I
have gotten together with a few of my favorite narrators to talk about the their
favorite audiobooks of 2014! In Part 1 of my Best of 2014 - Narrator's Edition, I asked Khristine Hvam, Lorelei King, Johnny Heller, Dion Graham, and Robert Fass about their favorite audiobooks that they narrated in 2014.
See Part 2 Here
See Part 2 Here
Name: Khristine Hvam
Twitter Address: @khristinehvam
Top Audiobooks of 2014
#1 "Frog Music" by Emma Donoghue - Fiction - I loved this novel. Recording this was the most challenging narration of my career thus far. Beautiful story. So many accents. Intricate characters. Music and songs. This narration pushed me out of my comfort zone and humbled me. What a wonderful experience.
#2
"Dreams of Gods and Monsters" by Laini Taylor - Teen/Fantasy - If you
haven't read this one yet (or listened to it) it is a MUST. Laini Taylor
is a beautiful genius in the writing of this. Its filled with all my
favorite things. Great interesting well fleshed out characters, a love
story, a tragedy, comic genius, battles... it's just such an amazing
ride. I had such fun with creating all the voices for this series. When
an author gives you something this juicing to bite on... well, you've
just gotta bite!
#3
"Conversion" by Katherine Howe - Teen/Fiction - "Converision" was
really interesting for me. The book takes place both in present time and
in seventeenth century Massachusetts. So, on the one hand it was right
in my "teen" wheel house of narration but, once we went back in time I
needed to CREATE an accent for these characters since there is no way of
knowing how the people of this time period really sounded and I had to
try and relate to seventeenth century minded young women. It was a
challenge I enjoyed taking on
#4
"How to Shit in the Woods" by Kathleen Meyer - non fiction - I think
the title speaks to exactly why this was one of this years favorites for
me. Oh how I laughed and learned. I honestly think that if I ever
decide to spend lots of time camping (not gonna happen) that at least
I'd be smarter about my "imprint" on the environment.
Favorite Audiobook Cover for 2014
You
know I never really pay much attention to the covers to be honest. I
actually had to go searching to look at them to answer this one. So, I'd
have to say "Dreams of Gods and Monsters"... very eye catching.
Favorite Audiobook Series of 2014
Hands down the "Daughter of Smoke and Bone Series" We recorded the final book in the trilogy early this year (Dreams of Gods and Monsters). What an incredible story. Its got it all. Love, Tragedy. Comedy. Fantasy. Beautiful characters and imagery. Its no wonder this series was such a success. Laini Taylor is just an incredible writer. It was truly an honor to work on this series.
Favorite Narrator of 2014
This
is such a difficult question to answer. I respect and admire so many
fellow narrators... but if I have to choose one for 2014 it's Suzanne
Toren. Suzanne actually directed me in my performance of "Frog Music."
Without her the project would have fallen flat. She is such an
accomplished and experienced narrator herself that she was really able
to bring out the very best in me. I learned so much from her during that
experience and i love her for it! Thanks Suzanne Toren!
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Twitter Handle: @LoreleiKing
Top Audiobooks of 2014
#1 Top Secret Twenty-One (by Janet Evanovich), crime fiction. “I have loved this series from the start – Janet Evanovich has a wonderful sense of humor and a real gift for dialogue. Top Secret Twenty-One was a joy to record.”
#2 Sixth Grave on the Edge (by Darynda Jones), paranormal romantic
suspense. “Charley Davidson is a GREAT heroine! I was lucky enough to record two
books from the series this year, but I have a soft spot for this one as (no
spoilers!) there is a HUGE development in Charley’s life.”
#3 Some Luck (by Jane Smiley), literary fiction. “An American
family saga with superb writing – what’s not to love?”
#4 Dead Old (by Maureen Carter), police procedural. “This is
British crime fiction at its best – hard-hitting, but with a thread of dark
humour running throughout. Bev Morriss is a great, all-too-human heroine.”
#5 How To Write Fiction Without the Fuss (by Lucy McCarraher), non
fiction. “I love the challenges of narrating non-fiction – and I learned so much
from this title! It’s a great jumping-off point for any aspiring writer.”
Favorite Audiobook Cover for 2014
I think the most striking cover of the books I recorded this year has to be the one for The Peripheral, by William Gibson. Love it!
Favorite Audiobook Series of 2014
My favourite series has to be the Seattle-based Laura Benton mystery series
by Chris Nickson – Emerald City and West Seattle Blues so far.
I love the way Chris incorporates his knowledge of popular music into the
stories.
Favorite Narrator of 2014
Robert Madge – a young British narrator just bursting with talent. He held his own against a star-studded cast of superb narrators in Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book, released this past autumn.
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Name: JOHNNY HELLER
Blog Address: WWW.JOHNNYHELLER.COM & WWW.ABBREVIATEDAUDIO.COM
Twitter Address: @JOHNNYHELLER
Blog Address: WWW.JOHNNYHELLER.COM & WWW.ABBREVIATEDAUDIO.COM
Twitter Address: @JOHNNYHELLER
Top Audiobooks of 2014
#1 THE EIGHTH DWARF BY ROSS THOMAS (HIGHBRIDGE/RECORDED BOOKS) Fiction/mystery - great post WWII noir featuring an evil Romanian dwarf and a cast of American & European wonderful characters...Funny and fast moving.
#2 THE EDUCATION OF LITTLE TREE by FORREST CARTER (ACX/CROSSROADS PRESS) YA An enchanting moving tale of a young Cherokee boy learning about the ways of nature and of man during the depression. A very moving and beautiful tale.
#3 SAFARI by PARNELL HALL (BLACKSTONE/DOWNPOUR) MYSTERY/HUMOR A wonderfully funny mystery featuring Stanely Hastings. A NY Detective must solve murders while on an African Safari vacation.
#4 BLOOD SPORT BY TIM ELFRINK AND GUS GARCIA-ROBERTS (RECORDED BOOKS) current events/non fiction The true tale of the Biogenisis scandal that still rocks MLB and the horrible story of noted slugger and cheater - Alex Rodriguez.
#5 GANGSTERLAND BY TOD GOLDBERG (BLACKSTONE/DOWNPOUR) crime fiction
I'm recording this right now so it counts for this year! It's the story of a Chicago mob hit man who goes undercover as a Jewish Rabbi in Las Vegas. It's a brilliant story - funny, clever and twisted.
#2 THE EDUCATION OF LITTLE TREE by FORREST CARTER (ACX/CROSSROADS PRESS) YA An enchanting moving tale of a young Cherokee boy learning about the ways of nature and of man during the depression. A very moving and beautiful tale.
#3 SAFARI by PARNELL HALL (BLACKSTONE/DOWNPOUR) MYSTERY/HUMOR A wonderfully funny mystery featuring Stanely Hastings. A NY Detective must solve murders while on an African Safari vacation.
#4 BLOOD SPORT BY TIM ELFRINK AND GUS GARCIA-ROBERTS (RECORDED BOOKS) current events/non fiction The true tale of the Biogenisis scandal that still rocks MLB and the horrible story of noted slugger and cheater - Alex Rodriguez.
#5 GANGSTERLAND BY TOD GOLDBERG (BLACKSTONE/DOWNPOUR) crime fiction
I'm recording this right now so it counts for this year! It's the story of a Chicago mob hit man who goes undercover as a Jewish Rabbi in Las Vegas. It's a brilliant story - funny, clever and twisted.
Favorite Audiobook Cover for 2014
I like the cover of SAFARI
Favorite Audiobook Series of 2014
SAFARI - STANLEY HASTINGS MYSTERY
JOHNNY HELLER! if not me, then Robert Fass
Favorite Audiobook Series of 2014
SAFARI - STANLEY HASTINGS MYSTERY
Favorite Narrator of 2014
JOHNNY HELLER! if not me, then Robert Fass
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Narrator: Dion Graham
Top Audiobooks of 2014
It was a busy year. I didn't get to listen to many audiobooks that were recorded by other folks. But here's a list of some favorites that I recorded or were released in 2014. All worth your time. In no particular order:
#1 RADIANCE OF TOMORROW by Ishmael Beah, Fiction
This
is Beah's first work of fiction following his harrowing memoir A LONG
WAY GONE. Chronicling the return of villagers after civil war in Sierra
Leone this is a moving and sometimes wry tale. Told with great subtlety
and compassion, I felt like I was walking around with these people.
#2 INFINITY RING: THE IRON EMPIRE and ETERNITY by James Dashner and Matt de la Pena, Young Adult Fiction
These
are the last two books in the series (perhaps) and they do not
disappoint. It's been a blast time traveling with Dak, Riq, and Sera as
they try to fix history and thwart the malevolent SQ. If this is really
the end I'll miss these kids.
#3 THE MARTINI SHOT by George Pelecanos, Short Stories, Fiction
I've
narrated a lot of George's work. He's a favorite. These stories are the
essence of 'lived in' and are full of diverse characters. They remind
me of my grandmother's saying 'Life is a good teacher', sometimes
followed by 'Life is a hard teacher...'. Grab a drink and settle in.
#4 DAYS GONE BY by Eric Jerome Dickey, Short Stories
This
is gem of a story that I did for Spoken Freely's Summer Shorts. The
first piece that Eric Jerome Dickey ever published, it's a look at the
lives of a few friends via the rear view mirror. Memory. Time. What
happened. What might've happened. It's hilarious and sobering at the
same time.
#5 INSIDE A SILVER BOX by Walter Mosley, Speculative Literature/Sci-Fi
Wow.
This fever dream by the great Walter Mosley will blow your mind. Talk
about life, the universe, sex, God, and everything! A wild ride to
narrate AND to listen to.
Name: Robert Fass
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Name: Robert Fass
Top Audiobooks of 2014
#1 IT HAPPENED IN BOSTON? by Russell H. Greenan. Introduction by Jonathan Lethem. It’s hard to define the genre for this amazing novel; it’s sometimes labeled speculative fiction, literary fiction, sometimes fantasy, sometimes a murder mystery, often simply “unclassifiable”. This is a cult classic which I’ve loved for about 40 years and had never been in audio before, so I negotiated the audio rights and published it myself, partnering with Blackstone Audio for the marketing and distribution. I’m very proud of it!
#2 THE WOLFEN by Whitley Strieber. Horror. Another older book I did this year, this is a werewolf classic that was made into a film with Albert Finney in the early 80s. I was surprised to discover how genuinely scary it is.
#3 A STUDY IN TERROR by Ellery Queen. Mystery. Ellery Queen matches wits with Sherlock Holmes in an effort to reveal the true identity of Jack the Ripper. A breezy, well-constructed mystery and a standout in the series.
#4 F: A NOVEL by Daniel Kehlmann. Literary Fiction. This prize-winning new German novel by the phenomenal young author of MEASURING THE WORLD is a clever, haunting, heartbreaking puzzle told from multiple points of view within a fractured family. Fellow narrators Bronson Pinchot and Jim Meskimen do a stellar job.
#5 JOHN MARSHALL: The Chief Justice Who Saved the Nation by Harlow Giles Unger. History. Thomas Jefferson does not fare well in Unger’s hands as he tells the engaging, inspiring story of the chief justice who helped bring law and order to the young United States. Unger does a good job of humanizing this towering figure, describing not only his political struggles but his loving marriage.
Favorite Audiobook Cover for 2014
IT HAPPENED IN BOSTON? by Russell H. Greenan
Favorite Audiobook Series of 2014
The Bodenstein and Kirchhoff crime thrillers by another bestselling German author, Nele Neuhaus. In 2013 I narrated the smash hit SNOW WHITE MUST DIE, and 2014 began with the release of the particularly nasty follow-up, BAD WOLF. I have just finished recording the prequel to SNOW WHITE MUST DIE, entitled THE ICE QUEEN, which comes out next month.
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Check our my favorite Author's Best of 2014
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