AUDIOBOOKS NARRATED BY OUR FAVOURITE CELEBRITIES

Celebrities aren’t only known for their work in movies and TV, but also for reading iconic classics! Explore a selection of your favourite literary gems narrated by celebs.

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Our favourite celebrities do more than just shine on stage or screen! There's something magical about having familiar voices bring books to life through the art of narration. We explore a selection of our favourite literary gems narrated by beloved stars.

“The Handmaid's Tale” narrated by Claire Danes
Author: Margaret Atwood
Where to Listen: Audible

This oppressive masterpiece paints a chilling picture of a future society where women's rights are stripped away. You might even be familiar with the TV series of the same name, a rendition of the book, that gained a cult following. Claire Danes, renowned for her roles in Romeo + Juliet and Homeland, hauntingly captures the tension and emotion of the story with her reading.

“Upstate” narrated by Chadwick Boseman and Heather Simms
Author: Kalisha Buckhanon
Where to Listen: Audible

Set in 1990’s New York, this poignant love story explores the challenges of a long-distance relationship when 17-year-old Antonio is arrested for a shocking crime. The late Chadwick Boseman known for his ground-breaking role in Black Panther, and his narration as Antonio will move you. Heather Simms voices Antonio’s 16-year-old girlfriend Natasha, a perfect fit with Simms rich background on Broadway and film beside Boseman. It’s no surprise that this audio rendition won the 2006 Alex Award Winner and 2005 Audie Award for Literary Fiction.

“The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” narrated by Nick Offerman
Author: Mark Twain
Where to Listen: Audible

Mark Twain writes of the childhood adventures of Tom Sawyer in the fictional town of St. Petersburg, Mississippi. The story comes to life through Nick Offerman's charming and witty narration. Best known for his role as Ron Swanson in the TV series Parks and Recreation, Offerman brings his comedic baritone to this classic tale.

"To the Lighthouse" narrated by Nicole Kidman
Author: Virginia Woolf
Where to Listen: Audible

Nicole Kidman is not just an Academy Award-winning actor known for her roles in Moulin Rouge! and Big Little Lies. Her skill as an actor helps her seamlessly skip between characters without losing the audience. In this book, Virginia Woolf explores the inner thoughts and emotions of the Ramsay family and their visits to the Isle of Skye in the 1900’s. This iconic novel, along with Nicole Kidman's ethereal narration, is a moving symbol of how we struggle as humans with making sense of the world around us.

"The Great Gatsby" narrated by Jake Gyllenhaal
Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald
Where to Listen: Audible and YouTube

How iconic is The Great Gatsby? Jake Gyllenhaal, known for his roles in films like Brokeback Mountain and Nightcrawler, adds his charismatic cadence to the sophistication of Fitzgerald's ode to the Jazz age. This book tells the story of wealth, love, and tragedy in temptation-laden 1920s America. Follow the protagonist, Nick, as he investigates the affluent and imperfectly perfect lives of those around him.

"Persuasion" narrated by Florence Pugh
Author: Jane Austen
Where to Listen: Audible

Swoon, swoon and swoon some more! Florence Pugh brings Jane Austen's novel of second chances to life. Persuasion is a timeless tale of a woman’s journey through romance, love lust and societal expectations, so it makes sense that Netflix opted to capture it in film! Pugh is known for never holding back, as seen in her previous roles in Little Women, Midsommar and the most recent viral sensation, Oppenheimer. Her narration is fresh and focused, reinvigorating this classic piece of literature.

Photography: Unsplash