-
The Most Wonderful Tales of the Year
- Holiday Memories Written and Performed by Our Favorite Narrators
- Narrated by: Jonathan Davis, Kate Reading, Michael Kramer, full cast
- Length: 1 hr and 47 mins
- Categories: Biographies & Memoirs
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Regular price: $0.00
Sale price: $0.00 or 1 credit
Buy for $0.00
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
Bella Bella
- By: Harvey Fierstein
- Narrated by: Harvey Fierstein
- Length: 1 hr and 13 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Four-time Tony Award® winner Harvey Fierstein takes on New York City’s very own political firebrand, Bella Abzug, in his new raucous, heart-rending, and absurdly humorous solo show. Set in 1976, on the eve of her bid to become New York State’s first female senator, Bella Bella finds this larger-than-life, truth-slinging, groundbreaking, hat-wearing icon squirreled away in the bathroom of a midtown hotel awaiting that night’s election results while a coterie of family and celebs await her entrance. Directing is Kimberly Senior (The Niceties).
-
-
loved every minute!
- By John Kenny on 08-08-20
By: Harvey Fierstein
-
Stuck
- By: Chris Grabenstein
- Narrated by: Mark Sanderlin, Elizabeth Hess, Oliver Wyman, and others
- Length: 3 hrs and 12 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On his 11th birthday, Jackson is nervous about moving up to middle school where he knows he'll be bullied by older kids, so he makes his wish, "I don't want to grow up!" When his 12th birthday rolls around, he discovers his wish came true: he's still 11, and he's starting fifth grade (again). At first, this is the perfect life. Jackson is the smartest kid in his class, the best on his baseball team, and the star of the school band. But after a few years of being eleven, he realizes his life is passing him by.
-
-
Accent problem
- By Padma P.Jagannathan on 08-09-20
-
When You Finish Saving the World
- By: Jesse Eisenberg
- Narrated by: Kaitlyn Dever, Jesse Eisenberg, Finn Wolfhard
- Length: 5 hrs and 17 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From playwright, author and Oscar-nominated actor Jesse Eisenberg, When You Finish Saving the World tells the moving and evocative story of three individuals working to understand each other and themselves: Nathan, a father learning to connect with his newborn son; Rachel, a young college student seeking to find her place in a relationship and in life, before marriage to Nathan; and Ziggy, their son, a teenager hoping to figure out where he came from, and where he’s headed.
-
-
Five hours eavesdropping on therapy tapes - blech!
- By Phx17 on 08-08-20
By: Jesse Eisenberg
-
Phreaks
- By: Matthew Derby
- Narrated by: Ben McKenzie, Carrie Coon, Christian Slater, and others
- Length: 5 hrs and 10 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The year is 1970. Emma Gable, a blind teenager coming of age in a small industrial town in Western New York, is about as far from the seismic cultural transformations rocking campuses and city streets across America as a person can get. Emma escapes the chaos of her dysfunctional family by dialing up random numbers on the phone in her bedroom, just to see who'll answer.
-
-
Great Performance. Unlikable Characters
- By Abby on 08-08-20
By: Matthew Derby
-
Equanimity
- By: Bram Barouh
- Narrated by: Bram Barouh
- Length: 11 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
With the friendly guidance of Bram Barouh, allow yourself to momentarily release your hold on turbulent thoughts and feelings as you practice finding your essential equanimity - being okay with what is, as it is. Bram, a mindfulness educator, has a lighthearted nature and approachable wisdom that makes practicing meditation seem effortless. With his guidance, it's never been easier to take part in a moment of positive thinking.
-
-
excellent
- By Steve Lee, Sr. on 06-17-20
By: Bram Barouh
-
Bluebird Memories
- A Journey Through Lyrics & Life
- By: Common, Awoye Timpo, NSangou Njikam
- Narrated by: Common
- Length: 1 hr and 21 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In a performance that combines the personal and poetic with the literary and the lyrical, Grammy, Oscar, Emmy, and Golden Globe-winning artist Common spins something entirely new and bold for both his old-school fans and those new to one of hip-hop’s most essential voices. This is Bluebird Memories, part of Audible's Words + Music that blends storytelling, music, and performance to create a one-of-a-kind listening experience.
-
-
I'm an OWW
- By R. Sippel on 08-09-20
By: Common, and others
-
Bella Bella
- By: Harvey Fierstein
- Narrated by: Harvey Fierstein
- Length: 1 hr and 13 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Four-time Tony Award® winner Harvey Fierstein takes on New York City’s very own political firebrand, Bella Abzug, in his new raucous, heart-rending, and absurdly humorous solo show. Set in 1976, on the eve of her bid to become New York State’s first female senator, Bella Bella finds this larger-than-life, truth-slinging, groundbreaking, hat-wearing icon squirreled away in the bathroom of a midtown hotel awaiting that night’s election results while a coterie of family and celebs await her entrance. Directing is Kimberly Senior (The Niceties).
-
-
loved every minute!
- By John Kenny on 08-08-20
By: Harvey Fierstein
-
Stuck
- By: Chris Grabenstein
- Narrated by: Mark Sanderlin, Elizabeth Hess, Oliver Wyman, and others
- Length: 3 hrs and 12 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On his 11th birthday, Jackson is nervous about moving up to middle school where he knows he'll be bullied by older kids, so he makes his wish, "I don't want to grow up!" When his 12th birthday rolls around, he discovers his wish came true: he's still 11, and he's starting fifth grade (again). At first, this is the perfect life. Jackson is the smartest kid in his class, the best on his baseball team, and the star of the school band. But after a few years of being eleven, he realizes his life is passing him by.
-
-
Accent problem
- By Padma P.Jagannathan on 08-09-20
-
When You Finish Saving the World
- By: Jesse Eisenberg
- Narrated by: Kaitlyn Dever, Jesse Eisenberg, Finn Wolfhard
- Length: 5 hrs and 17 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From playwright, author and Oscar-nominated actor Jesse Eisenberg, When You Finish Saving the World tells the moving and evocative story of three individuals working to understand each other and themselves: Nathan, a father learning to connect with his newborn son; Rachel, a young college student seeking to find her place in a relationship and in life, before marriage to Nathan; and Ziggy, their son, a teenager hoping to figure out where he came from, and where he’s headed.
-
-
Five hours eavesdropping on therapy tapes - blech!
- By Phx17 on 08-08-20
By: Jesse Eisenberg
-
Phreaks
- By: Matthew Derby
- Narrated by: Ben McKenzie, Carrie Coon, Christian Slater, and others
- Length: 5 hrs and 10 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The year is 1970. Emma Gable, a blind teenager coming of age in a small industrial town in Western New York, is about as far from the seismic cultural transformations rocking campuses and city streets across America as a person can get. Emma escapes the chaos of her dysfunctional family by dialing up random numbers on the phone in her bedroom, just to see who'll answer.
-
-
Great Performance. Unlikable Characters
- By Abby on 08-08-20
By: Matthew Derby
-
Equanimity
- By: Bram Barouh
- Narrated by: Bram Barouh
- Length: 11 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
With the friendly guidance of Bram Barouh, allow yourself to momentarily release your hold on turbulent thoughts and feelings as you practice finding your essential equanimity - being okay with what is, as it is. Bram, a mindfulness educator, has a lighthearted nature and approachable wisdom that makes practicing meditation seem effortless. With his guidance, it's never been easier to take part in a moment of positive thinking.
-
-
excellent
- By Steve Lee, Sr. on 06-17-20
By: Bram Barouh
-
Bluebird Memories
- A Journey Through Lyrics & Life
- By: Common, Awoye Timpo, NSangou Njikam
- Narrated by: Common
- Length: 1 hr and 21 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In a performance that combines the personal and poetic with the literary and the lyrical, Grammy, Oscar, Emmy, and Golden Globe-winning artist Common spins something entirely new and bold for both his old-school fans and those new to one of hip-hop’s most essential voices. This is Bluebird Memories, part of Audible's Words + Music that blends storytelling, music, and performance to create a one-of-a-kind listening experience.
-
-
I'm an OWW
- By R. Sippel on 08-09-20
By: Common, and others
-
Life Ever After
- By: Carla Grauls
- Narrated by: Raúl Castillo, Nana Mensah, Piper Goodeve
- Length: 1 hr and 28 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Tech City: Society is obsessed with relentless progress and the possibility of eternal life. A woman and a man meet in waiting room, anticipating a procedure that will incorporate the latest science and technology into their minds and bodies, heightening their awareness and increasing their productivity. Years pass, their relationship deepens and fades, and they grow increasingly uncertain where the AI stops and where they begin. A romantic drama exploring the potentiality of transhumanism, Life Ever After is a rich listening experience that is at once naturalistic and poetic.
-
-
Couldn't finish
- By Chad on 01-19-20
By: Carla Grauls
-
Dan Rather: Stories of a Lifetime
- By: Dan Rather
- Narrated by: Dan Rather
- Length: 1 hr and 24 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Emmy Award winner and former CBS News anchor Dan Rather brings his unforgettable staged performance, Stories of a Lifetime, to the Minetta Lane Theatre, where it will be recorded live for Audible Theater. In this deeply personal show, the legendary Peabody Award-winning journalist takes audiences through the most pivotal moments of his life, from surviving a debilitating illness as a child in Depression-era Texas to covering monumental moments in American history such as the Civil Rights movement, the assassination of JFK, and Watergate.
-
-
Too Political
- By JAV on 08-07-20
By: Dan Rather
-
African-American Athletes Who Made History
- By: Louis Moore, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Louis Moore
- Length: 4 hrs and 19 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Professor Louis Moore’s audiobook about the history of African Americans in sports in the United States educates listeners about the fascinating social and cultural history of the nation. For example, integration of major league and professional sports broke a major color barrier for one of the first times in the early years of the Civil Rights Movement. African American athletes competed in America long before the 20th century - in fact, they even competed during the years of slavery.
-
-
Volume 2
- By Nephtie F on 07-03-20
By: Louis Moore, and others
-
The Tea Shoppe
- By: Josie Adams
- Narrated by: Nicola Barber
- Length: 40 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Eleanor, the charming manager of a cozy tea shop, enjoys the transportive ritual of making a cup of Masala Chai tea, reminisces about the tea's origins, and delights in the beauty of her quaint English village during the holidays. Bedtime stories are narrated by the world's most celebrated voices and written with no beginning, middle, or end so you don't stay up to hear what happens next. They're interesting enough to give your mind something to focus on, but delivered in a way that encourages sleep.
-
-
British perspective
- By Amazon Customer on 06-17-20
By: Josie Adams
-
Sunset
- By: The Big Quiet
- Narrated by: Jesse Israel, Jackie Cantwell
- Length: 25 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Immerse yourself in a guided breathwork exercise that leads you into a detailed body scan over music featuring chimes, an ocean drum, and the harmonium-like shruti. The experience creates the ideal blend of focus and relaxation to help you become more centered and calm at the end of the day.
-
-
Ouch
- By Laura on 07-01-20
By: The Big Quiet
-
Thicker than Water
- By: Tyler Shultz
- Narrated by: Tyler Shultz
- Length: 3 hrs and 36 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From the hero whistleblower of the infamous Theranos scam, Thicker than Water is a look at never-before-revealed details behind closed doors at the company, revealing a cautionary tale of corporate bullying, gaslighting, ego, and wealth running amok in Silicon Valley. Tyler Shultz had been in the workforce for less than a year when he emailed Elizabeth Holmes, his employer and the CEO and founder of Theranos, with concerns that the company’s lab practices were faulty, ignored quality control, and were potentially dangerous to patients.
-
-
A Beautiful Soul
- By J.Shultz on 08-05-20
By: Tyler Shultz
-
The Year of Magical Thinking
- By: Joan Didion
- Narrated by: Vanessa Redgrave
- Length: 1 hr and 28 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When celebrated writer Joan Didion’s life was altered forever, she wrote a new chapter. In this adaptation of her iconic memoir, Didion transforms the story of the shattering loss of her husband and their daughter into a one-woman play performed by Tony Award winner Vanessa Redgrave, who originated the role on Broadway in 2007.
-
-
Difficult story, but worth it
- By Maya on 08-07-20
By: Joan Didion
-
Agent 355
- By: Marie Benedict
- Narrated by: Emily Rankin
- Length: 2 hrs and 7 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The tide is turning against the colonists in the Revolutionary War, and 18-year-old Elizabeth Morris cannot sit by idly. Quietly disdainful of her Tory parents, who drag her along to society events and welcome a British soldier into their home during their occupation of New York City, Elizabeth decides to take matters into her own hands. She realizes that, as a young woman, no one around her believes that she can comprehend the profound implications of being a nation at war - she is, effectively, invisible. And she can use this invisibility to her advantage.
-
-
Should’ve leaned into history or romance
- By Phx17 on 07-03-20
By: Marie Benedict
-
Childhood, Interrupted
- Raising Kids During a Pandemic
- By: Sanjay Gupta MD
- Narrated by: Dr. Sanjay Gupta
- Length: 46 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this evocative, personal piece, Dr. Sanjay Gupta reflects on his life as a parent during this unprecedented time. He shares his fears and questions about raising his three young daughters amid our current public health crisis - and gives listeners a candid glimpse into how he’s navigating the pandemic at home.
-
-
COVID parenting is hard, but you’re not alone
- By Phx17 on 08-07-20
By: Sanjay Gupta MD
-
The Space Race
- An Audible Original
- By: Colin Brake, Patrick Chapman, Richard Hollingham, and others
- Narrated by: Kate Mulgrew
- Length: 9 hrs and 12 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A century ago very few people dreamed of space travel. Today it is the most daring and technologically sophisticated quest ever undertaken, being driven not just by government agencies such as NASA and ESA, but also by visionaries such as Richard Branson (Virgin Galactic), Elon Musk (SpaceX) and Jeff Bezos (Blue Origin). To mark the 50th anniversary of the 1969 moon landing, this major drama-documentary series charts the definitive story of the past, present and future of humankind’s exploration of space. The Space Race is narrated by Kate Mulgrew and features a full cast.
-
-
All Nonfiction Parts GREAT but Fiction Bad
- By Catherine Puma on 03-18-20
By: Colin Brake, and others
-
Ground Yourself
- By: Sara Auster
- Narrated by: Sara Auster, Alex Falk
- Length: 19 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Gently place your attention on the steady low-pitched thrum of a gong, while chimes and bells add layers of tones to create a deeply relaxing and immersive sound experience. In order to get the most out of your listening experience, pioneering sound therapist Sara Auster recommends you dim the lights and lie down or sit in a comfortable position with an eye mask and a blanket, silence any alerts or notifications, and use earphones. These things allow you to completely unplug and connect with the present moment to intentionally prepare for sleep.
-
-
Evil Lair Soundtrack - Not particularlyrelaxing
- By Sci-Fi Zombie on 06-24-20
By: Sara Auster
-
The Cuckoo's Cry
- An Audible Original Novella
- By: Caroline Overington
- Narrated by: Aimee Horne
- Length: 4 hrs and 43 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On the eve of the global lockdown, Don Barlow opens the door of his old beachside cottage to find a pretty girl with pink-tipped hair, claiming to have nowhere to go. He allows her entry, and so begins a mystery set in unprecedented times: with the virus raging outside their home, the girl cannot be asked to leave, but what does he risk by having her stay?
-
-
Slow burning Aussie suspense in the time of COVID
- By Phx17 on 07-04-20
Publisher's Summary
Here at Audible, we know just how much of an impact a voice can have on a story - taking simple words and filling them with elation, wonderment, tragedy, or pure satisfaction. We rely on our narrators every day to bring our favorite stories and characters to life - to introduce us to new authors and genres, or even to a new (perhaps longer) commute. And though our narrators are the best story tellers in the business, it's usually someone else's that they're telling.
This holiday season, as our gift to you, we asked 19 beloved performers to share their own personal holiday memories. With each story - some that will make you laugh, some that deal with loss, many that are filled with love and revelation - we, the listeners, get to know the person behind the voice with which we've grown so familiar.
We had a lot of fun putting this together, and we wholeheartedly thank our narrators for so generously sharing their voices and helping to brighten our holiday season.
From all of us here at Audible - happy holidays and happy listening!
CHAPTER GUIDE
- Chapter 1: Introduction
- Chapter 2: Jonathan Davis
- Chapter 3: Kate Reading
- Chapter 4: Michael Kramer
- Chapter 5: Scott Brick
- Chapter 6: Katherine Kellgren
- Chapter 7: Ray Porter
- Chapter 8: Piper Goodeve
- Chapter 9: Ari Fliakos
- Chapter 10: Andi Arndt
- Chapter 11: Edoardo Ballerini
- Chapter 12: Gabra Zackman
- Chapter 13: Gabriel Vaughn
- Chapter 14: Khristine Hvam
- Chapter 15: Allyson Johnson
- Chapter 16: Kirby Heyborne
- Chapter 17: Cassandra Campbell
- Chapter 18: Holter Graham
- Chapter 19: Therese Plummer
- Chapter 20: Kevin R. Free
More from the same
What listeners say about The Most Wonderful Tales of the Year
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Dave
- 12-12-16
Is Some Kind of White Elephant Gift?
While I like the idea of hearing more about where some of our favorite audible narrators came from -- in their own words -- this is a strange little bonus gift for listeners -- like that white elephant gift nobody at the party wants to take home.
Essentially, this a collection of Christmas Cards from some of Audible's favorite narrators. And while I liked hearing about where Jonathan Davis grew up, or Scott Brick's geeky holiday traditions, and Kate Reading's thoughts on clinging to the light amidst the darkness, it's hard to get beyond the feeling that this is just an odd sort of holiday smorgasbord for Audible listeners. I think it would've worked better if it had been distributed on Audible Channels somehow, or on the blog? Honestly, as a collection of stories, I don't understand why it was organized this way.
It's a nice thought but it's not Charles Dickens, Hans Christian Andersen, or any of the others we've received over the years. They're voices most of us love, but as a whole it's wrapped haphazardly.
124 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Julia
- 12-12-16
Much fun
It is wonderful to hear so many different stories of the Holiday season, from so many people that are usually reading stories from other people's minds.
16 people found this helpful
-
Overall
- Amazon Customer
- 12-12-16
loved it!
these were some nice tales to listen to. thank you audible! I did skip one though because i think it talked about Santa nt being real and I have young kids. all the others stories were great though
12 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Lauren
- 01-27-17
Sweet Christmas Gift from Audible
If you could sum up The Most Wonderful Tales of the Year in three words, what would they be?
Merry Christmas Readers!
What was one of the most memorable moments of The Most Wonderful Tales of the Year?
The Christmas Beef Exception
What about the narrators’s performance did you like?
All of the narrators were wonderful and it was really unique to hear them tell their holiday stories.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
I did listen to it in one sitting.
Any additional comments?
This was a free gift from Audible to members in Dec 2016. I really loved the idea that they asked their popular narrators to share beloved holiday memories. I enjoyed all the stories and they helped me get into the holiday spirit. It is so nice to see that even though so many families have diverse traditions, the general spirit of family, camaraderie, and love is preserved throughout.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- R.Reader
- 12-15-16
Cherished Holiday Memories
A quick delightful listen featuring the holiday memories of some of Audible's best narrators. It was so interesting to listen to these stories of people from all over...with nothing much more in common than a date that many of us pause to acknowledge. Stories of traditions both wacky and sacred. As different as we all are, we are still human beings. It is a shared experience. It is us taking a moment, to pay tribute to a time that in some cases does not exist anymore. Listening to these stories caused me to visit some of my own memories. It really was a treat. Thanks audible.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Krilus
- 12-11-16
Lame
Lame, lame, lame. Not sure what you guys were thinking but spending two hours of listening to someone else's Christmas memories as an annual gift just seems like a cheap out.
236 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Draidr
- 12-12-16
Thanks for the Memories
What did you love best about The Most Wonderful Tales of the Year?
Being included in the lives of our favorite narrators
Which character – as performed by the narrators – was your favorite?
I have a vast Audiobook collection and many narrators in this book I've heard in one form or another. All of whom I appreciate and thank for sharing a part of their life, but Katherine Kellgren was with me during a particular rough patch of my life. So I wanted to send a warm and thankful shout-out for her personal Christmas story as I not only felt deep respect for her, but now a connection with a holiday tradition as well. I too have a version of a "Felt ornament" that I hold close. It's stupid, its silly and it comes with a flood of memories over a "Dukes of Hazzard" General Lee tree decoration. It's a little Shrinkie-Dink from back in my childhood dates but it means the world to me. Out of all the stories told in this audiobook, this is the one I most related too, AND it was from my favorite narrator to boot.
But my thanks runs deeper than that. The Bloody Jack series (although not my genre or age range) helped me through trying time in my life and because of it I became a stronger and better person in the end. So with much respect and admiration, Thanks! your portrayal of Mary Faber and friends helped a random stranger. God Bless!
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
Loved Therese Plummer's story of passing along the Christmas Carol tradition.
15 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- John P. Camacho
- 12-11-16
Like getting clothes as a present as a child
What disappointed you about The Most Wonderful Tales of the Year?
What a cheap present audible. Bad idea. Who cares about narrators personal stories. You would have been better off not giving a gift at all because now i see you as misguided and cheap. Thanks for WASTING my valuable time!! Next time, how about a free credit instead?!? That is a real present.
158 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jesse's granddaughter
- 12-11-16
Waste of time
The personal Christmas memories of narrators is of zero interest. It's fine to make the annual holiday freebie a public domain offering, but at least you can draw from excellent writing. This is pure masturbation.
143 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Roxanne
- 01-29-17
What a Gift!
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Great stories of different traditions that vary in content but not importance!
What did you like best about this story?
Each story told by the author.
What about the narrators’s performance did you like?
Felt like the narrator and I were in a conversation
Any additional comments?
Can't wait till next year gift!
1 person found this helpful