Listening to audiobooks is a great way to enjoy novels, short stories, and non-fiction titles. I tend to listen to books that I think might be either difficult or challenging to read, books that I have previously read and want to revisit, or titles that my family and I can share together if we are going on a long car trip. Having a good narrator or cast of narrators can make the experience even more enjoyable. Here’s a list of my recent audiobook check-outs whose narrators have made them special.

The Line Tender by Kate Allen. Narrated by Jenna Lamia. This is a poignant middle-grade novel featuring a young girl’s struggle to deal with the death of loved ones and find ways to cope and move forward. Award-winning audiobook narrator and actor Jenna Lamia does a good job in conveying the main character’s highly emotional thoughts and responses. It’s a real tear-jerker.

This audiobook isn’t available through Salina Public Library’s catalog, but I was able to download it through the State Library’s Cloud Library. If you don’t already have a State Library card, I encourage you to sign up—it’s free! The Cloud Library is a great way to supplement Libby and Hoopla for even more ebooks and audiobooks. You can learn how to get a State Library card here.

 

In Pieces by Sally Field. Narrated by the author. I’ve been a fan of actor Sally Field my whole life and hearing her narrate her heart-wrenching autobiography is a rare treat. I don’t think text-reading Sally Field’s book would be quite the same experience without her wonderfully recognizable voice narrating it. 

 

Red Rabbit by Alex Grecian. Narrated by John Pirhalla. This audiobook narration was nominated for an Audie Award in 2024. Prolific narrator John Pirhalla handles the multiple characters in the story deftly, using a variety of eccentric accents and tones. This title was featured in the library’s 2025 Book Club to New Worlds list. 

 

Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Narrated by Cherry Jones. I can’t remember how many times I read the Little House books when I was young – listening to them now really brings back memories! Actress Cherry Jones is a great choice to read them aloud. Her pleasant voice takes the listener back to those happy golden years. 

 

In the Lives of Puppets by T.J. Klune. Narrated by Daniel Henning. This was a title featured in the library’s 2024 Book Club to New Worlds list. I was in the middle of reading another book, so in preparation for the book discussion, listening to the audiobook was quick and easy. Award-winning audiobook narrator Daniel Henning’s interpretation made the book funny and interesting – in particular, the robot voices were a real hoot! 

 

Hunting Season by Nevada Barr. Narrated by Barbara Rosenblat. I read a lot of mystery series and sometimes I want to mix things up by listening to an entry. I love the first-person point of view format of the Anna Pigeon park ranger series. British actress Barbara Rosenblat voices a ton of mystery audiobooks and her succinct, fast-paced narration puts you right into the main character’s head and makes the journey that much more enjoyable. 

 

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. Narrated by George Guidall. George Guidall’s name seems almost synonymous with audiobook narration (he’s narrated over 1300 titles) and though that might make one hesitate, thinking he just pumps them out, he always does a really good job. In this particular recording, Guidall’s rendition of the Frankenstein monster’s voice is wonderfully creepy, drippingly gruff and heartbreaking – just right! 

 

The Stranger in the Woods by Michael Finkel. Narrated by Mark Bramhall. I’m sort of a reluctant non-fiction reader so listening about an interesting topic is a great choice if I’m feeling daunted. This is a true-crime story about a thieving recluse who spent 27 years in the Maine woods in complete isolation. Mark Bramhall’s matter-of-fact narration kept me riveted as the incredible true story unfolded. 

 

Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells. Narrated by Kevin R. Free. If you like science fiction and are looking for a snarky, sarcastic main character, then look no further than Wells’s awesome series featuring SecUnit (or “Murderbot” as it likes to refer to itself). Multi-talented actor Kevin R. Free narrates this sixth book in the series with all of the cynicism, curiosity and irony that Murderbot’s programming (and straying from) is famous for. 

 

The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. Narrated by Jim Dale (American versions) and/or Stephen Fry (British versions). I must admit to listening to the wildly popular series a number of times over the years. They are so addictive! Whether you like the outrageous and incredibly varied voices of Jim Dale or the more relaxed and suspenseful tinge of Stephen Fry’s renditions, you are in for a wonderful time.