Selecting a good audiobook, whether on CD or in digital format, can be a two-step process. There is the first and most obvious step of selecting for the content of the book: Is it an author you like? Can they write well? Is the subject interesting? If you have listened to audiobooks for a while, you realize there is an important second step: Is the narrator any good? A narrator that you find annoying can really kill the experience no matter how good the content. On the flip side, an excellent narrator can make a book you might not consider at first a fascinating listen. The problem is, how do you find these great narrators.
One way is to check out an award given by the Audio Publishers Association named the Audies. The Audies are given to titles recorded in a given year based in large part on the excellence of the reader or readers. Even better, they are divided into categories (Biography, Fiction, Mystery, Humor etc.) so you can select in the genre you are interested in. This year, the winners will be announced on Thursday May 29th in New York. Until then you can browse this list of all the nominees, complete with audio samples. You may also be interested in viewing the winners from past years for further listen opportunities. To help you get through the rather long list for this year’s ceremony, here is a selection of the nominated audiobooks by category with links to our catalog. Enjoy!
Audiobook of the Year
Still Foolin’Em by Billy Crystal, Read by Billy Crystal
The Testament of Mary by Colm Toibin, Read by Meryl Streep
Biography/Memoir
I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai, Read by Archie Panjabi
My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor, Read by Rita Moreno
Business/Educational
The Everything Store by Brad Stone, Read by Pete Larkin
Naked Statistics by Charles Wheelan, Read by Jonathan Davis
Classic
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Read by Jake Gyllenhaal
Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Read by Armando Duran
Fantasy
Wisp of a Thing by Alex Bledsoe, Read by Stefan Rudnicki
Fiction
Doctor Sleep by Stephen King, Read by Will Patton
The Good House by Ann Leary, Read by Mary Beth Hurt
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman, Read by Neil Gaiman
History
Frozen in Time by Mitchell Zuckoff, read by Mitchell Zuckoff
The Hour of Peril by Danil Stashower, read by Edoardo Ballerini
One Summer by Bill Bryson, Read by Bill Bryson
Humor
Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris, Read by David Sedaris
Inspirational/Faith-Based Fiction
A Story of God and All of Us by Mark Burnett &Roma Downey, Read by authors and Keith David
Truth-Stained Lies by Terri Blackstock, Read by Gabrielle de Cuir
Inspirational/Faith-Based Non-Fiction
Break Out! By Joel Osteen, Read by Joel Osteen
Literary Fiction
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, Read by David Pittu
The Son by Philipp Meyer, Read by Will Patton, Scott Shepherd, Kate Mulgrew, Clifton Collins
Multi-Voiced Performance
Ender’s Game Alive by Orson Scott Card, Read by full cast
World War Z by Max Brooks, Read by full cast
Mystery
Death and the Lit Chick by G.M. Malliet, Read by Davina Porter
He’s Gone by Deb Caletti, Read by Cassandra Campbell
Rage Against the Dying by Becky Masterman, Read by Judy Kaye
Non-Fiction
Beyond Belief by Jenna Miscavige Hill, Read by Sandy Rustin
David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell, Read by Malcolm Gladwell
The Telling Room by Michael Paterniti, Read by L.J. Ganser
Thank You for Your Service by Daivd Finkel, Read by Arthur Bishop
Paranormal
Ever After by Kim Harrison, Read by Marguerite Gavin
Red Moon by Benjamin Percy, Read by Benjamin Percy
Romance
The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks, Read by January LaVoy, Ron Mclarty
Science Fiction
Maddaddam by Margaret Atwood, Read by Bernadette Dunne, Bob Walter, Robbie Daymond
The Martian by Andy Weir, Read by R.C. Bray
Thriller/Suspense
The Fifth Assassin by Brad Meltzer, Read by Scott Brick
The Hit by David Baldacci, Read by Ron McLarty, Orlagh Cassidy
Suspect by Robert Crais, Read by Macleod Andrews
Sycamore Row by John Grisham, Read by Michael Beck
Be sure to visit A Reading Life for more reviews and news of all things happening at the Everett Public Library.
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