Audiobooks for the fussy (Narrator)

[WildFlowerBees]

I travel long distances for work so whilst driving I love an audiobook, however I'm really fussy about the narration.

Loved
Julie Hesmondhalgh

The Thursday murder clubs Lesley Manville but didn't enjoy Fiona Shaws narration at all.

Marian Keyes

I like there to be some sort of intonation, I just heard a sample of Rob Rinders new book and the narration is boring monotone so I'll be reading that instead.

Can anyone recommend something I might like for my 6 hour drive?

Thank you 😊

I also have to go on long car journeys, and I also listen to audiobooks to pass the time. My own personal favourites:

1. Brian Blessed. He narrates his own books (an autobiography and a memoir about his love of animals). An absolutely wonderful reader. The books are also great – funny and touching.

2. The best narration I've ever heard is Michael Maloney reading Evelyn Waugh's Decline and Fall. The first half of that novel is the funniest thing I've ever read, and Maloney does a superb job.

3. Simon Callow. I know he's recorded quite a few, including his own books.

4. Stephen Fry has recorded Sherlock Holmes, and also P. G. Wodehouse. One of my greatest joys in life is laying in a hot bath listening to Fry read Sherlock Holmes. He's also recorded his own autobiographies, which I'd recommend (especially the first, Moab is my Washpot).

I'm also very fussy about narration. I'd recommend Michelle Obama's autobiography, as read by her, if that's something you'd be interested in.

One of the best I’ve listened to recently was A Sight for Sore Eyes by Ruth Rendell read by David Threlfall, 12 hours long, great sorry and fantastic narration

If the books are your thing, the Rivers of London series narrated by kobna holbrook-smith are brilliantly done

Thank you @JaneyGee I've downloaded the Victorian secrets podcast narrated by Stephan Fry and will download PG Wodehouse I lived Jeeves and Wooster growing up!

I'll have a sample listen, thank you 😊

Nice narration thank you!

I've already read most of the books, really enjoyed the first one.

Great thread. I too am fussy about the narration. My first audiobook was the Wolf Hall trilogy and I can't remember who narrates it but it was fab. Some subsequent books were less so.

Following to get some ideas here.

I'm listening to Ruth Jones books at the moment, just finished the second one. I think it makes a difference because she's the writer and narrator. Plus, no dodgy accents! Great stories too.

Hugh Laurie reading Three Men in a Boat. Perfect.

It always makes me happy to meet another Wodehouse lover. We ought to have a secret handshake or something😁

I not only listen to the audiobooks, I also read the Jeeves and Wooster novels out loud (I do a great Jeeves). It's better than Prozac!! Next time you're home alone, and feeling low, try it.

Wodehouse is one of those writers who were made for audiobooks. Not every writer is suited to them. I never listen to Henry James or Virginia Woolf, for example. But Dickens, Evelyn Waugh, Agatha Christie, P. G. Wodehouse, Tolkien, the Sherlock Holmes novels, etc, come alive when they're read out loud.

Oh, and I'd recommend the M. R. James radio collection. It's read by Mark Gatiss, Derek Jacobi, Anton Lesser, etc. Fantastic.

Yes yes yes...I second this!

I like narrators Angus King, Sean Barrett, David Monteath, Jeff Harding.

Miriam Margoyles reads her own autobiography. Utterly fascinating book.

Rosemary Leach reading When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit is on BBC Sounds at the moment and is a really powerful reading.

They’ve also got Faye Marsay reading Beth Mead’s autobiography which is terrific - we all enjoyed it on a long car journey with the kids recently.

It’s a kids book but Stockard Channing reading Ramona Quimby is wonderful. I downloaded it for my daughter but listened to it myself and loved it

Loved Ruth Jones books, laughed a bit too much at Miriam Margolyes book.

Enjoyed the Marlow murder books (eventually) prefer a female narrator to male and I'm not a fan of American novels.

Trying to think of who else I liked, I enjoy narrators who are able to bring a story to life so I'm completely immersed. They are so hard to find!

I also listened to a couple of Fern Britton's books and she was also pretty good.

Oh and Dawn French, loved her books and narration.

@JaneyGee I read to my horses (don't judge me they're nervous rescues 😬) I'll get a copy of Jeeves and Wooster. Can't imagine they'll enjoy my impressions much!

Thanks for the other recommendations!

My favourite all time narrator is Wil Wheaton, he has a beautiful voice and is really good at subtle nuance. I think most of what he reads is sci-fi though, I love it, especially John Scalzi, but it might not be your thing.

Anything that Richard Armitage reads is worth listening too. I've also enjoyed the narration and the story of The Nothing Girl and its sequel The Something Girl by Jodi Taylor.

I recently listened to Snow by John Banville. I didn't finish it because it was an annoying story with dislikable characters and by the time I was two thirds though I didn't care that the priest had been murdered nor who murdered him. The only reason that I listened as long as I did was because the narrator was fabulous.

My favourite book and narrator listens are

Anna Massey reading Rebecca
Edward Petherbridge reading Howard's End and Peter Firth reading Pat Barker's Regeneration Trilogy. Although having just looked on audible they seem to no longer offer this recording and use Simon Russell Beale instead which is a shame.

Posters on here often recommend Timothy West reading Trollope which I've not listened to yet. However, I've listened to him narrate some non fiction which has been great.