The audiobooks I most cherish are Juliet Stevenson's unabridged readings of Jane Austen, all of which are now available from Naxos. Austen's novels were written in the knowledge that they would be read aloud: it's easy to imagine both chuckles and tense intakes of breath as their characters display foibles familiar to all of us, get into scrapes and misadventures, and emerge stronger and wiser.

Silver-tongued Juliet Stevenson makes herself the personification of Jane, never overplaying her low-key sarcasm or missing a necessary emphasis. I've just whiled away a cold with the one I know least well: Mansfield Park (Naxos, 14 CDs, £50/offer £45), the tale of how timid Fanny Price charmed the hearts of her wealthy and worldly relatives.

From the Times Archive: The 1920 discovery of the 'real' Mansfield Park

Holiday listening needs at least one detective story to counterbalance all those good resolutions to get to grips with great literature.

Although abridged, the Glaswegian James McPherson's readings of Ian Rankin's Edinburgh-set Rebus novels make enthralling listening. The 19th, perhaps the last, is Exit Music (Orion, 3 CDs, £14.99/£13.49), but if you don't know them, start with Knots and Crosses (Orion, 3 CDs, £13.99/£12.59), which has an introduction spoken by Rankin himself.

If you want more thrillers, Andrew Sachs has Donna Leon's shrewd, witty Venetian detective Guido Brunetti to a tee: the latest is Suffer the Little Children (Random House, 3 CDs, £13.99/£12.59).

But to add variety to your holiday reading, I'm going to recommend Sachs's narration of Tom Holland's Rubicon: The Triumph and Tragedy of the Roman Republic (Hachette, 5 CDs, £16.99/£15.29). Beginning with Romulus and ending with Augustus, Rubicon stars every Roman hero you can think of and tells you what we've all wondered: what it was about crossing the Rubicon that changed history. Another narrator/books marriage made in heaven is Stephen Fry reading the Harry Potter series.

Listening makes you appreciate Rowling's skill more: you can't skip a word. Fry subsumes his own personality brilliantly, and is as adept at earnestly explaining obscure wizard lore as he is at romping through the hectic action of a Quidditch match or a mind-boggling bout between Harry and Voldemort. All are unabridged; the last is the magnificently dark Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Bloomsbury, 17 CDs, £75/£67.50).

It was a great idea to get Sir Ian McKellen to narrate Michelle Paver's gripping and fascinating Chronicles of Ancient Darkness, tales of a Stone Age boy who has to pit all his skill against terrifying challenges from the spirit world. Paver researched the subject deeply, but wears her learning lightly, and McKellen has such vocal charisma that he holds you rapt. The fourth, Outcast (Orion, 6 CDs, £14.99/£13.49) has just been released.

From the Times Archive: A 1971 review of Ian McKellen's roles on the stage

What about the tinies? Keep them quiet by playing and replaying Stephen Fry bumbling cheerfully through Michael Bond's classic A Bear Called Paddington (HarperCollins, unabridged, 2 CDs £9.99/£9.49) and Andrew Sachs charming the ear with Sally Gardner's The Boy With Lightning Feet (1 CD, £5.99/£5.69), the tale of how useless Tommy Twinkle learnt to bend a ball like Beckham.

From the Times Archive: A 1973 advertisement for 'Paddington'

Some of my recommendations are dauntingly pricey. You can cut the cost by googling for bargains, checking out your library, or downloading to ipod from audible.co.uk.

Christina Hardyment is an author and reviewer. She won audiobook reviewer of the year in 2004 and 2005.

Explore Books

• Book Extracts

• Book Reviews

• Books Group

• Audio Books

Times Recommends

• If you only buy one book this Christmas make sure it's...
• The Times Christmas Books 2008: Gifts
• 10 Books Not To Read Before You Die