Best two books I have read in a long time:
Elizabeth Gilbert, "The Signature of All Things"
Ruth Ozeki, "A Tale for the Time Being."
I have already re-read Ozeki, and both are books I will revisit in the future. Few books make that cut. Virginia Woolf's "Mrs. Dalloway" is one, "The Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood" is another, as is Keri Hulme's Booker prize-winning "The Bone People."
I read about 5 books per week, cannot remember them all. Lately, I have been listening to Mary Kay Andrews' novels on BOCD while gardening because she is so darn funny and I like to practice my southern accent while I dig and plant!
I read Kristin Hannah's "The Nightingale" and thought it was over-rated. Seems like everyone has one second world war novel in them, and that is hers. It's a tough period to be original with.
I love Jo Nesbo and have just started "The Bat" which I am listening to today as I dig up my magnolia and plant it elsewhere in the garden ... Harry Hole is a great character, I have been on tenterhooks through every single one of his mysteries. The BOCDs are narrated by British voices, and consummate narrators, so I love that. The choice of narrator makes a big difference to the book on CD experience. very few authors, for example, do a good job of narrating their own works. Ruth Ozeki is actually a brilliant exception. And I cannot listen to any Irish novel read by a non-Irish narrator: torture and a wasted opportunity.
John Sandford has an excellent series of books about Minnesota cop/BCI detective Lucas Davenport. He's a tough and extremely funny guy. I actually prefer the BOCDS to reading Sandford's novels on my own because the BOCD narrator, Richard Ferrone, is superlative and brings these books alive. When I do read them on my own, I have his voice in my head!
If you have never read any Kate Atkinson novels, consider yourself admonished and get thee to a bookstore/library immediately! She's simply brilliant, seemingly effortless writing, serious commentary about humanity and society and yet, so comic at the same time. My faves of hers are the Jackson Brodie series which begins with "Case Histories." Don't watch the Acorn TV adaptation first or you will ruin the experience. As wonderful as Jason Isaacs is, actor chosen to play Jackson, the TV adaptation cannot encapsulate for you as reader the experience of starting "Case Histories," opening up the can of worms that the 4 disparate crimes/mysteries presented in the novel comprise, and following the twists and turns along to see exactly how these 4 stories can possibly relate to one another and how Atkinson will keep the plotting straight in her head to tie up all narrative threads by the end.
Basically, I adore consummate story telling, and all the books I have suggested here have that, and more!
Clare