Lend Me Your Ears

When I first started this blog, I made a list for my fellow geeks -- ahem, I mean, bookworms -- of the must-read young adult books and series.

But as you've read, I also hold a special place in my heart for audio books. Maybe it stemmed from my love of NPR, first established during college. Maybe it was a result of my 45-minute commute to work when I lived in BFE. I can't really say where or why it started, but for the better part of a decade now, I've loved books on CD (and back when my car actually had a tape player, that vintage technology). And so, allow me to share with you my list of must-listen audio books.

Top Audio Books You Must Enjoy:
The His Dark Materials series by Philip Pullman aka The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass, Narrated by a Full Cast: This is far and away the best audio book series out there, compliments of its full cast and narration by the author himself. It's just so phenomenal to listen to an engaging story (a stop on my must-read list) delivered by a full cast of talented actors. As if it's possible to adore Iorek Byrnison or Lee Scorsby more, the actors give such life and heart to the roles of these classic novels, I'm motivated to visit the library and listen to the full series at least once every couple of years.

The Harry Potter Books by J. K. Rowling, Narrated by Jim Dale: Do I really need to say more? I mean, it's Jim Dale! He was the Pushing Daisies voice-over guy! And in all honesty, while at times I find myself not-so-much adoring his interpretations of Hermione as a whiny prat, he's still an icon. Frankly, you've got to give the guy kudos for reading 99 discs worth of boy wizard shenanigans. So at least give him a shot on one of the HPs, and see why he's now known as "Uncle Jim" in my house.

The Looking Glass Wars Books by Frank Beddor, Narrated by Gerard Doyle: Ooh, Doyle's fabulous! I think these books are actually better as audio books courtesy of the neat effects on voices that really bring Wonderland to life without overdoing it. The Looking Glass Wars are a trilogy (though there are rumors of a fourth book on the way) re-telling of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland in which Wonderland is a high-tech monarchy in the midst of a tragic coup and civil war during which young Alyss Hart must re-claim the throne from her black imagination wielding Aunt Redd, unrightful and unruly Queen of the Hart Dynasty. The audio book creates a spooky Looking Glass Maze, Beatles-esque giant caterpillar oracles, and my favorite, General Doppelganger (or when he splits into his twin forms, Generals Doppel and Ganger) whose double and single voices are just friggin cool. Definitely listen to this series, whose third book was just released and I was lucky enough to snag the first audio book copy from CADL. Honestly, the slightly anti-climatic wrap-up to the supposed trilogy, Arch Enemy, left me slightly disappointed with an all-too-convenient, and all-too-anticlimactic, ending that tied up the plots with a nice little bow (save King Arch, leaving the trilogy open to be continued). Book three all but ignored my favorite aspect of the first two books -- the relationship between Alyss and one of my favorite literary characters of all time, Dodge Anders -- so I sadly believe this much anticipated book knocked the series off my must-read list, but certainly didn't find itself in The-Book-That-Must-Not-Be-Named territory. Still worth a listen!

The Thief, The Queen of Attolia and The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner, Narrated by Jeff Woodman: Jeff Woodman, how I love thee? Let me count the ways. One, The Thief. Two, The Queen of Attolia. Three, The King of Attolia.

Oh my oh my oh my (note, Woodman earned himself a whole new paragraph here). These are my favorite books of all time. I love them. They pulled me out of both Book 7 and Twilight mourning (for which I now feel rather foolish). I so heartily associated with Attolia it sorta kinda a little bit hurt. And I adore Gen, the lovable wise-cracking protagonist. And I love the writing. And I love the plot twists. And I love... well, you get it. So I was scared these audio books could never do my darling books justice. That they would make a mockery of my beloveds. And that they could never isolate the playful cover-up of mastermind Gen's scheming. Never nail the steely reserve and calm covering Attolia's fear and loneliness.

But Jeff Woodman, dear Jeff Woodman. I should have had faith. In full disclosure, I was only able to listen to the Queen and King, as The Thief (released in 1997) is only available on tape. But those two, boy did they deliver. He just got it. Every character had genuine authentic distinctions. I was never confused as to who was speaking (a common occurrence in audio books) and would completely forget there was even a narrator to be had, so skillfully does he weave his character dialogues.

And then there were the pauses. Long enough to border on frustrating without quite getting there, and giving you enough time to take a deep breathe after a major revelation and think, "Damn. That was good." I felt like I needed a smoke after some of the chapters revealing unexpected twists in the complicated and delicious political plot of monarchs, war, love, rank and fate. Lend me your ears for a little Jeff Woodman. You will not be disappointed.