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Fiction audiobooks you've enjoyed? (mander.xyz)

submitted 1 year ago by Mothra@mander.xyz to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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I'm looking for easy-to-listen-to fiction audiobooks. Something I can tune in while doing other stuff without getting distracted.

I find some authors have styles that are a bit more sophisticated than others. The more thought-provoking, the more difficult I find to enjoy an audiobook while doing something else. I catch myself stopping whatever I'm doing to pay attention to the book, which is not what I want.

So for example I've found The Witcher books very easy to listen to, it wouldn't matter if I missed a few seconds and I never found myself stopping to ponder about the text itself. The narrator was great too. Also bonus points as it was a long saga of books.

In contrast I would never want to listen to a Terry Pratchett book while doing something else. He's probably my favourite English author but I find he's too much of a genius, and my poor brain wouldn't be able to digest it all if I'm not giving it my attention 100%.

I hope this makes sense?

How's your experience with audiobooks?

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[–] BallShapedMan@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Lord of the Rings read by Andy Serkis

Any of Naomi Novik's books, particularly the Deadly Education series

The first two Hyperion books. (I've only read the first one but will read the second soon)

Those will get you started if you haven't read them already.

[–] ThatsMrCharlieToYou@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Second the Hyperion books, though they are a fair slog, but well worth it!!

I see a lot of recommendations for the deadly education series but I did not enjoy it at all. I finished the first book out of pure sunk cost, but I really did not like the book or the narration.

If you're looking for less YA, you could try my favourite book series, The Magicians.

[–] KingJalopy@lemm.ee 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Is the magicians by Lev Grossman? If so, my library has that series on audiobook and I just placed a hold on the first one. Thanks for the recommendation!

[–] ThatsMrCharlieToYou@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That's right! You've made an excellent decision. I sound like a PR person for Lev Grossman at this point but those books are absolutely fantastic.

Another one to check out that is slightly more adult oriented are the Bloodsworn books by John Gwynn. Sadly, his daughter passed away so he hasn't yet spoken of the release date but of the third book yet, though the name was released recently so I believe it is being worked on. It's too be titled 'Fury of the Gods'. From what I can tell, that couldn't have happened to a nicer guy so it's truly heartbreaking, but his literature is fantastic.

[–] gac11@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

I've listened to the series and agree that they were great. I had watched the TV series and they have different enough plots that they're independently enjoyable as well.

[–] benignintervention@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The Andy Serkis narration felt like watching the movies again, but with hours of bonus content, which is also the original content

[–] BallShapedMan@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

It did me too! And I'm not ashamed to say I liked his Gandalf better! But his dwarves were a little too typical for me. Poor Gimley

[–] Mothra@mander.xyz 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

LOTR would be pretty good easy listening, it has a very slow pace and it's a long trilogy... Which is why I never finished the books. Unfortunately I've watched the movies so I've spoiled most of the story, but I'll keep in mind the other recommendations. Thanks!

[–] BallShapedMan@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

There is enough difference and stuff cut out of the movies to make it worth it to me. I watched the movies first and the books just heightened my enjoyment of both.

To be fair my wife and I met at the third movie in the theater so I may be biased.