Herrmann’s lively and emotionally connected reading captures the excitement and detail of this real-life Cinderella story of the US rowing team’s journey to the 1936 Berlin Olympics. His masterful command of language and cadence, combined with his deft characterizations, makes this inspiring story a must-listen.

• Lansing, Alfred. Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage. Narrated by Simon Prebble. Blackstone Audio.
• Hillenbrand, Laura. Seabiscuit: An American Legend. Narrated by George Newbern. Books on Tape.
• Pomerantz, Gary M. Wilt, 1962. Narrated by Stephen Hoye. Books on Tape.

Recently arrived on the London social scene, the indomitable Sophy Stanton-Lacey wreaks her own brand of delightful havoc in this charming Regency romp. With a lively pace and deliciously upper crust accent, Woodward’s mirthful tone emphasizes the story’s comically formal dialogue and Austenesque romantic chemistry.

• Austen, Jane. Emma. Narrated by Juliet Stevenson. NAXOS AudioBooks.
• Willig, Lauren. The Mischief of the Mistletoe. Narrated by Kate Reading. Recorded Books/Penguin Audio.
• Quinn, Julia. What Happens in London. Narrated by Rosalyn Landor. Books on Tape.

Streep narrates celebrity chef Rachel Samstat’s account of her husband’s betrayal with all the unflagging energy of a pregnant woman scorned, aggrieved, and bereft. Her superb performance, flavored by her wryly snarky and campy yet intimate narration, gives voice to Ephron’s unique brand of smart humor and social commentary.

• Tyler, Anne. Back When We Were Grownups. Narrated by Blair Brown. Books on Tape.
• Lipman, Elinor. The Family Man. Narrated by Jonathan Davis. Blackstone Audio.
• Weiner, Jennifer. Good in Bed. Narrated by Laura Hicks. BBC Audiobooks America.

Fielding narrates Baker’s extraordinary revisionist take on Pride and Prejudice with a quiet, shimmering assurance, as she exposes the upstairs-downstairs dynamics of the Bennet family. Her elegant delivery and mastery of pitch, rhythm, and emphasis turn each sentence into a seduction.

• Fowles, John. French Lieutenant’s Woman. Narrated by Paul Shelley. Chivers Audio Books.
• Eliot, George. Middlemarch. Narrated by Juliet Stevenson. NAXOS AudioBooks.
• Klaussmann, Liza. Tigers in Red Weather. Narrated by Katherine Kellgren. Recorded Books/Hachette Audio.

Gaiman, as both author and narrator, immerses listeners in a modern fairy tale in which two stalwart children pit themselves against dark and relentless terrors. Through an exquisite management of pace and inflection, his voice becomes the story’s doorway just a surely as any rabbit hole or wardrobe.

• Connolly, John. The Book of Lost Things. Narrated by Steven Crossley. Recorded Books.
• Byatt, A. S. Ragnarok. Narrated by Harriet Walter. Brilliance Audio.
• Mosse, Kate. The Winter Ghosts. Narrated by Julian Rhind-Tutt. Recorded Books.

Upon the death of her grandfather, Korobi learns a shocking family secret and, postponing her wedding, journeys to America, searching for truths that must be discovered before her own life can really begin. Mathan voices an array of exquisite accents and entrancing cadences to imbue Korobi’s quest with the spicy flavor of India.

• Cisneros, Sandra. Caramelo. Narrated by Sandra Cisneros. AudioGo/Blackstone Audio.
• Lahiri, Jhumpa. Unaccustomed Earth. Narrated by Sarita Choudhury and Ajay Naidu. Random House/Books on Tape.
• Tan, Amy. The Joy Luck Club. Narrated by Gwendoline Yeo. Phoenix Audio.

While barbarians attack the decadent government of Kitai, a fantasy world resembling ancient China, a young man emerges from the provinces to save the empire and becomes a legend. Vance manages the sweeping plot, including a large cast and action-rich details, while masterfully conveying the lyrical, elegiac tone that pervades the novel.

• Pressfield, Steven. Gates of Fire. Narrated by George Guidall. Recorded Books.
• Iggulden, Conn. Genghis: Birth of an Empire. Narrated by Stefan Rudnicki. Blackstone Audio.
• Shaara, Michael. Killer Angels. Narrated by Stephen Hoye. Books on Tape.

Stevenson’s sublimely melodious, richly inflected voice brings myriad characters, places, and even plants and animals to life in this story of a fictional 19th century botanist. Alma Whittaker’s goal of finding a connection between all living things takes her on a solo quest to exotic places on this journey of serendipitous self-discovery.

• Willis, Connie. Bellwether. Narrated by Kate Reading. Blackstone Audio.
• Grenville, Kate. The Lieutenant. Narrated by Nicholas Bell. Bolinda Audio/Brilliance Audio.
• Kingsolver, Barbara. Prodigal Summer. Narrated by Barbara Kingsolver. Recorded Books.

Through three interwoven story lines, this powerful, sprawling family saga maps the history of Texas from 1849 onward. A cast of expert narrators immerse listeners in time and place through their voices alone, exquisitely rendering characters and effectively dramatizing this captivating audio production.

• Le May, Alan. The Searchers. Narrated by Tom Stechschulte, Richard Ferrone, and James Jenner. Recorded Books.
• Follett, Ken. Fall of Giants. Narrated by John Lee. Books on Tape.
• McCarthy, Cormac. All the Pretty Horses. Narrated by Frank Muller. Harper Audio/Recorded Books.

Quirky, innovative, and brightly new, Russell’s collection of short stories blurs the line between horror, fantasy, and myth. Her impressive scope is well matched by the diverse narrators voicing the collection—all of whom fully realize her eerie eclecticism in accent, mood, pace, and quiet terror.

• Donoghue, Emma. Astray. Narrated by Khristine Hvam, James Langton, Robert Petkoff, Suzanne Toren, and Dion Graham. Hachette/Blackstone Audio.
• Du Maurier, Daphne. Echoes from the Macabre. Narrated by Valentine Dyall. Blackstone Audio.
• Egan, Jennifer. A Visit from the Goon Squad. Narrated by Roxana Ortega. Blackstone Audio.

Shaw-Parker inhabits the role of Trollope’s amiable narrator in this social drama of English village life as he companionably guides readers through the often-amusing perils of ecclesiastical politics. With a splendid mix of gleeful pomposity and heartfelt sympathy, he portrays the whimsical cast and their stories just as Trollope must have imagined them.

• Gaskell, Elizabeth. Cranford. Narrated by Nadia May. Blackstone Audio.
• Wodehouse, P. G. My Man Jeeves. Narrated by Jonathan Cecil. Blackstone Audio.
• Dickens, Charles. Pickwick Papers. Read by David Timson. Naxos AudioBooks.

Melancholy in tone and rich in social insights rather than action-packed disaster, this futuristic apocalyptic “mockumentary” of life after the zombie wars features vivid characterizations and smart, provocative commentary. The well-staged interviews performed by an all-star cast of 40 skilled narrators project a you-are-there feel.

• Stoker, Bram. Dracula. Narrated by a full cast. Recorded Books.
• Card, Orson, Scott. Earth Unaware. Narrated by a full cast. Macmillan Audio.
• Whitehead, Colson. Zone One. Narrated by Beresford Bennett. Books on Tape.