This post was originally published on Audible.com.
Few literary devices intrigue and engage quite like a unique narrative perspective. Even if an arc feels familiar, the introduction of a new lens can shift the story's impact entirely.
If you're looking for stories that can help you look at the world in a new way, tune into one of these audiobooks with nonhuman narrators and protagonists. We've got stories written from the perspectives of animals, plants, robots, inanimate objects, and even former humans. All of them are guaranteed to give you a fresh take on some of life's biggest questions. After all, you can find surprising clarity on what it means to be human through the eyes of a character who isn't human at all.
Trees have a much longer lifespan than humans, so they make perfect narrators for broad stories across human generations. In Elif Shafak's The Island of Missing Trees, listeners hear the love story of a Greek Cypriot and a Turkish Cypriot as witnessed by a fig tree growing through the center of a taverna in Cyprus—as well as witness the decades-long consequences of war, trauma, and loss. Exquisite narration by Daphne Kouma and Amira Ghazalla make this gorgeous audiobook a must-listen.
This strange, lovely little book is the story of Shesheshen, a shapeshifting monster who slowly but surely learns to love. John Wiswell’s story defies genre, but it contains the very best elements of fantasy, horror, and romance. There is action, yes, but there are also quiet, beautiful moments where the listener might be tempted to get cozy, and it's in these that we connect with this unforgettable nonhuman character and her outcast human companion, Homily.
For a literal bird's-eye view of the apocalypse, listen in to Kira Jane Buxton's Hollow Kingdom, narrated brilliantly by Robert Petkoff. Our animal narrator in this story is a domesticated crow named S.T. whose world is turned upside down when his human caretaker is hit by a strange, fast-spreading virus. S.T. can't seem to help his human, but while witnessing the chaos, he decides there are creatures he can help before it's too late. It's a story full of humor and heart—you'll never laugh so hard at the potential end of humanity as you will while listening to Hollow Kingdom.
While Klara herself is not human, she was designed to support mankind as an Artificial Friend. She's waited a long time for the right customer to buy her for companionship. When she's finally chosen by a sick teen named Josie, Klara realizes she still has a lot to learn about humanity. This poignant story is getting a feature film adaptation directed by Taika Waititi, starring Jenna Ortega and Amy Adams, but you don't have to wait for it to hit theaters. Enjoy this moving story now as an audiobook, narrated with sensitivity, wonder, and strength by Sura Siu.
This World War II story set in Nazi Germany and narrated by the figure of Death has become a modern young adult classic since its publication in 2005. After finding a book near her brother's grave, young Liesel discovers the power of books to help her find comfort and escape during a time of great violence and fear. As she searches for more books to add to her collection, Liesel offers to share her stories with the Jewish man hiding in her foster family's basement. The Book Thief is a heartbreaking tale with a distinctive narrative voice, made even more engaging in audio thanks to narrator Allan Corduner.
Although the five protagonists of N.K. Jemisin's The City We Became may look human, they're actually the personifications of the boroughs of New York City, forced to come together to fight a great evil and protect their home. Inspired by a story in Jemisin's short story collection How Long 'Til Black Future Month?, this inventive urban fantasy envisions a world where each city has a soul—and when threatened, that soul takes a human form to fight back. Robin Miles's exceptional, award-winning performance makes this remarkable fantasy totally unforgettable.
Ann Leckie's The Raven Tower is a gripping fantasy audiobook that immerses the listener in the story through its distinct narrative voice. The kingdom of Iraden has long been ruled through an agreement between gods and humans, but that agreement is dangerously close to falling apart as neighboring kingdoms answering to different gods threaten Iraden's borders. Through shifting first- and second-person narration, including the voice of a boulder (the physical form of one of Iraden's gods), listeners find themselves in the shoes of a warrior tasked with uncovering a dark secret. It's a gripping ride with dynamic narration by Adjoa Andoh.
Nothing raises bigger questions about what it means to be human than seeing the world through the eyes of a robot. Annie Bot was manmade to serve her boyfriend Doug's every need, and she's designed to continue learning and evolving daily. Doug says he loves how convincingly human Annie behaves as she evolves. But the more Annie sees, the closer she gets to human, and the less perfect she becomes. This fascinating sci-fi perspective on AI, gender, and relationships, narrated brilliantly by Jennifer Jill Araya, will change the way you look at technology and humanity.
After the death of her husband and the disappearance of her son, Tova could use a fresh perspective on life. She finds it where she least expects it: through a friendship with a giant Pacific octopus named Marcellus, who's on display at the aquarium where Tova works as the night shift janitor. The story switches between the views of Tova and Marcellus, painting a moving portrait of human-animal connection, healing after grief, and the incredible inner lives of octopuses. With exceptional dual narration by Marin Ireland and Michael Urie, Remarkably Bright Creatures is a poignant audiobook you'll want to hear again and again.
In Helen Oyeyemi’s bold, complex Parasol Against the Axe, the city of Prague isn’t just a locale beloved by world travelers, it’s a living, breathing being and the narrator of the story that unfolds within. When Hero Tojosoa arrives in the historic Czech capital for an estranged friend’s bachelorette party, she finds her grasp on reality routinely challenged as her experiences begin to err on the side of the bizarre, warped and molded by the whims of the mischievous trickster city.
Richard Adams's Watership Down is a treasured classic for readers of all ages, first published in 1972. Through the eyes of a rabbit warren with its own traditions, lore, and quirky characters, we see firsthand the upheaval caused by humans encroaching on the rabbits' territory and follow their search for a safe home. Whether you're experiencing the story's magic (and terror and heartbreak) for the first or hundredth time, you'll love the audiobook's colorful narration by Doctor Who actor Peter Capaldi.
Those of us with beloved dogs feel we understand them on a deep, meaningful level. Enzo, the narrator of Garth Stein's The Art of Racing in the Rain, feels the same way about his human family. Even though he can't speak back, he knows what they say and what they need. As Enzo's life approaches its end, he reflects on all he and his humans have been through together. It's a bestseller for a reason, and Christopher Evan Welch's narration makes it particularly delightful and emotionally resonant. Just be sure you have tissues nearby while listening.
In the distant-future setting of this heartwarming sci-fi romp, humans are living in captivity, held in enclosures monitored by Autonomous Servile Unit 413s98-itr—better known as “Heyoo.” Our narrator and protagonist, Heyoo is responsible for the well-being of the human population living under CORE’s rule. But when he’s sent out to fulfill an unexpected mission, Heyoo is left with a new directive that challenges his perspective on humanity and technology.
Susie Dumond is the author of Queerly Beloved, Looking for a Sign, and Bed and Breakup. She is also a senior contributor at Book Riot and a bookseller.
