I'm a recent convert to listening to books on tape in the car while on my way to work. Though I'm only on my third I'm realizing that depending on the type of book and whose reading it can affect how much I enjoy it. Does anyone have any favorites they'd like to recommend? I never realized how much time I was wasting on my way to work when I could be reading too!!! (at least more than at red lights). I feel like I'm accomplishing something by finishing a book in a week!

I listen to a lot of audiobooks. 

Some great ones on audio:

I had at first read the Sookie Stackhouse books by Charlaine Harris. Then I got them on audio from teh library.  The reader for those is really good. Her name is Johanna Parker.

The Harry Potter Books, The Stephanie Plum and Barney books by Janet Evanovich, The Prey and Virgil Flower series by John Sandford, The Hamish MacBeth and Agatha Raisin books by M.C. Beaton.  The In Death books by J.D. Robb are good as well. 

I don't listen to that many romance books on audio.  I did listen to many of the Dark series books by Christine Feehan on audio.  Those varied as they used different readers for them.  (I have some of those on MP3CD that I'm willing to do a deal on if anyone is interested).  I recently listened to Mind Game by Christine Feehan on audio and that was good.

Right now I'm listening to Second Sight by Amanda Quick.  The woman who reads a lot of Quick/Krentz books is pretty good. Her name is Ann Flosnik.

The Woman's Murder Club books by James Patterson are good on audio.

The Myron Bolitar books by Harlan Coben.  He did his own reading for Promise Me and he wasn't that great. But actors they used for the other books were really good.

I've listened to quite a few Nora Roberts books on audio. They vary who reads them and I can't really remember which ones I've read.  I just kind of grab them at the library sometimes.

Check out your local library they might have quite a few of them. That's where I get most of mine.  The library has a website and they will order them from other libraries from the area. 

I listen to them while in the car, doing housework or outside with the dogs.  My dogs are talented escape artists and I can't leave them alone in the yard even with the fence.  So I just put on my headphones everytime I take them out and some days I get through a couple of CDs jsut taking them out to play and go potty.

I listen while driving sometimes. A lot are children's that just appeal to me - A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck is awesome. Alsolike the one before that ' A Long Way from Chicago'. Judy Blume's Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothng and superfudge books are good. Can't resist Boxcar children and Surprise Island! Just finished one someone recommended 'Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs' and am listening to another I wouldn't recommend though!

adult - Rebecca Wells' Divine Secrets of the ya ya sisterhood and little altars everwhere are awesome on audio.(havent listened to the 3rd yet), janet evanovich's stephanie plum are good on audio though I kinda burned out on them for now. JD Robb's 'in death' so far has been good on audio(listened to the first 2 so far) Ilike DebbieMacomber's blossom street books on audio also.

I just can't listen to romance on tape...it makes me giggle and roll my eyes!  Somehow lots of it reads ok but sounds just so dang corney if it's read.  I totally can't get lost in it.

I love audios and used to listen to them at work when I was working a data entry job. It's been many years since I did that job so I'm going by memory

The Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich is very good on audio. I tried to read the first book but couldn't get into it but I really liked the audio. The narrator that I liked for this series was C.J. Critt, there are three different ones but she is the one I liked best (one of the other ones is ok but one is horrible).

Also, the Jason Bourne series by Robert Ludlum is good on audio but DO NOT get the ones that has Darren McGavin reading them, I thought he was terrible.

The Jack Ryan series by Tom Clancy is also really good, (it's actually better to get the abridged copies because he gets really technical about stuff in the unabridged). I don't know who the narrator is though, it's been several years since I've listened to them.

I agree that the Sookie Stackhouse books are good on audio.

I'm a die hard romance reader but I agree that romances don't do well on audio.

That's all I can think of right now, I'll try to come up with some more titles.

Please add me to the list of those who can't do romances on audio. I have enjoyed the Sookie books, the Queen Betsy books by MaryJanice Davidson, and some of the Jennifer Crusie books on CD.

I tried a Playaway version of an Ice Cold Grave by Charlaine Harris, but the sound quality and the reader were of such poor caliber that I turned it off.  The Jaqueline Kirby books by Elizabeth Peters are fun to read, but I was unimpressed by the reader.

I just finished listening to Heartsick by Chelsea Cain. It was the kind of book I actually preferred listening to--a thriller/mystery with the one of the nastiest villians.

Currently I'm listening to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Jim Dale (the narrator) is amazing. Totally amazing. This is going to keep me occupied for awhile since it's 21 hours on audio!

I love listening to audio books.  It also makes me feel like I am using my time much more wisely.  I do totally agree that who reads it does make a difference whether or not you like it.  I am currently listening to Friday Night Knitting Club that I am enjoying but had to get passed the fact that it was the same reader as One Fifth Avenue which I definitely did not enjoy.

Susanna - I listed ot the 3rd book in the Ya-Ya series.  The reader sounds just like Paula Dean.  I had to work to get passed that one too.  lol.  The ya-ya books are much much better than Calla Lilly Pondering.  I thought the book dragged and there really wasn't anything exciting in the life of Calla Lilly to warrent a whole book on her.

I listening mostly to popular books on Audio.  I am going to listen to The Time Traveler's Wife next.  I also have a the Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult to listen to and Nora Roberts' Vision in White. 

thanks Jennifer - I thought it was the same reader as the others..think the author read the first 2..and it fit 'cause it's set in the south! don't know why I haven't startd the 3rd yet!

It does fit.  You do get the southern feeling when you listen to it.  :)  I just kept seeing Paula Dean's face as I listened to the book and it starts with Calla Lilly as a little girl.  lol

I thought Gabaldon's Outlander series translated to audio very well - the narrator was great, although I can't remember her name now.   Plus, it took the guessing out of all the odd scottish words.  Would anyone know how to pronouce Leoghaire otherwise?!!

I agree - a narrator can make or break an audiobook. 

you can always use audible.com to find books by the same reader. Just click on the name on the website and it will give you a list (or do a search).  I really liked the following ones lately :

I love audiobooks.  I listen to a lot of them at work.  I try to think of it as getting paid to read, :)

Narrators make a huge difference.

Some of my favorite narrators:

Simon Prebble  -  He reads Stephanie Laurens Cynster series.  I love his voice.  I wish Audible.com had all of these books. 

Joyce Bean  -  She reads a lot of comtemporary romance stuff.  she does most of Linda Howards books.  Her emotions feel very real to me.

Barbara Rosenblat  -  She has a really smokey voice.  She reads a lot of books but a couple of my favorite serieses by her are Katie Macalister's Ashling Grey books and Elizabeth Peters Amelia Peabody books.

My absolute favorite narrator is Anna Fields/Kate Fleming.  She read all of Susan Elizabeth Phillips books and they are just wonderful.  Unfortunately she passed away a couple of years ago and the new narrator can't hope to "match her". 

Audible.com has soooo many audiobooks to choose from it's just ridiculous.  I could never listen to all I'd like to.

maggie

Oh, I forgot Jim Dale.  the man was born to read books, lol.  I love his narration of Harry Potter.

I actually tried the "other" audio version by Stephen Fry.  His style is just too dry for the subject matter.  The picture wasn't as clear for me.  :)

You guys, this is a great start --- I stopped at the library today on my way home from work and wish I had seen all your suggestions -- Think I'll just try working through some of the list -- It will introduce me to a couple of new authors too -- always a good thing. Plus can't wait to hear some of these voices!

I think Barbara Rosenblat does the Goldilocks Catering books by Diane Mott Davidson and the Lisa Scottelini books. 

Jim Dale is awesome as Harry Potter reader.

My daughter and I are listenign to Eragon by Christopher Paolini right now and that's really good. 

The Alphabet series by Sue Grafton is good too.  I can't remember the reader's name off hand but she's really good.