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10 of the Best Narrator and Audiobook Pairings of All Time
When famous voices collide with famous stories, we all win. So this summer, whether you're driving cross country or cruising at 30,000 feet, give your eyes a rest—and your ears a treat—with audiobooks narrated by some of your favorite actors.
(And in case you didn't know, you can listen to free audio samples for over 180,000 Audible titles on Goodreads! Just look for the Listen icon on the Goodreads book page.)
Written by Kurt Vonnegut
Narrated by John Malkovich (Dangerous Liaisons, Being John Malkovich)
Suggested activities while listening: Wandering around a local arts festival, eating breakfast (too easy?), breaking down fourth walls
Written by Ernest Cline
Narrated by Wil Wheaton (Star Trek: The Next Generation, Stand by Me)
Suggested activities while listening: Visiting an immersive virtual world, hunting for obscure easter eggs, making the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs
*Bonus: Wheaton also narrates Cline's new book, Armada.
Written by Tina Fey
Narrated by Tina Fey (Saturday Night Live, 30 Rock)
Suggested activities while listening: Shamelessly snacking, waking up from a stress dream, trying on your own own pair of metaphorical bossypants
Written by Margaret Atwood
Narrated by Claire Danes (My So-Called Life, Homeland)
Suggested activities while listening: Contemplating your identity within society, babysitting, sticking it to the man
Written by Tim O'Brien
Narrated by Bryan Cranston (Malcolm in the Middle, Breaking Bad)
Suggested activities while listening: Cleaning your closet or garage, heading to the dentist, avoiding political debates on Facebook
Written by Harper Lee
Narrated by Sissy Spacek (Carrie, Coal Miner's Daughter)
Suggested activities while listening: Driving through tired old towns, collecting gifts from reclusive neighbors, shooting all the blue jays you want (if you can hit 'em)
*Bonus: Reese Witherspoon narrates Lee's follow-up, Go Set a Watchman.
Written by Richard Wright
Narrated by James Earl Jones (The Lion King, Star Wars)
Suggested activities while listening: Waiting for your home to be fumigated—and then realizing that, in a strictly figurative sense, you resonate more with the rat than with the fumigator
Written by Lemony Snicket
Narrated by Tim Curry (The Rocky Horror Picture Show, It)
Suggested activities while listening: Playing at the beach on a day you expect to hear very terrible news, "volunteering" at your community theater, setting things on fire
Written by Ray Bradbury
Narrated by Tim Robbins (The Shawshank Redemption, Mystic River)
Suggested activities while listening: Memorizing Fahrenheit 451 for that inevitable time when society rejects—and then is ready to accept—it
Written by Sun Tzu
Narrated by Aidan Gillen (Game of Thrones, The Wire)
Suggested activities while listening: Waiting for your enemies to fall into your carefully constructed trap or relaxing because you now fight all your wars without actually having to do battle
Have a favorite audiobook and narrator pairing? Share it with us in the comments!
Comments Showing 151-200 of 286 (286 new)
One of my favorites is Brendan Fraser reading Inkspell (second book in the Cornelia Funke trilogy) only to be cast as the father, Mo, in the 2009 film of the first book, Inkheart. However, I don't necessary recommend the movie. I felt they made it too simple and comedic. Read the book.Jim Dale and the Harry Potter series is always priceless.
Also listen to Simon Pegg reading his own memoir/novel Nerd Do Well. It is awesome and hilarious.
Ready Player One (my favorite book of 2014) with Will Wheaton is a delight.
Jim Dale reading the Harry Potter series - BEST EVER!
I also loved Ruby Dee's reading of Their Eyes Were Watching GodIn my opinion Campbell Scott is the perfect pairing with any book! He could read the phone book and I would listen.
Stephen King seems to pick (or have some pick for him!) the most sublime readers! George Guidall, Frank Mueller and Stephen Lang are just a few.
Sandra wrote: "My favorite author/narrator pairings are J.D.Robb's In Death series read by Susan Ericksen and Robyn Carr's Virgin River/Thunder Point/Grace Valley series read by Therese Plummer. I have to agree ..."I agree! Susan Ericksen and the In Death series is the perfect match.
Ivy wrote: "Nice enough list but any top narrator/audiobook list that does not include: Susan Ericksen, Kate Reading and Michael Kramer, or Renée Raudman is lacking in my opinion"Kate Reading narrating Lauren Willig's Pink Carnation series is fabulous!
I've heard quite a few people complain about John Lee, but I love him as narrator. Something really works for me in his voice. James Marsters was terrible in the first Dresden Files book, but amazing afterwords. Generally I love male narrators that don't do exaggerated female voices. Just use you man voice, but softer. Roy Dotrice totally wrecked A Dance with Dragons for me for that particular reason :(
Asuka0278 wrote: "How on earth does this list NOT include the Harry Potter books narrated by Jim Dale?"I second that, Jim Dale is awesome!
Heather wrote: "I love Alexie Sherman narrating his own books. Hilarious!Austenland narrated by Katherine Kellgren
I have honestly read other books just because she narrated them.
I second the vote for The Pas..."
The Rosie Project recorded by Dan O'Grady was excellent, it really made the character come alive for me. Sad that the Rosie Effect was not as good (fault of the story, not the narrator).
Susan wrote: "Ralph Cosham reading all of Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache series. Graeme Malcom reading many of M.C. Beaton's Hamish MacBeth series. Edwina Wren reading Geraldine Brooks' People of the Book. And..."I loved Graeme Malcome reading the Hamish MacBeth series. He introduced me to this quirky character, plus I learned how to pronounce lots of Scottish words!
I loved Fred Berman's reading of The Time Traveler's Wife. I listened to the book long before the movie came out. I travel for my job and this is where I listened to my book. His character's voices were excellent. I can't fathom reading the print version because his reading made the book.
"The Cat Who...." series by Lilian Jackson Braun, & narrated by George Guidall is awesome :)
So far, To Kill a Mockingbird, read by Sissy S. is my fave match.
Asuka0278 wrote: "How on earth does this list NOT include the Harry Potter books narrated by Jim Dale?"Actually, I love the HP books narrated by Stephen Frye,
Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody series perfectly narrated by Barbara Rpsenblatt.
I grew up loving Jim Dale AND Stephen Fry's narrations of HP, I can't pick just one.Jim's narration of the Night Circus was fantastic as well.
Kudos to Roy Dotrice with ASOIAF, that series has WAY too many characters and he somehow finds different voices for all of them.
Robert Glenister's narration of the Cormoran Strike books is very enjoyable and I'm hoping he continues with the series as more books are released.
Joe Hill's NOS4A2 read by Kate Mulgrew was magnificent.
Neil Gaiman has been mentioned plenty of times, and I never get tired of listening to Simon Vance read either.
Asuka0278 wrote: "How on earth does this list NOT include the Harry Potter books narrated by Jim Dale?"I agree. He and Stephan Fry won multiple awards for the Harry Potter audio books. I am disappointed they were not included on this list.
I have a couple of Benedict Cumberbatch narrations that are great: Kafka's Metamorphosis; Casanova; some mysteries by Ngaio Marsh.He also does the Copenhagen audio play with Greta Scacchi and Simon Russell Beale.
But what I really want is a version of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes!!
Voice 'like a jaguar hiding in a cello', that man. :)
When it comes to Audiobooks the right narrator is crucial. I tend to pick Audiobooks based on the narrator before the content of the book itself. As a result I have listened to some fantastic books which I would never have considered in normal paper format. Some of my absolute favourite narrators include: Juliet Stevenson (various classic novels)
Jonathan Keeble (just about anything he has read)
Anton Lesser (the Shardlake series by CJ Sansom)
Stephen Pacey (Department Q series by Jussi Adler Olsen).
Unfortunately I have also come across books where a narrator whose skills would be better suited to train-time announcements over Tannoy in a some obscure train station in outer Siberia (no offence to the Siberian population intended)!!! Clearly that particular narrator ruined a novel that I had been looking forward to!
Anansi Boys By Neil Gaiman and read by Lenny Henry. He was amazing!!!! Also the Harry Potter series read by Jim Dale. His versatility and myriad voices is unsurpassed.
Sissy Spacek and Reese Witherspoon were both excellent! They brought my Southern accent out HARD. Wanda McCaddon (aka Nadia May, Donada Peters, Margaret McKay, Ann Miles and Leonarda Stafford) narrating every classic ever totally deserves to be on this list!
Tim Curry did a great job on the first few Series of Unfortunate Events books, but I prefer the later books narrated by Lemony Snicket himself.
Invisible Man, narrated by Joe Morton (Scandal). Incredibly moving and relevant to race relations in the US today -- even though it was written in the 50's.
The Robert Galbraith books read by Robert Glenister are very good. Perfectly atmospheric and you really hear the characters' personalities come through. Simon Prebble does a LOT of audiobooks and his voice is tremendous! I'm currently listening to Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by him.
I have only heard the versions read by Stephen Fry. And much as I love Stephen Fry, he was not the right narrator for HP. . .Clacie wrote: "Aja wrote: "I don't remember who the narrator was, but listening to the Harry Potter books when I couldn't read the physical copies was very enjoyable."
Jim Dale. And he was fantastic."
I have listened to a great number of audio books. I have a few favorites. I agree with this post; Sissy Spacek was exceptional in her reading of To Kill a Mockingbird. Dick Hill has done a great job in the Jack Reacher book series. Grover Gardner was superb in reading The Stand. Roy Dotrice for the Game of Thrones did an excellent job. Susen Duerden was the perfect choice for The Rook. Lastly, Jim Dale's reading of The Night Circus made the book come to life for me. I could go on but these ones have come off the top of my head!
Jeanne wrote: "I love audiobooks so I will have to try a couple of these out. My favorite pairing is the Jim Butcher series, The Dresden Files," read by James Marsters (of Buffy the Vampire Slayer fame). The man ..."thanks for the tip l love James Marsters n love audiobooks so have look into this
Jim Dale brought Rowling's Harry Potter series to life. He's the best.Simon Vance reading Naomi Novik's Temeraire series. Eight alternative-history books featuring dragons and their human captains who fly in the aerial corps against Napoleon's army. Book 1 is His Majesty's Dragon.
And in non-fiction, Simon Vance was perfect in The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony
Also, Julia Whelan's performance of The Witness, written by Roberts.
Ralph Cosham brought Richard Adam's rabbits of Watership Down to vivid life.
I also recommend Raven's Shadow and the sequel, Raven's Strike, fantasy written by Patricia Briggs.
Also, the narrator of The Help.
Simon Vance reads Ian Fleming's Bond books. There are no audiobooks I've enjoyed more completely.
Kim wrote: "I loved a youth fiction book called, Yolanda's Genius, narrated by Novella Nelson. Her voice was rich and soothing. I also loved listening to Frank McCourt's great Irish lilt reading his own book..."I agree that Frank McCourt reading his own work as in Angela's Ashes was phenomenal.
My favorite audio book is A Tree Grows in Brooklyn with Anna Fields narration. I hear her voice in my head every time I think of Francine Nolan. SO sad when I fell in love with her narration to find out she had died tragically a few years ago. I had to buy the cd version on Amazon used because I couldn't find her narration on audio.
I must say, I LOL'ed at the recommended activities to do while listening to Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale. My class has to read it next year for English class. SO looking forward to it!!
No one has mentioned Steve Martin, his narration for shop girl and born standing up were great.i agree about Jim Dale, i am in the process of listening to the audios of the HP series because of him. And he made the night circus down right magical! i do want to check out stephen frys verison now though!
I have read a lot of Stephen King books and Willem Dafoe did the narration for the langoliers, that was downright chilling.
Unbroken read by Edward Herrman was fantastic as well.
i think i saw Caroline Lee mentioned once but she is one of my top favorite people to listen too! She has done a lot of the Kate Morton and Liane Moriaty books!
I always have an audio book in the car. Some of my favorite pairings are: Jim Dale & the Harry Potter series, Lisette Lecat & the #1 Ladies Detective Agency & the Alexandra Fuller series. Barbara Rosenblat & Larry Mcmurtrys Terms of Endearment & anything else (secret Life of Adrian Mole, for another). Loved Frank McCourt reading his work, & my all time favorite E.F. Bensons Mapp & Lucia series voiced by Geraldine McEwan
Asuka0278 wrote: "How on earth does this list NOT include the Harry Potter books narrated by Jim Dale?"
Stephen Fry's Harry Potter is better...sorry
Stephen Fry's Harry Potter is better...sorry
On YouTube, there's an audiobook of Little Women which uses different voice actresses for each of the four sisters. It was the first (and, so far, only) time I have heard it done this way, and I found this made the story really engaging and easier to follow for listeners.
Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy is performed by the author and a full cast. It is utterly delightful.
Joanna Lumley reading Pride and Prejudice was fabulous!
The Harry Potter series, narrated by Jim Dale is a wonderful listening experience. He does a brilliant job with the stories and makes it easy to keep all the characters straight with different voices.
looking for a GREAT book to hear narrated I have a couple of audible book credits available... sooo many to pick from though I feel like a kid at a candy store but as I look at grabbing a book from my "to read" list as an audible I just seem to add to my pile of "to read" I agree HP is amazing I have the books on CD and they were amazing on road trips! also just finished a few from getting them from kindle unlimited.. they are great to listen to while driving to/from work.
I guess they can only pick 10, but there are so many others along with what is mentioned in the other comments.....Michael Kramer and Kate Reading for the Wheel of Time Series, Stephen King when he narrates his own books, specifically Needful Things and Bag of Bones, Craig Wasson for 11-22-63, the emotion he put into it was amazing, David Aaron Baker for the Odd Thomas Series.....There are so many!! Audiobooks are my favorites, as I can cook, clean, etc while enjoying a book!!
Davina Porter with the Outlander series and Susan Erickson in the J.D.Robb Eve Dallas series are my absolute favorites!!
Verity wrote: "Richard Armitage reading Bernard Cornwell's The Lords of the North (The Saxon Stories, #3) is simply amazing. I would be happy listening to him read a phone book, but he does an amazing job with th..."At Audible, the narrator of book 3 is Tom Sellwood, but his voice sounds like Armitage. Maybe a pseudonym
I wonder who put together this list of top 10 pairings? Someone in marketing, maybe? Anyway, it's lame. I already listed several pairings in previous comment, but let me add The Secret Life of Bees and The Invention of Wings, both narrated perfectly by Jenna Lamia. I could listen to her voice all day, as with the blockbuster The Help.
Shannan wrote: "Jim Dale's narration of the Harry Potter series is perfection. Davina Porter doing the Amelia Peabody series is also wonderful."I agree with the Harry Potter completely. Jim Dale is great. :)
Aja wrote: "I don't remember who the narrator was, but listening to the Harry Potter books when I couldn't read the physical copies was very enjoyable."His name is Jim Dale, and I agree....he did a masterful job in developing the characters.
I also agree with your JD Robb in the "In Death Series." I'm hooked on those.
Frank McCourt narrated his book Angela's Ashes and it was outstanding!! Also Davina Porter narrated many of Anne Perry's "William Monk" series--also wonderful!
Bryan Cranston did a wonderful job on "The Things They Carried".
Neville Jason reading Proust's "Remembrance of Things Past". A revelation. Brings the text to life for me. I give it the highest recommendation.
Yes! He was amazing and I'm leery of listening to whoever replaces him because he was so good.