What have I been listening to lately?
Dumplin by Julie Murphy
Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool
Please Ignore Vera Dietz by AS King
What have you been listening to?
If you’re like me, you’re always consuming books. Whether hardcover, paperback, e-reader, phone, or audiobook, reading can be done ANYWHERE. I love consuming audiobooks in the car, but you can really listen to them no matter what you’re doing. If you like to listen to audiobooks as much as I do, here are my top 5 suggestions, compiled with help from the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). Also several of these books contain diversity so WINNING.
1. Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs. The third novel in the Peculiar Children series is read by Kirby Heyborne and this dude is GREAT with voices. I mean like it took me a while to figure out whether he was English or not; his English accent was ON POINT. And his scary guy voices? Oh em gee!
2. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. Fangirl is a great read because if you’re in love with a book or a book series you can relate to our heroine. Also? The handsome-voiced Maxwell Caulfield (from the second Grease movie) helps narrate and he is swoon worthy.
3. The Leviathan series by Scott Westerfeld is read by Alan Cumming. If you’re not sure who he is, no worries. Just plug your earphones in and listen. He can do the voices so convincingly I forgot that he was a Scot doing a German accent. Amazing!
4. The Hobbit by JR Tolkien. If you’re not a fan of second breakfast or the hobbit life, give this book a try. The narrator is Rob Inglis and he does so many excellent voices you forget it’s just one guy reading. Plus, his voice of Golem is so disgustingly gross that you will wet your pants. It’s the best thing you hate to listen to.
5. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire. Dudes, run out and get this book now. Like NOW. You know why? Cuz it’s read by Lin Manuel Miranda! The story is so awesome and the fact that Manuel-Miranda can speak Spanish (he is a native speaker) puts the book over the top for me! I lived in Texas for 10 years and his voice brought me back to those good old days. Plus the story is so ding dang good.
Here’s a bonus: if you’ve already read one of these books, download any book written by Neil Gaiman himself. Because he reads most of his books and there is nothing like hearing the author inflect the words just where they want them to go. It’s kinda like Neil reading you a bedtime story. Full of ghosties and weird things, but whatever right?
Sure sure, you might have heard that I was recently just listening to The Giver and I WAS.
But now I’m not because I’m done. And it was GREAT!
It’s no wonder this book is always on someone’s required reading shelf. it was dystopian for kids back before dystopian was an every day word! I love this story; it’s so good on so many levels and the lessons can be adapted depending on the child’s age group. Why is it that we like to read about societies in which everything is the same? Is that how we as readers feel? Do we feel trapped in a world of bland, boring sameness? Or is this our greatest fear? I’m not sure what the answer is, I just know I love exploring these worlds. Maybe the answer is that if enough kids read these kinds of books they will create a world where differences are celebrated and valuable to society?
I dunno.
I might not have the answers to those questions but I DO know this: any time Ron Rifkin is reading an audiobook, I will be there. He was GOOD. Right up there with that guy who narrated all of the Harry Potter books.
And you’ve heard me complain before, a narrator can make or break an audiobook!
Happy Monday! What are you reading?