I’m looking for easy-to-listen-to fiction audiobooks. Something I can tune in while doing other stuff without getting distracted.
I find some authors have styles that are a bit more sophisticated than others. The more thought-provoking, the more difficult I find to enjoy an audiobook while doing something else. I catch myself stopping whatever I’m doing to pay attention to the book, which is not what I want.
So for example I’ve found The Witcher books very easy to listen to, it wouldn’t matter if I missed a few seconds and I never found myself stopping to ponder about the text itself. The narrator was great too. Also bonus points as it was a long saga of books.
In contrast I would never want to listen to a Terry Pratchett book while doing something else. He’s probably my favourite English author but I find he’s too much of a genius, and my poor brain wouldn’t be able to digest it all if I’m not giving it my attention 100%.
I hope this makes sense?
How’s your experience with audiobooks?
I’ve been really enjoying re-reading The Hunger Games series, and the Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld
- Red Rising
- Golden Son
- Morning Star
All narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds, and he’s AWESOME.
THEN also
- Iron Gold
- Dark Age
- Light Bringer
Also narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds, but there are also more voiced character in these, so there’s more variety, and it’s great.
I really like Red Rising.
I used to work while listening to audiobooks so I have come across a lot of this.
It’s not quite what you asked for but what I found was that in general, nonfiction memoirs were my favorite types of books to listen to as it would be ok if you get distracted and they were usually very interesting to me.
If I remember later I’ll check my list of books I’ve read and try to find some good fiction too.
I don’t know if this is suitable for your needs, but I really enjoyed this reading of the deathworlders:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0TV2mCk83zBbWxnbA7ndfHFlctKzHGIL&si=ksX7uj10qVPSEWZ-
Here is an alternative Piped link(s):
https://piped.video/playlist?list=PL0TV2mCk83zBbWxnbA7ndfHFlctKzHGIL&si=ksX7uj10qVPSEWZ-
Piped is a privacy-respecting open-source alternative frontend to YouTube.
I’m open-source; check me out at GitHub.
Lord of the Rings read by Andy Serkis
Any of Naomi Novik’s books, particularly the Deadly Education series
The first two Hyperion books. (I’ve only read the first one but will read the second soon)
Those will get you started if you haven’t read them already.
LOTR would be pretty good easy listening, it has a very slow pace and it’s a long trilogy… Which is why I never finished the books. Unfortunately I’ve watched the movies so I’ve spoiled most of the story, but I’ll keep in mind the other recommendations. Thanks!
There is enough difference and stuff cut out of the movies to make it worth it to me. I watched the movies first and the books just heightened my enjoyment of both.
To be fair my wife and I met at the third movie in the theater so I may be biased.
Second the Hyperion books, though they are a fair slog, but well worth it!!
I see a lot of recommendations for the deadly education series but I did not enjoy it at all. I finished the first book out of pure sunk cost, but I really did not like the book or the narration.
If you’re looking for less YA, you could try my favourite book series, The Magicians.
Is the magicians by Lev Grossman? If so, my library has that series on audiobook and I just placed a hold on the first one. Thanks for the recommendation!
That’s right! You’ve made an excellent decision. I sound like a PR person for Lev Grossman at this point but those books are absolutely fantastic.
Another one to check out that is slightly more adult oriented are the Bloodsworn books by John Gwynn. Sadly, his daughter passed away so he hasn’t yet spoken of the release date but of the third book yet, though the name was released recently so I believe it is being worked on. It’s too be titled ‘Fury of the Gods’. From what I can tell, that couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy so it’s truly heartbreaking, but his literature is fantastic.
I’ve listened to the series and agree that they were great. I had watched the TV series and they have different enough plots that they’re independently enjoyable as well.
The Andy Serkis narration felt like watching the movies again, but with hours of bonus content, which is also the original content
It did me too! And I’m not ashamed to say I liked his Gandalf better! But his dwarves were a little too typical for me. Poor Gimley
IT by Stephen King was read incredibly by Steven Weber.
Stephen King got me into Audiobooks after being a bit hit-and-miss with them but I’ve been using them when I’m out walking and then read the book when I’m home and have time. It’s been a great way to zoom through his back catalogue.
Second this! I get a good binge started every October. Halfway through Dead Zone now and my favorite so far was Duma Key.
Becky Chambers - The long way to a small, angry planet
Reckoners Series - Written by Brandon Sanderson - read by MacLeod Andrews
In fact, I’d probably recommend any of his books/audiobooks. His stories are very gripping but also very easy to follow, in my opinion.
Maybe I should try it. I’ve read Mistborn only, I have mixed feelings about it but now that you mention it I think Sanderson would make a good easy listening type.
Absolutely amazing series. As an IT nerd and fantasy enjoyer this book has everything while it’s also very funny.
I can agree with this as well. Cool series. Plus the book (digital version) is animated!
Discworld is my go-to these days. Goes well with cross stitching
In contrast I would never want to listen to a Terry Pratchett book while doing something else
Ah well. Sarah J. Maas was also a fun experience. It’s so bad it’s good. I went with A court of thorns and roses but I hear her other series follow a similar vein. It’s hard to miss the important details. Look for the Graphic Audio releases.
Pratchett has the highest rate of “that whole paragraph was great so I’m going to read it again now” and “that’s such a clever remark I’m now taking 5 minutes to think about it” out of any other authors I’ve ever read.
And you can do cross stiching whilst listening to it? I’m jealous. Thanks for the other recommendation, I’ll look into it :)
What other authors have high clever-remark ratings, in your experience? Because I find myself near the end of the Discworld series and want to continue with something similarly engaging. Basically, the opposite of what you requested :)
Ah, I feel for you, but unfortunately I don’t know of anyone else as engaging in a similar way. He really is an outlier.
Have you ever read anything by Joe Abercrombie? I’ve enjoyed the Last Argument of Kings trilogy, it’s not humorous, it’s not as thought provoking, but it’s definitely engaging enough I couldn’t divide my attention to work while listening.
I recently listened to Daisy Jones and the Six and the audiobook was incredible. The book was written as a series of interviews, which worked great as an audiobook. There were definitely times I got a bit distracted but it didn’t impede my understanding too much. It does take a bit to absorb all the characters, so you’d probably want to listen uninterrupted for the first ~hour.
Killers of a Certain Age is another good one. Written about mature women assassins. It’s a fun thriller and an easy listen.
Final rec is any of Ken Follett’s Kingsbridge series as read by John Lee. They’re long as hell, but straightforwardly told. There’s something I just love about how John read them, too.
I always recommend Diskworld
Try the Expanse series. It’s long and very well done, but you can tune in and out and still get the story.
