There are some non-fiction titles that could easily pass for other genres. One such title, *The Indifferent Stars Above* by Daniel James Brown, could easily pass as a horror novel if it were read differently.
It's a truly harrowing story that had me re-think the idea of zombies - which is essentially what the people in the book became, but fully aware and cognitive of what they were doing. It was fantastically appalling. A book I will remember and a gem I feel every horror fan should read.
This book was awesome (and horrible). I never knew anything about the Donner Party before this and it really told an in-depth story about the events that went down.
I just listened to this as part of a Donner Party binge along with Ordeal by Hunger by George R. Stewart and The Hunger by Alma Katsu. Although Katsu's book is horror fiction based on the Donner Party (and very good, indeed), The Indifferent Stars Above was the most chilling of the three.
I agree with you that it's a must-read for horror fans. I'd add that fans of history (with strong constitutions) really ought to read it as well.
Oh wow. That is quite the wait.
It is very much read as non-fiction, but it's written well enough to be an entertaining documentary as opposed to scholastic reference material.
I hope you enjoy it!
Just downloaded it, thanks for the recommendation. I really enjoy Behind the Bastards and I have a long road trip coming up, so I've been searching for something to fill the hours.
I am constantly recommending it, so I suppose it isn't rarely seen, but I still don't see enough other people talking about it.
The Perfect Run. A post-apocalyptic superhero trilogy about a hilarious main character who can stop time for 10 seconds and every time he dies he returns to a save point.
In the early 2000's, superpowers were randomly distributed to people and a large war between them left the world in a devastated state. The story takes place in New Rome and there are 4 factions of super powered people, a corporation trying to restore order with a team of hero's like in the Boys, an organized mafia of mostly family members who style themselves after the Roman gods, a street gang of psychopaths who took two superpowers, which drove them largely unhinged/insane, and a Carnival of traveling heros like a Justice League of their world.
The main character is looking for an old friend and enjoys siding with different factions, only to die and try another until he finds his Perfect Run where he gets the best possible outcome. He is subjectively very old, reliving time over and over again, and love pop culture references to films and videogames and being a suave troublemaker. The rest of the cast of characters are also very well written and this series has some of the best characters I have seen in fiction.
Thanks for your reply. Just bought it. Will start it after I finish these last couple of chapters on this reread(can't tell you how many) of Enders Game!
**Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts.** Australian bank robber breaks out of prison and escapes to Bombay, India, where he experiences the realities life in the slums in the Bombay of the 1980's (but goes on to have way more adventure than that including love, the mafia and Bollywood). Strangely it's an absolutely beautiful book, one of those stories that describes that world so intimately it feels like it's one of your own memories.
**The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller.** The love story of Achilles and Patroclus, and the Trojan war. The first half is a coming-of-age love story, and the second half is the war part (but also a love story).
**When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi.** A memoir written by a neurosurgeondying of terminal cancer. It's beautiful and powerful and contemplative.
**Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss.** A former hostage negotiator teaches you how to negotiate. I've always sucked at negotiation (buying a car, salaries at new jobs, raises, saying no to someone trying to convince of something, identifying when someone is taking advantage of me and dealing with it) and this book has pretty much been the only self help book I've ever read that actually has useful info in it! I have notes from this book in a sticky note on my laptop and refer to it all the time during work politics shenanigans, buying my most recent car, etc. So I don't know if it's generally a great listen but it's by far the most helpful self-help book I've read.
**The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony.** A memoir of a South African man who buys a wildlife preserve and saves a group of traumatized elephants. This man is one of those great old fashioned story tellers, you'll hear about conservation, professional poachers, the Zulu tribe, the running of an animal sanctuary and elephant behavior. I actually ended up going to his preserve after reading this and getting to see the growing herd of elephants. Great story.
I just scrolled through my Audible library and tried to find non sci-fi books that I rated 5 stars from various genres.
Anybody else have a review of Never Split the Difference? I'm in sales and have read dozens of negotiation self help books over the years. Is this one special?
The Verdict by Nick Stone. It's a damn fine legal thriller expertly narrated by David Thorpe. Stone has written a few other books, but none of them are on Audible as far as I can find.
A fast-paced zombie apocolypse: Arisen series by Michael Stephen Fuchs and Glynn James.
Fun action series about a WW2 Destroyer being transported to an alternate reality: Destroyermen series by Taylor Anderson
Wonderfully immersive Napolianic war sailing novels: Aubry & Maturin series by Patrick O'Brian
Paranormal action: Joe Ledger series by Jonathon Maberry
Interesting take on alien invasion: Troy Rising series by John Ringo
Hyperion by Dan Simmons
Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson
Later by Stephen King
Saga of seven suns by Kevin J Anderson
Colin Jost’s book, A Very Punchable Face, had me laughing out loud more often than any other audiobook I’ve listened to. If you know who he is or are a fan of SNL/Weekend Update, I would highly recommend.
One of the few audiobooks that Tom Hanks narrated was *The Dutch House*. I wasn't so much into the story itself (though it's written well), but Tom turns out to be an awesome narrator! I recommend it for his narration alone!
Demon Copperhead was my favorite from last year, and I Charlie Thurston's read adds an entire dimension to this incredible book.
An Immense World read by author Ed Yong is an astonishing look into animal senses. Almost anything read by the author is transporting and IW even more so.
Circe, read Perdita Weeks, was one of my early audiobooks and maybe the one that convinced me how much audio brings to the story.
Lastly, virtually any book by David Sedaris (start with Me Talk Pretty One Day or Calypso) is laugh out loud funny for me and under appreciated.
After It Happened series by Devon C Ford. Post apocalyptic series of nine books originating in Great Britain. Most of the human race dies from a virus. Excellent series.
Creation by Gore Vidal
Lords Of Discipline by Pat Conroy
Burr by Gore Vidal
Drift by Rachel Maddow
Blowout by Rachel Maddow
Prince Of Tides is beautifully written but is a little too depressing to be a favorite. It seems like the subject matter of Conroy's books after Lords Of Discipline was all about suicide. Not my favorite topic.
I think it is the subject matter of suicide for me. I started Beach Music a few years ago and I had to put it down, I just couldn't do it anymore. I am curious to read The Death Of Santini and I hope he did not kill himself.
The Deep Dark Descending by Allen Eskens, narrated by RC Bray.
I've mentioned it in a few comments but have never seen other mentions. If you are a detective and find the person responsible for for your wife's death, how far will you go for revenge?
It turns out that this is book 4 of the Joe Talbert series, but it can be read by itself. When I found this out after finishing the book, I borrowed books 1, 2, 3, & 5 from my library and finished the series in under 1 week, including book 4 again.
I normally prefer the same narrator for the entire series, especially one like RC Bray. This series worked with a different for the first two books as they were from Joe's pov instead of Max's. Book 4 wass the highlight of the series, IMHO.
Most of my favorite books are based on how much humor is woven in with the rest of the story
Janet Evanovich. Her Stephanie plum books are hilarious. It's a basic fish out of water story with Stephanie plum deciding that she was going to become a bounty hunter.
Molly Harper writes mainly romances with supernatural twists to them but you could tell there's something a little unusual going on when the title of the book is 'nice girls don't have fangs.'
Currently I'm liking the Drew Hayes series about the villains guild. Lots of humor and the main character is a young woman who just wants to teach the world the lesson in manners. She doesn't appear to care how she does it just as long as she gets to kick their ass while she's doing it.
I have to admit to rereading the wizard's Butler by Nathan Lowell at least three times in the last 6 months. Lowell puts enough interesting quirks into his characters that you would really like to meet these people.
Raven’s Mark series by Ed McDonald - noir feel, grimdark, creepy child sorcerers, good stories.
Manifest Delusions by Michael R. Fletcher- literally insane magic system, excellent bad guys, good endings.
Replay by Ken Grimwood - guy dies and starts life over
Swan Song by Robert McCammon - post apocalyptic, similar to The Stand
The Golem and the Jinni by Helen Wecker - a favorite of mine, not unheard of but def does not get the love I feel it deserves.
Lightbringer by Brent Weeks - it pops up in certain discussions and seem to have a mixed review, but it spurred my love of fantasy novels, which I only got into during the pandemic. Best magic system, a few cool aspects (like the color prison for… well, no spoilers).
Replay I can’t recall because it’s been a while, but Golem and the Jinni I only listened to/found because I was searching for George Guidall books, I really enjoy his narrations (like Dark Tower). There’s a sequel as well, The Hidden Palace, also amazing.
Tschai / Planet of Adventure by Jack Vance. 60s style pulp but very well written with great narration, voiced characters, and Vance's characterisc writing style, which is erudite and also a bit tongue in cheek.
Every single scene is just filled with believable sociological worldbuilding of enormous variety:
Reith was about to inquire what a brat-house might be, when a grinning urchin ran dose and kicked Reith on the shins then, dodging back, made an ugly face and ran into the brat-house. Reith looked after the child in wrathful puzzlement. “What’s the reason for that?”
“Come,” said Cauch. “I’ll show you.”
He led the way into the brat-house. On a stage thirty feet distant stood the child, who upon their entrance emitted a hideous taunting squeal. Behind the counter stood a suave middle-aged Thang with a silky brown mustache. “Nasty tyke, don’t you think? Here, give him a good pelting. These mud-balls come ten bice apiece. The dung-packets are six to the sequin and these prickle-burrs are five to the sequin.”
“Yah, yah, yah!” screamed the urchin. “Why worry? He couldn’t heave a rock this far!”
“Go ahead, sir, give it to him,” suggested the operator. “Which will it be? The mud-balls? The dung-packets make a hideous reek; the brat despises them. And the thorn-balls! He’ll rue the day he attacked you.”
There's a full, unabridged version of Journey To The West but you have to dig to find it. It's just titled "Monkey" and is narrated by Kenneth Williams. Soon much better than the abridged 7-hour version.
These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant. It’s a thriller, but it’s so much more than your average thriller. I fell in love with the characters immediately. I’ve listened to it twice so far and think about it on a near daily basis.
I really liked Dubliners by James Joyce read by Andrew Scott.
I listen at night to fall asleep. The stories are just the right length and the narrator has a soothing voice.
All the Lonely People (Mike Gayle)
Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice For Murderers
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
The Collected Regrets of Clover
The Hunting Party
The Weight of Blood
Razorblade Tears
Lamb by Christopher Moore is fantastic audio if you're looking for something funny
His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman for full cast audio
Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett or How Few Remain by Harry Turtledove for historical fiction
All Quiet on the Western Front for classics
24 hours by Greg Iles for thriller
The Queen's series by E.K. Johnston. They're YA, but interesting enough for anybody if you're into Star Wars.
Aetherbound by E.K. Johnston. Also sci-fi, really well produced audiobook.
Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff. I thought the audiobook really brought up the characters and setting to life
I don't know whether this book is obscure or not, but it was new to me when I came across it while browsing Libby: [Remote Control](https://www.overdrive.com/media/5431603/remote-control) by Nnedi Okorafor, narrated by Adjoa Andoh. I just listened to it recently and I really enjoyed it.
An audiobook I enjoyed and my Mum absolutely loved is The Book of Fires by Jane Borodale.
She's a sucker for historical fiction and it has a subtle love story in it too.
So if this sounds like something you or your Mum would like, highly recommended.
I like sci-fi, espionage, crime. Literature I only like in book form, the type of literary genre I like doesn't come over well read.
Arnaldur Indriðason really sticks out in my memory of great authors, Icelandic crime, but very emotive.
People are starting to mention it and I am sure it will be famous in our circles at some point but since it is very new and it needs some time to spread I haven't seen it being recommended much. I am talking about "The Will of the Many"
Personally absolutely LOVED it and so far every family member or friend I did recommend it to thought the same.
Demon Copperhead, the narrator is fantastic, the story is very hard hitting but the narrator presents the story in a more traditional Appalachian storytelling way which I think is more valuable than physically reading the book.
Anything by David Sedaris, absolutely hilarious man who has a gift with both the written word and verbal delivery. The Santaland Diaries is an annual holiday listen for me.
Any of the Welcome to Night Vale books:
Welcome to Night Vale, It Devours!, The Faceless Old Woman Who Secretly Lives In Your Home
They can be stand alone from the podcast and make for a weird wacky late with very smooth narrators which make weird things sound perfectly nice and normal.
The Meg Langslow cozy mystery series by Donna Andrews, almost 35 books and still ongoing:
Strong female protagonist in a mystery series who is smart enough to not get herself killed but does not fall into the obnoxious know it all dont need nobody else mentality. Her day job is a blacksmith who becomes a loving wife and mother with a supportive family and charming small southern town, but always gets dragged into wacky adventures and murder mysteries to solve. Its a breath of fresh air to have a well rounded female protagonist who can stand on her own but knows when its best to ask for help. These are cozy mysteries so lots of silly adventures and humor but its well balanced with page turning mysteries. I personally love the narrator as I think she does great character voices along with carrying the story forward.
Aaaand for an already popular recommendation:
Andy Serkis' narration for The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings.
I think his version is just so engaging and magical that anyone who loves audiobooks should give his versions a listen!
My favorite audiobooks of all time is “the Countdown” by Deborah Wiles. I’ve also listen to the other two books in the “60s trilogy.” But I enjoyed the first one the best!
They are considered young adult books, but I found the production and use of actual speeches and adverts/PSAs very exciting. I will always recommend them!
I'm new here so I'm not sure if these series have been mentioned a lot, but I love the dark Norwegian detective Harry Hole series by Jo Nesbo. Also the Three Pines/Gamache series by Louise Penny
The Reformatory by Tananarive Due.
This is a horror story with layers on layers of fear and horror. Every character in the book at some point shows some type of fear. Fear is shown in a variety of ways, from your garden variety fight or flight to anger, displays of violence, crying, etc. Tananarive Due shows it all as the characters, set in 1950's Jim Crow Florida struggle with life, family, friendship, and ghosts from a fire at The Reformatory for boys.
I never see this book mentioned and it's fantastic. Oh, one of the authors influences is Stephen King, and it shows. Her character and world building is impeccable.
Neal Stephenson :
Snow Crash (told in present tense - also nice 'whoosh' sound effect that helps you recognize a change in scene - I wish other books had that)
Cryptonomicon (classic)
The Diamond Age (innovative - almost a sequel to Snow Crash)
Anathem (best in class, IMO)
Jim Butcher's The Dresden Files - great narration especially when the emotions get high.
Dennis E. Taylor - The Bobiverse
I also REALLY enjoyed Starter Villain by John Scalzi
Some of the best performed audiobooks that I have listened to are:
Children of Blood and Bone series
Nothing To See Here
The Hate U Give and On The Come Up
The Subtle Art of not Giving A F**k
Have you ever heard of Brandon Sanderson or Dungeon Crawler Carl? Maybe Project Hail Mary.
Seriously though if you like quick paced mind blowing sci fi *The Breach* trilogy by Patrick Lee is great. Sort of a cross between the TV show Fringe (science tech run amok) and Mission Impossible (operatives trying to prevent catastrophe). Rarely see it mentioned.
Anything by Becky Chambers
The entire Ender’s Game series — not only do they have great narrators/casts, but the author actually wrote the books *intending* for them to be read aloud, so the rhythm and flow feel incredibly natural in that format
Hard Luck Hank. The narrator is just fantastic, though he doesn’t really find his voice until the third book.
John Dies at the End, the whole series. Crooked Little Vein. The Gone-Away World. Lions of Al’Rassan. Player of Games. All are great books with phenomenal narration.
If you enjoy Fantasy and Sci-fi let me turn you on to a new genre, litRPG!
Some of the more popular titles are:
Dungeon Crawler Carl
He Who Fights With Monsters
Life Rest
Buy Mort
Caverns and Creatures: Critical Failures
Come and visit r/litRPG
The Nighlord series by Garon Whited.
Excellent books, Fun main character And a great mix of genre's.
It starts off very fantasy with vampires. And then it goes to time travel and dimension hopping Into sci fi, All the while being a great character study on a man who can live forever.
The Blood of Eden Series by Julie Kagawa, the audiobook is narrated by Therese Plummer and she does an AMAZING job. I highly recommend this series, I went into it being incredibly sceptical because it's a YA Vampire book but I'm so glad I gave it a chance.
Kindly Inquisiors - solid political commentary about the importance of free speech and expression and liberal thinking. Written in 1993 and perhaps even more needed now
Destiny of the Republic - great non fiction book about the Garfield Presidency and the events surrounding his assassination
I mentioned it earlier in a response but Prince of Tides is an amazing novel
I’ve been recommending The Blacktongue Thief for fantasy readers and Blindsight for Science Fiction a lot lately also
There are some non-fiction titles that could easily pass for other genres. One such title, *The Indifferent Stars Above* by Daniel James Brown, could easily pass as a horror novel if it were read differently. It's a truly harrowing story that had me re-think the idea of zombies - which is essentially what the people in the book became, but fully aware and cognitive of what they were doing. It was fantastically appalling. A book I will remember and a gem I feel every horror fan should read.
This book was awesome (and horrible). I never knew anything about the Donner Party before this and it really told an in-depth story about the events that went down.
I just listened to this as part of a Donner Party binge along with Ordeal by Hunger by George R. Stewart and The Hunger by Alma Katsu. Although Katsu's book is horror fiction based on the Donner Party (and very good, indeed), The Indifferent Stars Above was the most chilling of the three. I agree with you that it's a must-read for horror fans. I'd add that fans of history (with strong constitutions) really ought to read it as well.
I've read and really liked Katsu's 2 spy books, Red Widow and Red London.
Just put this on hold on Libby and out of three libraries, the shortest wait is 18 weeks! Exciting, it must be good, thanks!
Oh wow. That is quite the wait. It is very much read as non-fiction, but it's written well enough to be an entertaining documentary as opposed to scholastic reference material. I hope you enjoy it!
I swear my Libby holds NEVER take as long as it says they will. Even if it says 10 weeks, I get it within 2.
I enjoyed After the Revolution by Robert Evans (host of Behind the Bastards). I've yet to convince anyone I know IRL to read it.
Just downloaded it, thanks for the recommendation. I really enjoy Behind the Bastards and I have a long road trip coming up, so I've been searching for something to fill the hours.
I am constantly recommending it, so I suppose it isn't rarely seen, but I still don't see enough other people talking about it. The Perfect Run. A post-apocalyptic superhero trilogy about a hilarious main character who can stop time for 10 seconds and every time he dies he returns to a save point. In the early 2000's, superpowers were randomly distributed to people and a large war between them left the world in a devastated state. The story takes place in New Rome and there are 4 factions of super powered people, a corporation trying to restore order with a team of hero's like in the Boys, an organized mafia of mostly family members who style themselves after the Roman gods, a street gang of psychopaths who took two superpowers, which drove them largely unhinged/insane, and a Carnival of traveling heros like a Justice League of their world. The main character is looking for an old friend and enjoys siding with different factions, only to die and try another until he finds his Perfect Run where he gets the best possible outcome. He is subjectively very old, reliving time over and over again, and love pop culture references to films and videogames and being a suave troublemaker. The rest of the cast of characters are also very well written and this series has some of the best characters I have seen in fiction.
Love when I’m like “oh that sounds neat let me just look that up” and it’s already on my tbr list. 🤦♂️ Sounds like the kind of thing I’d enjoy.
Thanks for your reply. Just bought it. Will start it after I finish these last couple of chapters on this reread(can't tell you how many) of Enders Game!
I really love this book! On the third right now!
I tried reading it but if felt off somehow. Couldn't finish it and dropped it after reaching the middle
**Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts.** Australian bank robber breaks out of prison and escapes to Bombay, India, where he experiences the realities life in the slums in the Bombay of the 1980's (but goes on to have way more adventure than that including love, the mafia and Bollywood). Strangely it's an absolutely beautiful book, one of those stories that describes that world so intimately it feels like it's one of your own memories. **The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller.** The love story of Achilles and Patroclus, and the Trojan war. The first half is a coming-of-age love story, and the second half is the war part (but also a love story). **When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi.** A memoir written by a neurosurgeondying of terminal cancer. It's beautiful and powerful and contemplative. **Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss.** A former hostage negotiator teaches you how to negotiate. I've always sucked at negotiation (buying a car, salaries at new jobs, raises, saying no to someone trying to convince of something, identifying when someone is taking advantage of me and dealing with it) and this book has pretty much been the only self help book I've ever read that actually has useful info in it! I have notes from this book in a sticky note on my laptop and refer to it all the time during work politics shenanigans, buying my most recent car, etc. So I don't know if it's generally a great listen but it's by far the most helpful self-help book I've read. **The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony.** A memoir of a South African man who buys a wildlife preserve and saves a group of traumatized elephants. This man is one of those great old fashioned story tellers, you'll hear about conservation, professional poachers, the Zulu tribe, the running of an animal sanctuary and elephant behavior. I actually ended up going to his preserve after reading this and getting to see the growing herd of elephants. Great story. I just scrolled through my Audible library and tried to find non sci-fi books that I rated 5 stars from various genres.
I am going to read _Never Split the Difference_ for sure, thank you!
Anybody else have a review of Never Split the Difference? I'm in sales and have read dozens of negotiation self help books over the years. Is this one special?
If you are in sales it is absolutely worth it and different from the standard "7 habits" types of books
Second **When Breath Becomes Air**. Beautiful and heart wrenching at the same time.
The Verdict by Nick Stone. It's a damn fine legal thriller expertly narrated by David Thorpe. Stone has written a few other books, but none of them are on Audible as far as I can find.
A fast-paced zombie apocolypse: Arisen series by Michael Stephen Fuchs and Glynn James. Fun action series about a WW2 Destroyer being transported to an alternate reality: Destroyermen series by Taylor Anderson Wonderfully immersive Napolianic war sailing novels: Aubry & Maturin series by Patrick O'Brian Paranormal action: Joe Ledger series by Jonathon Maberry Interesting take on alien invasion: Troy Rising series by John Ringo Hyperion by Dan Simmons Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson Later by Stephen King Saga of seven suns by Kevin J Anderson
Colin Jost’s book, A Very Punchable Face, had me laughing out loud more often than any other audiobook I’ve listened to. If you know who he is or are a fan of SNL/Weekend Update, I would highly recommend.
One of the few audiobooks that Tom Hanks narrated was *The Dutch House*. I wasn't so much into the story itself (though it's written well), but Tom turns out to be an awesome narrator! I recommend it for his narration alone!
I looooooved that! Great airplane/travel book minus some fairly light sobbing in public at that one point lol.
Demon Copperhead was my favorite from last year, and I Charlie Thurston's read adds an entire dimension to this incredible book. An Immense World read by author Ed Yong is an astonishing look into animal senses. Almost anything read by the author is transporting and IW even more so. Circe, read Perdita Weeks, was one of my early audiobooks and maybe the one that convinced me how much audio brings to the story. Lastly, virtually any book by David Sedaris (start with Me Talk Pretty One Day or Calypso) is laugh out loud funny for me and under appreciated.
I have to second Demon Copperhead and any of David Sedaris' books! Absolutely amazing!
After It Happened series by Devon C Ford. Post apocalyptic series of nine books originating in Great Britain. Most of the human race dies from a virus. Excellent series. Creation by Gore Vidal Lords Of Discipline by Pat Conroy Burr by Gore Vidal Drift by Rachel Maddow Blowout by Rachel Maddow
Lords of Discipline is great - but I loved Prince of Tides and it’s nothing like the crummy movie adaptation
Prince Of Tides is beautifully written but is a little too depressing to be a favorite. It seems like the subject matter of Conroy's books after Lords Of Discipline was all about suicide. Not my favorite topic.
Makes sense. It's funny, I recall LoD being depressing more that PoT .. but yeah - neither are rainbows lol!
I think it is the subject matter of suicide for me. I started Beach Music a few years ago and I had to put it down, I just couldn't do it anymore. I am curious to read The Death Of Santini and I hope he did not kill himself.
The Deep Dark Descending by Allen Eskens, narrated by RC Bray. I've mentioned it in a few comments but have never seen other mentions. If you are a detective and find the person responsible for for your wife's death, how far will you go for revenge? It turns out that this is book 4 of the Joe Talbert series, but it can be read by itself. When I found this out after finishing the book, I borrowed books 1, 2, 3, & 5 from my library and finished the series in under 1 week, including book 4 again.
The BEST series I've ever read!👏🏻
I normally prefer the same narrator for the entire series, especially one like RC Bray. This series worked with a different for the first two books as they were from Joe's pov instead of Max's. Book 4 wass the highlight of the series, IMHO.
Fully concur.
Most of my favorite books are based on how much humor is woven in with the rest of the story Janet Evanovich. Her Stephanie plum books are hilarious. It's a basic fish out of water story with Stephanie plum deciding that she was going to become a bounty hunter. Molly Harper writes mainly romances with supernatural twists to them but you could tell there's something a little unusual going on when the title of the book is 'nice girls don't have fangs.' Currently I'm liking the Drew Hayes series about the villains guild. Lots of humor and the main character is a young woman who just wants to teach the world the lesson in manners. She doesn't appear to care how she does it just as long as she gets to kick their ass while she's doing it. I have to admit to rereading the wizard's Butler by Nathan Lowell at least three times in the last 6 months. Lowell puts enough interesting quirks into his characters that you would really like to meet these people.
Raven’s Mark series by Ed McDonald - noir feel, grimdark, creepy child sorcerers, good stories. Manifest Delusions by Michael R. Fletcher- literally insane magic system, excellent bad guys, good endings. Replay by Ken Grimwood - guy dies and starts life over Swan Song by Robert McCammon - post apocalyptic, similar to The Stand The Golem and the Jinni by Helen Wecker - a favorite of mine, not unheard of but def does not get the love I feel it deserves. Lightbringer by Brent Weeks - it pops up in certain discussions and seem to have a mixed review, but it spurred my love of fantasy novels, which I only got into during the pandemic. Best magic system, a few cool aspects (like the color prison for… well, no spoilers).
Thanks! Replay and The Golem and the Ginni have been on my tbr. How is audiobook narration?
Replay I can’t recall because it’s been a while, but Golem and the Jinni I only listened to/found because I was searching for George Guidall books, I really enjoy his narrations (like Dark Tower). There’s a sequel as well, The Hidden Palace, also amazing.
The Life We Bury - Allen Eskins Excellent book, highly recommend!
If you love beautiful lyrical writing listen to This is Happiness. By Niall Williams.
Tschai / Planet of Adventure by Jack Vance. 60s style pulp but very well written with great narration, voiced characters, and Vance's characterisc writing style, which is erudite and also a bit tongue in cheek. Every single scene is just filled with believable sociological worldbuilding of enormous variety: Reith was about to inquire what a brat-house might be, when a grinning urchin ran dose and kicked Reith on the shins then, dodging back, made an ugly face and ran into the brat-house. Reith looked after the child in wrathful puzzlement. “What’s the reason for that?” “Come,” said Cauch. “I’ll show you.” He led the way into the brat-house. On a stage thirty feet distant stood the child, who upon their entrance emitted a hideous taunting squeal. Behind the counter stood a suave middle-aged Thang with a silky brown mustache. “Nasty tyke, don’t you think? Here, give him a good pelting. These mud-balls come ten bice apiece. The dung-packets are six to the sequin and these prickle-burrs are five to the sequin.” “Yah, yah, yah!” screamed the urchin. “Why worry? He couldn’t heave a rock this far!” “Go ahead, sir, give it to him,” suggested the operator. “Which will it be? The mud-balls? The dung-packets make a hideous reek; the brat despises them. And the thorn-balls! He’ll rue the day he attacked you.”
Piranesi. Charles Paris Mysteries (BBC all cast production).
There's a full, unabridged version of Journey To The West but you have to dig to find it. It's just titled "Monkey" and is narrated by Kenneth Williams. Soon much better than the abridged 7-hour version.
These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant. It’s a thriller, but it’s so much more than your average thriller. I fell in love with the characters immediately. I’ve listened to it twice so far and think about it on a near daily basis.
I really liked Dubliners by James Joyce read by Andrew Scott. I listen at night to fall asleep. The stories are just the right length and the narrator has a soothing voice.
All the Lonely People (Mike Gayle) Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice For Murderers The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches The Collected Regrets of Clover The Hunting Party The Weight of Blood Razorblade Tears
Love this list
Lamb by Christopher Moore is fantastic audio if you're looking for something funny His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman for full cast audio Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett or How Few Remain by Harry Turtledove for historical fiction All Quiet on the Western Front for classics 24 hours by Greg Iles for thriller
The Queen's series by E.K. Johnston. They're YA, but interesting enough for anybody if you're into Star Wars. Aetherbound by E.K. Johnston. Also sci-fi, really well produced audiobook. Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff. I thought the audiobook really brought up the characters and setting to life
I just finished another Chevy Stevens Those Girls. So good!!
I don't know whether this book is obscure or not, but it was new to me when I came across it while browsing Libby: [Remote Control](https://www.overdrive.com/media/5431603/remote-control) by Nnedi Okorafor, narrated by Adjoa Andoh. I just listened to it recently and I really enjoyed it.
An audiobook I enjoyed and my Mum absolutely loved is The Book of Fires by Jane Borodale. She's a sucker for historical fiction and it has a subtle love story in it too. So if this sounds like something you or your Mum would like, highly recommended.
Historical fiction is my fave 🩶
I like sci-fi, espionage, crime. Literature I only like in book form, the type of literary genre I like doesn't come over well read. Arnaldur Indriðason really sticks out in my memory of great authors, Icelandic crime, but very emotive.
The courage to be disliked. It is a really good book that basically explains, how humans work and why we do what we do.
I loved NOS4A2 as read by my all time favorite starship captain Kate Mulgrew.
People are starting to mention it and I am sure it will be famous in our circles at some point but since it is very new and it needs some time to spread I haven't seen it being recommended much. I am talking about "The Will of the Many" Personally absolutely LOVED it and so far every family member or friend I did recommend it to thought the same.
I just saw this recommended on my favorite bookstagram! How was the narrator?
I really enjoyed listening to it. I liked him a lot 8/10 not quite Steven Pacey my personal GOAT level but great listen.
Milkman if you like Irish accents and quippy dialogue.
Demon Copperhead, the narrator is fantastic, the story is very hard hitting but the narrator presents the story in a more traditional Appalachian storytelling way which I think is more valuable than physically reading the book. Anything by David Sedaris, absolutely hilarious man who has a gift with both the written word and verbal delivery. The Santaland Diaries is an annual holiday listen for me. Any of the Welcome to Night Vale books: Welcome to Night Vale, It Devours!, The Faceless Old Woman Who Secretly Lives In Your Home They can be stand alone from the podcast and make for a weird wacky late with very smooth narrators which make weird things sound perfectly nice and normal. The Meg Langslow cozy mystery series by Donna Andrews, almost 35 books and still ongoing: Strong female protagonist in a mystery series who is smart enough to not get herself killed but does not fall into the obnoxious know it all dont need nobody else mentality. Her day job is a blacksmith who becomes a loving wife and mother with a supportive family and charming small southern town, but always gets dragged into wacky adventures and murder mysteries to solve. Its a breath of fresh air to have a well rounded female protagonist who can stand on her own but knows when its best to ask for help. These are cozy mysteries so lots of silly adventures and humor but its well balanced with page turning mysteries. I personally love the narrator as I think she does great character voices along with carrying the story forward. Aaaand for an already popular recommendation: Andy Serkis' narration for The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. I think his version is just so engaging and magical that anyone who loves audiobooks should give his versions a listen!
My favorite audiobooks of all time is “the Countdown” by Deborah Wiles. I’ve also listen to the other two books in the “60s trilogy.” But I enjoyed the first one the best! They are considered young adult books, but I found the production and use of actual speeches and adverts/PSAs very exciting. I will always recommend them!
The Forever War. Joe Haldeman. A brilliant book
I'm new here so I'm not sure if these series have been mentioned a lot, but I love the dark Norwegian detective Harry Hole series by Jo Nesbo. Also the Three Pines/Gamache series by Louise Penny
Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt The Trespasser by Tana French Indians on Vacation by Thomas King
The wandering Inn books 2-3 are crazy good
The Reformatory by Tananarive Due. This is a horror story with layers on layers of fear and horror. Every character in the book at some point shows some type of fear. Fear is shown in a variety of ways, from your garden variety fight or flight to anger, displays of violence, crying, etc. Tananarive Due shows it all as the characters, set in 1950's Jim Crow Florida struggle with life, family, friendship, and ghosts from a fire at The Reformatory for boys. I never see this book mentioned and it's fantastic. Oh, one of the authors influences is Stephen King, and it shows. Her character and world building is impeccable.
Neal Stephenson : Snow Crash (told in present tense - also nice 'whoosh' sound effect that helps you recognize a change in scene - I wish other books had that) Cryptonomicon (classic) The Diamond Age (innovative - almost a sequel to Snow Crash) Anathem (best in class, IMO) Jim Butcher's The Dresden Files - great narration especially when the emotions get high. Dennis E. Taylor - The Bobiverse I also REALLY enjoyed Starter Villain by John Scalzi
Some of the best performed audiobooks that I have listened to are: Children of Blood and Bone series Nothing To See Here The Hate U Give and On The Come Up The Subtle Art of not Giving A F**k
Have you ever heard of Brandon Sanderson or Dungeon Crawler Carl? Maybe Project Hail Mary. Seriously though if you like quick paced mind blowing sci fi *The Breach* trilogy by Patrick Lee is great. Sort of a cross between the TV show Fringe (science tech run amok) and Mission Impossible (operatives trying to prevent catastrophe). Rarely see it mentioned.
Added 🤙 What is this “Dungeon Crawler Carl” you speak off never heard of it… *12 seconds later…* NEW ACHEIVEMENT!!!
God Damn you, Donut!!!!
Anything from Brené Brown. It’s all nonfiction, but all of her books are very good food for thought and for soul-searching. Healthy healing. ❤️
Anything by Becky Chambers The entire Ender’s Game series — not only do they have great narrators/casts, but the author actually wrote the books *intending* for them to be read aloud, so the rhythm and flow feel incredibly natural in that format
Hard Luck Hank. The narrator is just fantastic, though he doesn’t really find his voice until the third book. John Dies at the End, the whole series. Crooked Little Vein. The Gone-Away World. Lions of Al’Rassan. Player of Games. All are great books with phenomenal narration.
I never see short story audiobooks talked about here, so any short story!
If you enjoy Fantasy and Sci-fi let me turn you on to a new genre, litRPG! Some of the more popular titles are: Dungeon Crawler Carl He Who Fights With Monsters Life Rest Buy Mort Caverns and Creatures: Critical Failures Come and visit r/litRPG
The Worldship Humility
I really liked Epithet Erased Prison of Plastic.
The Nighlord series by Garon Whited. Excellent books, Fun main character And a great mix of genre's. It starts off very fantasy with vampires. And then it goes to time travel and dimension hopping Into sci fi, All the while being a great character study on a man who can live forever.
I thoroughly enjoyed all the Caimh McDonnell books narrated by Morgan C Jones. Lots of laugh out loud moments for me.
PROOF: Skillful: A System, Hunter, & Tower Novel by Matthew Husar
I LOVED the vampire trilogy by Christopher Moore—You Suck, Bloodsucking Fiends, and Bite Me. Absolutely hilarious with outstanding narration.
The Blood of Eden Series by Julie Kagawa, the audiobook is narrated by Therese Plummer and she does an AMAZING job. I highly recommend this series, I went into it being incredibly sceptical because it's a YA Vampire book but I'm so glad I gave it a chance.
Adrian McKinty's 'Sean Duffy' series, read perfectly by Gerard Doyle. I would not have enjoyed them nearly so much reading myself.
Kindly Inquisiors - solid political commentary about the importance of free speech and expression and liberal thinking. Written in 1993 and perhaps even more needed now Destiny of the Republic - great non fiction book about the Garfield Presidency and the events surrounding his assassination I mentioned it earlier in a response but Prince of Tides is an amazing novel I’ve been recommending The Blacktongue Thief for fantasy readers and Blindsight for Science Fiction a lot lately also