The official Top Ten Tuesday topic today is “Resolutions/Hopes for 2021”. I’m not jinxing myself by making resolutions this year, and several hopes for 2021 have already been dashed (not even two weeks in) so I’m going rogue with this post – a belated year-end list of Top Ten Favorite Audiobooks of 2020.
As I mentioned in my Top Ten Favorite Books of the Year post, I listened to a LOT of audio in 2020. Even more than usual, I would guess, even though I had no commute when working from home for a few months back in the spring, when the library building was closed even to staff. So picking the top ten was difficult, as I don’t keep great records.
I came up with 17 audiobooks I rated highly on LibraryThing, so I’ve gone with the ones that struck me as the ones I was most glad I had chosen to listen to rather than reading them, but would be most happy to reread in print for a book club or online readalong. (I don’t do much rereading.)
These are approximately in the order of when I listened to them, starting with the most recent.
The Searcher (Penguin Audio, 2020) by Tana French
Mexican Gothic (Random House Audio, 2020) by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Leave the World Behind (Harper Audio, 2020) by Rumaan Alam
The Power (Hachette Audio, 2017) by Naomi Alderman
A God in Ruins (Hachette Audio, 2015) by Kate Atkinson
Conjure Women (PRH Audio, 2020) by Afia Atakora
The Body Lies (PRH Audio, 2019) by Jo Baker
Another Brooklyn (Harper Audio, 2016) by Jacqueline Woodson
The Gifted School (PRH Audio, 2019) by Bruce Holsinger
Spinning Silver (PRH Audio, 2018) by Naomi Novik
Look at that! My top ten audiobooks of 2020 (including one with multiple narrators) and no repeat narrators! Sometimes I’ll pick an audiobook entirely because it’s read by a favorite narrator, but not that often, I guess. If you’re interested in trying different audiobook narrators, you might be interested in joining this challenge for 2021 – New (To You) Narrator Reading Challenge hosted by Jen at Introverted Reader.
Check out the other Top Ten Tuesday posts at That Artsy Reader Girl where you’ll probably find other challenges listed by book bloggers who have resolved to attempt them this year. You can also find a master list of 2021 reading challenges hosted by Kim and Tanya at Girl XOXO.
Curious about my seven runners-up? Here they are:
- All the Devils Are Here by Louise Penny, read by Robert Bathurst
- Pet Sematary by Stephen King, read by Michael C. Hall
- Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors by Sonali Dev, read by Soneela Nankani
- Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal, read by Meera Syal
- Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson, read by Graham Halstead
- The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory, read by Janina Edwards
- Long Bright River by Liz Moore, read by Allyson Ryan
What a nice list.
I hope the rest of 2021 treats you better. 🙂
My post.
Sorry to hear that 2021 isn’t going well so far. Here’s to hoping it starts looking up!
I don’t listen to a lot of audiobooks, but Mexican Gothic seems like it’d be a really good audiobook, especially with all the creepiness of it!
Here’s my TTT post.
Thanks for this list! I tried audiobooks for the first time last year and enjoyed the experience. I’m on the lookout for some good ones for this year as well, so I’ll definitely take a closer look at the ones you recommend.
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
Mexican Gothic I really need to read. Tana French is an author I’d like to try too. I should try audios again. I always get so distracted…
Mexican Gothic was so good, and I have a copy of a God in Ruins that I need to get to some time. Love this list!
I definitely plan to read Leave the World Behind soon.
I didn’t listen to any of these this past year, so it’s nice to know they’re good. My two favorites from last year on audio were The Ten Thousand Doors of January and Anxious People.
What a great list! I read Mexican Gothic, but I can imagine that it would make a cracking audiobook – and I also enjoyed reading Spinning Silver, another ideal book for audio.
I’ve not really gotten into audiobooks as of yet. I can see myself getting hooked if I start 🙂 I hope you can stop by:
https://collettaskitchensink.blogspot.com/2021/01/2021-goals-update-1.html
Colletta
Goodie! I love audiobook recs
I’m always looking for good audiobooks. I will keep your list in mind since I haven’t listened to any of these.
I’m not an audiobook listener but I did enjoy reading The Power a couple years ago. Super interesting. I am also really looking forward to reading Leave the World Behind when my turn comes up for it at the library.
I do have some audiobooks I still have to listen to. But I and audiobooks is no easy thing. Oh well. But thank you for your list. They are all new to me but I will check them out.
Thanks for mentioning my challenge! I haven’t listened to any of these. I did read Mexican Gothic in print and enjoy it, although not as much as everyone else seems to. I hope you find even better audiobooks in 2021!