If you've heard it, you know it: Bahni Turpin's warm, versatile, and intelligent voice is the X factor in so many of our favorite listens. She's been on our radar since well before her reading of Angie Thomas's The Hate U Give made her a household name with audiobook fans, and her latest performances have only confirmed her star power. A case in point is one of our favorite listens of 2020: the enthralling short story Half Light, written exclusively for audio by An American Marriage author Tayari Jones. It's hard to imagine a better conduit for the high-wire drama of twin sisters who hatch a plan to retrieve a precious family heirloom. In fact, if her own listening is any indication, complex dramas with a side of mystery are right up Turpin's alley. Here, she tells us what makes three of her favorite listens so special.
''Nothing beats a great murder mystery. Add to that historical fiction, an appealing heroine/villain, and the history of oppression against women, and you've got the bones of Alias Grace. The novel starts off slowly, but don’t let that sway you. I listened while painting my guest bedroom, so there wasn’t much distraction! This story is based on a true case from the 1800s. Margaret Atwood makes the lead character irresistible for her seeming innocence and hard life, but also adds some metaphysical events that leave the listener wondering what the truth actually was. It’s a great peek into the trials of immigrants to the US at that time and the hardscrabble life that many of our forefathers (and mothers) had to lead.''
''I may be something of an Indophile, being a yoga enthusiast and teacher in addition to my acting and narrating work, and I recently binge-watched all of Indian Matchmaking on Netflix in one day! At less than two hours, Evil Eye might not be one I would normally spend a whole Audible credit on, but as a free Audible Plus listen, I had no qualms about adding it to my library. I thoroughly enjoyed it! This piece is recorded like a radio play, with different actors for every character—one whom I've actually worked with here in LA! The performances and casting are excellent, as are the sound effects and use of music. The story is about a young woman living in the US whose mother in India is determined to get her married asap, but when the daughter meets the man of her dreams (he has wealth, a good family, the blessing of the astrologer, and seems to treat her well), her mom is still not at all sure it’s a go. What develops is quite a surprise!''
''I tried this book because I had recently loved Inheritance by Dani Shapiro, about an Orthodox Jewish woman who finds out through DNA testing that she is not her father’s daughter. Not My Father’s Son is an autobiographical story by the amazing actor Alan Cumming (I’m a fan) about his tumultuous relationship with his father and what he learned via DNA testing he underwent for a reality TV show. I love history and following a family's journey through time; plus, Alan is a great storyteller with an exciting life as an international star. His personal evolution as described in his memoir is admirable.''
