5 (More) Audiobooks That Are Better Than The Book

In case 5 Better Than The Book Audiobooks wasn’t enough to make you try audiobooks – here are 5 more!

Island Beneath the Sea

Narrator: S. Epatha Merkerson. The audiobook was superbly narrated, and the French names and Haitian accent used for the people helped dropped me right into the story. Reading the physical book would have been a pleasure as well, but I would have not had as much of an immersive, emotional experience.

A Constellation of Vital Phenomena, Anthony Marra

Narrator: Colette Whitaker. If I’d read the print book for A Constellation of Vital Phenomena, I probably would have put it down half-way through, not because it isn’t good – it’s superb – but because it’s so damn depressing! It is almost impossible to believe that one single narrator is responsible for voices with Russian and Chechen accents, plus voices of men, women, and children.

Mr. Mercedes, Stephen King

Narrator: Will Patton. I had the print book forever, and found it hard to get into for some unknown reason. But when I got the audiobook, I was instantly hooked … and Will Patton is one of my favorite audiobook narrators. He also did Doctor Sleep and Mr. Mercedes – written by Stephen King and I adored his narration in those 2 as well.

Code Name Verity, Elizabeth Wein

Narrators: Morven Christie, Lucy Gaskell. Definitely get the audiobook of Code Name Verity, because the narrators are just so amazing. They take you deep into the story, first, hearing from “Verity” who has been captured by the Gestapo, and then later, we get “Maddie’s side, who is her best friend, and a female pilot.

The Devil’s Star, Jo Nesbo

Narrator: Robin Sachs. Robin Sachs IS Harry Hole. I listened to him narrate Phantom last year  and it was a pleasure to hear him again in this book.  He passed away suddenly, so he’s not the narrator for other books in the series, and I hate to say it, but it’s not the same … still good – but he truly became that character for me.


Do you listen to audiobooks? If so, what’s been your favorite this year?

Here’s a list the first part in this series – 5 Better Than the Book Audiobooks.

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// Comments //

  1. I haven’t listened to an audiobook in a while. Thanks for the recommendation about Constellation. It was one of our book club choices but after reading Me Before You last month, I needed something not quite as sad.

  2. I agree with Code Name Verity. The audio narration makes everything very real and it’s easy to tell who is who. I have other friends who read the text and they thought it was somewhat confusing.

  3. Another good list! I haven’t listened to any of these, though I did read Code Name Verity and A Constellation of Vital Phenomena (loved both, especially Constellation!). I am currently listening to Bone Gap by Laura Ruby on audio, and it is riveting so far!

    Sue

    Book By Book

  4. I have the same experience from time to time. The book just doesn’t hold me then the audiobook has me hooked. Then sometimes the flip happens too.

  5. I agree with Code Name Verity. We read it for my book club and the people who read it in print had issues with the voices and narrators getting confused. However, with the audio there was no confusion and each character was so distinct.

  6. I tried reading the print of Code Name Verity and could not get into it. I’m thinking that I need to give the audiobook a chance, since I’ve heard nothing but great things about it!

  7. I keep thinking I should get into audiobooks, but I find them too slow; I can read much faster in my head! Also, the voices sometimes annoy me when they don’t match the characters. I should check out some of the versions with full casts; those might solve my problem.

    • Tanya Patrice

      Dec 02

      Lory, I find that I need the right type of audiobook for me – that means fast paced, and often YA. I can’t do non-fiction on audio.

  8. Flo

    Dec 02

    I can’t listen audiobooks: they make me sleep… But reading your post, I’m (kindly) jealous because I’ve got the feeling I’m missing something. I know some writers read so well that the story is more lively heard than read but I can’t sustain my attention long enough (a short story is my limit).

    • Tanya Patrice

      Dec 02

      I hope you find the right audiobook Flo that will make you come over to the dark side 🙂

  9. Bellezza

    Dec 02

    Oh, that’s a great theme! I’ve not listened to many audio books, but I loved the narrator for Emma Donoghue’s Room. It felt like the child was literally speaking to me. Glad to have your advice on Harry Hole, Jo Nesbo’s books are so great! Also, I’ve heard great things about the narrator for the Harry Potter books, though I’ve never listened to them personally. Thanks for all the good suggestions!

    • Tanya Patrice

      Dec 02

      Ooh I’m going to try Room on audio since I haven’t yet read the book – and I’ve been meaning to.

  10. I loved Nesbo’s The Snowman (the book version) and I also heard from others that the Mr. Mercedes audio is great! I read the book and liked it a lot, but didn’t love it.

    • Tanya Patrice

      Dec 02

      I loved The Snowman too Sarah – I’m trying to get through the entire series – but not reading in order.

  11. Andi

    Dec 02

    I think I should probably listen to all Stephen King on audio. I get antsy looking at the chunkiness of his books. Sad, but true! lol

    • Tanya Patrice

      Dec 02

      Scary books seem even more scary to me on audio Andi – so watch out if you get the audiobook versions of King’s earlier works 🙂

  12. Akilah

    Dec 02

    Great topic! One I read on audiobook recently that I would have put down in print is Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. Totally not my thing but having Richard Gilmore read it made it a lot more bearable.

    • Tanya Patrice

      Dec 02

      I haven’t listened to anything narrated by Gilmore, so I’ll have to see if I get Unbroken or something else narrated by him next year.

      • Akilah

        Dec 03

        I should point out that his name is really Edward Hermann (he plays Richard Gilmore on Gilmore Girls).

  13. Hollie

    Dec 02

    I don’t listen to audiobooks much at all, but I’m now driving a lot more for work so I think they’re something I’ll look into in 2015. I did read Code Name Verity earlier this year and loved it, and I can imagine that the narrators were fantastic! I’ll keep a look out for a copy when I start wandering the realms of the audiobook!

    • Tanya Patrice

      Dec 02

      Hollie the audiobook for Verity was available for free over (via Sync) so I’m so glad I got it.

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