Listening Pathways Bahni Turpin Audiobooks Audiobooks

Listening Pathways Bahni Turpin Audiobooks Audiobooks Bahni Turpin is an American actor and audiobook narrator. She has narrated over a hundred audiobooks,  earning her a place in the Audible Hall of Fame and numerous Audie awards. She was recently named a Golden Voice by AudioFile for her exemplary and prolific career as an audiobook narrator. Shes likely best known for her incredible performance of The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, which won her an Audie award in 2018. While I can attest to the the brilliance of her narration in that book, its just the tip of the iceberg. Shes brilliant no matter what, whether shes narrating YA romance (The Stars and the Blackness Between Them by Junauda Petrus, The Sun Is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon), a classic of the Harlem Renaissance (Cane by Jean Toomer), or literary fiction (Here Comes the Sun by Nicole Dennis-Benn). If you listen to a lot of audiobooks, you know how useful it is to have a few must-listen narrators in your back pocket. Bahni Turpin is definitely a must-listen for me. If I see her name on an audiobook, I know its going to be an outstanding performance. Ive been known to pick up a book just because she narrates it, and I havent been disappointed yet. If you havent listened to any Bahni Turpin audiobooks and are wondering where to start (there are so many!) use this listening pathway as a guide. Ive highlighted some of my favorites, representing a wide array of genres and styles. These books will give you a good introduction to Turpins talents as a narrator. But I guarantee that you wont want to stop here. Luckily, you dont have to. Start With An Unputdownable YA Novel On the Come Up by Angie Thomas I loved The Hate U Give, but this one really blew me away. Sixteen-year-old Bri just wants to be a rapper, but shes got a lot on her plate, like the fact that her family is suddenly facing homelessness, as well as all the everyday terrors and injustices that pile on top of her as a black teenage girl in America. Theres a reason this book makes such a great introduction to Turpins workâ€"its a book that centers language. Hip-hop is absolutely central, not just to the plot but to Bris identity, her history, her growth. Its a book that was written to be read out loud. Turpin beautifully inhabits teenage Bri, and, as always, nails every other character voice as well. But its her ability to make you really hear, and thus really feel, Bris rhymes, that make this audiobook so extraordinary. Theres a lot of rapping in this novel, and Turpin uses her voice to put it all on the line. All of Bris talent, anger, joy, frustration, energy, and exhaustion comes through loud and clear. Next, Listen To A Brilliant Work Of Historical Fiction The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead If youve already read this Pulitzer prizeâ€"winning novel, in which Whitehead brilliantly imagines the Underground Railroad as an actual, physical railroad, thats okayâ€"you can read it again on audio. I promise you wont be sad. Following the journey of Cora as she runs from slavery, this book is a painful read. What Bahni Turpin does is nothing short of astounding. Not only does she inhabit the many accents and dialects of a wide-ranging cast of characters, but somehow, in her voice, she carries the beating heart of the story. This is a book that is hard to read, but that is worth sinking intoâ€"its a book that demands the reader linger, even when lingering is exactly what the reader doesnt want to do. Turpins narration makes that lingering possible. Her voice is so alive and present. She captures the complexity of Coras emotions, making her voice a constant anchor in a story that travels hundreds of miles across hundreds of terrors. Bonus: If you loved  The Underground Railroad, I highly recommend Dread Nation by Justina Ireland. Its a YA novel that takes place in a Civil Warâ€"era America overrun with zombies. Bahni Turpin rocks the narration out of this world. Then Take A Dive Into Some Nonfiction So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo This is a fantastic, beautifully clear, and accessible book that tackles big questions about systemic racism in America and about how to talk about systemic racism. But I include it here because its also an example of how much great narration can add to an already excellent book. Part of what makes this book so good is its directness. Oluo breaks various issues down into pieces that dont feel overwhelming, but she doesnt simplify. Turpin perfectly captures that particular style in her narration. Its inviting, its personal, its engagingâ€"but shes also got this clear, no-bullshit tone that makes you want to sit up and pay attention. If you, like me, find it hard to get through nonfiction in print, this book is for you. And if youre hesitant to listen to nonfiction on audio, Id recommend this one anywayâ€"its so accessible. Turpin breathes life into the more academic sections (which are already fantastic) and adds another layer of emotion to the personal stories and histories that Oluo recounts. Bonus: If you want to take an even deeper dive into feminist nonfiction, I also recommend Nasty Women by Samhita Mukhopadhyay and The Source of Self Regard by Toni Morrison. Morrison needs no introduction, but it takes a mighty fine narrator to tackle the work of such a literary giant, and Turpin is up to the task. Nasty Women is a collection of essays by a diverse group of women writers on living and fighting in Trump-era America. Turpin brings her usual talents to the audiobook, making these already excellent essays come to life. Finish With A Classic If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin Its always a win-win when a great narrator narrates a classic: if youve never read the book, its a fantastic way to encounter it for the first time. If youve already read it, listening to it on audio is a great way to experience it again. In this novel, Turpin gives life to 19-year old Tish, a young black woman living in New York City in the 1970s. Her boyfriend, Fonny, is imprisoned after being falsely accused of a crime he didnt commit. Tish has just found out shes pregnant, and the book focuses on her family and Fonnys as they try to navigate a deeply racist justice system. Turpins straightforward narration perfectly captures the tone of the novel. Its a painful, heartbreaking book, but a quiet one. Baldwin doesnt hit you over the head with anything. He just illuminates the truths of these characters living their lives in a world that continually tries to erase and imprison them. Turpin beautifully modulates her voice to reflect everything that Tish feelsâ€"her pain, fear, and exh austion, but also her love for Fonny and her family, her determination, her hope. Looking for more Bahni Turpin audiobooks? Shes featured on  these  three lists of awesome narrators (because shes awesome). Sign up for Audiobooks to receive the latest from the audiobooks world. Thank you for signing up! Keep an eye on your inbox.