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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 201-250 of 286 (286 new)
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Kristi
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Jul 25, 2015 07:21PM
My favorite is Deliverance by James Dickey with Will Patton doing the narration. I like John Lee's work also and Kate Mulgrew's NOS4A2 by Joe Hill.
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Roy Dotrice for A Song of Ice and Fire. He makes the characters come alive. Hope he stays around at least long enough to finish the coming books.
I second Sarah's mentioning of Jeremy Irons narrating Lolita. He simply "is" Humbert Humbert. And he also portrayed him in one of the movies of Lolita. Simply outstanding.
Stockard Channing reading Shining Through by Susan Isaacs is my all time favorite audio book.
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 with all of yours ☺
I'm just coming off Humphrey Bower's narration of Shantaram and I love his voice so much I'm looking for other reads by him.Agree with those who nominated Davina Porter for The Outlander series and Jeremy Irons for Lolita.
Isn't it amazing how the right narrator can improve a story?
Thegirlintheafternoon wrote: "I have to plug Josh Cohen's performance of The Book of Strange New Things, by Michel Faber. This is a gargantuan book featuring dozens of characters (including numerous non-human ch..."Really glad to hear this. Been wondering what this book would be like on audio.
I recently found a collection of short stories by Hemingway narrated by Charleston Heston at my library. It was wonderful. Much easier than reading Hemingway on my own.
Clacie wrote: "I'll jump in & add my faves. Christopher Moore's vampire trilogy narrated by Susan Bennett is great.
The first 10 Stephanie Plum novels narrated by C.J. Critt.
Kim Harrison's The Hollows serie..."
I have ALWAYS been a fan of the first 10 Stephanie Plum audiobooks and didn't realize until now that Lori Petty (a once-famous actress, so quite appropriate to this Goodreads list) used an alias?! Lori Petty WAS Stephanie Plum, imo.
The mesmerizing voice of Simon Vance in Interview with the Vampire, by Anne Rice. As if the vampire himself was whispering into my ears.Although my favourite still is Nick Podehl narrating The Name of the Wind, by Patrick Rothfuss. A perfect rhythm for carefully chosen words, I can listen to it again and again.
My list of great story and narration:Amelia Peabody series written by Elizabeth Peters and narrated by Barbara Rosenblatt.
The Berrybender Narratives written by Larry McMurtry and narrated by Alfred Molina.
Telegraph Days written by Larry McMurtry and narrated by Annie Potts.
The Dresden Files written by Jim Butcher and narrated by James Marsters.
I have the Stephen Fry versions of Harry Potter... they're amazing. I also have (and love) the BFG read by the sadly missed Natasha Richardson :(
Undeniable by Bill Nye. Read by the author and his personality shines through it. It would not be the same to read it and not hear him do the accents
When I used to commute an hour each way to work and back, I listened to a ton of audio books to maintain my sanity. Now that my trip to work is about 15 minutes, I don't listen any more. But I'll tell you the top five books (among hundreds) I listened to a few years ago that have absolutely stuck with me and will forever: The Way of All Flesh by Samuel Butler; Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Anne Burns; Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt; The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton; Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. I'm sorry, but I didn't record the narrators for any, except that I know McCourt read all his books and did so beautifully. As you can see, audio is how I finally discovered the "classics," and I'll be eternally grateful.
Neil Gaiman reading The Ocean at the End of the Lane is one of the best audiobooks I have listened to. Along with being a great writer he really nuances his audio book perfectly.
I loved Frank McCourt reading his "Angela's Ashes!" I really liked "Shining Through", both the book and movie so I'll have to grab the audio. And I thought of one more reader. (if someone has already mentioned him please forgive), but Holter Graham does amazing things with Patricia Briggs "Alpha and Omega series." I've always adored the characters of Charles and Bran, but he brings a whole new dimension when someone points out that Charles is a force of nature. With his voice you have no doubts that it's so!
Entire Chief Inspector Gamache series by Louise Penny, narrator Ralph Cosham (RIP)Dolores Claiborne by Stephen King, narrator - Frances Sternahagen
Author Adrian McKinty and narrator Gerard Doyle
Walt Longmire series and George Guidall narrator
Frieda Klein series and Beth Chalmers (when will book 4 be out in audio???)
Other narrators I love, Simon Vance, Katherine Kellgren
Anything read by Frank Muller. It's a pity we lost Frank Muller to a motorcycle accident. I could listen to him read the phone book.
Sarah wrote: "Jeremy Irons reading Lolita is amazing and the Jim Dale versions of Harry Potter"Both of these are excellent examples of great audiobooks!
My all time favourite audiobooks: Great Expectations read by Martin Jarvis ( and anything read by Martin Jarvis ) and Jane Eyre narrated by Juliet Stevenson ( and anything read by Juliet Stevenson.
Sissy Spacek narrating To Kill a Mockingbird and Donald Sutherland narrating The Old Man and the Sea
Lorelei King reading the Stephanie Plum series and Fisher Stevens reading Lamb by Christopher Moore.
The Tony Hillerman books or any book read by George Guidel!
The Martian, R. C. Bray.Can't remember the last time I laughed so long, so hard, and so often in any book, audiobook or otherwise. This pairing was perfect, and really added to the experience for me.
Susan wrote: "Another favorite: True Grit by Charles Portis, narrated by Donna Tartt."YES! A perfect pairing.
Susan wrote: "Edward Hermann reading Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption"DITTO
Neil GaimanIf you like Neil Gaiman, listen to one of his audiobooks that he reads himself. They are awesome! I just finished The Ocean at the End of the Lane and I've also listened to The Graveyard Book . He's a great narrator!
Louise wrote: "Davina Porter reading the Outlander series is absolute perfection. The voices of the different characters is great."I could not agree more... as I come to a close to the series, Porter is sensational!
Harry Potter series - narrated by Jim Dale. The seventh book especially - gives me chills.
Storyheart wrote: "Thegirlintheafternoon wrote: "I have to plug Josh Cohen's performance of The Book of Strange New Things, by Michel Faber. This is a gargantuan book featuring dozens of characters (i..."Storyheart, it's masterful. A stunningly good performance.
Stephen King's "It" as read by Stephen Weber should be on the ten best list. The man gives not a narration, but a 44-hour performance!
Huckleberry Finn read by Dick Hill.
Star Force narrated by Mark Boyett It was simply ...mazing
Paul Theroux: Riding the Iron Rooster"
Gabriel wrote:"Roy Dotrice is absolutely terrible."Your face is absolutely terrible.
Rene Auberjonois: Agent PendergastJames Marsters: The Dresden Files
George Guidall: The Cat Who...
Davina Porter: Amelia Peabody
Marguerite Gavin: The Hollows
Kimberly Alexis: Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter
Susan Erickson: In Death
Barbara Rosenblatt: Mrs. Pollifax
Jim Dale: Harry Potter
Lauren Fortgang: Three Times Lucky
I've started searching Overdrive for books based on the narrator more often than the author!
Can't get better than Jim Dale reading Harry Potter
Tom Hiddleston reading Sally Gardner's "The Red Necklace" is pure pleasure to listen to. Time to time I forgot it was only one person reading; mr. Hiddleston is so diverse.
"A Christmas Carol" by Dickens read by Patrick Stewart. And "The Screwtape Letters" by C. S. Lewis read by John Cleese.
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 ..."YES!!
Silvana wrote: "Roy Dotrice for A Song of Ice and Fire."By book four, it's a mess... I blame the producers of the fourth audiobook who didn't remind an aging Dotrice what his characters sound like. Arya sounds like she's 80...
Matthew wrote: "Gabriel wrote:"Roy Dotrice is absolutely terrible."Your face is absolutely terrible."
No Matthew, Dotrice is terrible.
Andrea wrote: "Matthew wrote: "Gabriel wrote:"Roy Dotrice is absolutely terrible."Your face is absolutely terrible."
No Matthew, Dotrice is terrible."
Roy Dotrice is PERFECT!!!
Ahsan Ali wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Matthew wrote: "Gabriel wrote:"Roy Dotrice is absolutely terrible."Your face is absolutely terrible."
No Matthew, Dotrice is terrible."
Roy Dotrice is PERFECT!!!"
Listen to A Dance with Dragons and then we'll talk. Even his fans were bitterly disappointed, especially with female voices. I wish John Lee would do another version, because I cannot bring myself to listen to this mess anymore.
The worst in my experience is Jayne Entwhistle who does the Flavia de Luce books (Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, etc). Those CDs are TERRIBLE! Characters sound like stock actors from the Rank Studios, people's accents change in mid-sentence and certain English words are completely mangled (eg; ash is pronounced arsh). I even wrote to the publishers begging them to hire someone else but to no avail. After the third book I gave up listening.
