Stumble upons

I love audiobook surprises; you know what I mean - a random title that ends up being much more than expected. For example, I just listened to The Lincoln Lawyer, my first Michael Connelly audio (I know, I know, he's been around forever, always going to the best sellers list - but I hadn't tried him before). The big find was the narrator - Adam Grupper - he's wonderful! The story was good too but Mr. Grupper's reading was perfect. I have little patience for male narrators who use an affected throaty or high pitched or dumb blonde voice for women but Mr. Grupper was spot on! I will watch for more Connelly/Grupper titles in the future.

Another "hmmm, what's this?" find was Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane. Wow, what an ending! (I think I may actually have said that out loud as I finished the audio.) I never saw it coming.

Perfect Marriage of Narrator and Story

There are narrators who are intrinsically linked to specific stories or are so closely associated with a series that it would cause a laying down of earphones if they were replaced. They are THE voice of the protagonist and it would be difficult, if not impossible, to replace them. The following is a list of iconic readers to enjoy:

Jim Dale - Harry Potter series (by J.K. Rowling)
Simon Vance - The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (by Stieg Larsson)
Johanna Parker - Sookie Stackhouse series (by Charlaine Harris)
Will Patton - Dave Robicheaux series (by James Lee Burke)
Kate Reading - Can You Keep a Secret? (by Sophie Kinsella)
Anna Fields - Chicago Stars series (by Susan Elizabeth Phillips)
Stephen Briggs - Wee Free Men (by Terry Pratchett)
Barbara Rosenblat - The Indiscretion (by Judith Ivory)
Simon Jones - The Bartimaeus Trilogy (by Jonathan Stroud)
Davina Porter - Outlander (by Diana Gabaldon)

Who are your favorite narrators?

Become a lover of audiobooks

Ah, audiobooks!
The answer to so many of life's difficulties. They are a multi-tasker's dream:
Want to read more but you're stuck an hour a day commuting? Escape to the islands via audiobooks.
Avoiding painting the living room because it's so boring? Lose yourself in a mystery while you slap on the color.
Dread the 8 hour drive to your vacation destination? Share a classic that everyone loves and arrive relaxed.

A good audiobook does everything your bound book of choice will do and more: there's the added dimension of the voice, the perfect narrator to properly pronounce, to take you to the brink, to withhold or add or flavor, simply with an inflection or a pause. And you're caught, you're right on the edge with them. Or you're holding back tears while you walk. Or you stop in mid-stride, you gasp "oh my" or "oh no".

And those of us who are really hooked want to share, we have to share. We call or email or recommend to strangers. Because it's too good to keep to ourselves. Because when you find other devotees, someone who's obsessed with your author, your narrator, you know you've found a kindred spirit. And you have to make sure they've also listened to ...(well, you fill in the blank).

Do you have this affliction? Then share with me. Recommend authors, titles, narrators. You won't like everything I suggest and vice versa but what fun expanding the possibilities! Feed your addiction while on the move. Remember: life doesn't have to come to a halt in order to enjoy a book.

By the way, the Columbus Metropolitan Library system owns thousands of audiobooks. Visit the library and you'll feel like a kid in a candy store!