Summer is the perfect season for audiobook; whether you’re dilly-dallying on your way to work, trying to make the most of your moments in the sun, sunbathing on any available surface, or, if you’re super lucky, going on vacation (woohoo!).
We’ve rounded up the smoothest voices in Hollywood we would love to hear, and the books we think would best suit them!
1. Julie Andrews
Julie’s soothing lilt has cropped up in some of our favorite fairy-tale films such as ‘The Princess Diaries’ and ‘Enchanted,’ not to mention the classic ‘Mary Poppins.’ Everything her tender tones touch seems to turn to gold.
Image Courtesy of Closer
Suggested Book: A Little Princess
Since she’s already an old-hand at all things princess, we think Francis Hodgson Burnett’s ‘A Little Princess‘ would be perfect. A childhood favorite of many, this moving novel follows Sarah, who, having grown up in India, is sent to boarding school in England when her father is conscripted.
2. Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman must have the most beloved voice in Hollywood, and we can’t think of anything we wouldn’t want to hear his rich tones recite! We’d happily listen to him reading the phone book, a take-out menu, a list of every type of lawnmower ever manufactured, the ingredients in a tin of Spam…ANYTHING.
Image Courtesy of Stars Unfold
Suggested Book: The Road
…BUT, given the choice, we would love to hear him read Cormac McCarthy’s ‘The Road.’ This dystopian tale follows a father and son as they make their way across bleak landscapes. We think Freeman’s famous voice would lend a wonderful dimension to this dark story.
3. Cate Blanchett
Blanchett’s narration at the start of the Lord of the Rings movies is pretty intoxicating, her voice at once soothing and powerful just like you might expect from an elven queen.
Image Courtesy of Slate
Suggested Book: A Series of Unfortunate Events
Blanchett is such a versatile actor, filling roles as diverse as Bob Dylan, Katharine Hepburn, and Queen Elizabeth I. With this in mind, we’d love to hear her reading ‘A Series of Unfortunate Events.’ Lemony Snicket’s best-selling series boasts an ever-changing cast of characters as well as some constants (like Count Olaf) who are constantly cropping up under different guises. The books are narrated by the character Lemony Snicket, but given the various male roles Blanchett has taken on before, we’re sure she’d pull it off.
4. Idris Elba
Everybody loves Idris Elba’s cheeky London twang, and we know from his various roles that he’s capable of affecting many different accents.
Image Courtesy of the Birmingham Times
Suggested Book: James Bond books
Touted by many as being the perfect successor to Daniel Craig in the role of 007, we would love to hear Elba reading Ian Fleming’s James Bond books. It’s looking unlikely that he will land the role, due to scheduling conflicts, but hearing him read the books would definitely be the next best thing!
5. Kristen Stewart
We can’t get enough of Stewart’s laid-back, husky voice which always lends serious believability to her acting.
Image Courtesy of The Telegraph
Suggested Book: Tithe
We’d love to hear Stewart narrate ‘Tithe‘ by ‘The Spiderwick Chronicles’ author Holly Black. This dark modern day fairy tale is narrated by deadpan teenager Kay who spends her days touring with her mother’s band until she is sucked into the dark world of faerie-land. Stewart’s chilled out, authentic voice would be perfect for this cool character, not to mention she has experience voicing characters unwittingly sucked into supernatural worlds!
7. Evanna Lynch
‘Harry Potter’s’ Luna Lovegood has one of the most soothing voices in Hollywood, and one we don’t get to hear enough. Hailing from Louth, Ireland, she already has audiobook experience, narrating ‘Foster’ by Irish author Claire Keegan.
Image Courtesy of University Observer
Suggested Book: Spare and Found Parts
We think Evanna would be perfect to narrate Sarah Maria Griffin’s new YA sci-fi novel ‘Spare and Found Parts.‘ Set in dystopian Dublin, Ireland, this story follows Nell who sets about building her own companion out of spare parts.
Featured Image Courtesy of The Telegraph and Goodreads
