Smith's "What are you reading?" posts always result in at least a few good books added to my list. I'd like to do an audiobook version. I'm a pretty voracious reader, but I loathe the idea that recordings "don't count." For most of literary history books were so damned expensive that often even most literate people listened to readings as often they had access to a book (the chapterhouses of religious institutions, for example). So here are a few of my favorite books and their narrators.
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Patrick O'Brien's Aubrey/Maturin series narrated by Patrick Tull. O'Brien's work is fantastic, and I believe Tull's narration captures the spirit of the works, especially the constant humor that even many fans fail to mention while praising the series.
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The Fagles translation of The Iliad as narrated by Dereck Jacobi. There not much to say here: Homer is Homer, and Jacobi narrates the ancient epic with the skill you would expect. Ian McKellen narrated Fagles' translation of The Odyssey, but I have not gotten to it yet; I presume its probably equally good.
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This last pick is going catch flack, but The Dresden Files as narrated by James Marsters. Dresden Files is schlock but I think its entertaining schlock, and Marsters does a good job narrating the schlocky first person novels. Fight me.
Bob the knowledge spirit in a skull is really cool. I always imagined Bob as from Brooklyn, so the voice Marsters gives is never satisfying.
The Children of Hurin read by Christopher Lee.
The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings read by Andy Serkis.
Anansi Boys. I forget the name, but one reader was actually the inspiration for the book and can do the accents of all the characters naturally. It's about a man who grew up in Florida and then England, only to find out his estranged and 'dead' father was Ananzi the God. Also, he has a twin brother named Spider, who has all of Dad's powers.
Coraline, The Graveyard Book, and probably others read by Neil Gaiman.
I'm currently listening to Dracula, and Dream Park.