Book Sense 76 Audiobooks Top 10

With an eye toward enjoyable summer listening for adults and kids -- and recognizing that June is National Audiobook Month -- here are the Book Sense top 10 audiobook picks.

Look for the pad of fliers coming to you in the May white box. And, again, many thanks to all the booksellers who sent in nominations and helped create this strong list.

1. CARAMELO, by Sandra Cisneros; read by the author (HarperAudio, Unabridged Cassette, $39.95, 0060515910) "What a treat! Hearing Cisneros read about 'the awful Grandmother' puts you right into this extended family on its annual pilgrimage back to Mexico. It's worth planning a long trip so you can listen as you travel." -- Molly Beck, Quail Ridge Books & Music, Raleigh, NC

2. THE DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America, by Erik Larson; read by Tony Goldwyn (Random House Audio, Abridged Cassette, $25.95, 0739303406) "This captures the imagination and brings alive a turning point in our history. The juxtaposition of the serial killer and the organizer of the World's Fair combined with the story of the fair, creates an amazing narrative." -- Dave Kaverman, The Million Story Book Company, Fort Wayne, IN Also available in Abridged CD

3. THE CARNIVOROUS CARNIVAL (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 9), by Lemony Snicket; read by Tim Curry (Harper Children's Audio, Unabridged Cassette, $20, 0060087811) "Having Tim Curry read Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events was a stroke of genius! He's perfect for the role and does a masterful job of bringing these stories to life. What a way to be entertained in the car for that trip to the beach." -- Ginnie Traver, Bishop Bookstore, Bishop, CA

4. LIFE OF PI, by Yann Martel; read by Jeff Woodman with Alexander Marshall (HighBridge Audio, Unabridged Cassette, $36.95, 1565117794) "The Booker Prize winner is read by just the right voice, and I have been telling everyone about this audio. I'm looking forward to listening again, I enjoyed it that much." -- Suzanne Droppert,
Liberty Bay Books, Poulsbo, WA Also available in Unabridged CD

5. THE DANTE CLUB, by Matthew Pearl; read by Boyd Gaines (Simon & Schuster, Abridged Cassette, $26, 0743517911) "Boyd Gaines gives an excellent reading to this wonderful literary mystery/thriller." -- Bess Moye, Cabbages and Kings, Chatham, MA Also available in Abridged CD

6. EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED, by Jonathan Safran Foer; read by Jeff Woodman and Scott Shina (Recorded Books, Unabridged Cassette, $29.99, 1402524994) "This book is read by two narrators, each taking on the voice of the two main characters of the story. They do such a wonderful job of embodying these men. A wonderful, wacky look at Ukrainian life and the search for one man's family history." -- Corey L. Hiseler, Between the Covers Bookstore & Espresso Bar, Telluride, CO

7. THE APPRENTICE: My Life in the Kitchen, by Jacques Pepin; read by Michel Chevalier (Houghton Mifflin Audio, Abridged Cassette, $32, 0618331697) "From one of the greatest French chefs in the world comes this delightfully unfussy autobiography that is redolent with the celebration of foods from foie gras to cereal in little self-serve boxes. Marvelous! Utterly marvelous!" -- Kelly Justice, The Fountain Bookstore, Richmond, VA Also available in Abridged CD

8. RUNNING WITH SCISSORS: A Memoir, by Augusten Burroughs; read by the author (Audio Renaissance, $25.95, Unabridged Cassette, 1559278668) "Burroughs is an awesome writer, and his reading of the book conveys all its humor. You will feel as if you are sitting beside him as he relates his life." -- Joey Mitchell, Paperback Booksmith, Hanover, MA Also available in Unabridged CD

9. THE DAVID SEDARIS BOX SET, by David Sedaris; read by the author (Time Warner Audio Books, Unabridged CD, $79.98, 1586214349) "You will want to listen to this entire set, read by the author, at least once a year. It's perfect for any long cross-country roadtrip with a dysfunctional family." -- Rachel Bumgarner, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Cincinnati, OH Also available in Unabridged Cassette

10. TROPIC OF NIGHT, by Michael Gruber; read by Margaret Whitton (HarperAudio, Abridged Cassette, $25.95, 006052782X) "This is truly a riveting supernatural thriller. Over the last few days, I have been looking for excuses to drive somewhere so I could finish the story -- the last time I did that was for Dennis Lehane's Mystic River." -- Lois Powers, The Toadstool Bookshop, Milford, NH