Best audio books you can recommend?

[VenusInBlurs]

I couldn't find a current audio books thread so I'm hoping this isn't a duplicate of an existing one.

I'm bed bound for the coming month and a friend has kindly given me 12 Audible credits to use while I'm recuperating I love her

Normally I'm a prolific Audible listener while I'm driving.
As an example I listened to 117 books last year in addition to good old fashioned reading.
I've read most of the classics, I enjoy original thrillers, good real life books ie A Life Of Crime and Unnatural Causes,Marian Keyes or Taylor Jenkins Reid and the latest Dawn O'Porter type books.

I'm listening to The July Girls now.

Any suggestions for good listens or books you've enjoyed recently? And why?
Anything at all, it doesn't matter if it's not something I'd usually like as long as you think it's good and you really liked it.

I think I paid over £30 for Miriam Margoyles reading Bleak House by Charles Dickens but it is 34 hours long and brilliantly narrated. It was recommended as a break from Brexit!

I've just downloaded Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitchch, narrated by Kobne Holdbrook -Smith. So far its excellent, wonderful narration. And, it's a series.

Stephen Fry’s autobiographies. In fact any autobiography of someone who you like or are interested in because it’s amazing to hear them telling their own story

Hadn't thought of Dickens on audio Fatshedra but now discovered there are lots of them available from our library e-audio loans :)

Oh does it? @HerSymphonyAndSong

Lots of brilliant ideas, please do keep adding them.

It's true that the narrator makes a book and there are some narrators I avoid.
Absolutely, I agree that if you like the person you'll probably enjoy their autobiography, I loved Eric Idle's but it was crammed full of name dropping and wouldn't be to everyone's taste at all

At Uni I did a whole semester on Victorian literature. I'll be honest, it was enough to keep me going for a lifetime so now I avoid the Victorian classics like (the) cholera.
I do often enjoy contemporary books set in Victorian times, I loved The Crimson Petal and the White, even the ending.

So far The Chestnut Man is excellent.

tobee I’m not sure what you’re getting at. I mentioned my own pet hate, and said nothing like all men couldn’t narrate women and all women were brilliant at narrating men. So I’m not sure why you felt the need to correct me in some way

I listen to audio books in the car. Currently loving Elly Griffiths - Ruth Galloway books. It’s a crime series with archaeology connections set in Norfolk. Great characters and brilliantly read.

Fiction
Dark matter by Blake crouch

Non fiction
The history of the world by Andrew Marr
A short history of nearly everything by Bill bryson
A history of Britain in 21 women by Jenni murrey

And I've just started listening to the handmaid's tale.

Educated by Tara Westover is excellent. It's a memoir of her upbringing off-grid in the Idaho mountains.

Also, Heartburn by Nora Ephron. It's okay. Read by Meryl Streep. I don't love it but it passes the time on a long walk and gives an insight into the marriages of others. Not great praise I realise but I will finish it.

Educated is far superior.

Oh my god what a complete Aisling and Graham Norton's two fiction books, Holding and A Keeper.
All three are lightweight and entertaining.
I like easy read fiction when I'm out walking the dog. You need to keep your wits about you in case a car comes flying around a corner too fast.

Yes, the West Cork podcast is very interesting and offers a different view to the local one!
I live in the area and see IB most Saturdays at the market and I just feel really sorry for his partner Jules.

I don't think I was correcting you @HerSymphonyAndSong.

I was merely giving examples of people who are good. David Suchet being one example who is surprisingly good.

It was a counterbalance. I was originally going to give examples of both male and female narrators who are particularly bad for doing simpering women, or younger women made to sound like small children - another frequent occurrence. But edited my post because I thought it would be churlish to do so; and decided to make it a positive post.

You seemed to think it was a pointless post.

I really enjoyed the Game of Thrones books on Audible (haven't watched the series though) and all of Robin Hobb's books.

I’m an avid audible listener too. Tend to go fairly light and have enjoyed many of the ones listed above:
Liane Moriaty
Eleanor oliphant (the narrator makes it imo)

I loved/hated the goldfinch. Mostly loved but there were some really dull sections which I would have skimmed in a real book!
Currently listening to the little friend which is similar
I adored a little life.

My main recommendation which hasn’t been mentioned yet Ian the Robert gailbraith (jk Rowling) strike novels. Really engaging

Non fiction-sapiens is pretty good

Listening to Tom Brady ‘secret service’ - excellent.

Bradby

I bought the Tom Bradby HeronLanyon, since I last posted I've finished The Chestnut Man by Soren Sveistrup which was chilling but absolutely brilliant.

I also listened to Gotta Get Theroux This by Louis Theroux which I also found to be if not chilling then unsettling; a large part of the book comprises Theroux's reflections on his encounters with Saville. If anyone else has listened to it or plans to I'd be interested to know what you think.

Now I'm listening to The Dalai Lama's Cat for some calm after the storminess of the previous two books.

Someone upthread asked for my favourite Audible books, I'm thinking about my list but The Cows by Dawn O'Porter would definitely be on my favourites list and I mention it now because it's the Audible daily deal today so it's only £1.99 if you buy it before midnight.

James clear atomic habits. If you're in to self help books that is. Really uplifting and motivating and perfect for my work commute

The Harry Hole books by Jo Nesbo. Proper Scandi noir, but pretty well written, and narrated by the fabulously gravelly Sean Barrett. And there's about 12 of them 😀

I loved Circe.
Also adored Becoming: the fact that Michelle Obama reads it herself made me feel she was my new friend, and I had a dream that she and Barack came to my wedding.
I've listened to two Ruth Ware thrillers but found them very stressful. Her characters never sleep and I'm going round with my headphones on hyperventilating at the tension of it all.
Love the Elly Griffiths ones.

I'm currently listening to 'Where the Crawdads Sing' by Delia Owens, and am loving it.

Yes I kept thinking that Michelle Obama was my friend too! Very inspiring and engaging woman. One of my favourite autobiographies

I’ve just finished Jason Isaacs reading Kate Atkinson’s ‘Big Sky’, which was excellent.
Years ago I listened to a book about a journalist corresponding with a female professor of literature in Saddam Hussain’s Iraq. It was amazing and very moving. Will try to find it...

‘Talking about Jane Austen in Baghdad’ by Bee Rowlett