The Wee Writing Lassie’s Top Ten Audiobooks

What ho, wee readers, yes I’m back – not dead, just suffering from a bit of Blogger’s block. For the longest time I could not figure out what I wanted to write about next. I mean usually it’s a tv series I’ve been binging after work – at least lately – but I’ve sort of moved away from those in favour of films. And while I could do a list of those, ranking the top ten – and I may yet in the future – I had a better idea for a post to break my writer’s block.

A while back – after the terrible storm Arwen – we lost power for an entire day. And this was back in December, so it was dark and cold and most of our phones had not been well charged beforehand. During the light hours of the day this was manageable – we had books ( for entertainment), a fire (for warmth), and a gas cooker (for cooking). Really we were all set. But remember this was Scottish winter, and there really wasn’t a lot of light hours in the day at all. Which left large chunks of the afternoon and evening shrouded in darkness. We still had the fire and the cooker, so we were a lot better off than most people – but that still left us swimming in our own boredom.

The only device that still had some power in our house, was my Mum’s iPad.  No internet of course, but she had the books in her kindle library, but only one person at a time could read them. Looking back now we could have read them out to each other, but hindsight is twenty twenty. But to cut a long story short we didn’t have to, for we found an audiobook already  downloaded. Wow, that was a slightly long-winded and first world whining  way to tell you my family’s started listening to an audiobook after dinner each night. Oh well, we got there eventually.

By now we’ve listened to too many audiobooks to possibly list them all here, so instead this will be a list of our top ten audiobooks. We will take into account strength in story, narration, production, and all round enjoyment. Rounding up each to a score out of ten.  But since I’ll be polling my family members we might end up as slightly more than that – a perfect score should be 30 out of 30.

Let’s begin.

10. Northanger Abbey

One of Jane Austen’s earliest books. In theory it’s a bit of a parody of gothic literature of the time – with the main heroine convinced some heinous plan is a foot in the house she’s staying at. Which would be fine, if that was the main action of the story – instead we spend half our time in Bath, at diff balls and gatherings and the whole thing feels like it’s just running in place until she gets the invite to visit Northanger Abbey. It’s bad people, it’s really bad.

My Brother’s Scores

• Story: 0.5/3
• Narration: 3/3
• Production: 2/3
• Overall enjoyment: 0.5/1
• Final Score: 6

Additional Notes: I can see why the publishers of the time refused to publish.

My Mum’s Scores

• Story: 1/3
• Narration: 3/3
• Production: 2/3
• Overall enjoyment: 0/1
• Final Score: 6

My Scores

• Story: 0/3
• Narration: 3/3
• Production: 1/3
• Overall enjoyment:0/1
• Final Score: 4

High Score: 16/30

9. The Mermaid’s Sister

A fun story, with a clever fairy tail energy to it.

My Brother’s Scores

• Story: 2.5/3
• Narration: 3/3
• Production: 3/3
• Overall enjoyment: 0.97/1
• Final Score: 9.47

Additional Notes: It lost points due to violence. I liked the supernatural elements and the romance.

My Mum’s Scores

• Story: 2/3
• Narration: 2/3
• Production: 2/3
• Overall enjoyment: 1/1
• Final Score: 7

My Scores

• Story: 2/3
• Narration: 2/3
• Production: 2/3
• Overall enjoyment: 1/1
• Final Score: 7

High Score: 23.47 / 30

8. Station Eleven

A fascinating take on the post-apocalyptic genre, emphasizing the importance of art on people’s lives no matter what age you’re living in. As the book itself says ‘Survival is not enough.’

My Brother’s Scores

• Story: 2/3
• Narration: 3/3
• Production: 3/3
• Overall enjoyment: 1/1
• Final Score: 9

My Mum’s Scores

• Story: 2/3
• Narration: 2/3
• Production: 3/3
• Overall enjoyment: 1/1
• Final Score: 8

My Scores

• Story: 3/3
• Narration: 3/3
• Production: 3/3
• Overall enjoyment: 1/1
• Final Score: 10

Additional Notes: Wow. Very well written, but heartbreakingly sad at certain parts.

High Score: 27/30

7. Grown Ups

A solid addition to the Marian Keyes Bibliography – telling the story of  a very large and slightly dysfunctional family, and all the heartbreak and hijinks that go on in their lives. My only criticism – if you can really call it one – is that because there are so many characters, the opening scene at the family dinner is going to leave you a little confused, and trying to desperately remember all their names and who the heck they are. It does revisit that same scene again at the end, after an entire book getting to know these people, so I’m guessing that initial confusion was an intended reaction.

My Brother’s Scores

• Story: 2/3
• Narration: 3/3
• Production: 3/3
• Overall enjoyment: 1/1
• Final Score: 9

Additional Notes: I liked the inclusion of a Syrian immigrant (Perla), even if she only had a minor role. It’s also good that it calls attention to abuse. It would have got a ‘3/3’ for story, if Nell and Ferdia had got a happy ending (I’m a hopeless romantic). It would also have been nice, if Mum was able to listen it with us.

My Mum’s Scores

• Story: 2/3
• Narration: 3/3
• Production: 3/3
• Overall enjoyment: 1/1
• Final Score: 9

My Scores

• Story: 2/3
• Narration: 3/3
• Production: 3/3
• Overall enjoyment: 1/1
• Final Score: 9

High Score: 27 / 30

6. Room

This is a Fantastic Book, stop reading this post – or rather pause reading this post – and go out and buy this book now. (Or search your library) Either way, find this book, and read it. Go ahead, we’ll all wait for you.

My Brother’s Scores

• Story: 3/3
• Narration: 3/3
• Production: 3/3
• Overall enjoyment: 1/1
• Final Score: 10

Additional Notes: I liked the innocence of the child narrator.

My Mum’s Scores

• Story: 3/3
• Narration: 2/3
• Production: 2/3
• Overall enjoyment: 1/1
• Final Score: 8

Additional Notes: Needed more than one male voice – all the men sounded like ‘Old Nick’ to me.

My Scores

• Story: 3/3
• Narration: 3/3
• Production: 2/3
• Overall enjoyment: 1/1
• Final Score: 9

Additional Notes: Behold my new favorite book 🙂

High Score: 27 / 30

5. Rachel’s Holiday

I wouldn’t go out of my way to say that ‘Rachel’s Holiday’ is a better book than ‘Gown Ups’ – Marian Keyes’ other book on this list – because they’re very different books, about different topics. So in the end all I’ll say is, there is a reason that this is higher on the list.

My Brother’s Scores

• Story: 2.9/3
• Narration: 3/3
• Production:3/3
• Overall enjoyment: 1/1
• Final Score: 9.9

Additional Notes: I liked how it addressed the issue of addiction.

My Mum’s Scores

• Story: 3/3
• Narration: 3/3
• Production: 3/3
• Overall enjoyment: 1/1
• Final Score: 10

My Scores

• Story: 3/3
• Narration: 3/3
• Production: 1/3
• Overall enjoyment: 1/1
• Final Score: 8

High Score: 27.9 / 30

4. The Hundred Secret Senses

I can’t say why – because spoilers – but this book moved me to tears.

My Brother’s Scores

• Story: 2/3
• Narration: 3/3
• Production: 3/3
• Overall enjoyment: 0.97 / 1
• Final Score: 8.97

My Mum’s Scores

• Story: 3/3
• Narration: 3/3
• Production: 3/3
• Overall enjoyment: 1/1
• Final Score: 10

My Scores

• Story: 3/3
• Narration: 2/3
• Production: 3/3
• Overall enjoyment: 1/1
• Final Score: 9

High Score: 27.97 / 30

3. Am I Normal yet?

Myself, and many of the members of my family have OCD tendencies – nothing like what this girl has of course, but still – so I felt greatly moved by this book.

My Brother’s Scores

• Story: 2.9 / 3
• Narration: 3/3
• Production: 3/3
• Overall enjoyment: 2.9/3
• Final Score: 11.8

Additional Notes: I enjoyed the sweet romance and empathized with Evie’s condition.

My Mum’s Scores

• Story: 2/3
• Narration: 2/3
• Production: 3/3
• Overall enjoyment: 1/1
• Final Score: 8

My Scores

• Story: 3/3
• Narration: 3/3
• Production: 2/3
• Overall enjoyment: 1/1
• Final Score: 9

High Score: 28.8 / 30

2. Piranesi

This is my favorite book. Go out and read it now.

My Brother’s Scores

• Story: 2.7/ 3
• Narration: 3/3
• Production: 3/3
• Overall enjoyment: 0.99/1
• Final Score: 9.69

Additional Notes: It lost points due to overall slow pace at the start. I liked the mystery and the existence of different universes.

My Mum’s Scores

• Story: 2/3
• Narration: 3/3
• Production: 3/3
• Overall enjoyment: 1/1
• Final Score: 9

My Scores

• Story: 3/3
• Narration: 3/3
• Production: 3/3
• Overall enjoyment: 1/1
• Final Score: 10

Additional Notes: This book was an experience – but I can’t really tell you about it, without taking that experience away from you. So go out and buy this book now, and don’t look to the end, just enjoy the journey getting there😁

High Score: 28.69 / 30

1. Longbourn

Basically this was Pride & Prejudice told from the servants’ point of view. This was a very good book, adding historical context which the original story – as good as it is – didn’t really have.

My Brother’s Scores

• Story: 2.9 / 3
• Narration: 3/3
• Production: 3/3
• Overall enjoyment: 2.9 / 1
• Final Score: 11.8

Additional Notes: I like the alternative perspective on the Bennetts, Bingley owning slaves was intriguing and makes sense. I liked the sympathetic depiction of the lower classes.

My Mum’s Scores

• Story: 3/3
• Narration: 3/3
• Production: 3/3
• Overall enjoyment: 1/1
• Final Score: 10

My Scores

• Story: 3/3
• Narration: 3/3
• Production: 3/3
• Overall enjoyment: 1/1
• Final Score: 10

Additional Notes:

I loved this book. It’s one of the few, if only, retellings of Pride & Prejudice in which you leave liking Mr. Collins far more than Elizabeth Bennet.

High Score: 31.8 / 30

If you enjoyed this long delayed post of mine, why not follow the Wee blog if you haven’t  already. Also check me out on Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, Goodreads, Facebook and Kofi for the good stuff. Also sign up for the Wee Mailing list before the 31st of July to find out what Audiobook we’re currently listening to. Until next time, Wee Readers, stay safe, stay sane, and most of all have a very Bonny day.