in addition to non-fiction titles, you could try dramatisations of novels. There are quite a few titles on the site that fit that description, including the Lord of the Rings series, the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series, Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying, Canterbury Tales, and pretty much any book that includes the words “various” or “full cast” (or just “dramatisation”) in the narrator line. Some of those might still have the occasional “she whispered,” but with a variety of narrators reading for different characters, it can make for a much more dynamic listen.

Also, there are a lot of plays and radio shows that won’t have that element, either.

Question: My wife has started listening to audiobooks, and every so often, they’re on in the car. The only thing that bothers me with them is that they’re straight verbatim, to the point of being redundant. There’s a lot of “he said angrily” and “she whispered”, just after the voice-actor said angrily or whispered the line. Is this common? Although it preserves the original book to the letter, it’s kind of distracting– if the voice-actor is adequate, much of this could as easily be brought through in the voice. I suppose that, if I do delve into audiobooks, I’d be better sticking to nonfiction.

thanks for this inspiring list.

You make me check out some of those book – in the old fashioned, printed format.
I know thois list wasn’t meant that way – but audiobooks still strike me as somewhat sill, I’m probably too old school for that kind of format.

Anyway, thanks and have some nice holidays,
Frank

Your post and your list have made me seriously consider getting an autobook subscription. (I have little time to listen to books on Mp3 what with all my podcasts etc but I may well do it this year) thank you