I have a set of wireless headphones with terrific range that stays connected to my computer, so that I can listen to podcasts and audiobooks when I’m doing laundry and cleaning, cooking dinner and washing dishes, sewing and crafting, or even fetching the mail… I actually look forward to housework because I know I am going to get to listen to something wonderful while I’m doing it!

Some of my favorite narrators- George Guidall, Barbara Rosenblat, Alyssa Bresnahan, Frank Muller, Johanna Parker, and Susan Ericksen. I also love it when an author reads their own nonfiction or memoir/biography, such as Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink, Martha Stewart reading The Martha Rules, Janet Evanovich How I Write, and Stephen King’s On Writing, to name a few.

What amazes me is when I both read and listen to a book, I pick up completely different things, so I’ve gotten into the habit of doing both, mostly with nonfiction, whenever possible.

I have a set of wireless headphones with terrific range that stays connected to my computer, so that I can listen to podcasts and audiobooks when I’m doing laundry and cleaning, cooking dinner and washing dishes, sewing and crafting, or even fetching the mail… I actually look forward to housework because I know I am going to get to listen to something wonderful while I’m doing it!

Some of my favorite narrators- George Guidall, Barbara Rosenblat, Alyssa Bresnahan, Frank Muller, Johanna Parker, and Susan Ericksen. I also love it when an author reads their own nonfiction or memoir/biography, such as Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink, Martha Stewart reading The Martha Rules, Janet Evanovich How I Write, and Stephen King’s On Writing, to name a few.

What amazes me is when I both read and listen to a book, I pick up completely different things, so I’ve gotten into the habit of doing both, mostly with nonfiction, whenever possible.

I think that listening to an audio counts as “reading the book”.

In addition to George Guidall and Barabara Rosenblat, a favorite narrator of mine is Davina Porter.

Audio recs: The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley read by Davina Porter (I’ve listened to this three times).

Agatha Christie mysteries. BBC Audiobooks America is releasing these in new digitally remastered editions. They are great.

I agree with Ann that shorter, faster paced books are better on audio. I’ve tried several large fantasy novels on audio and just couldn’t get through them. The exceptions are Harry Potter books and The Mists of Avalon.

I think that listening to an audio counts as “reading the book”.

In addition to George Guidall and Barabara Rosenblat, a favorite narrator of mine is Davina Porter.

Audio recs: The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley read by Davina Porter (I’ve listened to this three times).

Agatha Christie mysteries. BBC Audiobooks America is releasing these in new digitally remastered editions. They are great.

I agree with Ann that shorter, faster paced books are better on audio. I’ve tried several large fantasy novels on audio and just couldn’t get through them. The exceptions are Harry Potter books and The Mists of Avalon.

The best narrators do not get in the way of the material. They are supposed to be the mediums of the writer’s intent. In these cases, the narrators surrender themselves to the text so completely, they become the text or protag of the story. Great examples of this would be Nadia May narrating the Barbara Tuchman non-fiction history books (“The First Salute,” “The Peoud Tower,” “A Distant Mirror,”etc.) as well as Simon Prebble narrating “1984″ (by George Orwell) and, “To Kill a Mockingbird” (by Harper Lee and narrated by Sissy Spacek.)

The best narrators do not get in the way of the material. They are supposed to be the mediums of the writer’s intent. In these cases, the narrators surrender themselves to the text so completely, they become the text or protag of the story. Great examples of this would be Nadia May narrating the Barbara Tuchman non-fiction history books (“The First Salute,” “The Peoud Tower,” “A Distant Mirror,”etc.) as well as Simon Prebble narrating “1984″ (by George Orwell) and, “To Kill a Mockingbird” (by Harper Lee and narrated by Sissy Spacek.)

My favourite audio book of all times is American Gods by Neil Gaiman, read by the amazing George Guidall. You talked a lot about narrators in the podcast – I think he is one of the very best, and he portrays the novel’s different characters in the most gripping way.

For books read by the author, I highly recommend anything by Steve Martin. I’ve listened to him reading his novella “The pleasure of my company” and his autobiography “Born standing up” and both are an absolute joy.

My favourite audio book of all times is American Gods by Neil Gaiman, read by the amazing George Guidall. You talked a lot about narrators in the podcast – I think he is one of the very best, and he portrays the novel’s different characters in the most gripping way.

For books read by the author, I highly recommend anything by Steve Martin. I’ve listened to him reading his novella “The pleasure of my company” and his autobiography “Born standing up” and both are an absolute joy.