Audio Books Suggestions. Nothing too Depressing?

Hi.

I am looking for something good to listen to while I'm stuck in traffic. I have two free credits in Audible and I don't know what to spend them on. Previously, I've purchased The Girl on the Train which was too depressing for me; I couldn't finish it. I also tried Big Little Lies, and while it wasn't as depressing as The Girl on the Train, I couldn't get hooked on it. I can't stand narrators that try to mimic male voices when they're female narrators and vice versa. I also can't stand narrators that mimic children's voices. I also can't stand narrators that talk funny. I know I'm being picky here *hides face in shame*. I want something funny, light, well written, and well narrated that isn't pornographic or too depressing.

Any suggestions?

Even if you're not into science fiction, you might like the audio of The Martian by Andy Weir. It's very realistic fiction about an astronaut stranded on Mars, and although the situation is dire, it's a funny book due to the main character's first-person voice and attitude. I've only read the book (twice), but I've heard great things about the audiobook.

I recently finished listening to The Girl Who Saved The King of Sweden by Jonas Jonasson which was pretty good. Last year I listened to The Ides of April by Lindsey Davis, the first in a series of crime but pretty light-hearted set in Ancient Rome. I think I also enjoyed a few of Sophie Kinsella's standalone novels - I've got your number and The Undomestic Goddess - not so much the shopaholic ones.

Another good place to ask this question might be in the Audiobooks group - http://www.librarything.com/groups/audiobooks

Listen to the Dresden Files on audio. They're read by James Marsden (Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer fame) and a darn good book to boot. The main character has cynical snark and attitude... plus is the only practicing, advertising wizard in the Chicago area.

Well, it helps if you like Urban Fantasy at all. But I recommend them highly.

I really liked The golem and the jinni and Mr Penumbra's 24-hour book store.

>5 Ennas:

I second Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Book Store. Lovely book!

I third Mr Penumbra's 24-hour book store.

How about Bill Bryson's A Walk in the Woods? That's quite a funny book.

Count me in as a Bill Bryson fan. I love all his stuff. I think he's a great narrator but he doesn't do A Walk in the Woods but well read. (Can't think of the narrator) Some of his books on audio make me sick with laughter. But I especially loved A Short History of Nearly Everything which is a wonderful narrative of nearly everything that has to do with the sciences. It's such a lilting compilation of facts and information that to me is like a Bible that I keep on my iPod just to listen to parts of when I have nothing else to read. It doesn't matter to me where I jump in. The stories are always interesting and more importantly scientifically true.

So much for my Bryson boost. Love him.

Wow thank you so much. I purchased Happily Ali After by Ali Wentworth. The synopsis sounded funny but after listening for 10 minutes, I knew I wasn't going to like it. While her jokes about being 50 are creative, after a while they get annoying and frankly depressing. I'm almost in my mid-30s and I can feel the sting already. I think the problem is with me really and not the books. I don't know what's wrong with me lately. I seem to have a problem with everything and I can't stick with anything. Drama and tragedy depresses me; romance is basically pornography and I feel it's cheap; deep and philosophical somehow scares me- I dunno why.

I really miss reading so much but I don't have the tolerance for anything :/ Anyone has gone through this phase? (and yes I'm aware I turned this from a book talk to a shrink therapy). Thank you again, I'm gonna write down the titles suggested though and keep them on my wish list.

I second The Martian, and can also recommend The Rosie Project, What If? by Randall Monroe (lots of small funny snippets, good for listening in traffic), Bellwether by Connie Willis and Midnight Riot (Rivers of London) by Ben Aaronovitch.

I enjoyed some PG Wodehouse in audio. The Jeeves stuff is always lighthearted.

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen big on magical realism, light on romance.