Aussie Readers discussion

If you've listened to any good audiobooks or podcasts recently (or in the past), especially those with great narrators or presenters, please share your recommendations here.

The first one that comes to mind is The Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch and narrated by the wonderful Kobna Holdbrook-Smith. His talent for accents is amazing.

And if anyone has not read Illuminae yet the audio is superb.
Can I rave about Lincoln in the Bardo as well?

I’m not a huge fan of audiobooks generally, but I thought it would be good to listen to Michelle Obama narrate her own book, Becoming. I’m only up to Ch3 so far, but I’m really enjoying it. I think having her narrate her own story gives it a level of intimacy that you wouldn’t necessarily appreciate from the written page.

I absolutely adore listening to Adjoa Andoh reading Alexander McCall Smith's The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series books. I read the books but I also always listen to her audio versions, which, luckily, the library has on Borrowbox.

Dervla McTiernan's Cormac Reilly series narrated by Aiofe McMahon is also excellent!

Great topic Carolyn :)

My current favourite bookish podcast is one that Diana introduced me to a few months back. Called Diving In, it’s presented by two ladies from WA who have been friends their whole lives. Both very intelligent and quite funny too, plus they seem to have a similar taste in books to my own. I’m about to go for a walk to listen to the latest episode about what they’ve been reading in self-isolation.

Yes, Diving In is a favourite of mine. I'd also recommend the 99% Invisible episodes on libraries - one is called Weeding is Fundamental (a very interesting episode number 354 about weeding at San Francisco Public Library and how staff acted as mutineers against the Library Director to save parts of the collection) and episode 346 Palaces for the People about libraries role in social infrastructure.
I've been binge listening to episodes of Disgraceland- it's a combination of true crime and rock and roll. Not for the feint of heart or easily offended.

I'll second Phrynne's Rivers of London series, and also the Illuminae Files.

In addition, I've really enjoyed The Rosie Project, The Rosie Effect and The Rosie Result on audiobook over the last few weeks.

Just finished listening to a very moving memoir 50 Years of Silence by Jan Ruff O'Herne...listened of Borrowbox.

Andrea, thank you for suggesting podcast Diving In. It sounds like one I would really enjoy.

Great thread Carolyn, I love audiobooks when walking the dog and especially gardening.
The narrator makes all the difference and I’m with Lil Owl in loving Imogen Church as a great narrator.
I have too many to recommend but I started The Devil Inside by D.L. Hicks today while gardening and was surprised that I’d nearly listened to half today!
Speed adjustment is a godsend😊
Off the top of my head I still think about The Place on Dalhousie by Melina Marchetta
I’m more partial to Australian or English narrators.

Another recommendation
Minnette Walters The Last Hours and The Turn of Midnight
Not sure I could have been bothered to read such long books but time flew by with the audio.

I’m another podcast fan. I listen to a lot of current affairs on podcasts while doing stuff around the house or knitting. My favourite is the ABC’s Conversations with Richard Fidler or Sarah Kanowski. I love Richard but I have to say Sarah does a great job, too. They are interviews of about an hour with interesting people, authors, performers, people who’ve done interesting things.
https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs...

Or get it wherever you download or stream podcasts.

Marianne wrote: "I absolutely adore listening to Adjoa Andoh reading Alexander McCall Smith's The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series books. I read the books but I also..."

I have several CDs of these - great. Takes you into another world - much needed at the moment!

So many great suggestions! Thanks everyone and please keep adding anything else you come across that think is really good.

I've only listened to two audiobooks recently and I really hated the narrator in one of them. Her male voices were terrible and the teenage daughter's voice was unnecessarily whiny.

Check your library for these, as that's where I got mine from. I've enjoyed both the stories and their narration:
Hell Ship by Michael Veitch. Michael also narrates his book.
The Woolgrower’s Companion by Joy Rhoades
Jane In Love by Rachel Givney

Carolyn wrote: "I've only listened to two audiobooks recently and I really hated the narrator in one of them. Her male voices were terrible and the teenage daughter's voice was unnecessarily whiny...."

That's why I gave up on audio many years ago Carolyn. I tried three different books and didn't like the narrator on any of them..

Love audio books - especially driving to/from work or on cleaning day.

I recently listened to Normal People by Sally Rooney and What I Know For Sure by Oprah Winfrey. Really engaging. I completely understand being put off by poor narration, sometimes they can be real bland and the guys putting on lady voices make you cringe.

Also The Tattooist of Auschwitz audiobook was really great.

Stephen Fry does a wonderful job with the early Harry Potter books. Just writing that makes me feel like going back and listening to them again!

Black Diamonds is a fabulous listen and a fabulous story

Brenda wrote: "Carolyn wrote: "I've only listened to two audiobooks recently and I really hated the narrator in one of them. Her male voices were terrible and the teenage daughter's voice was unnecessarily whiny...."

Oh yes, the narrator has to be right. I'm very picky, there's no point in annoying myself by carrying on listening to someone spoiling a book.

Wholeheartedly agree Anna!

I'm currently listening to The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate – Discoveries from a Secret World which is narrated by Mike Grady and it's absolutely fascinating. Mike Grady also has a really smooth, soothing voice so even if you're not interested in learning about trees I recommend you put it on before you go to bed so his voice can just relax you.

Just had a listen - lovely voice.

Bill Nighy sends me to sleep smiling (just a little) and Bill Wallis is amazing and whatever he reads, I feel there's nothing wrong in the world at all, and off I go to sleep, perchance to dream.

I've heard this loads of times and I still don't know whodunnit, but I slept so well...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Charles-Pari...

Phrynne wrote: "Stephen Fry does a wonderful job with the early Harry Potter books. Just writing that makes me feel like going back and listening to them again!"

We used to listen to those on long car trips when our boys were young. Did a marvellous job of keeping them quiet. I think they were on cassette!

Lily wrote: "I'm currently listening to The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate – Discoveries from a Secret World which is narrated by Mike Grady and it's absolutely fasci..."

That does sound lovely. I'll look out for it.

Anna Faversham wrote: "Just had a listen - lovely voice.

Bill Nighy sends me to sleep smiling (just a little) and Bill Wallis is amazing and whatever he reads, I feel there's nothing wrong in the world at all, and off I..."

I love Bill Nighy's voice - very relaxing. I don't know Bill Wallis but will add them to the list of narrators to look for.

I recently finished Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed by Lori Gottlieb and highly recommend it. It has moments were I laughed and cried and I became very attached to some of her patients and her journey. The narration is spot on. A five star listen for me.

That sounds like it was quite an experience Mari.

I put this is the main chat thread but will add it here too so people can find it.

Since the Sydney Writers Festival would be on this week if it hadn't been cancelled, they've been recording podcasts with some of the invited authors and will be posting them over the next few weeks.

https://omny.fm/shows/sydney-writers-...

Carolyn wrote: "I put this is the main chat thread but will add it here too so people can find it.

Since the Sydney Writers Festival would be on this week if it hadn't been cancelled, they've been recording podca..."

Thanks Carolyn for this info. Looks like lots of interesting listening.

Mari wrote: "I recently finished Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed by Lori Gottlieb and highly recommend it. It has moments wer..."

Carolyn wrote: "That sounds like it was quite an experience Mari."

She was just interviewed on the ABC's Conversations, and it was both fun and informative. https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs...

PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Mari wrote: "I recently finished Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed by Lori Gottlieb and highly recommend it. It ha..."

Thanks Patty, that was really good.

Before I buy an audiobook, I listen to a sample if I don’t know the narrator. 60 seconds is usually enough to send me find the book instead for some narrators.

But an good audiobook with a good narrator is a a special pleasure

Love listening to Stig Wemyss who narrates both Taking Tom Murray Home Bolinda and Boy Swallows Universe. He is the perfect narrator for these two books.

If there was an award for narrators (and there should be), I'd nominate Zoe Garides for The Deceptions by Suzanne Leal. A-Maz_ing!

The Deceptions by Suzanne Leal
Looks interesting Jenn!

Kerri_M wrote: "Before I buy an audiobook, I listen to a sample if I don’t know the narrator. 60 seconds is usually enough to send me find the book instead for some narrators."

Me too! Looking for a new audiobook last night, I listened to three samples which had me ripping out my earphones! Some narrators really overact.

I've just finished listening to the audiobook of The Glass Hotel, which was very good, although the narrator's attempt at an Australian accent (mercifully for a very minor character) had me wincing.

I also enjoyed the audiobook of Redhead by the Side of the Road. The narration was very good.

Jenn wrote: "If there was an award for narrators (and there should be), I'd nominate Zoe Garides for The Deceptions by Suzanne Leal. A-Maz_ing!"

Do you mean Zoe Carides?

I think my audiobook experiment might be going to stick this time! I’ve just started my 4th or 5th after spending hours going through my 3 different libraries looking for something I wanted to listen to. But I have a question: is the narrator always the same? I suspect the answer is Yes, but just wondered whether there might be some variation depending on where the audiobook was purchased, eg British vs US.

Andrea – I'd guess that the narrator is always the same, partly due to the cost of paying voice actors.

Also, when you listen to a book written by, for example, an American writer you expect to hear an American accent; it would be a bit jarring to hear an Anne Tyler or Ann Patchett novel narrated in a "BBC accent".

Susan wrote: "Andrea – I'd guess that the narrator is always the same, partly due to the cost of paying voice actors. Also, when you listen to a book written by, for example, an American writer you expect to h..."

Thanks Susan, that's what I thought. I've got my eye on an American book narrated in a very slow, drawling accent. I don't think adjusting the speed would even help that much. I guess I'll just read that one with my eyes instead of my ears.

Currently listening to Educated by Tara Westover
Its a fascinating memoir thats making me take very deep breaths!

PattyMacDotComma wrote: "My favourite is the ABC’s Conversations with Richard Fidler or Sarah Kanowski. I love Richard but I have to say Sarah does a great job, too. They are interviews of about an hour with interesting people, authors, performers, people who’ve done interesting things.
https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs...

Or get it wherever you download or stream podcast..."

I don’t listen to this one regularly, but I really wanted to recommend yesterday’s episode for anyone who adored Favel Parrett’s latest novel There Was Still Love like I did. The hour-long conversation was such a joy to listen to (Richard Fidler interviewing Favel Parrett - his latest book is also set in Prague, so they had a lot to talk about).

I’ve been listening to the audiobook of The Trauma Cleaner: One Woman's Extraordinary Life in the Business of Death, Decay, and Disaster, with wonderful narration by Rachael Tidd. If it’s still on your TBR, I’d recommend trying the audio.

Thanks Andrea - it is on my tbr and I have some credits for audiobooks so I'll go and check it out!

Sad that it’s almost over - I’ve been thoroughly enjoying Case Histories by Kate Atkinson, narrated by Susan Jameson. I notice that this series seems to have different narrators for each instalment, which may work very well depending on the characters and/or storylines, but I must say I think Jameson has been perfect for this one.

Another audiobook recommendation from me is the Tuva Moodyson series by Will Dean, starting with Dark Pines. The narrator is Maya Lindh, a Swedish expat who has been living in the UK for a long time (the author is the opposite!). Having a native Swedish-speaker narrating means you don’t have to mentally trip over all the Swedish proper nouns! She is a joy to listen to and really embodies (em-voices??) Tuva, the main character. All 3 books have been great.

This morning I caved in and signed up for a trial of Audible. Are there any exclusive audiobooks or podcasts that are must try while I’m there?

One I’ve already added is The Sisters, which the completist in me has been patiently waiting to read.