What makes these 3 audiobooks so delightful? Their narrators.

Washington Post

2 days ago

Narrator Phil Dunster (who played soccer superstar Jamie Tartt in 'Ted Lasso') masters a large cast characters in Belinda Bauer's richly plotted mystery novel. The story centers on an esoteric but fascinating subject: the Guillemot egg, a pear-shaped and ruby-red egg that's laid by seabirds on rocky ledges. This unusual object connects the two plots of this multilayered tale. In one part, set in the 1920s and 30s, a ruthless egg trafficker crosses paths with a doughty woman named Celie who plucks the eggs from the Yorkshire cliffs. One of those eggs makes its way to the second part of the book, set in present-day Wales. Its discovery in an attic by a young boy named Nick and his friend, Patrick, has dramatic consequences. The novel's arcane subject, two dovetailing storylines, and the personality of the guillemot itself are engrossing, and as an audiobook, this novel truly excels. Dunster is a virtuoso of regional and class accents: Celie and friends are excellently Yorkshire in manner and tongue; the egg trafficker has the voice of a slick London operator and every utterance of his wealthy clients reeks of entitlement; and present-day Nick and Patrick are unmistakably Welsh. (Dreamscape, Unabridged, 8 ¼ hours)
Narrator Phil Dunster (who played soccer superstar Jamie Tartt in 'Ted Lasso') masters a large cast characters in Belinda Bauer's richly plotted mystery novel. The story centers on an esoteric but fascinating subject: the Guillemot egg, a pear-shaped and ruby-red egg that's laid by seabirds on rocky ledges. This unusual object connects the two plots of this multilayered tale. In one part, set in the 1920s and 30s, a ruthless egg trafficker crosses paths with a doughty woman named Celie who plucks the eggs from the Yorkshire cliffs. One of those eggs makes its way to the second part of the book, set in present-day Wales. Its discovery in an attic by a young boy named Nick and his friend, Patrick, has dramatic consequences. The novel's arcane subject, two dovetailing storylines, and the personality of the guillemot itself are engrossing, and as an audiobook, this novel truly excels. Dunster is a virtuoso of regional and class accents: Celie and friends are excellently Yorkshire in manner and tongue; the egg trafficker has the voice of a slick London operator and every utterance of his wealthy clients reeks of entitlement; and present-day Nick and Patrick are unmistakably Welsh. (Dreamscape, Unabridged, 8 ¼ hours)
Ashley Zhangazha's clear, serene narration beautifully captures the gracefulness of Nobel laureate Abdulrazak Gurnah's outstanding novel. Set in Gurnah's native Tanzania, the story follows the lives of Karim and Fauzia, who end up marrying each other, and Badar, something of an outcast and the person in whom we become most emotionally invested. Gurnah ambles along the paths of these lives — the leisurely pace allowing the listener to take in fully the world they inhabit. Although these generally tranquil periods are punctuated by short tense episodes, we begin to feel that the novel is pleasantly loitering. Until, that is, the last hour. And then we realize how our slowly acquired knowledge of these people gives depth and revelation to a dramatic crescendo. In his delivery, Zhangazha gives this culminating drama — a loosing of inner demons, severing of ties, a long-delayed union — all the passionate force it demands. (Penguin, Unabridged, 9 ¾ hours)
Ashley Zhangazha's clear, serene narration beautifully captures the gracefulness of Nobel laureate Abdulrazak Gurnah's outstanding novel. Set in Gurnah's native Tanzania, the story follows the lives of Karim and Fauzia, who end up marrying each other, and Badar, something of an outcast and the person in whom we become most emotionally invested. Gurnah ambles along the paths of these lives — the leisurely pace allowing the listener to take in fully the world they inhabit. Although these generally tranquil periods are punctuated by short tense episodes, we begin to feel that the novel is pleasantly loitering. Until, that is, the last hour. And then we realize how our slowly acquired knowledge of these people gives depth and revelation to a dramatic crescendo. In his delivery, Zhangazha gives this culminating drama — a loosing of inner demons, severing of ties, a long-delayed union — all the passionate force it demands. (Penguin, Unabridged, 9 ¾ hours)
Eunice Wong, who brought lighthearted brio to Jesse Q. Sutanto's entertaining mysteries starring Little-Old-Lady sleuth Vera Wong, transforms her delivery into a vector of introspective anguish in her narration of Jemimah Wei's debut novel. Set in Singapore from the 1990s to 2015, the book centers on Genevieve and her cousin, Arin, who was dumped on Genevieve's family because her own was destitute. The girls — Arin 7, Genevieve 8 — grow up together in a tiny one-bedroom flat with their grandmother and Genevieve's parents. Initial hostility between the girls evolves into mutual support and love — that is, until their own ambitions invade their relationship. Then misfortunes accumulate: Genevieve fails the exams necessary to enter university; Arin begins to come into her own. The novel becomes increasingly, even excruciatingly, intense and psychologically penetrating as Genevieve attempts to understand Arin's character and of her own. Love, pity, resentment, anger, sorrow, and guilt cycle through the story — and finally hope. (Random House, Unabridged, 13 ½ hours)
Katherine A. Powers reviews audiobooks every month For The Washington Post.
Eunice Wong, who brought lighthearted brio to Jesse Q. Sutanto's entertaining mysteries starring Little-Old-Lady sleuth Vera Wong, transforms her delivery into a vector of introspective anguish in her narration of Jemimah Wei's debut novel. Set in Singapore from the 1990s to 2015, the book centers on Genevieve and her cousin, Arin, who was dumped on Genevieve's family because her own was destitute. The girls — Arin 7, Genevieve 8 — grow up together in a tiny one-bedroom flat with their grandmother and Genevieve's parents. Initial hostility between the girls evolves into mutual support and love — that is, until their own ambitions invade their relationship. Then misfortunes accumulate: Genevieve fails the exams necessary to enter university; Arin begins to come into her own. The novel becomes increasingly, even excruciatingly, intense and psychologically penetrating as Genevieve attempts to understand Arin's character and of her own. Love, pity, resentment, anger, sorrow, and guilt cycle through the story — and finally hope. (Random House, Unabridged, 13 ½ hours)
Katherine A. Powers reviews audiobooks every month For The Washington Post.