan's books. Both the reader and author meet your criteria to a tee.
posted by Thella at 4:27 PM on August 3
posted by Thella at 4:27 PM on August 3
My wife has been raving about the audiobook of Ann Patchett's novel Tom Lake, read by Meryl Streep. I haven't listened to it but I have read the print book and it is amazing, and I can only imagine that Meryl Streep really brings it to life.
posted by number9dream at 6:05 PM on August 3
posted by number9dream at 6:05 PM on August 3
Seconding Patrick Tull narrating the Aubrey-Maturin novels. He's SO GOOD.
Also Stephen Briggs narrates a ton of Discworld novels, and he's marvelous as well.
posted by suelac at 9:21 PM on August 3 [3 favorites]
Also Stephen Briggs narrates a ton of Discworld novels, and he's marvelous as well.
posted by suelac at 9:21 PM on August 3 [3 favorites]
Ben Aaronovitch's Rivers of London novels (London policing + magic), read by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, are excellently read. The author seems to insert ever more obscure UK accents for Kobna to play with
posted by altolinguistic at 4:37 AM on August 4 [4 favorites]
posted by altolinguistic at 4:37 AM on August 4 [4 favorites]
The reader for Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid made me enjoy it so much more.
posted by metasarah at 7:09 AM on August 4
posted by metasarah at 7:09 AM on August 4
Oh see, I'm a big fan of Aubrey/Maturin as well, but I'm all about the Simon Vance versions!!
posted by exceptinsects at 8:58 AM on August 7
posted by exceptinsects at 8:58 AM on August 7
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The series is sci-fi space opera puzzle box-y and everything pays off; the first book won the Locus and was shortlisted for the Nebula and Hugo. Although I have to imagine you probably already know about it if you’ve read Ann Leckie?
posted by bcwinters at 7:39 AM on August 3 [5 favorites]