Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And I'm back with a (pretty much) recycled idea, but one worth going back to!
If you've read the title you know what it is, and that I've done it twice before.
But, the last time was back in 2023, and since I've listened to a fair few more since then (I'm on 80 at the moment), I figured it was worth a reboot!
It would be interesting to see what some of your favourites are, so please comment down below, because I'm always open to trying some new reads!
Without further ado, I hope you enjoy!
1. Becoming, by Michelle Obama
It stood the test of time! I listened to this audiobook 6 1/2 years ago, and still it remains one of my favourite audiobooks.
Now, the novel has everything you could hope for in a memoir; it has the personal story, from childhood to professional career, where she grew up, her lessons as a child, and her family- what her neighbourhood was like. Then it had her working towards her degree, her time as a lawyer, and meeting her future husband, who would go on to be the president of the united states.
My favourite part will always be her childhood, hearing about where she grew up, and her family, and when she was learning to play piano. The fact that she narrates the audiobook is what sold it for me- you can actually hear the warmth and sincerity with which she describes that time in her life, and that is what has made this audiobook stand the test of time for me.
2. Daisy Jones and the Six, by Taylor Jenkins Reid
3. Salem's Lot, by Stephen King
I still get shivers when I think of how creepy this audiobook was. There's nothing like hearing the voice of Dracula whisper against your ear. So well performed, it actually feels as if you're in the story yourself, trying to fight dracula and not wind up dead. 100%, the realest and creepiest story I've ever read, in my life. And I've read It.
Genuinely, I would consider this to be one of my favourite Stephen King books, because of this audiobook.
4. Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, by Matthew Perry
Rawest book of the lot. This one does not shy away from the hard subjects. Of course it doesn't! Look who wrote it!
I had this audiobook ready for the right time, for a while I think.
I listened to it a short time after he passed. But it's important to note that I was always going to read it.
It was just as amazing, and heartfelt, and real as I suspected it might be.
I'm not going to say you have to read it, because it deals with some extremely heavy subject matters. But if you can handle it, and you're a fan of his- then you need to pick this up.
Truly moving, piognant and honest. You won't regret reading this if you haven't.
5. The Dragon Republic (The Poppy War #2), by R.J. Kuang
Although I was chipping and changing from the audiobook and the physical book with this, I know that I preferred the audiobook for this.
In The Dragon Republic, the world gets a lot more vast, the characters get a lot more dimensional- they've graduated from the academy, and the world is about to end- or at least, the stakes a lot lot higher in this one. Reading the physical book just wasn't as gripping as the audiobook was, which is why it's on the list of favourite audiobooks.
There's nothing like hearing the emotion in the voices of the characters you've grown to love so much, when they're preparing to kill someone. Unforgettable.
6. George Orwell's 1984, by George Orwell
Fucking hell, was this an experience. I think I finished this in one day.
For anyone that doesn't know this, George Orwell's 1984 is an Audible Original, based off of the famous novel. It's recorded by Andrew Garfield as Winston, Cynthia Erivo as Julia, Andrew Scott as O'Brien, and Tom Hardy as Big Brother. I don't have the words to tell you how phenomenally this was drafted. You hear the screams of the prisoners ringing in your head days after you finish this.
I don't have any critiques on this piece at all. The recording is perfect- so much anguish, so much intensity- I wish I could listen to this without having experienced it before again, so it's fresh in my brain again. It's basically a play, unfolding before your eyes, without the visuality.
Highly, highly, highly recommend this.
7. The Women, by Kristin Hannah
And finally, the instant favourite. Just the book in general. Not the audiobook.
Whether I read the physical book, or the audiobook, I was always going to love this, and it was always going to make my favourites list for the year. The audiobook just enabled me to read it quicker is all.
The Women is the first Kristin Hannah book I have picked up, and so far, have yet to pick up any more. But I can guarantee, more of them will be read soon enough. The Nightingale, The Four Winds, The Great Alone, Firefly Lane. I plan on reading them all. And all that has stemmed from one book.
I can't wait to read them all.
Okay! Those are my current favourite audiobooks! I hope you enjoyed reading about my favourites, and I'm really happy to see some variety in my favourites!
I have a question: if you have a variety of audiobooks under your belt, do you find that you have a genre that you gravitate towards, or do you find yourself trying new types of reads? I'm genuinely curious, so let me know in the comments!
Okay, that is all that I have for you guys today, so I'll see you all soon- hopefully with an update on that story that I've forgotten about!
I hope you have a wonderful evening, wherever you are.
-Abi xxxxx
