'Cosy' audio books

[Zaphodsotherhead]

Inspired by another thread on 'good' audio books...

I listen to Audible books to help me sleep and I've noticed that I have a particular liking for - and it's difficult to describe - books that have a certain 'feel'. I'm finding it mostly in children's books to be honest! The bit in Harry Potter - Prisoner of Azkhaban, where he is on the Knight bus, any descriptions of being indoors with the wind and rain lashing at the windows; being snug and safe in the house or tent...

Can anyone recommend any books that give the same 'feel'? I've tried 'cosy', but that just gives me loads of cosy crime, and 'snug' only gets me How-To-Hygge books. I want the hygge feel from the whole book!

I never thought of Little House on the Prarie - I never watched the TV show so I might give one of those a try.. I have to listen to the samples first as I find some narrators are irritating.

Vanity Fair and Trollope are certainly good long books!

Just had a thought, what about the James Herriot books?

I read a book on holiday once which was about winter in the Highlands, that gave me the feeling I think you might be after. Searched online for ages last might to try to identify what it was called and to see if it was an audio book, but haven't found it yet. Will keep looking.

The Miss Read books are lovely. Nothing much happens but they evoke such a cosy atmosphere. I’m not sure if they’re currently out of print but if you can get your hands on one, get into bed, turn on some gentle rain sounds and read with a cup of tea I think you may be there!

Not James Herriot... I live in the middle of Herriot country and I just can't suspend my disbelief enough - plus some of my good friends are vets...

I think I've come across the Miss Read books, but I hesitated. Might be time to go and have a look at those.

Oh, and one recommendation I do have for anyone else who likes that 'cosy' feel.. Susan Hill's The Magic Apple Tree. It's a bit dated, but very domestic and comfortable.

I capture the castle by Dodie smith!

Absolutely wonderful is Hugh Laurie reading Finn Family Moomintroll (but not the others read by Hugh Dennis).

Stephen Fry reads the Paddington books, some of those like when Paddington gets a chill from playing to long in the snow, have that feel.

I LOVE I Capture the Castle, it's one of my favourite books. I've been putting off getting the audio version in case I don't love it as much as the paperback version, but I think it's time to bite that bullet.

Stephen Fry is a wonderful narrator. I have all the Harry Potter's that he reads, and he does all the voices so well. I would go for the Paddington books, but only if I can list them to play one after the other, rather than having to start each individual book.

Fab :) I’m bookmarking this thread for bed time info. I get panic attacks at night sometimes and listening to ‘calm’ sleep stories help, but I will start trying audiobooks too

Oh, yes, do Cocobean30. I used to wake up having, not exactly panic attacks, but with my brain whirling and refusing to let me sleep. Running audiobooks through the night (doesn't have to be loud, just enough to be able to hear) means that my brain latches on to the story rather than intrusive thoughts. Works wonderfully for me (and also the book drowns out any external noise).

The Nothing Girl and its sequel The Something Girl by Jodi Taylor might suit what you want. The narrator has a lovely voice.

@Zaphodsotherhead oh yes I know exactly what you mean! Glad they help you

for this purpose, I like Marina Lewycka- I've only ever read in print but am sure her books are in audio form too. she tells some interesting stories but has a very warm and familiar 'voice'. Also Anita Brookner- she can be a lot more melancholy but her studies of the fine emotional detail of ordinary, slightly lonely lives are calming and quite meditative to me.

Michael Pollan would be ideal too. He writes non-fiction, I like In Defense of Food and A Place of My Own. He narrates himself and has a lovely, soothing voice.

Thanks for the suggestions BlackAmericano. At first I thought you'd written 'Michael Palin' and I thought, ooh yes, I love his voice... Never heard of Michael Pollan, I shall go and look him up and listen to some samples!

Stephen Fry reading Sherlock Holmes is brilliant too.
You could try Lucy Worsley's If Walls Could Talk is very good.
Also Ruth Goodman's How to be a Victorian-lots of lovely detail.

Nothing to add but following! Love some of these ideas

Thornyhold by Mary Stewart

I also love anything from Sandi Toksvig. She's a fascinating woman and has had such an interesting life. I also love her voice.

Martin Jarvis reads anything beautifully.

For a longer comfort listen, the Cazalet Chronicles are lovely and beautifully read by Jill Balcon.

The Magic Apple Tree is one of my favourite books ever! I second Miss Read though, the epitome of cosiness. I also love re-reading children’s books to find that cosy feeling.

If it's just for going to sleep I'd recommend the "Get Sleepy" podcast to anyone wanting something relaxing and cosy to listen to.

I discovered it the other week, and it's changed my night times completely, as I'm usually struggling to sleep being so anxious, but it makes me drift off so quickly.

I love this thread, just what I needed but didn't realise. OP if you haven't already you should investigate the weird and wonderful world of ASMR. Try this for starters

This is a great thread @Zaphodsotherhead

I love anything read by Stephen fry, such a soothing voice.

His books on Greek mythology are fascinating.

Am already well into the world of ASMR @Blurpblorp - i am very susceptible to it!

Already have everything Ruth Goodman has written (I'm very big on history). Incidentally, Dan Snow has a great voice and his Plantagenet books are very good (and long)! Also have much by Lucy Worsley.

Thornyhold is my favourite Mary Stewart book Vetinari - I've not seen it as an audio book. I should investigate some of hers as audio, they are 'thrillers' but very calm thrillers. I recently re-read The Gabriel Hounds too...

Podcasts aren't really my thing, because they tend to be too short, and if I run them continually I wake up when they segue from one episode into another. Although I have downloaded a series of 'Sleepy' ASMR podcasts which were going free on Audible and will give those a try.

It's a shame most children's books are too short for my purposes! There is a wonderful comforting cosiness to many of my old favourites, but they either aren't audio books yet, or they are much much too short for playing overnight!

Keep the suggestions coming. It seems as though there are a lot of us in search of the cosy right now.