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AudioFile's 2021 Best Nonfiction & Culture Audiobooks

AudioFile’s 2021 Best Audiobooks in Nonfiction & Culture introduce listeners to a unique memoir, serious and quirky science, and an insightful look at human behavior....

5 Questions with Narrator Sophie Amoss

I’ll let you in on a secret: Today’s guest narrator performed one of my all-time favorite audiobooks. Before I reveal which audiobook that is, let me welcome...

5 Audiobooks Set in Schools

Fall in many countries around the world means that all thoughts turn to school. Even those of us who are no longer tied to the academic calendar can’t help but remember...

5 Questions with Narrator MacLeod Andrews

Say hello to award-winning narrator MacLeod Andrews, who was kind enough to spend some time with us today. I’ve been a fan of MacLeod’s audiobook talents since I...

5 Audiobooks for Family Listening

Did you know that listening to audiobooks with your children offers many more benefits than simple entertainment? For example, audiobooks are great way to help reluctant readers...

5 Questions with Narrator Catherine Ho

Narrator Catherine Ho has had a promising start to her audiobook career. Though she’s relatively new to performing books, she’s already earned two Earphones Awards...

5 New Audiobook Series to Love

A few years ago, I came clean about my love of audiobook series, from the very long (here’s looking at you, In Death, with your 50+ adventures) to more accessible...

5 Restaurant-Inspired Audiobooks and 5 Delicious Recipes

Now that summer is here in full force, the farmers’ markets are at their peak and our home vegetable gardens are gracing us with fresh produce. This year, food lovers can...

5 Questions with Narrator Michael Crouch

Help me congratulate Michael Crouch, voice actor extraordinaire, on being named a 2021 Golden Voice. As you’ll discover in the audiobooks featured here, Michael is well...

Listening to Golden Voices Cassandra Campbell and Soneela Nankani

Hello, June, with your promise of warm weather and lazy days by the pool. Summertime is the perfect time to squeeze in hours of audiobook listening. A good story makes a walk,...

5 Questions with Narrator Marin Ireland

Do you ever pick an audiobook based solely on the narrator? Today’s guest, Marin Ireland, is on my short list of audiobook performers I can’t say no to. I count on...

Audiobooks Celebrating All Things Gardening

I know the official start of spring is in March, but for me and many others in the Northern Hemisphere, it never really feels like spring until May. This is the month when we...

5 Questions with Narrator James Fouhey

If you have children or are a science fiction fan, then you’ve likely listened to audiobooks performed by James Fouhey, today’s Take 5 narrator. Of course, James has...

5 Earphones Award-Winning Fantasy Audiobooks

Do you have a go-to genre when you’re looking for escape listening but need a little bit of an edge to keep your brain engaged? For me, that genre is fantasy. A good...

5 Questions with Narrator Adenrele Ojo

Award-winning audiobook narrator Adenrele Ojo is a woman of many talents. Besides working behind the mic, she is also a stage and screen actor, a voice-over actor, and a...

5 Audiobooks & 5 Recipes

When is your favorite time to listen to audiobooks? For me, the quick answer to that question is, when I’m in the kitchen. Audiobooks have been my cooking and baking...

5 Questions with Narrator Vikas Adam

When I see the name of this month’s featured narrator on the cover of an audiobook, I know I’m in for a treat. Vikas Adam infuses his performances with engaging...

Nonfiction vs. Fiction: Audiobook Faceoff, Part 2

Welcome to another nonfiction–fiction audiobook faceoff in which I pair a factual account of a historic event or contemporary issue with a fictional take on the same...

5 Questions with Thérèse Plummer

Today’s guest narrator, Thérèse Plummer, reigns supreme in the court of audiobook series. You may be most familiar with her performances of romantic fiction,...

5 Audiobooks for New Beginnings

Every January offers the chance for new beginnings, but this year we seem to crave that change more than ever. Most of us are anticipating a bright 2021, filled with the hope...

5 Family Mystery Audiobooks to Share

Many of us will be putting our usual late-winter traditions aside this year (no matter which December celebrations are on our calendar) and will be looking for new ways to...

Best Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Horror Audiobooks of 2020

Hello, December, and the start of my favorite season. No, I’m not talking about the winter holidays; instead, I’m excited to see everyone’s best-of-the-year reading lists,...

5 Questions with Narrator Dion Graham

I am beyond thrilled to introduce this month’s guest narrator, Dion Graham, who is a multi-Audie Award winner and a TV, silver screen, and stage actor. Dion’s...

Make New Friends with These 5 Audio Memoirs

As we near the end of 2020, many of us are finding it hard to communicate with others, especially when we’re separated from our friends and family. Although it’s not the same as...

5 Questions with Narrator Soneela Nankani

If you listen to audiobooks that explore the South Asian experience, then you’re bound to be familiar with today’s guest narrator, Soneela Nankani. What you might not know is that...

5 Audiobooks Set in Other Worlds

Do your listening tastes change as we head into the fall season? Mine do. As the temperatures drop, I find myself drawn to speculative fiction, especially fantasy, dystopian...

5 Questions with Narrator Johnny Heller

As they say on TV, my next guest needs no introduction. Give a great big welcome to audiobook narrator extraordinaire Johnny Heller. Johnny was honored as an AudioFile Golden...

5 Audiobooks for Library Card Sign-Up Month

In these days of home-based and virtual schooling and weekends staying at home, we rely more and more on the resources offered by our local libraries. Besides free access to...

5 Audiobooks for National Dog Day

Happy National Dog Day! Today’s holiday is all about celebrating our furry friends in all their varied splendor. More than giving us an excuse to shower our pets with extra love...

5 Questions with Narrator Phoebe Strole

I’m thrilled to welcome Phoebe Strole to this month’s Take 5 audiobook narrator spotlight. I’ve been a fan of Phoebe’s work for a few years now, and though she has adult fiction...

5 Audiobooks to Travel the World — From Home

It’s summer in the Northern Hemisphere, which normally means spending a week at the beach, taking a family road trip or train trip, or booking a vacation to a foreign country....

5 Questions with Santino Fontana

Today’s guest voice performer may be relatively new to audiobooks, but in just a few years his work has already won several AudioFile Earphones Awards and the 2020 Audie Award...

5 Audiobooks by Canadian Authors

Happy Canada Day! I hope your celebrations include time to relax, cook out, and see some fireworks. While your festivities will likely be tempered by current health concerns,...

5 Young Adult Audiobooks That Center Black Lives

In the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder, we are reminded that the Civil Rights movement was only a beginning here in the United States. We may have elected a Black man as...

5 Questions with Golden Voice Narrator Emily Woo Zeller

June is a great month to be an audiobook fan. As you probably know, this is Audiobook Month, so it’s the perfect time to celebrate and honor AudioFile’s newest class of Golden...

5 Questions with Narrator Susan Ericksen

Today’s guest narrator is the voice of two of my favorite mystery series, both of which I highlight today. Though Susan Ericksen is a beloved narrator of mystery and suspense, her...

Discover 5 New Fantasy Audiobook Series

Feeling down because you’re all caught up with your current fantasy series? Be sad no more, because 2020 is overflowing with new characters and new adventures for audiobook...

5 Questions with Narrator Scott Brick

Today’s guest narrator is the voice of some of my favorite series. If you’ve ever listened to a book by Brad Meltzer, Clive Cussler, or Nelson DeMille, then you’re already...

Self-Learning the Audiobook Way

In a social-distancing world, students from kindergarten to college are trying their hand at homeschooling and self-learning to finish out the school year. Thus for today’s Take 5...

5 Questions with Narrator Tavia Gilbert

Help me give a big welcome to award-winning narrator Tavia Gilbert, my guest for today’s Take 5 post. Like many of you, I’m a big fan of Tavia’s work, and I especially appreciate...

5 Audiobooks in honor of the International Day of Happiness

According to the United Nations and the founder of the International Day of Happiness, “happiness and well-being [are] universal goals and aspirations in the lives of human beings...

5 Questions with Narrator Steve West

Today’s Take 5 narrator is a man whose pleasant, clear voice invites listeners to come closer and enter the captivating world of whatever audiobook he’s performing. Whether he’s...

5 New Multicast Audiobooks We're Loving

Let’s talk about audiobooks performed by more than one narrator. You may ask, what kinds of audiobooks call for multiple voice actors? The first that come to my mind are audio...

5 Questions with Narrator Robin Miles

I couldn’t be more excited to welcome narrator Robin Miles into the Take 5 spotlight this month. I’ve been a fan of hers almost since her debut, and I especially loved her work on...

5 Audiobooks for the New Year and a More Fulfilling 2020

Happy New Year and welcome to the 2020s. As much as I like the holiday season, I love the promise of a new year and fresh beginnings even more. I don’t make resolutions, but I...

Unwind with an Audiobook

Are you all ready for the holidays? No matter which December holiday you celebrate, and even if you don’t celebrate any of them, this is the time of year for festive parties,...

Best Biography & History Audiobooks of 2019

I say this every year, but it’s true: One of my favorite things about December is the best-of book lists, especially the best in audiobooks. I love adding to my wish list and...

5 Questions with Narrator Michael Kramer

Most of you will associate today’s Take 5 guest narrator with audiobooks set in imaginary worlds. To me, Michael Kramer’s name is especially linked to Robert Jordan’s Wheel of...

5 Young Adult Audiobooks for Teens AND Adults

Despite a reputation for being angsty, featuring love triangles, and always being set in a make-believe world, much of today’s young adult fiction focuses on the here and now. So...

5 Questions with Narrator Robert Petkoff

Say hello to today’s featured audiobook narrator, Robert Petkoff, who has performed some of my all-time favorite listens, one of which I feature here. He has an impressive roster...

5 Audiobooks to Help You Find Your Inner Italian

Who doesn’t like to celebrate a wacky holiday, especially when it involves food? October may be all about pumpkin lattes to some of you, but the rest of us happily turn our focus...

5 Questions with Narrator Nancy Wu

I’ve been listening to Nancy Wu’s audiobook performances since the very beginnings of her career as a narrator. Many of you may be most familiar with her work on audiobooks with...

5 Audiobooks about California Wine

Did you know that September is California Wine Month? If you’re lucky enough to live in California or have vacation time, you’ll be able to participate in special festivals,...

Nonfiction vs. Fiction: Audiobook Faceoff

What’s your favorite way to learn about people, places, and events? I’m a fairly eclectic listener, and I pick fiction, historical fiction, and nonfiction in equal measure....

5 Questions with Narrator Mark Deakins

Help me welcome narrator Mark Deakins to today’s Take 5 interview. My personal journey with Mark’s work started with the dystopian young adult series Maze Runner and...

Travel the World with These 5 Light Audiobook Mysteries

Summer is here with a vengeance, and that puts everyone in a vacation or lazy weekend frame of mind. The higher the thermometer climbs, the more readily I turn to light, fun...

5 Questions with Narrator Kirsten Potter

Say hello to Kirsten Potter, a narrator I count on to enhance the mood of whatever audiobook I’m listening to, from fun romance to creepy thriller to serious science. I always...

5 Audiobooks Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Moon Landing

Whether you remember that almost unbelievable July day 50 years ago when the United States successfully landed a man on the moon—and even aired the landing on television—or you’ve...

5 Questions with Golden Voice Narrator Gerard Doyle

This June has been an exciting month here at AudioFile Magazine as we continue to celebrate Audiobook Month and honor our Golden Voice narrators. If you haven’t already, take a...

5 Audiobooks by Golden Voice Narrator Bahni Turpin

I love June: not only does it bring us the first days of summer but it’s also officially Audiobook Month. This year, June is extra special because here at AudioFile,...

5 Questions with Gabra Zackman

I’ve been listening to today’s guest narrator, Gabra Zackman, for almost 15 years, ever since I discovered her work via a young adult fantasy series. I was...

5 Audiobooks to Perk Up Your Spring

I don’t know about your part of the world, but here in central Pennsylvania we’re finally enjoying some lovely spring weather, which is made all the nicer as the fruit trees come...

Q&A with Narrator Joy Osmanski

I still remember the audiobook that led to my discovery of today’s Take 5 featured narrator, and since that first listening experience, I’ve sought out Joy...

5 Novels in Verse: Audiobooks for National Poetry Month

Did you know that April is National Poetry Month? That makes this month the perfect time to push your audiobook envelope and add some variety to your listening. Although your...

5 Questions with Mark Bramhall

Today’s guest here at Take 5 created a problem for me, though it wasn’t anything the delightful Mark Bramhall did. The fault lies with the fact that I was forced to restrict my...

5 Mystery Audiobooks to Take Outside

With spring just days away, I’m starting to get a touch of cabin fever. In my part of the world, winter has been too cold, wet, and windy to spend much time outside. Thanks to...

5 Questions with Cherise Boothe

Say hello to today’s Take 5 guest, Cherise Boothe, who is one of the queens of collaborative audiobooks. Her voice always gives spark to multicast productions, and I’m impressed...

5 Stellar Listens for Speculative Fiction Fans

Do you ever just want to step back and take a quick break from reality? When work is crazy or the weather keeps me cooped up inside, I’m ready for a different world. Since I’m not...

5 Escapes to Warmer Climes

As many of us in the northern tier of the United States hunker down for the coldest and dreariest part of winter (I’m looking at you, February), I’m grateful to be living in modern...

5 Questions with Simon Vance

Is there genre or style today’s Take 5 narrator can’t handle? If there is, I haven’t discovered it. Veteran narrator Simon Vance is one of the kings of audiobook performers and a...

5 Audiobooks for the New Year

I don’t make New Year’s resolutions, but I can’t help but see the new year as a chance to carve out more down time, to be a better scheduler, and to enjoy more time with friends...

Cozy Christmas Mysteries

Don’t panic, but Christmas is less than a week away! If you celebrate Hanukah, then you’re already cruising and looking forward to the new year, but if you celebrate Kwanzaa,...

5 Best Young Adult Audiobooks 2018

Welcome to December and the winter holiday season. One of my favorite things about the end of the year is reading all the best-of lists, especially those that focus on audiobooks....

Five Questions with Cassandra Campbell

I would recognize the voice of today’s Take 5 guest anywhere, because Cassandra Campbell has been my virtual companion many, many times over the years. Have you ever...

5 Audiobooks About Flying

Can you guess which holiday I look forward to celebrating when I turn my calendar to November? Two hints: It doesn’t involve American flags or turkey dinners. Instead, I...

Take 5 with Ron Butler

Today’s Take 5 guest is one smooth-talking man. No matter the genre, I find myself swimming in Ron Butler’s soft voice, leaning in to catch every nuance. I’ve...

5 Audiobooks Starring Paranormal Beings

I know Halloween is a couple of weeks away, but I’m already excited about carving pumpkins and seeing the neighborhood kids in their ghoulish costumes. Like so many of you, I get...

5 Questions With Julia Whelan

This month’s Take 5 spotlight is shining on Julia Whelan, an audiobook narrator extraordinaire. I’ve spent many hours listening to Julia's voice as she performed a wide variety of...

5 Audiobooks for the New School Year

I love novels that feature schools; public school, boarding school, parochial school, or college—I read them all. Because fall fills me with fond memories of a new school...

5 Favorite Audiobook Series: Part 2

Earlier this month I confessed my out-of-control love of audiobook series. When a narrator clicks with an author’s work, the results virtually transport me to another place or...

5 Questions with Xe Sands

This month I welcome Xe Sands to the Take 5 stage. Xe’s soft voice and emotionally deep performances have enhanced hundreds of audiobooks across many genres. She is particularly...

5 Favorite Series: Part 1

Hello, my name is Candace and I’m addicted to series. Especially on audio. I’m not picky, either: mystery, science fiction, fantasy, historical fiction . . . if I...

5 Questions With Tim Gerard Reynolds

This month’s Take 5 guest is a master when it comes to large casts of characters and complex stories. Tim Gerard Reynolds excels at creating multiple distinctive voices and...

5 Family Listening Favorites

School’s out for summer, and the kids are ready for fun. Road trips or plane rides, two weeks at the beach house, or three months of staycation; whatever your plans are, they’ll...

5 Questions With Khristine Hvam

Please welcome Khristine Hvam to the Take 5 stage. When I tune in to one of Khristine’s audiobook performances, I’m always impressed with her skill at helping me forge a strong...

5 Audiobooks about Summer Sports

Hello, Summer! I welcome your days of outdoor living. You bring me gardening, cookouts, and naps on the deck. The air is teeming with the soothing sounds of birds and bees . . ....

Five Questions with Grover Gardner

I don’t know why I always associate veteran narrator Grover Gardner with nonfiction, because although he does indeed narrate history, biography, and theology, he has worked on a...

Five Audiobooks Celebrating Nature

I know I’m not alone in welcoming warmer weather. Like so many others in the Northern Hemisphere, I couldn’t be happier to finally see spring. I love opening the windows and...

5 Questions with January LaVoy

Say hello to January LaVoy, a narrator who never fails to impress me with her incredible range of voices and ability to adapt her delivery to fit the intended audience. Our...

Learning to Love Author-Read Audiobooks

One of the great debates among audiobook fans has do with author-narrated audiobooks. Do you seek them out or avoid them like the plague? I used to be solidly in the “just say no...

5 Questions with Edoardo Ballerini

Today I turn the spotlight on Edoardo Ballerini, one of my go-to narrators. When I see Edoardo’s name on an audiobook cover, I have two immediate expectations, which are...

Take 5 with Candace: Pi Day

Happy Pi Day (or for some of us, Pie Day)! Okay, so you know about the Ides of March and St. Patrick’s Day and the Spring Equinox (all March events), but what’s with Pi...

Take 5 with Candace: 5 Questions with Alyssa Bresnahan

Do you have a favorite audiobook? I do, and it was narrated by none other than today’s guest, Alyssa Bresnahan. You’ll have to forgive a little fangirl giddiness as...

Take 5 with Candace: Lunar New Year

In China, the celebration of the Lunar New Year is called the Spring Festival, though you may know it as Chinese New Year. During the two-week-long holiday, participants honor...

Take 5 with Candace: 5 Questions with Robert Fass

Today I welcome the versatile Robert Fass to the 5 Audios / 5 Questions hot seat. I say versatile not only because Robert’s audiobook catalog covers a wide range of genres but also...

Take 5 with Candace: 5 Coretta Scott King Book Award Winners

As we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday this week, we are reminded not only of the reverend’s work for the civil rights movement but also that his dream has not yet...

Take 5 with Candace: 5 Audiobooks for a New Year

Last year, about 40% of Americans surveyed reported that they usually make New Year’s resolutions. The most common resolutions, according to several sources, have to do with health...

Take 5 with Candace: Audiobooks for the Winter Solstice

Tomorrow is the first day of winter and the promise of cold weather ahead for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere. But there’s no need to fret: Remember that the solstice also...

Take 5 with Candace: Five Fiery Listens

Have you noticed that this year’s books have been on fire? It seems every time I turn around, there’s another audiobook with the word fire in the title; in fact, there are LITTLE...

Take 5 with Candace: 5 Questions with Karen White

Say hello to Karen White, the first guest in my 5 Audios / 5 Questions series. Karen is not only one of the queens of romantic fiction narrators but is also known for compelling...

Take 5 with Candace: An Introduction

Most people think audiobooks are a 21st-century way to read, so when I’m asked how long I’ve been listening to audiobooks, I like to answer, “I was listening to books on tape when...

Articles by Candace Levy

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Articles by Candace Levy

The latest audiobook reviews, right in your inbox.

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