Hello and welcome back!
Today’s category is Best Audio. This is, as far as I can tell, a new category for these prestigious awards. It’s a challenging one because for a book to be nominated in the Best Audio Category, it must be both a great book in and of itself, but also have an audio version that added something to my experience.
Over the last couple of years of listening to audiobooks, I’ve come to have a better understanding of what works for me personally in audio format. I love a good full cast reading and I love when character accents are done accurately. I’ve definitely struggled with some accents more than others and I’ve noticed that I particularly like audiobooks read by gentle, female, Irish narrators. I like when the accents add to the characters or when it helps me know accurate pronunciation. I like when an audio version makes me feel like I’m getting something extra from a book.
Personally, I do better with fiction rather than non-fiction in audiobooks. The exception to this is personal biographies, particularly when they’re read by the author, but I don’t typically read a ton of biographies.
On to the short list:
Foster – Claire Keegan
I’ve come to love a short audiobook. Something I can devour over a day or two. Add a great novella story and a gentle Irish voice, and I was hooked.
North Woods – Daniel Mason
Parts of this definitely made me uncomfortable (you can’t skim over beetle sex when it’s being read aloud in your ear) but I did like the variety of narrators used in this novel that spans centuries. The variety of narrators helped ground me as a listener and know where I was in the story, something I sometimes struggle with for long audiobooks.
The Harder I Fight the More I Love You – Neko Case
Case narrates her own biography and does an excellent job. It was particularly moving to hear her read her own sections on her difficult childhood and complicated parental relationships.
Pearl – Sian Hughes
Here because I enjoyed the book but also for the Irish narrator.
Sankofa – Chibundu Onuzo
This was a great example of a narrator using accents to really differentiate between class and country. Listening to the characters speak aloud, whether that was in England or in a fictional African nation, added a lot to my understanding and appreciation of the story.
And the winner is..
Glorious Exploits – Ferdia Lennon
I’m actually so curious about what this book would be like too read in a paperback format. The audiobook is narrated by Lennon himself which was unexpected in a novel but I kind of liked because I knew I was getting all the emphasis that the author intended. What I did not expect were the accents that Lennon does for various characters. While the story is set in Ancient Greece, the characters have accents ranging from working class Irish to posh, upper class English. I have no idea if that’s something that comes across on the page but it certainly added a really interesting angle to my understanding of the story.
Karissa Reads Books 
Girl, you are going to have to explain to me what a “gentle” Irish voice is. I’ve never met an Irish person in my life who sounds gentle, but I am known to find fun with people who act like hooligans, lol.
I’m actually the opposite of you. I do better with nonfiction on audio because with fiction I tend to miss the plot details. With nonfiction, I’m not really looking for foreshadowing, etc., so if I accidentally get distracted because I’m driving on the freeway or something, chances are I can continue the nonfiction narrative without missing much.
You mention audiobooks adding something to the story, and I’ll tell you, the best, most enriching audiobook I’ve ever listened to was actually Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. I found the text copy to be nearly incomprehensible, but the audio narrator adds so much inflection and emotion in his voice that isn’t obvious on the page, that I was totally swept up and finally “got it.”
Hahaha, you’re right – the Irish people I know/have met in real life are not calm and gentle! But I have come across several narrators with Irish accents and I find them to be very soothing to listen to. They’re always women and I guess I just find the accent very calming.
I find it so interesting to hear what works for other people re: audiobooks. I wonder what it means about our brains and how they function!
I will look for an audio of Brave New World! I read it many years ago and wasn’t left hugely impressed so I’d love to try it again in a more engaging format.
It’s read by Michael York. Not sure if there are other versions.
I’ve heard he’s a good narrator! I only know him from the Austin Powers movies…
Oh! Now I have to look up who he is as an actor. I never thought to check. But yes, the audiobook is really involved. I hope you love it.
LOL to Melanie’s comment about gentle Irish accents! hahaha
So it’s funny, I’ve just started listening to audio books at the beginning of 2025 when I downloaded the libby app on my phone, but here’s the thing – I haven’t listened to a single work of fiction, I can only do non-fiction! Maybe it’s because I’m always doing something while I’m listening, so I’m really just paying attention to listen to a message, rather than the writing.