I already listened to/read a few books by jumping between the audiobook and the actual book. An app that would make both match both so you can resume in any form you want would be nice.

And while you’re at it, you could add some pictures. Maybe something like a grid of 6-8 pictures on each page. The dialogue could be in a bubble close to the speaker’s head.

If it were synced to the narrators pace I could dig it. I like reading but my ADHD is terrible and it's hard to keep my attention on books for very long. I have an easier time with audiobooks but sometimes things are hard to hear or my mind wanders for a second and rewinding doesn't always do the trick. My brain will drift right at the moment I missed several times in a row, so having something on the screen that can grab my attention would come in handy

If you're into comics, Marvel's Wastelanders is a very good one too! Every season follows another character until the climax season.

You know what I found pretty enjoyable? Descriptive audio versions of movies, intended for the blind. Someone posted an open directory with tons back at the old place once, found it a nice change of pace. With the right movie it's an audio drama with Hollywood actors.

'Limetown' made one of our 6 hour roadtrip memorable.

Nightvale is fun

I've found that occasionally audiobooks read by the author can go around this, but it's sometimes hard to find an author that can write well and also has good narrative skills so these are few and far between. Quiet by Susan Cain and Daring Greatly by Brene Brown were quite enjoyable to me for this reason.

Another good way around the problem you describe is audiobooks with ensemble casts so it sort of sounds like the reading of a screenplay. Ender's Game and American Gods come to mind as standouts in this area.

having someone else pick a tone and voice and pacing ruins the intimacy of the book; some prose was meant to be seen and reread, or pause after and let your mind wander. having the voice keep going endlessly feels wrong.

it's also always terrible when they put on voices for the characters

There's still some that exist! I'm currently listening to a pod cast version of The Icewind Dale Trilogy on Spotify.

ABC iListen has audiobooks as podcasts. Not bad, all Aussie books. And their podcasts are great too, been listening to backissues of If You're Listening and The History Lesson podcasts.

That man's name? MTV