by Lauren Poole
As a librarian, I’m ethically bound to encourage you to read more books. If I were to tell you not to read a certain book because of my personal opinions about it, that would be an egregious misuse of my librarianly powers. But today, I’m throwing all caution to the winds, because what follows is actually an entire list of books I don’t think you should read. No, I absolutely insist that you not read them: because I think you should listen to them instead! Every one of these titles is a good book on its own, but the narrative performance of the audiobook version is the cherry on top of an already-delicious book sundae.
“Night Night Fawn” by Jordy Rosenberg
The latest by Jordy Rosenberg is told from the perspective of the author’s dying mother as she looks back on her life. The author narrated the audiobook himself, in a pitch-perfect imitation of the Brooklyn yenta that, Midas-like, turns her judgmental, bigoted deathbed musings into laugh-out-loud hilarity. A conflicted tenderness is unmistakable as Rosenberg grapples with years of his mother’s homophobic and transphobic cruelty, poking fun at the entire family in the process (himself included).
“The Witch’s Orchard” by Archer Sullivan
The hardboiled private investigator trope gets an Appalachian twist in this atmospheric new series, which sees Annie Gore, a down-on-her-luck detective, tackling a cold case in a quiet North Carolina mountain town. Narrator Emily Pike Stewart’s gentle twang transports us to Appalachia, laden with the soft rustle of rowan leaves and the hush of small-town secrets. It’s an excellent mystery book in any format, but the narration truly grounds the story in its singular setting.
“Project Hail Mary” by Andy Weir
Readers are still clamoring to get their hands on a physical copy of Project Hail Mary after the success of the film adaptation earlier this year, but what about listening to it on your drive to work? The audiobook narrated by Ray Porter makes the technical content of this sci-fi bestseller a little easier for laypeople to swallow, and the ebullient portrayal of Rocky brings this unique and captivating extraterrestrial character to life.
“My Friends” by Fredrik Backman
Backman’s sweet, funny, moving relationship fiction is always a fan favorite, but the story as narrated by Marin Ireland makes the quirky and diverse cast of characters really jump off the page. Pro tip: Beebe staff agree that nearly anything narrated by Ireland is sure to be a fantastic listen – you can search for your favorite narrators by name in Libby!
“Children of Blood and Bone” by Tomi Adeyemi
This complex, fascinating fantasy novel based in West African mythology will captivate readers no matter how they access it, but the audiobook read by award-winning actress and narrator Bahni Turpin takes it to another level. Turpin skillfully immerses listeners in the magic of the fantasy setting and brings out each character’s unique personality with distinct voices. You’ll want to check this one off your TBR now, before the hold list gets too long: with a film adaptation coming out in 2027, copies will be in high demand!
“Lincoln in the Bardo” by George Saunders
Unlike most audiobooks, which are usually read by a single narrator, Saunders’ mindbending opus boasts an ensemble cast full of Hollywood’s biggest names, including Don Cheadle, Susan Sarandon, and Ben Stiller. Not only that, but readers who have a hard time understanding the physical book will find that listening to it makes this complex, experimental novel easier to digest.
“The Power Broker” by Robert Caro
Beebe’s assistant director Meaghan considers this 66-hour epic the perfect summer listen, confidently declaring that “The 3-volume audiobook makes this fascinating Pulitzer Prize winner very accessible.” We’ll take her word for it!
Audiobooks aren’t just a convenient and quick way to get a book into your brain when you need your hands free: when they’re done well, they’re an immersive experience, a performance that transports just like a well-acted movie or play. But why listen to me when you can listen to one of these extraordinary narrators? Click on the link for each title to see your listening options in the library catalog.
