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Original poster

Audiobook recommendation, please

28 replies

Aparecium · 23/11/2023 16:07

I'm ill in bed and have just discovered the pleasure of listening to Bill Bryson reading his own book, A Short History of Private Life. He has a very calm, soothing delivery, and the subject matter is interesting, yet not particularly exciting. And, because it's not a narrative, it doesn't matter if I doze off. I can just pick up again when I wake up. In fact, it is both helping me to sleep and keeping me contented when I can't sleep.

So I'm looking for more like this. A comfortable, soothing voice reading a comfortable, soothing book that won't be spoiled by me nodding off.

Am I asking for impossible recommendations?

OP posts:
Whataretheodds · 23/11/2023 16:09

Forensics by Val McDermid.

Mothership4two · 23/11/2023 16:35

All That Remains - Sue Black

Dylan Thomas Reading His Poetry

BigFatLiar · 23/11/2023 16:42

Just find stories you like. I've been listening to a number of bbc productions recently.

Fourlegsandatail · 23/11/2023 16:53

I love 84 Charing Cross Road. It’s narrated by Juliet Stevenson (anything narrated by her is lovely) and John Nettles. A lovely, charming true epistolary story and it’s not too long either. It’s post WII and a brash New York female writer wants rare books and contacts a book shop in the UK run by a man who seems quite stuffy. Their letters to one another are just brilliant and a friendship develops. It’s really touching when she starts sending the bookshop workers food packages from America as the UK was still being rationed and they try to explain Yorkshire Puddings to her. Brilliant.

JaneyGee · 23/11/2023 17:23

Laying in a hot bath listening to Stephen Fry read Sherlock Holmes or P. G. Wodehouse is my idea of heaven. I believe he has also recorded M. R. James and Oscar Wilde.

I love Brian Blessed's autobiography, which he reads himself.

Probably my all-time favourite, though, is Michael Maloney reading Evelyn Waugh's Decline and Fall.

Original poster
Aparecium · 23/11/2023 17:27

I love 84 CCR. Thanks, I'll definitely get that. I know it so well that it won't matter if I doze off and miss a bit.

Dylan Thomas - a good suggestion. I remember listening to him reading to Under Milk Wood many years ago. It made more sense when he read it than when I did!

Forensics and All That Remains sound really interesting, but are you sure they won't give me nightmares? I imagine they must be quite explicit. Maybe ones for commutes, rather than when I need soothing?

OP posts:
Original poster
Aparecium · 23/11/2023 17:29

I love Brian Blessed's autobiography, which he reads himself.

Another lovely voice - but does he roar? I don't need roaring. Roaring does not soothe.

OP posts:
OldTinHat · 23/11/2023 17:33

This Much is True by Miriam Margolyes. Absolutely brilliant!

Mothership4two · 23/11/2023 17:54

I have found Sue Black's books fascinating and I am quite a wimp. Obviously quite a dark subject and upsetting in parts. She is very matter of fact about it.

baileybrosbuildingandloan · 23/11/2023 18:34

JaneyGee · 23/11/2023 17:23

Laying in a hot bath listening to Stephen Fry read Sherlock Holmes or P. G. Wodehouse is my idea of heaven. I believe he has also recorded M. R. James and Oscar Wilde.

I love Brian Blessed's autobiography, which he reads himself.

Probably my all-time favourite, though, is Michael Maloney reading Evelyn Waugh's Decline and Fall.

I love SF reading Wodehouse too!

Original poster
Aparecium · 04/12/2023 00:08

Unfortunately, I have not found any of your recommendations at my library. What I have found, though, is Michael Rosen reading Many Different Kinds of Love, his account of being dangerously ill with, and recovering from, Covid. It is both a beautiful book and an extremely soothing listen. I highly recommend it.

OP posts:
Shalopea · 04/12/2023 00:15

First of all, anything else written and read by Bill Bryson. Just check as some of the older ones are read by someone else that has a very jaggy voice that you won’t like.
He's done a special Christmas one for Audible which is probably the cosiest and most soothing ever.

David Mitchell - Unruly is another suggestion .

MadamVastra · 04/12/2023 00:19

Have you got Libby and BorrowBox? They can be downloaded and accessed via your library card. I don't use audible anymore! For instance I have waited for I am pilgrim sequel by Terry hayes to come out for ages and it was released a month or so ago - I went to BorrowBox and reserved it and a copy will be available to me 2nd January for free. Win win for me!

LaurieStrode · 04/12/2023 00:24

Any of the Agatha Christies narrated by Hugh Fraser.

The "Bodies from the Library " detective story anthologies narrated by Philip Bretherton (Alistair Deacon in As Time Goes By) He is brilliant at narration, so calming and jaunty. The stories are vintage and not gory or violent. I am on volume 6. Good value for the money.

There's an audio book "the big book of Christmas Mysteries " that also is Golden Age detective stuff, very pleasant to drift off to.

Original poster
Aparecium · 04/12/2023 00:29

Yes, I'm using Libby. Would BorrowBox have anything different? Surely they'd have the same books if they're linked to the same library?

OP posts:
Shalopea · 04/12/2023 00:31

With my library, Libby and BorrowBox have different catalogues.

Original poster
Aparecium · 04/12/2023 00:43

My library is not on BorrowBox.

OP posts:
Latenightreader · 05/12/2023 22:53

Seconding anything read by Juliet Stevenson. I have several Jane Austens and Persuasion is my fall back go-to-sleep book.

Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day is utterly delightful and beautifully read.

A friend sent me the complete Sherlock Holmes read by Stephen Fry. I wasn’t expecting to enjoy them as much as I did.

KittytheHare · 05/12/2023 22:56

LaurieStrode · 04/12/2023 00:24

Any of the Agatha Christies narrated by Hugh Fraser.

The "Bodies from the Library " detective story anthologies narrated by Philip Bretherton (Alistair Deacon in As Time Goes By) He is brilliant at narration, so calming and jaunty. The stories are vintage and not gory or violent. I am on volume 6. Good value for the money.

There's an audio book "the big book of Christmas Mysteries " that also is Golden Age detective stuff, very pleasant to drift off to.

Hugh Frazer reading Agatha Christie is my go-to calmer downer!

KittytheHare · 05/12/2023 22:59

Im surprised at the Bill Bryson love. I really enjoyed him years ago, but listened to one of his recently and my opinion was that he’s a very unpleasant man who takes joy in sneering at others! Not sure how I missed all that yeas ago

Latenightreader · 06/12/2023 19:41

KittytheHare · 05/12/2023 22:59

Im surprised at the Bill Bryson love. I really enjoyed him years ago, but listened to one of his recently and my opinion was that he’s a very unpleasant man who takes joy in sneering at others! Not sure how I missed all that yeas ago

That’s a very good point. I remember picking up one of his books (the European travels) a few years ago and was expecting to laugh as much as I did at his others. Instead I found some bits very uncomfortable.

LaurieStrode · 06/12/2023 19:53

Me too, @KittytheHare

If you have access, you would love the ones Phil Bretherton narrates.

MadamVastra · 07/12/2023 00:01

Ah never mind op I hope they link up soon! BorrowBox is just audiobooks

LoreleiG · 07/12/2023 00:06

I enjoyed Dominic West reading The Remains of the Day.

junebirthdaygirl · 07/12/2023 00:32

I loved Delia Ephron: Left on Tenth
Beautiful listen.