Category: Audiobooks

Greetings, Audiobook fans,

You guys (and gals and gender non-conforming folk) are the absolute best. Last week, I slipped a link in to the end of this newsletter about a teacher who was raising money for headphones for her classroom, so kids with reading challenges could listen to audiobooks. It wasn’t a ton of money, about $160 (nothing to sneeze at, to be sure, but doable). The campaign started in March and before the newsletter went out, it had raised $0. By the time I had poured my morning coffee out here in California, I checked and the campaign was at 100%, y’all got those kids their headphones! Thank you so much for stepping up. Hopefully, some of those kids will become lifelong audiobook lovers!

---

Sponsored by Tomorrow by Damian Dibben, new from Hanover Square Press.

Tomorrow tells the story of a 217 year-old dog traveling in search of his lost master. His adventures take him through the London Frost Fair, the strange court of King Charles I, Versailles and the world of the Sun-King and to nineteenth century Venice. As he travels through Europe he makes friends, falls in love (only once), marvels at the human ability to make music, despairs at their capacity for war and gains insight into the strength and frailties of the human spirit. Tomorrow draws us into a unique, century-spanning tale of the unbreakable connection between dog and human.

---

Perhaps you will be surprised to learn that I AM WRITING THIS FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE. What is it that killed me? Well, the last couple of newsletters, I’ve mentioned (the OBVIOUS FACT) that Dion Graham’s voice might actually be too sexy for audiobooks. But here’s the thing. When I write this newsletter, I feel like I’m just writing to the handful of people I have directly communicated with. I sort of forget that it goes out to a pretty wide audience. So you’ll understand why I DIED OF EMBARRASSMENT when I saw this:

So, yes, I am dead now (actually Graham was super nice and emailed me to let me know about it and that it was all in good fun, which killed me dead all over again! P.S. I love him.)

Moving on….

Audie Awards!

Every year, the Audio Publishers Association gives awards for Audiobook of the Year, as well as Excellence in Design, Excellence in Marketing, and Excellence in Production. They’ve announced the finalists in all the categories (check out the full list here) but I’m just going to list the Audiobook of the Year nominees here. Finalists in all the categories can be found here. The winners of the Excellence Awards will be announced at the Audio Publishers Association Conference (APAC) on May 30. The winner of the Audiobook of the Year will be announced at the Audie Awards® Gala on May 31 at the New-York Historical Society.

The five titles competing for Audiobook of the Year are:

Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood written and narrated by Trevor Noah, published by Audible Studios

From the judges, “Trevor Noah’s formidable storytelling skills combined with his facility with various South African dialects and accents immerse listeners in this captivating account of his coming of age during the apartheid era.”

Columbus Day: Expeditionary Force, Book 1 by Craig Alanson, narrated by R.C. Bray, published by Podium Publishing

From the judges, “A rousing military science fiction adventure read with humor and gusto by R.C. Bray, chock-full of compelling characters from across the galaxy.

”

 

The Handmaid’s Tale: Special Edition by Margaret Atwood and Valerie Martin, narrated by Claire Danes, Margaret Atwood, and a full cast, published by Audible Studios

From the judges: Claire Danes’ flawless performance of this dystopian modern classic is supported by additional material written for the audio by author Margaret Atwood, extending the original work.

Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders, narrated by George Saunders, Nick Offerman, David Sedaris, and 163 others, published by Random House Audio

From the judges: “In a stunning choral performance featuring 166 voices, Saunders’ innovative novel is transformed into an auditory experience unlike any other, revealing President Lincoln’s grief after his son’s death.”


The Totally Unscientific Study of the Search for Human Happiness, written and narrated by Paula Poundstone, published by HighBridge Audio, a division of Recorded Books

From the judges, “Paula Poundstone infuses the story of her career as a comedian and her experiences as a parent with self-deprecating humor and sharp wit, framed by her search for personal happiness.”

Book Riot Audiobooks Post Roundup

How to Find Audiobooks on Spotify by A.J. O’Connor

Audiobooks don’t have their own genre on Spotify, so finding one can feel like going to a garage sale and rummaging around, trying to find the books, and then, when you find a box of books, turning it upside down, trying to find one you like. In short, it’s a pain. But no worries! Rioter A.J. is here to tell you how (and where) to find free audiobooks on Spotify.

13 Fabulous Feminist Audiobooks by Ashley Holstrom

Ashley says that, “Feminist audiobooks are like an electrifying blanket for me. When I’m feeling stuck, I listen to one, and I start to feel better. I get enraged at injustice and then I get amped up to make a change.” If you, too, would like to get amped to make a change, Ashley lists 13 of her favorites here. I’ve been hearing Rioters rave about Dirty Thirty for awhile, so now that I know the audiobook is so good, I have a feeling I’ll be pumping that to the top of my list.

The 4 Most Perfect Audiobooks I’ve Ever Listened To by Laura Sackton

Rioter Laura says that for her, perfect audiobooks “are the ones so utterly captivating that, after finishing them, I think, ‘this is it. I will never listen to another audiobook as good as this, ever again.’” For me, this brings to mind Ready Player One by Ernest Cline and narrated by Wil Wheaton (SO excited/nervous about the movie), The Good House by Ann Leary, narrated by Mary Beth Hurt, and Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie. What are Laura’s top 4 picks? Check them out here.

My First Time With Audiobooks or What I Listen To When I’m Running by Matt Grant

LOL, running? I don’t do that. But if you, better, healthier person than I, enjoy exercise, you should take a peek at what Matt listens to on his runs.

Hopefully that catches you up on any Book Riot audiobooks posts you may have missed this month.

As always, I love to hear what you’re listening to, suggestions for the newsletter, or just condolences about my death-by-embarrassment at katie@riotnewmedia.com or on Twitter at msmacb.

Until next week,

~Katie

Happy Thursday, audiophiles!

I have been filled with so much audiobook joy this week! Many of you let me know what you’ve been listening to and I’ve pulled a few of your recommendations so we can all benefit from your wisdom.

Not only that, but I received an email with this amazing anecdote about audiobook narrator Dion Graham, who I mentioned in last week’s newsletter because his voice alone gave me FEELINGS. And according to this email sender, I am not alone in that.

---

Sponsored by Scribd

Scribd is the reading subscription service that brings readers unlimited* access to the best books, audiobooks, and magazines for only $9 a month. They make it easy for you to stay informed, discover new passions, and become your best self. Scribd’s impressive library includes bestselling and award-winning books and audiobooks from the largest global publishers as well as journalism from leading magazines and newspapers like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Newsweek. No matter what you’re looking for, Scribd is the only reading subscription you need.

---

“I work in audiobook publishing & had the good fortune to meet Dion Graham twice! You are not imagining the sexy. You know that trope in romance novels where the woman goes weak in the knees & melts into a puddle, etc? Yeah, that’s what I felt like. He is SO charming & kind & gracious (almost every narrator I’ve ever met is) & the second time I met him he embraced me like we were the oldest of pals. Anyway, just thought you’d like to know that you’re not alone!”

I DO appreciate knowing that I’m not alone and also maybe…if you run into him again, slip him my phone number? Just a thought 😉

Before I get into what y’all have been reading, I have to tell you that I finished listening to Educated by Tara Westover and it’s SO GOOD. The story is heartbreaking and inspiring all at the same time, the writing is gorgeous, and narrator Julia Whelan (narrator of Gone Girl and The Great Alone, among others) is excellent. Really it’s just an all-around phenomenal listen.

If you want more of Tara Westover, she was interviewed on one of my favorite podcasts, How To Be Amazing with Michael Ian Black. If you’re going to read the book, I suggest doing that before listening to the interview, but either way, it’s a great episode.

Now for your recommendations and reviews!

I’m pretty sure letter writer Kate V. should have this newsletter writing gig because check out how delightful even her casual reviews are:

She says, “I just tore through Weapons of Math Destruction by  Cathy O’Neil, who blogs at mathbabe.com. It was such a quick and useful listen. As a data scientist, I am all too aware of the limitations of my own models; hearing Cathy (who narrates and does it just fine) smartly dissect the history and damning effects of algorithms used every day made me even more concerned with transparency in my work…The effect of this quick read is a hopeful, rational vision of a future where decisions made about large populations of marginalized individuals are made from not just data in black boxes, but data lovingly and cautiously tended by humans with the best interest of other humans at heart.

From that, I moved to Michael Lewis’s new release, The Undoing Project. The book tracks the early lives of (and the revolutionary relationship between) legendary behavioral economists Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky. I cannot get enough of this book, and am glad I paired it with the O’Neil! Even if you aren’t interested in the drivers of human behavior (hard to imagine), if you like history or biography, this is such an interesting read. The narrator is unremarkable, in a good way: nothing throws my attention off the tale. Lewis explains the psychological concepts and experiments with a fluid clarity. A PDF of pictures from the physical book is available with the audiobook.”

Kate V. should be writing audiobook reviews, amirite? I’ve never come so close to wanting to listen to a book that relates in any way whatsoever to math.

Harise says, “I checked Ready Player One out of the library a good while ago.  I liked the sound of the plot, hadn’t read a good dystopian book in a while and this one sounded more fun than gloomy.  I really enjoyed it, but even better was the narration by Wil Wheaton… He does a wonderful job.

This is such an exciting story and it never lags. There is quite a bit of nostalgia but in this age of gaming, any age could relate, in fact, while I never play video games myself, the plot, characters and action, completely drew me in.  The landscape of it’s imagined future is a story in itself. I’d wished it had received more attention, and now I see it will be a movie. I hope this causes more to read the book and also brings more listeners, to hear Wil Wheaton’s narration.”

You know when someone is about to read one of your favorite books for the first time and you’re excited for them but also jealous that they get to experience it for the first time? That’s how I feel about someone listening to Ready Player One for the first time. It’s just so good.

Speaking of Ready Player One, y’all getting excited for the movie? I’m nervous because I so want it to be good but according to this Hollywood Reporter article, I don’t have anything to worry about. ‘Ready Player One’: First Reactions From the Premiere.

Links for Your Ears

How do you write music for a true crime podcast?: Thomas Hewitt Jones is the composer behind the futuristic music for a new true crime podcast, Case Notes. In this interview, he talks about the difference between scoring for a podcast and an audiobook.

Young People Are Now Using YouTube For Audiobooks:

I don’t know how well Youth Radio is known outside the Bay Area where it’s located but it’s a really awesome organization and, according to the youths there, YouTube ain’t a bad place for audiobook lovers.

 

Hey, this teacher is raising money for headphones for her students who have reading challenges to listen to audiobooks. She’s asking for a total of $159. I think we could make that happen, don’t you?

Nearly one-in-five Americans now listen to audiobooks: But how many of them are reading this newsletter?

As always, you can reach me on twitter at msmacb and katie@riotnewmedia.com

 

Until next week,

~Katie

Hello again audiophiles,

I missed you! What have you been listening to?What did you have to stop listening to because it was so boring/awful/gruesome? Tell me all the things either on Twitter at msmacb and katie@riotnewmedia.com. A note on emails: I love when you send them and I read them all eagerly. I try to respond to all of them but time and the death of a horrifying number of brain cells in my errant youth sometimes prevent me from doing so. But I swear on the life of my fat little dog who you all know I love more than anything in the world, I read and cherish each and every one.

---

Sponsored by HarperAudio

A stunning novel-in-verse written and performed by award-winning slam poet, Elizabeth Acevedo

---

OK SENTIMENTALITY OVER

What I’m listening to: well, two things. Here’s what happened: I started listening to American War, which came out last year and has long been getting rave reviews. Here’s the problem: narrator Dion Graham has the goddamn sexist voice I’ve ever heard. Like, it is distractingly sexy. I couldn’t pay attention to what was happening in the book; it’s the first time that’s ever happened. SO, I moved on.

Now, I’m listening to Educated by Tara Westover. Westover’s family was Mormon and survivalist–-she didn’t set foot in a traditional classroom until she was 17 years-old. She’s now a PhD and Educated is the story of how she got there. I’ve just started but so far the narration (Julia Whelan) is great and I’m completely intrigued by the story.

 

New March Audiobooks

The Shape of Water by Guillermo del Toro and Daniel Kraus; narrated by Jenna Lamia

Release date: 03-06-18

I haven’t seen the movie The Shape of Water but everyone I know who has, raves about it. I didn’t realize it was also a book until I started looking at the new releases but the site io9 claims it’s just as good. “Most movie novelizations do little more than write down what audiences see on the screen. But the novel that’s accompanying Guillermo del Toro’s new movie The Shape of Water is no mere adaptation. Co-author Daniel Kraus’ book and the film tell the same story, of a mute woman who falls in love with an imprisoned and equally mute creature, in two very different ways.”

Raw: My Journey into the Wu-Tang written and read by Lamont “U-God” Hawkins

Release date: 03-06-18

One of the founding members of the Wu-Tang Clan tells his story of how he went from a kid in Brooklyn, New York, to a founding member of one of the biggest hip-hop groups in history. U-God says, “It’s time to write down not only my legacy, but the story of nine dirt-bomb street thugs who took our everyday life – scrappin’ and hustlin’ and tryin’ to survive in the urban jungle of New York City – and turned that into something bigger than we could possibly imagine, something that took us out of the projects for good, which was the only thing we all wanted in the first place.”

Bachelor Nation: Inside the World of America’s Favorite Guilty Pleasure written and read by Amy Kaufman

Release date: 03-06-18

I am immersed in pop culture enough to know that I am in the vast MINORITY of people who have never seen an episode of any of the Bachelor(ette) shows. BUT I am very, very pro guilty pleasures. And while I am not a member of Bachelor nation, the description of this book from the publisher kinda makes me think maybe I should be. “Bachelor Nation is the first behind-the-scenes, unauthorized look into the reality television phenomenon. Los Angeles Times journalist Amy Kaufman is a proud member of Bachelor Nation and has a long history with the franchise – ABC even banned her from attending show events after her coverage of the program got a little too real for its liking. She has interviewed dozens of producers, contestants, and celebrity fans to give readers never-before-told details of the show’s inner workings: what it’s like to be trapped in the mansion ‘bubble’; dark, juicy tales of producer manipulation; and revelations about the alcohol-fueled debauchery that occurs long before the fantasy suite.” Sounds a little like the Fire and Fury of the Bachelor-house, no (which I mean in the best possible way)?

The Nowhere Girls by Amy Reed; narrated by Rebekkah Ross

Release date: 03-13-18

I am a huge fan of Amy Reed’s YA books and this one is about as timely as you can get. Following the rape of a classmate, three misfit students band together to avenge the crime and transform the misogynist culture around them. Man oh man, between the Time’s Up movement and the students in Parkland’s awesome activism, Nowhere Girls is a perfect listen.

Fisherman’s Blues written and read by Anna Badkhen

Release date: 03-13-18

The best journalism zeroes in on the micro to tell a story about the macro, and that’s exactly what this Fisherman’s Blues does. The impact of climate change on the planet is, and will continue to be unequivocally devastating. Anna Badkhen looks examines the devastation of a Senegalese Fishing community, whose economy and way of life has been decimated by overfishing and climate change. LitHub calls the book, “A[n] intimate, urgent, and compassionate narrative about how human and natural landscapes are being interrupted by the Anthropocene.”

Ginger Kid: Mostly True Tales from a Former Nerd written and read by Steve Hofstetter

Release date: 03-20-18

I’m super excited about this book for two reasons: I think there needs to be more YA nonfiction in general and there can never be too many books about kids and teens who feel like they just don’t fit in. If you can get a comedian or otherwise very funny person to write one of those books? Icing on the cake. “In Ginger Kid, popular comedian Steve Hofstetter grapples with life after seventh grade…when his world fell apart. Formatted as a series of personal essays, Steve walks his listeners through awkward early dating, family turbulence, and the revenge of the bullied nerds.”

Did I miss any exciting new releases? What are you looking forward to getting in your ears? Were you able to listen to American War without falling in love with a voice? Let me know!

Until next week,

~Katie

Hello Audiophiles!

Amanda Nelson here, Book Riot’s Managing Editor, filling in for Katie while she’s on vacation (don’t worry, she’ll be back next week). This week, I want to talk about World War II–I recently saw Darkest Hour starring Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill (who is a problematic fave of mine), and it reactivated my eternal itch for all things WWII. I’m especially interested in the generally untold stories or sides of the war. Though, don’t get me wrong, I do love watching one of the millions of black and white History Channel documentaries about the European theater. Here are a few more:

---

Sponsored by The Vale (Book One) Behind The Vale

A disgraced royal guard turned bounty hunter uncovers a global conspiracy in a post-apocalyptic world filled with magic, mages, monster, fantastic weapons, and an awesome mana enhanced car.

---

My Grandfather Would Have Shot Me: A Black Woman Discovers Her Family’s Nazi Past by Jennifer Teegee and Nikola Sellmair, translated by Carolin Sommer, narrated by Robin Miles

Jennifer is a German-Nigerian woman who was raised by her adoptive parents. In her late 30s, she discovers that her maternal grandfather was Amon Goeth, the commandant of the Plaszów concentration camp (the one portrayed in Schindler’s List). Goeth was responsible for the deaths of thousands of Jews, and was hanged for war crimes in the 1940s. In her memoir, Jennifer reckons with this new knowledge of her family background, and travels to Israel and Poland in search of answers.

Code Talker by Chester Nez and Judith Schiess Avila, narrated by David Colacci

More than 400 Navajos served in the Marines in World War II as “code talkers,” an assignment so top secret that it wasn’t declassified until the late 1960s. Using the Navajo language as code–a language the author was not allowed to speak in his government-run boarding school that tried to strip him of his culture–the Allies were able to get an essential strategic advantage over the Japanese in the Pacific theater (an advantage that led to success in the Battle of Iwo Jima, among others). Nez’s memoir of growing up on a Navajo Reservation, serving in the military, and returning home to face more racism and oppression, is a must-read. Or must-listen.

Winston’s War by Max Hastings, narrated by Robin Sachs

A laser-focused portrait of Winston Churchill during the war years, revealing a British War Lord who was both bumbling and brilliant. Hastings can be a bit fawning for my taste, glossing over (and sometimes outright making excuses for) Churchill’s racism, lack of strategic military skills, and incompetence when managing the British Army. Churchill’s real skill was in the way he managed relationships with Roosevelt and Stalin, and how he pulled up the British people’s morale through what looked like an inevitable defeat. He loved being at war, and is a fascinating figure.

Stalingrad: the Fateful Siege by Antony Beevor

Stalingrad was inarguably the turning point in the European theater of the war. Hitler’s infamous (and idiotic, ego-driven) assault on Stalin’s namesake city was a complete disaster that resulted in the death of more than a million people, the imprisonment of over 90,000 German soldiers in Soviet POW camps, and the beginning of the end for Germany. Beevor’s engrossing modern classic follows the experiences of soldiers on both sides as the city descended into winter, and of the Russian civilians trapped in the city’s ruins, desperate to survive.

I’d love to hear your recommendations for more audiobooks about the Pacific theater–send them to me on Twitter @ImAmandaNelson!

Hello, I’m your substitute, Sharifah, and I will not be playing a movie all period, flicking through social at the teacher’s desk while Katie’s away from the classroom. Instead, I’ll be discussing the funny company I keep. I’m talking about those narrators/writers who keep me laughing.

Now, I’m a solitary person, but that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy the illusion of company. When I’m taking long, leisurely weekend strolls or long, leisurely baths or long, leisurely vacuum-up-all-the-cat-fur sprints, I almost always turn on an audiobook. And when I’m enjoying most solitary pastimes, I prefer the faux company of funny people.

---

Enter to win $500 of Penguin Clothbound classics over on our Instagram account. Click here, or on the image below to enter.

 

 

---

Here are a few personal essay collections, and one fiction work, that keep me company and keep me laughing:

*With one (noted) exception, all of the audiobooks listed below are narrated by their authors.

Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris

Sedaris, King of Humorists, struck me down and collected me into his flock of fandom with this book. Listening to Sedaris talk about his attempts to learn French and his relocation, his quirky family, tourists, and more in observations and experiences is a lot like sitting next to the most interesting and well-spoken person in the room. He delivers the perfect balance of introspection and dry wit, and I’m pretty sure I smiled my way through this entire audiobook.

You Can’t Touch My Hair by Phoebe Robinson

Robinson’s essay collection is low-key my ideal book of hilarity. This one didn’t so much have me smiling as it had me rolling–which needed to be curbed during commutes. From the “you are the best besties” foreword by Jessica Williams to the heartfelt (and still funny) letter to her biracial niece, this book is everything, head to toe. Robinson doesn’t just talk about hair (though I absolutely relate to the Don King thing)–she talks about race, 90s nostalgia, U2, and trying to break into acting. I love the diversity of content and the relatability of this comedic masterpiece.

We Are Never Meeting in Real Life by Samantha Irby

Irby just recently joined my best friends camp of essayists who write relatable content about growing up black, and the foibles of everyday life and adulthood as a 30-something. Family drama, dating drama, sexual firsts drama, ALL the drama. Irby is kind of a no-nonsense, take me as I am or not at all type. I find her brand of humor uplifting and freeing–a reminder that we’re all human, and we’re not going to please everyone. We Are Never Meeting in Real Life also speaks to my attempts-at-adulting lifestyle. And she speaks to these issues with irreverent humor and finesse, confronting the tough subjects with a level of honesty I appreciate as much as the laughs.

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

Here’s another one that deals in the difficult stuff. Comedian Trevor Noah (of the Daily Show) was born in South Africa to a black mother and a white father during apartheid. His very existence had to be hidden lest his parent’s relationship, which was illegal at the time, be discovered. It’s amazing that he has a sense of humor at all. I never thought I’d find myself laughing along with someone who was talking about how institutionalized racism affected his life, and there are some deeply angering, sad, and touching moments in this book. But there’s also that story about his grandmother and trying to take a crap in the night.

Carry On, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse, narrated by Frederick Davidson (the only narrator I will accept for this series)

My final pick sends us on a detour away from memoir and essays. Jeeves and Bertie Wooster are the fictional funny people I can always count on (although, I don’t think Jeeves would appreciate being called funny). The J&W series focuses on a gentleman’s gentleman and his employer who is cursed with the sort of needy, helpless friends who always manage to convince you to do them a solid at deep expense to you. I’m no bachelor strapped with a healthy allowance from my dear aunt, but I am a single lady with a strong sense of caper and an understanding that when the soup gets thick, you might as well order a Green Swizzle to go with it.

I could go on forever, but I’m stopping myself here. Apparently, these books are my balm. I hope that if you decide to pick up one, or two, or all, they give you as much joy.

As for me, I’ll be moving on to The Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany Hadish, and We’re Going to Need More Wine by Gabrielle Union once my library holds are up. I cannot wait.

Lots of LOLs,

SZW

I ended last week’s newsletter on a pretty depressing note and when I did, I said I would try to make this week’s more uplifting. Guess what? I failed. But I failed for such a good reason.

That reason, at least in part, is a Netflix documentary called The Keepers. It’s a seven part series investigating the murder of a nun in Baltimore, Maryland in 1969. The series was first released in May, so it’s possible y’all have seen this and are over it already but, well, the audiobooks newsletter is not the place to come for up-to-date Netflix information.

---

Sponsored by audiOMG!

On Valentine’s Day this year, small-but-awesome audiobook publisher Novel Audio launched a brand-new romance-only imprint called audiOMG! that embraces the fun, sexy, and cheeky side of romance.

As a major part of their launch initiative, they’re celebrating with some super hot launch week freebies! They’re giving away digital copies of THREE of their hottest audiobooks to the first 500 people who come knocking.  So, if you like your audiobooks on the steamier side, you won’t want to miss this.

There’s still time to get yours! Click on the banner to be directed to your three free audiobooks, no strings attached.

---

Anyway, back to The Keepers. It’s ostensibly about two women, Gemma Hoskins and Abbie Fitzgerald Schaub,  who investigate the 1969 unsolved murder of their former teacher at Baltimore’s Archbishop Keough High School, Sister Cathy Cesnick. What the two women learn through their investigation, however, is Sister Cathy’s death might be related to a much larger scandal. Father Maskell, a priest at the school, was sexually assaulting many of the students. It’s a disturbing story that’s both difficult to watch and impossible to stop watching. I literally sat on the couch with my hands over my mouth, totally transfixed.

The intensity of the subject matter was slightly easier to take because of the sheer badassery of the women who came forward about Maskell, as well as self-appointed (and I mean that in the best possible way) investigators, Gemma and Abbie. They took it upon themselves to interview old classmates, research the details of the case, to file Freedom of Information Act requests, and just be incredibly tenacious investigators.

I was toying with whether or not I should mention The Keepers (not an audiobook) in the audiobooks newsletter when, the day after finishing the series, I started listening to A False Report: A True Story of Rape in America by Christian T. Miller and Ken Armstrong. I listened to the whole thing in one day. (It’s the first time I listened to something at 1.25 speed the whole way through because I just needed to know what happened next.

I mentioned it in last week’s newsletter, but A False Report begins with a young woman, Marie, first alleging that someone had broken into her apartment and raped her, only to recant that allegation a week later. Shamed and branded a liar, Marie tried to put the incident behind her. Several years later, two detectives working on separate rape cases join forces when the realize the two crimes have the same, gruesome MO. As they uncover more information about the serial rapist, they follow the breadcrumbs back to Marie and discover the truth of what happened to her that night.

So once I listened to that, having just finished The Keepers, I knew I had to tell you how excellent both stories were and was inspired to come up with a few more True Crime titles for your ears.

BUT FIRST! Head over to Book Riot’s Instagram and enter to win $500 of Penguin Clothbound classics.

True Crime in Your Ears (publisher’s description in quotes)

Incendiary: The Psychiatrist, the Mad Bomber, and the Invention of Criminal Profiling by Michael Cannell

In 1950s New York, citizens were terrorized by the “Mad Bomber,” an individual who detonated lethal devices in some of the city’s most trafficked areas like Penn Station, Radio City Music Hall, and Grand Central Station. He terrorized the city and stumped law enforcement, until Police Captain Howard Finney sought the help of a little known psychiatrist, Dr. James Brussel. They, in turn, teamed up with Seymour Berkson – a handsome New York socialite, protégé of William Randolph Hearst, and publisher of the tabloid The Journal-American – in pursuit of the Mad Bomber.

Incendiary is the This book is a True Crime twofer: you get the story of how this unlikely trio sought to put the Mad Bomber behind bars as well as the history of criminal profiling. I haven’t listened to this one myself yet, but I CANNOT WAIT.

The Fact of a Body by Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich

When I asked my fellow Rioters for their favorite True Crime audiobooks, one title was particularly celebrated: The Fact of a Body. Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich started her summer job at a law firm staunchly anti-death penalty. Which is why it’s so strange when, the moment she hears convicted murderer Ricky Langley’s voice, she “is overcome with the feeling of wanting him to die. Shocked by her reaction, she digs deeper and deeper into the case. Despite their vastly different circumstances, something in his story is unsettlingly, uncannily familiar.”

“As Alexandria pores over the facts of the murder, she finds herself thrust into the complicated narrative of Ricky’s childhood. And by examining the details of Ricky’s case, she is forced to face her own story, to unearth long-buried family secrets and reckon with a past that colors her view of Ricky’s crime.”

Touted as part-memoir, part true crime The Fact of a Body was a Guardian Best Book of the Year, called “A True Crime Masterpiece” by Vogue, and earned this blurb from The New York Times, “Complex and challenging… push[es] the boundaries of writing about trauma.”

The Spy Who Couldn’t Spell: A Dyslexic Traitor, an Unbreakable Code, and the FBI’s Hunt for America’s Stolen Secrets by Yudhijit Bhattacharjee

Before there was Edward Snowden, there was Brian Regan. In 2000, FBI special agent Steven Carr received a series of coded letters, sent to the Libyan consulate, “offering to sell US classified intelligence.” The sender claimed they were a CIA analyst with “top secret clearance [who] had information about US reconnaissance satellites, air defense systems, weapons depots, munitions factories, and underground bunkers throughout the Middle East.”

Further investigation revealed that the threat was in fact real and Carr spent years “hunting down a dangerous spy and his cache of stolen secrets.”

Timely in more ways than one, the Wall Street Journal calls The Spy Who Couldn’t Spell, “An excellent, highly engrossing account of the search for a man who was cunning, avaricious—and a dreadful speller….It is a pleasure to be in the hands of a writer who so skillfully weaves his assiduous research into polished prose….The Spy Who Couldn’t Spell presents an estimable, thoroughly enjoyable overview of espionage in the digital age.”

Bonus Book for the not-easily grossed out:

The Poisoner’s Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York by Deborah Blum

This fascinating history of forensic medicine is informative, compelling, and often really gross. Because, to be honest, forensic medicine is pretty gross. And it was even grosser when they were figuring out how it all worked. So why did I, with my oh so delicate stomach listen all the way through? Because the interesting makes up for the parts where you hear about mashing up a human brain and looking at it under a microscope (which is actually the grossest thing I remember from the book, if if you’re okay with that, you’re probably good to go). Here’s the publisher’s description: “In early twentieth-century New York, poisons offered an easy path to the perfect crime. Science had no place in the Tammany Hall-controlled coroner’s office, and corruption ran rampant. However, with the appointment of chief medical examiner Charles Norris in 1918, the poison game changed forever. Together with toxicologist Alexander Gettler, the duo set the justice system on fire with their trailblazing scientific detective work, triumphing over seemingly unbeatable odds to become the pioneers of forensic chemistry.”

Let me know if you read any of these and what you think! As always, you can get in touch with me on Twitter at msmacb or via email at katie@riotnewmedia.com.

Until next week,

~Katie

Happy Thursday, you beautiful audiophiles,

I know the whole month of February is annoying because you can’t go into a drugstore without being assaulted by glowing, plastic hearts and chocolate bears. It’s…a lot. But I always try to be up for the challenge of reading books that are outside my comfort zone and romance/love stories are pretty well outside my comfort zone. I don’t know why I never got into reading them, I think I was such an angsty kid that I gravitate more towards books where terrible things happen and hearts are broken and never repaired as opposed to people falling in love. And, as you may be able to tell if you’ve been reading this newsletter for awhile, I’m still pretty into books where terrible things happen and hearts are broken and no one falls in love.

---

Sponsored by Blackstone Publishing

A powerful new memoir about growing up with a hard father in a hard land, from the patriarch of Discovery Channel’s Emmy-shortlisted program Alaska: The Last Frontier.

Atz Kilcher’s reckoning with his unusual childhood builds with each chapter of Son of a Midnight Land, offering readers a realistic look at the emotional price he paid for his father’s dream to homestead in Alaska’s remote wilderness.

“Very seldom do we get windows into our parents’ private lives with such honesty…This book…proves anyone can find forgiveness, love, and even change at any age.”

— Jewel, singer and daughter of Atz Kilcher

---

So while I will continue to scoff at the hubbub around Valentine’s Day and brag about my cold, dead heart (just kidding, the love of my life is pictured on the left), I figured this is as good a time as any to listen to books I might not otherwise choose. So, I asked my Rioter pals, and came up with some titles that might be good for new readers of romance.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Sarah S. Davis says, “One reason why Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander has such a huge fanbase is the series appeals to many readers simply because of its unclassifiable genre. Before I picked up the first book, I seldom read historical fiction or romance or science fiction or adventure stories. But the TV show was about to be released and I was curious. Boom! I tore through that huge book in under three days. Outlander appeals to all kinds of readers because this riveting page-turner is driven by an addictive mix of adventure, suspense, love and historical intrigue.”

Nice Girls Don’t Have Fangs by Molly Harper, read by Amanda Ronconi

Nikki Demarco says “If Audible didn’t have buy two get one free sales, I wouldn’t have ever discovered the hilarious voice acting of Amanda Ronconi. She narrates Molly Harper’s books. I discovered, and loved, the Jane Jameson series. Jane is a Kentucky librarian turned vampire who is trying to figure out her new life. Having studied linguistics and being from the South, I’m a stickler for southern dialects. People from Appalachia sound different than people from Savannah. Ronconi gets rural Kentucky just right. In fact, Harper writes a character from Texas living in Half Moon Hollow, the setting for the series, and Ronconi nails the subtle differences in dialect. She has introduced me to other series such as E.J. Cooperman’s Haunted Guesthouse series and Rachel Vincent’s Soul Screamers.”

The next couple of suggestions are courtesy of Jessica Pryde, who is Book Riot’s resident Romance Books Expert and the author of the Kissing Books newsletter.

Destiny’s Captive by Beverly Jenkins, read by Thomas Penny

This fun listen is easy to follow even without the previous books in the series. Noah Yates is an Afro-Spanish merchant and shipowner from California who has a bit of a run in with a lady pirate in the Caribbean, who is also just a touch of a Cuban Revolutionary. The two butt heads (and swords) and have a heck of a good time.

A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray, read by Tavia Gilbert

YA Dimensional Science Fiction at its most interesting. In a relatively quick pace, a girl jumps dimensions to find her father’s murderer… any maybe find true love. The prose is fantastic, but for me the audiobook narrator really makes this novel.

This next recommendation comes from the esteemed Rachel Smalter Hall who reigned supreme over this particular newsletter for years and is a totally kickass human being:

Landline by Rainbow Rowell, read by Rebecca Lowman

Georgie McCool has a deal to produce her dream TV show, but she’ll have to miss Christmas with her husband to meet her deadline. Her marriage is looking rocky when she discovers a time-traveling telephone that can dial the past. Bring on the 90s pop-culture references and a strong female lead who kicks ass and takes names.

Suddenly One Summer by Julie James, read by Karen White

Rioter Jessica Tripler says, “James is an auto-buy, and I know I can count on her audiobooks, which are performed flawlessly by Karen White. A divorce lawyer agrees to take on her neighbor’s sister case. He’s a cocky journalist and she’s skeptical about love. They share James’ trademark mutually denied attraction and irritation with each other. It’s terrific.”

Katie McClain, Rioter and librarian extraordinaire is like me in that she does not naturally gravitate towards the romance genre but Sarah Maclean had been so highly recommended by so many people that Katie decided to give A Rogue By Any Other Name a try. She says, “I’m still not sold on the alpha-male romance trope, but I love the heroine, and I’m really enjoying how skillfully Sarah MacLean crafts her story.” From the publisher, “The cold, ruthless the Marquess of Bourne may be a prince of London’s underworld, but he vows to keep his new bride, the perfect, proper Lady Penelope Marbury untouched by its wickedness. This proves to be a challenge indeed as the lady discovers her own desires, and her willingness to wager anything for them… even her heart.”

A Bollywood Affair by Sonali Dev, read by Priya Ayyar

Mili Rathod was promised to her husband when she was 4 years old, and now she just needs him to claim her. But while studying in America, Mili meets one of the most famous Bollywood directors, Samir Rathod, and now neither of their lives will be the same again. NPR says of the book, “An impressive debut…Vibrant and exuberantly romantic, Affair is chock full of details that reflect India’s social and cultural flux.”  Library Journal says, “This tasty Indian American confection will satisfy female readers of any age…A contemporary, transcontinental romance told with a light touch and lots of sizzle.”

Do y’all have any favorite romantic listens? Let me know at katie@riotnewmedia.org or on Twitter at msmacb. 

Until next week,

~Katie

Hey there audiophiles,

What are y’all listening to? I’m working through Dan Harris’ Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics. Here is the thing: every year for the past…many years, I have made exactly one New Year’s Resolution: to start a meditation practice. And every year, I get to January 3rd and realize it’s been two days since I even thought about the resolution, much less made an attempt to keep it. But I’m about halfway through listening to this book and I have actually attempted to meditation a number of times since starting. So if you, like me, have wanted to start a meditation practice but haven’t managed to make it work, I’d pick this book up.

---

Sponsored by audiOMG!

It’s always exciting when a favorite author starts a new series, but when that series blends romance, murder, and a mysterious family of eligible bachelors, it’s time to get double excited!  

Enter MOONLIGHT SINS from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout.

Julia’s starting over with a new job—and a steamy, one-night encounter with a stranger, only to discover he’s Lucian de Vincent . . . her new employer. Despite her best efforts, she draws closer to the mysterious man as a menacing presence in her new place of employ threatens the de Vincents and an unknowing Julia.

---

Last week to enter our library cart giveaway! Enter here.

New month, new releases!

There are tons of new releases that I’m excited about this month, so let’s dive right in.

Back Talk: Stories by Danielle Lazarin; narrated by Reba Buhr

I’ve always been a big fan of short stories collections but didn’t start listening to them on audio until I borrowed If I Loved You, I Would Tell You This by Robin Black (very good, by the way) from my public library a few years ago. But they make for great listen–-especially because you can get through a whole story while you’re at the supermarket or walking the dog (without needing to invest a whole 7 hours like you might with a novel.

What really sold me on this title was the blurb for author Eileen Pollack: “Thank God, a collection of stories about women who don’t hate themselves, don’t hate other women, don’t hate their bodies, don’t hate their husbands, or even their ex-husbands . . . women who are simply, like me, trying to figure out what it means to be alive, to be in love, to be daughters, parents, siblings, wives, citizens, human beings.”

The Birdwoman’s Palate by Tiffany Tsao;  translated by Laksmi Pamuntjak; narrated by Elizabeth Knowelden

“Aruna is an epidemiologist dedicated to food and avian politics. One is heaven, the other earth. The two passions blend in unexpected ways when Aruna is asked to research a handful of isolated bird flu cases reported across Indonesia.” With three of her friends, a co-worker, a “foodist,” and a celebrity chef, Aruna’s adventures lead to her understand both her country and herself in a new way.

Dead People Suck : A Guide for Survivors of the Newly Departed written and narrated by Laurie Kilmartin

As a society, we are not great at dealing with death. We all have or will experience the death of someone close to us and, sooner or later, we’re all going to experience experience it. From the publisher, “Whether you are old and about to die, sick and about to die, or with a loved one who is about to pass away or who has passed away, there’s something for you. With chapters like ‘Are You an Old Man with Daughters? Please Shred Your Porn’, ‘If Cancer Was an STD, It Would Be Cured by Now’, and ‘Unsubscribing Your Dead Parent from Tea Party Emails’, Laurie Kilmartin guides listeners through some of life’s most complicated moments with equal parts heart and sarcasm.”

Devotion written and read by Patti Smith

I will listen to Patti Smith read anything. ANYTHING. Have I talked about how much I love Just Kids in this newsletter? It’s excellent. So would I listen to Smith read her 2017 book about “her own creative process, inspirations, and unexpected connections?” UMMM, YES PLEASE.

 

A False Report
: A True Story of Rape in America by T. Christian Miller, Ken Armstron; narrated by Ken Armstrong, Hillary Huber, T. Christian Miller

“On August 11, 2008, 18-year-old Marie reported that a masked man broke into her apartment near Seattle, Washington, and raped her. Within days police and even those closest to Marie became suspicious of her story: details of the crime didn’t seem plausible…police swiftly pivoted and began investigating Marie.” Marie broke down and confessed to lying about the incident.

Only she wasn’t lying. In what sounds like the plot of a movie, two years later a detective was investigating a different sexual assault case when it brought her back to Marie’s case. “Based on investigative files and extensive interviews with the principals, A False Report is a serpentine tale of doubt, lies, and a hunt for justice, unveiling the disturbing reality of how sexual assault is investigated today – and the long history of skepticism toward rape victims.”

WHAT IN THE WHAT? I’m shocked I hadn’t heard about this before now but I CANNOT WAIT to get my hands on it.

The Line Becomes a River: Dispatches from the Border written and narrated by Francisco Cantú

The Mexican-American border has always been home to Francisco Cantú. After he joins the Border Patrol, however, he sees the secrets and tragedies of the border more intimately. “Plagued by nightmares, Cantú abandons the Patrol for civilian life. But when a friend, a regular at the café where he now works, travels back to Mexico to visit his dying mother and does not return, Cantu discovers that the border and its stories have migrated with him.”

So many of us talk about the politics around the border without really understanding the people who spend their lives trying to get from one side to the other. I think it would behoove all of us who haven’t had that experience to listen to those who have.

Only Child by Rhiannon Navin; narrated by Kivlighan de Montebello

This sounds very intense and very good. Zach is in first grade when a gunman rampages the halls of his school, killing 19 people and shattering a close-knit community. “While Zach’s mother pursues a quest for justice against the shooter’s parents, holding them responsible for their son’s actions, Zach retreats into his super-secret hideout and loses himself in a world of books and art. Armed with his newfound understanding, and with the optimism and stubbornness only a child could have, Zach sets out on a captivating journey towards healing and forgiveness, determined to help the adults in his life rediscover the universal truths of love and compassion needed to pull them through their darkest hours.”

There were 11 school shootings in January of this year. This issue, sadly, isn’t going anywhere. Perhaps literature, if not our reality, knock some sense into us about the trauma of gun violence.

Yeesh, that was a dark note to end on, sorry, y’all. But feel free to be in touch on twitter at msmacb or at katie@riotnewmedia.com and I’ll try to have some very uplifting audiobooks news next time!

Until next week,

~Katie

Hey there audiobook fans,

I missed you last week, but I know Amanda took good care of you in my absence.

So, what are y’all listening to? I’m listening to Bonfire by Krysten Ritter (you may also know her as the actress who kicked major ass as Jessica Jones, among other roles). I’m just going to come out and admit what a jerk I am: because I knew Ritter as an actress and not a writer, I didn’t expect this to be a super well-written book. Writing is a craft, I figured, and if you’ve been focusing on a different craft (acting/producing, etc.) you might not have time to practice the craft of writing. That’s my own ignorance, obviously, because I have no idea what Ritter spends her days doing. But she’s an impressive writer.

Abby Williams was eager to leave her small town in Indiana to become an environmental lawyer in Chicago. But when evidence emerges of contaminated water in the town where she grew-up, Abby has to revisit her hometown, and all the secrets she was so eager to leave behind. I enjoy a good thriller and read them enough to be familiar with the formula and tropes of the woman-uncovering-mystery/corruption genre and Bonfire falls into a few of those traps. But there were also many times I thought the plot was headed for one of those tropes and it careened in another direction. Ritter’s prose is vivid and engaging, though, and it’s an entertaining listen. I would have assumed that Ritter narrates it but she doesn’t. Karissa Vacker narrates and gives a strong performance, which is how I managed to get through a whole bunch of chores on Saturday.

Giveaway Timez! My librarian heart is particularly happy with this giveaway–-a library cart! You can even pick whatever color you want! Enter here. And keep an eye out for our new librarian newsletter, Check Your Shelf.

So, today, January 24th marks 10 years since I quit drinking (to be honest, this anniversary makes me feel more old than proud, but whaddaya gonna do?). Books, audio or otherwise, were hugely important during those first years in recovery and, seeing as the addiction epidemic continues to spiral wildly out of control, odds are you know someone who has struggled with an addiction. Even if you don’t, a better understanding of addiction is something we would all collectively benefit from. So here are a few audiobooks that got me through the confusing days of early sobriety (publisher description in quotes).

Beautiful Boy: A Father’s Journey Through His Son’s Addiction by David Sheff

What most resonated with me early in sobriety were memoirs about people who had struggled with addiction themselves, but let us not forget the impact that addiction has on the family and loved ones of the person struggling. This is the central issue in David Sheff’s book about his son, Nic. “Before meth, Sheff’s son, Nic, was a varsity athlete, honor student, and award-winning journalist. After meth, he was a trembling wraith who stole money from his eight-year-old brother and lived on the streets. With haunting candor, Sheff traces the first warning signs, the attempts at rehabilitation, and, at last, the way past addiction. He shows us that, whatever an addict’s fate, the rest of the family must care for one another, too, lest they become addicted to addiction.”

You can also hear Sheff’s son’s perspective in his memoir: Tweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamines and We All Fall Down (for what it’s worth, I’ve read both, and prefer We All Fall Down.

Drinking: A Love Story by Caroline Knapp

This is arguably the most important book I’ve ever read. Years before I got sober, Caroline Knapp pulled me into this book with her gorgeous prose. I read this book for the first time before I got sober (and listened to the audio after). Before I even realized I had a problem with drinking, I saw myself if Knapp’s writing. This is one book that I treasure in all formats. A must read for…anyone.

High Price by Dr. Carl Hart

Before he was a neuroscientist and Columbia University’s first tenured African-American professor in the sciences, Dr. Carl Hart himself struggled with drug addiction. In this memoir, Hart “recalls his journey of self-discovery and weaves his past and present. Hart goes beyond the hype of the anti-drug movement as he examines the relationship among drugs, pleasure, choice, and motivation, both in the brain and in society. His findings shed new light on common ideas about race, poverty, and drugs, and explain why current policies are failing.”

Hole in my Life by Jack Gantos

This isn’t about addiction per say, but…well, it’s just a great book. “When he was a senior in high school, writer Jack Gantos agreed to help sail a sixty-foot yacht loaded with a ton of hashish from the Virgin Islands to New York City, where he and his partners sold the drug until federal agents caught up with them. In Hole in My Life, Gantos describes how– once he was locked up in a small, yellow-walled cell – moved from wanting to be a writer to writing, and how dedicating himself more fully to the thing he most wanted to do helped him endure and ultimately overcome the worst experience of his life.”

Lit by Mary Karr

Memoirs about getting sober need at least a dash of humor to be tolerable. Fortunately, Mary Karr is freaking hilarious and her sobriety memoir has witty, dry (pun intended, thank you very much) humor on every page. We were introduced to Mary’s “charismatic but troubled” mother in Cherry. Discussions about motherhood, alcoholism, and life’s chaos make this a memorable (and surprisingly fun, given the content) listen.

And finally, here are some audiobook(ish)-related links that may be of interest.

Listen to Nick Offerman read a Denis Johnson short story via Literary Hub

Not entirely audiobooky, but interesting bookish news: HBO has released a teaser trailer for Fahrenheit 451, and Catch-22 is coming to Hulu.

Finally, we’ve talked before about how to become an audiobook narrator, but if you’re looking for another narrator’s advice, here ya go:

https://www.backstage.com/advice-for-actors/backstage-experts/voiceover-audiobooks-advice-auditions/

 

As always, you can find me on twitter at msmacb or shoot me an email at katie@riotnewmedia.com.

 

Until next week,

~Katie

 

 

Hello audiobook lovers,

Amanda Nelson (Book Riot’s Managing Editor) here, filling in for Katie this week. Let’s get right to what’s happening in the audiobook world:

---

Sponsored by Novel Audio

Ever dream of packing your bags, heading to L.A., and finding your big break? In Novel Audio’s hottest new release, award-winning actress Jenna Fischer’s got you covered with a mix of practical advice for aspiring actors, personal anecdotes, and behind-the-scenes glimpses at some pivotal Jim & Pam moments that fans of The Office will devour. Rainn Wilson reads a special audio-only version of Steve Carell’s foreword (complete with plenty of commentary of his own). Includes interviews with Natalie Zea, Sean Gunn, Derek Waters, Reed Birney, and an excerpt from Mark Proksch, plus bonus photos. Get it here!

---

Katherine Kellgren, a prolific (and probably familiar to you, even if you don’t know her name) audiobooks narrator has died after a battle with cancer. Kellgren voiced almost 300 audiobooks, including The Queen of the Tearling, Austenland, and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Rioter Aimee Miles has more about her work over on Book Riot, including her accolades: “four different Audie Awards for her narration, including Best Female Narrator in 2016 for Wild Rover No More: Being the Last Recorded Account of the Life & Times of Jacky Faber by L.A. Meyer. She was a Booklist Voice of Choice and named an Audiofile Golden Voice.”

-Over on the Book Riot YouTube channel, Rincey talks about her personal journey with audiobooks, and how she’s learned to love them once again.

-The new Denis Johnson audiobook of The Largesse of the Sea Maiden has an amazing cast of narrators: Nick Offerman, Michael Shannon, Dermot Mulroney, Will Patton and Liev Schreiber. Have a listen:

What I’m Listening To:

I’ve finished The Power of Meaning: Crafting a Life That Matters by Emily Esfahani Smith, a fascinating blend of philosophy and psychology that investigates our culture’s current obsession with “happiness” and that doesn’t lead to, well, happiness. But finding a life of meaning just might. I’ve moved on to a rather different topic: The Earth Moved: On the Remarkable Achievement of Earthworms by Amy Stewart. I have a weird fascination with places humans can’t really reach: space, the depth of the ocean, etc., and am now turning that eye to the deep underground word of the lowly (but impactful) earthworm.

 

That’s it for this week, folks! Katie will be back next week with your regularly scheduled programming. Happy listening!