“His Master’s Voice, by Francis Barraud [Public domain]OK, so “Audiobook Appreciation Month” doesn’t just roll off the tongue, but the sentiment is real. School’s out and it’s time for vacations. (Don’t make me come back there!) So it’s handy that June is also Audiobook Appreciation Month. You can make the miles fly by with a great audio book. Or you can make the time doing chores more interesting.
I have learned to love audio books, and I listen to them all the time now. I first started listening to them during long car trips with the kids, so naturally some of my very favorites are kid’s books. But don’t be afraid to grab a kid’s book for yourself. One of my favorites is “The Bad Beginning” by Lemony Snickett. It tells the story of three orphans who go to live with a greedy uncle who has designs on their fortune. There is incredible misfortune and a deep dark mystery to be solved but the children are strong, intelligent and brave. And with the audio book, how can you go wrong with Tim Curry as the narrator? And this is just the first book in a 13 book series.
In adult fiction, one of my most loved audio books is the Inspector Gamache series written by Louise Penny and narrated by Ralph Cosham. The first book in the series is “Still Life”and it’s a mystery/crime fiction story about Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, a homicide detective who is called to a small town just outside of Montreal which becomes a central component of most of the Gamache series. But there is a deeper mystery that carries over from book to book. I love these audio books so much that I’m truly disappointed when I have to read one instead. Another recent adult fiction audio book that I love is “Circe” by Madeline Miller and narrated by Perdita Weeks. The story is about and told from the perspective of Circe, the daughter of Helios. She learns “witchcraft” and is banished to a deserted island where she will meet Odysseus. This is such an engaging story that it almost had me wanting to reread “The Odyssey.” Almost.
Audiobooks are also a great way to delve into some classics. “Elmer Gantry” by Sinclair Lewis, and narrated by Anthony Heald, is one that I highly recommend. It won an Audie Award in 2007 for literary fiction and it’s set in Missouri. The story is about an evangelist who takes his congregation for a ride. The book was originally released in 1927 and created an uproar. It was banned in several cities and the author was violently threatened. On a more serious side, “The Things They Carried” by Tim Obrien and narrated by Tom Stechschulte is an incredible journey. The author approaches his time in Vietnam as a series of stories – sometimes the same story told over but in a different way. His stories from the war blend into his stories from before and after the war. And isn’t that how memories and stories really work? This book had been on my “to read” list for years. It wasn’t until it was assigned to my daughter that I finally got around to reading it, but I’m so glad I did.
Some of my favorite audiobooks are non-fiction. There’s a thrill in learning something new, especially if it’s well written and well narrated. One book that fits our Summer Reading program (you know adults can participate too, right?) is “Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth” written and narrated by Colonel Chris Hadfield. I promise this book is not just for nerds (although, yes, it is definitely for nerds), and it is incredibly inspiring. And if you are a history buff (and even if you’re not) “One Summer” written and narrated by Bill Bryson is fantastic. It tells the story of America in the year 1927. Charles Lindbergh crossed the Atlantic, Babe Ruth was beginning his home run streak, the American South was being flooded and the President was on vacation. Bryson weaves it all together masterfully.
If memoirs are more your thing, “Not My Father’s Son” written and narrated by Alan Cumming is great. His life story is very dark and moving, but he finds a way to bring humor to it as well. And that accent! I want him to narrate more books!
Another brand new book coming out soon is “Stay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered.” The authors, Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, are the hosts of the popular true crime podcast, “My Favorite Murder.” And now they have written a book! And they will be the narrators for the audiobook!! AND… Paul Giamatti will be joining them on the audiobook!!!
If you want to find even more great audiobooks, the Audie Awards are a great resource. You can also check out this list that I have put together of my favorites. Happy reading – listening!!
