Favorite Narrator: My Top 20 Richard Armitage Audiobooks (2006-2020)

 I was looking through my Audible library this week checking my two new Richard Armitage narrated books.  I'm just starting the new David Hewson book, happy that author and narrator (Hewson/Armitage) are collaborating again.  The new C.J. Tudor book I plan to start in March, part of my 2021 Audiobook Challenge.  But I couldn't help but notice all the Armitage Audiobooks in my Audible library, and also a few that I've read/listened to that are not there. I also have several CD's of Armitage narrated audiobooks, dating back to 2006.  

My audio library list review prompted me to start my personal top  RA audiobooks list: 

My Top 20 Audiobooks Narrated by Richard Armitage

(2006-2020)

                         

1.    Lords of the North by  Bernard Cornwell

2.    David Copperfield  by Charles Dickens

3.     Hamlet, Prince of Denmark: A Novel by A. J. Hartley and David Hewson 

4.     The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde  by Robert Louis Stevenson

5.     Venetia by Georgette Heyer

6.     *His & Hers: A Novel  by Alice Feeney

7.     *The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter 

8.     *A Nearly Normal Family by M.T. Edvardsson

9.      The Jackman &Evans book series by Joy Ellis (Read books in order)

10.     The Other People by C.J. Tudor

11.     *The Other Queen: A Novel  by Philippa Gregory

12.      The Chekhov Collection of Short Stories by Anton Chekhov

13.     Robin Hood: The Siege  by Simon Guerrier  (Big Finish)

14.     The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie

15.     The Convenient Marriage by Georgette Heyer

16.    The Man from St. Petersburg by Ken Follett

17.     The Hiding Place (The Taking of Annie Thorne) by C.J. Tudor

18.      Bedlam by L.J. Ross

19.      The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner

20.      Romeo and Juliet: A Novel by David Hewson 

* Narrated by Richard Armitage and additional narrator(s)

I believe Richard Armitage has over 50 audiobooks (audio plays, and podcasts included) as of this moment.  And a new project announced today.  But I thought 20 was a good number to start out with.

I love Richard's voice and performance in all his audiobooks and learned from them all. I've discovered new genres I hadn't explored before. I just mean these are my top 20 favorites for various reasons at this particular moment in time. 

Richard has more audiobooks just published in 2021 and I have just started listening to the new David Hewson book he narrated (see my post on my Audiobook 2021 Challenge).  And there are also some audiobooks I haven't listened to because they are not available in the US, or not yet, and some that have just become available.  I do sometimes buy the CD's for these, but sometimes I wait to see if Audible will eventually have them.  What I'm trying to say is, this list of my top 20 favorites is ever changing with new Armitage Audiobooks.  

I also have not included the children's books and the Love Poems and Meditations because to me they belong in a separate categories.  Also the audio plays with Big Finish and podcasts (Wolverine) belong in a separate category.  

I'm looking forward to starting Gallifrey - Time War 4 (Big Finish) soon, downloaded and ready for listening.

 

My 2018 Audiobook Reading List So Far

Last year I started reading the Bernie Gunther series by Philip Kerr (discovered thanks to an interview with Sean Bean), and in December and early January 2018 I finished reading (audiobooks) A Quiet Flame and The One from the Other.  I've been trying to read them in chronological order, according to a list in a Bernie Gunther fan forum.  I think I have two or three books left in the series so far, this includes the one Kerr just published last year. 

http://berniegunther.com/


I have found that because of the subject matter in the Gunther books that I often need a break between every couple of  books.  So I'm taking a break at the moment starting another mystery series from one of my favorite people on social media, and favorite authors, David Hewson. I've started the Nic Costa series and now listening/reading A Season for the Dead.  In an earlier life I was lucky enough to do a bit of traveling, and extremely lucky to have visited Rome and The Vatican on three occasions.  Always fun to read/listen to a book and be able to recognize a familiar visited location.  

I have to say to David Hewson that if Richard Armitage is cast as Pieter Vos, that is certainly the next of his mystery series I'm reading. 

https://www.amazon.com/David-Hewson/e/B000APG5PO

My reading list so far this year continues with audiobooks, or audioplays, narrated/performed by my favorite narrator, Richard Armitage.  Now, I don't know if the Audiobook Challenge counts podcasts as part of the challenge, so one of the audio plays I will not count, but I'm adding to my list here. I've pre-ordered the works listed below:

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris, (Update - February 20, 2018  February 8, 2018) Jan 23, 2018 from Audible.  Hopefully narrated by Richard Armitage in the US also (1/19/18 - Richard Armitage now confirmed in Audible US site as narrator! Yes!).  If not, I'll cancel from Audible.

The Martian Invasion of Earth - Starring Richard Armitage, February 2018, from Big Finish (HG Wells adaptation)

Podcast - serial:

Wolverine: The Long Night - from Marvel and Stitcher - Richard Armitage stars as Wolverine.  Expected in Spring 2018 

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Now if someone is reading this, you  may have noticed I haven't included Wanderlust by  Lauren Blakely, co-narrated by Richard Armitage and expected this month from Audible.  Well, that's because I don't know if I will listen to this audiobook.  This type of Romance novel is definitely not my genre.  Maybe if the cover was less "cheesy" my reaction might be different.  Let me say to Audible that a romance novel by Heyer is very different. I would welcome Richard recording more Heyer.  Look, lots of RA fans seem to enjoy this genre, and many of them that constantly tweeted Audible about wanting him to read something more contemporary, romantic, and sexy, got what they wished as interpreted by Audible.  Always remember, be careful what you wish for.  

I'm certain Richard has his reasons for recording this audiobook.  I can see that it will bring him new fans, and maybe even change the way casting people look at him when considering him for a project. Maybe he and his management thought he's viewed a bit as too old fashioned for a younger US audience, and maybe this will change that perception. From what I've been reading the author has a following, and so do this type of romance novels.  If so, this may be a good thing for the future for him.  

As an Armitage fan/supporter I'm willing to give this the benefit of the doubt.  I will wait and see what others in the fandom say after they listen to it, and I will wait until I have a credit from Audible to get it in any case, if I decide to do so ultimately.  

__________

This year more than ever I'm taking life one day at a time. Last year was a difficult health year for me.  This year expected to be even more so. But whatever the future holds or doesn't hold for me, I'm glad to have audiobooks keep me company.

My Audiobook List Jan/Feb:

A Season for the Dead

The Tattooist of Auschwitz 

The Martian Invasion of Earth (adaptation of The War of the Worlds)

Audiobook Challenge 2018 - I'll Give it a Try

As an audiobook listener I thought I would give this year's Audiobook Challenge a try.  For a variety of reasons I don't know how far I will get this year, but it gives me an excuse to return to my blog. 

I need something hopeful this year to help distract me from my troubles. Maybe a goal, a challenge, is just the thing. 

I first learned about the Audiobook Challenge through Twitter, and I looked into it more on various blogs.  Finally I decided today to look at the blog at the link below, and copy the rules, regs, and etc.  

https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2017/12/2018-audiobook-challenge-sign-up.html

Challenge Details

• Runs January 1, 2018 – December 31, 2018. You can join at anytime.
• The goal is to find a new love for audios or to outdo yourself by listening to more audios in 2018 than you did in 2017.
• Books must be in audio format (CD, MP3, etc.)
• ANY genres count.
• Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed.
• You do not have to be a book blogger to participate; you can track your progress on Goodreads, Facebook, LibraryThing, etc.
• If you’re a blogger grab the button and do a quick post about the challenge to help spread the word. If you’re not a blogger you can help by posting on Facebook or Tweeting about the challenge.
• Updates plus a giveaway will be posted twice during the year. First update in June 30, 2018 and last update in December 15, 2018

Achievement Levels

• Newbie (I’ll give it a try) 1-5
• Weekend Warrior (I’m getting the hang of this) 5-10
• Stenographer (can listen while multi-tasking) 10-15
• Socially Awkward (Don’t talk to me) 15-20
• Binge Listener (Why read when someone can do it for you) 20-30
• My Precious (I had my earbuds surgically implanted) 30+
• Marathoner (Look Ma No Hands) 50+
• 
  

My level is probably somewhere near Stenographer, since I mostly listen to audiobooks when commuting to and from work.

Hello Sweet Prince - May Flights of Angels Bring Thee to My Ears

Yes, I know, the news is already out there all over the fandom, but I'm so excited about it I just had to post it on my blog.

222014

Richard Armitage to perform Hamlet, a Novel

Feature, Front Page Features, Newsflashes, Press, Uncategorized

We are thrilled to announce that the Hamlet, a Novel, the follow-up to the critically acclaimed international bestseller Macbeth, a Novel, co-written by A.J. and David Hewson will be out on audio on May 20th, performed by the incomparable Richard Armitage.

Armitage has a history of playing Shakespeare but is probably best known internationally for his portrayal of Thorin Oakenshield in the recent Hobbit movies, as well as Guy of Gisborne in the BBC’s Robin Hood, Lucas North in Spooks and John Thornton in North and South.

As with Macbeth, a Novel, A.J. and David have set out to retell a version of Shakespeare’s story in the style of a period thriller, full of intrigue and excitement, giving Armitage a full cast of characters with which to demonstrate his considerable reach and power as an actor, as well as utilizing the rich musicality of his voice!.

To read the rest go to:

http://ajhartley.net/uncategorized/richard-armitage-to-perform-hamlet-a-novel/


Was this a clue Richard? 

"...I’m going to find something which I really want to do, and I’d love doing. And it will probably be something classical I think."

Interview with Richard Armitage, TheOneRingnet, November 2013.

Photo of Richard Armitage, 1998,  Hamlet Rehearsal, Birmingham Repertory Theater, Richard Armitage Online, (Richard played a number of roles in the play)

Thank you Me and Richard Armitage http://meandrichard.wordpress.com/for the news. 

A Bit More Armitage Humor - Part Deux

There are many things I admire about Richard Armitage but I adore his sense of humor.  


So, I made another one of my videos, this one a follow-up to "A Bit of Armitage Humor" with more clips about the funny and adorable side of Armitage:

Part Deux: A Bit of Armitage Humor

Hope it brings everyone a smile on a  cold late autumn day.

As a bonus, I'm also posting one of my favorite RA interviews. OK, true confessions, I love all of RA's interviews, but this is one of my favorites, from the audiobook "Sheriff Got Your Tongue?" from 2006: