Please can I have your audiobook recommendations?

[EmailsaysOOO]

Please can you suggest an audiobook? I'm after fiction, something with a good plot and interesting characters and not written too long ago. None of the classics. Otherwise, open to all ideas.

As some background, my employer last month sent me a 6 month audible subscription. I've found my way round the website but not sure what to choose. Not sure if I'm going to come across as grumpy, hope not.
The first book I downloaded- Theo Of Golden - I'm going to give up. So boring. I'm having chemo treatment for cancer so maybe that's affecting my patience. If it's not gripped me by the end of chapter two then it won't be worth it. I'm meeting up with the lady from HR who arranged it next week so hoping to get something really enjpyable. No pressure !

I've just finished Murder at World's End by Ross Montgomery and absolutely loved it. Great plot and characters and laugh out loud funny.

It's brilliantly narrated by Sir Derek Jacobi and Joe Jameson. Highly recommended.

A recent favourite has been Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke
I’m also a fan of the Bruno Chef de Police series by Martin Walker.

If you don’t like a book on audible you can return it. Life is too short and chemo is too long for boring books!

I like Anthony Horowitz The Word is Murder series, and Magpie Murders.

I found The Stranger Times books really funny.

Unlike others on here I never fully gelled with the Chronicles of St Mary but did enjoy The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman.

I never knew this. Thank you!

Thank you for the Stranger Times recommendation. It looks good and a little like Rivers of London. I've just downloaded it!

The Seven Sisters series, Lucinda Reilly amazing

Also throwing support behind Dungeon Crawler Carl - I started reading it over a year ago and I've thought about it pretty much every day since.

The Shardlake novels. A lawyer in Tudor times. Brilliant. Seven of them across Henry 8th’s reign and on.

Dungeon Crawler Carl. I want to pipe up and say “new achievement,” after completing any small task. 🤣

None of this is true- Lisa jewel, i read the book And then listened and the audio is just fantastic. Nicola walker is one of the voices

Hi Kepler, thanks for your message.I'll look those up. Interesting that you say I can return an audiobook I dont like, I'm going to see how I do that. I don't like it sat in my library, glowering at me.

I was surprised to find myself enjoying ‘remarkably bright creatures’, nor my usual choice, I like something with a bit more substance but it’s really beautifully narrated and might be a good choice if the treatment is making you feel rubbish. All the best with your recovery.

Me too! I’ve listened to them all (except for a few of the short stories) twice. The narrator is great

You have to use the website, not the app.
Sign in, go to where it says Hi "name" in the top right, and choose "purchase history". scroll down to the book and press "return this book".

You can return anything bought within the past 1 year even if you listened to the whole thing.

I return a lot as I'm deaf and just can't understand some narrators.

If you haven't discovered Anna Karenina (or maybe even if you have), Maggie Gyllenhall's reading of it is exquisite. I was never able to get into that book reading it on my own but she brought it to life.

Thank you so much! I'll give this a go. Much appreciated 😊

I love anything by V E Schwab. Especially the invisible life of addie Larue.

I downloaded a Shardlake audiobook which I think is good.

It’s probably just me but I struggle a bit with audiobooks. Being read to tends to make me nod off 😄. Also I find I have to rewind and listen again - something about not actually reading the words, it doesn’t go in as well. But I’m new to them and probably just need to learn to concentrate in a different way. Loving the suggestions though and will keep trying

Try East of Eden. A life changing book and read very well.

Recent favourites of mine:

Still Life by Sarah Winman, read by the author, she is also an actor and did a great job of the reading

Heartburn by Nora Ephron read by Meryl Streep, really enjoyed this and loved Meryl's reading so this led me to ...

Tom Lake by Anne Patchet read by Meryl, very easy, enjoyable story

The Correspondent, really well read, enjoyed this very much

The reader is so important as I've just discovered. Having enjoyed Tom Lake I thought I'd go for another Patchett, Whistler, but this one is read by the author, and I hate to say it, but I'm not enjoying her reading at all

My absolute favourite has been Life after Life by Kate Atkinson, wonderful book, highly recommended

I second this. It’s a brilliant audio book.

Graham Nortons novels - he reads them and I find his voice so relaxing.

Thanks yes,I'm new to them too and was nodding off all the time recently. It's been fairly easy to go back and see what I've missed so far
Yes I've got loads of good ideas now
Glad I asked.

There is a timer option you can use to make the book automatically stop after a certain amount of time, or to play your chosen number of chapters. I use this when I'm likely to fall asleep.

I tend to pair listening with an activity that keeps me hands busy though - I find it actually helps me concentrate and absorb more as I'm less likely to have wandering thoughts.

Glorious Exploits was read brilliantly by the author. Seconding The Bee Sting as well.

And I know you said fiction, but I thought My Family by David Baddiel was an amazing audiobook. There's an equal balance of sadness and humour told with lots of love.

Oh, and The Fortnight in September - it's like a wonderful warm bath.