Inkheart

AUDIOBOOK/FANTASY

Meggie and her father, Mo, go on the run with the mysterious Dustfinger, who warns them that the evil villain Capricorn is hot on their trail. Dustfinger betrays them, however, leading to Mo's capture and Meggie's determined attempt–with her Aunt Elinor in tow–to recover her father. Along the way, Meggie learns of her father's magical ability to read objects out of books (he previously read both Capricorn and Dustfinger out of books inadvertently), and uncovers a similar talent of her own. While the action and conceptual basis for this book are great, the real beauty for me is Funke's portrayal of the value of books: how they should be cherished, used, and explored.

I've never tried an audiobook before, preferring to read (it's much faster). Considering the length of Inkheart, I probably should have chosen a shorter book for this category, but I've meant to read this book for years and haven't ever gotten around to it. Lengthiness aside, I absolutely loved listening to this book. Lynn Redgrave's narration brought the book to life in a way that I often miss because I read too quickly; I had to patiently wait for each word to be read, and I think that enriched my experience. Even those who have already read Inkheart should try this version out–it's worth the listen.