Which Audiobook is Right for You?
Audio entertainment is increasingly becoming popular. People love to multitask while listening to audiobooks. But there are so many great audiobooks out there, how do you know where to start or which to choose? Here’s how to pick your next audiobook.
First Time Listeners
If this is your first time listening to audiobooks, think of it just like you would when picking out a normal book to read. Stick to your favorite genre at first, once you know you like audiobooks you can try branching out to different genres.
Read the synopsis like you normally would and make sure it’s something you’re interested in. If you’re not sold on the story it doesn’t matter how great the narrator is, you probably won’t like it.
How long do you want to listen?
Again if you’re a first-time listener it’s hard to know how much you will want to listen. I listen for an hour a day during the workweek. I usually like my audiobooks to be about 14 hours long so it takes me a couple of weeks to finish and I can stretch my Audible credits out. To see how Audible credits work, check out my article The Benefits of Audible: More than Audiobooks.
Start Shorter
You should start with a shorter audiobook, just to get a taste, especially if you don’t know how long or how often you will listen yet. I would recommend not going over 20 hours at first. Unless you know you’re a binge listener. If you get an audiobook that’s too long and you don’t listen as much as you think, the slow progress could turn you off from audiobooks even if you enjoy it.
Listen to a Sample
The first thing to notice in the sample is if you like the narrator’s voice. You don’t have to instantly fall in love with their voice but be sure you can clearly understand them and you don’t find their voice annoying or irritating. There have been multiple times when I listen to the sample and find the narrator’s voice only okay. Then by the end of the book, their voice has grown on me and I really like the way they sound and the way they tell the story.
Celebrity Narrators
Celebrities will sometimes narrate audiobooks. Sometimes they are great and sometimes they are not. Just because you love a celebrity doesn’t mean they are great at narrating and you will love the audiobook. There have been a couple that I have listened to that were read by celebrities and I have been underwhelmed. I prefer narrators that can do accents and easily change their voice to differentiate between characters.
1 Narrator vs Full-Cast Narrations
You also have to decide if you like 1 narrator vs full cast narrators. Full cast narration is more like a radio play and some will even add in other situational noises like knocking or phones ringing. I would recommend starting with 1 narrator since that’s what a more traditional audiobook is like. Some people have a hard time following multiple voices and noises at first and can find it overwhelming.
Check the Ratings
There are 3 categories for reviews of Audible audiobooks including overall, performance, and story. I try not to get too hung up on ratings because everyone likes something different. But I do check to see if everyone is hating on the same thing. I think it’s important to at least glance at the reviews, especially the performance, so you’re not wasting time or money on a bad audiobook.
Check out Recommendations
Audible has many Lists and Collections including Best Sellers, New Releases, and Editors Select where Audible editors pick their favorite, plus more! You could check out the New Releases and then pick your favorite genre and listen to the number 1 book. Or take suggestions from other people or a book club. Reese Witherspoon has a book club and she recommends a new book each month. I also have my favorite audiobooks at the end of the article.
Listen to Your Favorites
Whose recommendation do you trust more than yourself? So listen to YOUR all-time favorite book! Or a book you have been wanting to reread but haven’t had time for. Audiobooks can show you a whole new side to a book. Narrators are actors and depending on their voice and the way they portray the characters can change your feelings about a book. Since you already read it, you know you like the story.
If All Else Fails
I tend to pick audiobooks that are longer and are a little harder to read. These books will probably never make their way to the top of my reading pile. I listen to a lot of classics because it takes more brainpower to read them than to listen to them in my opinion. Again, don’t pick something too long or too hard to understand or you will never finish it. I did that once with Moby Dick and it was a struggle.
Final Thoughts on How to Pick a Great Audiobook
How to pick your next audiobook. Go with your favorite genre, it’s your favorite for a reason. Check the recommendations and ratings. Determine how long you want to listen and if you like the narrator. Finally, go with your gut. Ultimately, you are the only one who knows what you like. Also, if you have Audible, you never have to worry because you can easily make exchanges at any time for any reason. I hope this helps you pick a great audiobook to enjoy! My favorites are below.
My Recommendations
Still can’t decide on your next audiobook? I have over 40 titles in my library. Here are a few of my favorites from each genre. Feel free to ask me questions if you want me to go into more detail about any of them.
Classics
- The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, Narrated by Dylan Baker
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Narrated by Sissy Spacek
Both books are still extremely relevant today and both narrators do a great southern accent.
Mysteries and Thrillers
- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson, Narrated by Simon Vance
- Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn, Narrated by Ann Marie Lee
Mysteries and thrillers are my favorite genres. I love the suspenseful guessing the narrators make you feel until the very end.
Horror
- IT by Stephen King, Narrated by Steven Weber
- Pet Sematary by Stephen King, Narrated by Michael C. Hall
Steven Weber does so many amazing voices and accents. See my full review of IT here. Michael C. Hall is a celebrity whose narration I did enjoy. Check out my full review of Pet Sematary here.
Sci-fi and Fantasy
- The Martian by Andy Weir, Narrated by R.C. Bray
- Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkien, Narrated by Rob Inglis
The Martian was the first audiobook I listened to as an adult and made me fall in love with audiobooks. R.C. Bray conveys a sense of humor that brings the character to life.
Lord of the Rings is one of my favorite book series. Rob Inglis has a very nice voice and does a great job singing the songs and poems.
Audible Originals
- The X-Files: Cold Cases by Joe Harris, Chris Carter, and Dirk Maggs; Narrated by David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Mitch Pileggi and more
- Alien: Out of the Shadows by Tim Lebbon and Dirk Maggs; Narrated by Rutger Hauer, Corey Johnson, Matthew Lewis and more
Both are full-cast dramatizations. I’m a huge fan of the X-files so I geeked out when I saw David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson were narrating their old characters of Scully and Mulder.
Historical Fiction
This book is narrated from death’s point of view and Allan Corduner is what I hope death’s voice would sound like.
Have you listened to any of these books? What are some of your favorite audiobooks?
These sound like some great tips for those wanting to get into audiobooks. I also chuckled a little when I saw David Duchovny narrated X Files since he was in it. I’ve seen him in a few other things and I get the feeling he’d be a good narrator.
Thank you so much! When I first started watching X-Files I thought he sounded a little monotone but it grew on me and now I like his voice.
It’s a monotone with very subtle inflections and his facial expressions make it!
Yes, I agree! Love his character!