An ode to audiobook narrators

We can consume stories and all things bookish in so many different ways: by reading physical books or ebooks, by listening to audiobooks, by watching our favorite stories adapted on screens large or small, or by listening to podcasts about books! While I’m a traditional reader at heart and I cherish my physical books, I also absolutely love the convenience of audiobooks! I have more time to listen than I do to read: while I’m driving, walking my dog, folding laundry, doing dishes, just about anything that doesn’t take too much brain power. I also love that audiobooks have made books so much more accessible for folks who are dyslexic, have poor eyesight, or just don’t have time to sit down and read!

This column is dedicated not just to audiobooks, but to the narrators that bring a voice to these stories! I hope I will convince you to check out a few of my favorites not just because they are amazing books, but because they are told by amazing narrators. 

Dominic Hoffman in The Starless Sea

If you want a book filled with wonder and adventure, The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern is the one for you. The magic of this story is brought to life by a full cast of fantastic narrators, but there is one in particular that made me fall in love with this book. Throughout this fantastical book, we follow Zachary Ezra Rawlins as he learns of his destiny that is much larger than he ever imagined, and we are also treated to fairytale stories that are connected to Zachary’s journey. It’s these bits of fairytales that I find to be the best part of the book. The narrator of these sections, Dion Graham, has a fantastic baritone voice that perfectly captures the magic and beauty of these stories. 

Dion has also narrated other amazing books such as the 2024 bestseller The Wager by David Grann, and King: A Life by Jonathon Eig, among many other titles.