To what are you listening? How do you feel about it?

[whatausername]

A blatant copy of my thread about books, this one is on audiobooks! So what are you listening to? Thoughts?

I'm listening to "E.F. Benson's Ghost Stories" read by Mark Gatiss and written, unsurprisingly, by E.F. Benson. They are enjoyable and firmly in the genteel supernatural catergory rather than scary or gory. Gatiss is a solid narrator with just the right level of atmosphere and emotion, no hamming it up. He even does an alright Scottish accent!

I didn't know Gatiss had recorded some audiobooks!I loved his documentary on M. R. James. You can see it on youtube – really, really worth watching.

I've got two audiobooks on the go atm: Stephen Fry reading Sherlock Holmes, and Stephen Fry reading P G Wodehouse. A hot bath, a glass of wine, and Stephen fry's voice. Now that's my idea of heaven.

Elena Ferrante's The Brilliant Friend, it's ok, I'm sure it works better in print. Just finished The Girls by Emma Cline which was really well narrated

Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow. I'm not sure about it! I'm sort of enjoying it.

But it is hot on the heels of Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano which was brilliant. Narrated by Maura Tierney (Abby in ER), and she was brilliant. It even made the Ann Patchett pale in comparison (Tom Lake) and she is one of my favourite authors.

I came on here to look for my next audio book recommendations and found this thread.

I have a big tbr pile of physical books and I don't want to get them on audible. And I feel a bit lost with choosing from there - it's a bit like going to wasterstones and only being allowed to choose one book!

I like literary fiction. I love reading books set in the civil rights era, and the deep south. I love books about women, by women. Don't mind historical fiction.

I love Ann Patchett, Margaret Atwood, Barbara Kingsolver, Isabelle Allende, Sebastian Faulks (in the main. Englby was terrible.), David Mitchell and now, apparently Ann Napolitano. I love a debut novel too. Hannah Kent Burial Rites is a perfect example, if anyone fancies a random recommendation!

Hope you don't mind the hijack op! Great threatld idea, thank you.

I did not know that EF Benson wrote ghost stories! I only know Mapp and Lucia.

If you like modern stuff, Daisy And The Six works well on audio book, because each character is a different voice.

I listen to books at two different times mainly.

So I listen when I'm trying to go to sleep, these tend to be non fiction historical books; last night it was July 1914: Countdown to War by Sean McMeekin.

The other time I listen is when I have dull housework or when I'm cooking dinner. I had a long phase of listening to podcasts but I've gone back to listening to trashy page turner stuff to keep me going. They often irritate the hell out of me though. I'm listening to The Girlfriend by KL Slater.

July 1914:Countdown to War is an amazing history. It's obviously incredibly detailed as the title suggests; and is quite useful to fall asleep to!!!! The narrator is poor though; quite AI sounding. I've seen Sean McMeekin lecture on YouTube and he's really entertaining. I wish he'd narrated it himself.

The Girlfriend is much like all of those books. Domestic noir stuff. However, the narration is very good; Clare Corbett. She's exceptionally good at doing children's voices; not cringy or creepy as some are. Quite near the end now and have some dull, dull, dull housework to do later so it should just tide me over! Generally speaking these books it's really obvious whodunnit so we'll see.

Then I'll need to find something else.

Recently finished The Cellar by Minette Walters - not for the faint hearted but if you like a disturbing thriller then give it a go. The narrator was excellent and gave the story an extra dimension.

Currently listening to The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey. Set in Yorkshire during the late 70s when the Ripper was still at large, it’s mainly told from the point of view of an 11 year old girl. There are some well known actresses in the voice cast including Gemma Whelan and Joanne Froggat. Enjoying it so far!

The Vera books by Ann Cleeves.
Rather excellent I must say!