Ever since college, it’s gotten harder and harder for me to find the time to read. First there’s the problem of The New Yorker subscription. It’s a weekly, so I do my best to keep up before it stacks into daunting piles all over our house. As for books… these days, I can’t seem to finish one unless I’m on vacation. The solution? Audiobooks. I log at least 2 hours a day in my car, so this is the perfect way to reclaim some of my day. I resisted for years, but now I prefer when someone else reads to me!
If you’re ready to get serious about audiobooks, here are a few thoughts:
- Find an audiobook source.
Buying audiobooks can get expensive. I’ve tried a monthly subscription to an mp3 download service (like Audible.com) but that also adds up. Now, I borrow my selections from the library. I find that popular audiobooks are often checked out. So before you race off to the stacks, look up your library’s online catalog and don’t be afraid to put a long list of books on hold. You never know when they’ll become available, but my library calls or emails and allows 5 days to claim your item on hold. It’s often the only way to get the newest books and saves me time from aimlessly wandering the shelves of the AV department after a long day in the office. 80% of my trips to the library are to claim a book already on hold!
- Look for books that interest you AND have good narrators.
A good actor can add real drama and bring extra dimension to the story. A bad narrator can be so hypnotically boring, you have to keep hitting the back button to replay what you’ve missed. A book may be well-written, but that doesn’t guarantee you will enjoy the audio version. I like asking other audiobook readers for their favorites. Mine are below. Noteworthy productions often feature multiple readers or bits of music or sound effects to enhance your listening experience.
- Don’t force yourself to listen to books you aren’t enjoying.
This isn’t college. Nothing was assigned and you don’t have to listen to something you aren’t enjoying. If your mind is wandering, it’s probably time to take a break and listen to some music or find a different book. I rotate with a balance of fiction and non-fiction. I have a harder time with short stories, as I tend to favor one long plot line. I spend a lot of time in the car so I’m not afraid of a 20 disc set. You may not have as much time, so look for book lengths that match your time available.
Looking over this list, I clearly favor British accents. Continue on for some my favorites:
Fiction:
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Read by Allan Corduner
Set in WWII Germany and narrated by Death himself, this is the story of young Liesel Meminger and her devoted sidekick, Rudy. I try to avoid war stories during my commute (who needs that first thing in the morning?), but surprisingly I found myself positively charmed by this book.
The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga
Read by John Lee
2008 winner, Man Booker Prize
This rags-to-riches story is dark and cutting observation of the social order in India. I listened to this book not long after seeing Slumdog Millionaire, but the coming of age of Balram Halwai still lingers with me far more than anything from the film.
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
Read by Simon Slater
2009 Man Booker Prize
I’m pretty sure I got a D+ on a British monarchy test in World History class. I can never keep the the court and its alliances straight. Wolf Hall takes place during the reign of Henry VIII, but the main star here is Thomas Cromwell, a power broker on the rise. Mantel breathes an amazing amount of life and detail into the 16th century. After finishing the 18th disc I found myself wishing for a sequel.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
Read by Jeff Woodman
This is a short charmer, about 15 year old autistic boy name Christopher. Jeff Woodman does another great reading and if you’re looking for a short book for your first audio experience, this is a fine place to start.
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenidies
Read by Kristoffer Tabori
2003 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
I love this book. So much that I have listened to it twice on AUDIO CASSETTE TAPES. Remember those? I have no idea how many tapes I had to endure, but I wanted Cal Stephanides’ story to go on forever.
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
Read by Rosalyn Landor
2005 shortlist for Man Booker prize
Yes, I love British accents. Rosalyn Landor does a fantastic job, but you can also hear an excerpt of the book read by the author at NPR. If you choose this book, do yourself a favor: don’t research the plot in advance. Let Ishiguro slowly unravel this story at his own pace.
Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates
Read by Mark Bramhall
1962 finalist, National Book Award
I think Richard Yates is a brilliant writer. The emotions he captures into words are so powerful and raw. You may have seen the movie with Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCarprio, but no one is able to get inside the heads of Frank & April Wheeler like Richard Yates.
Harry Potter series, by J. K. Rowling
Read by Jim Dale
2000 and 2008 Grammy winner, Best Spoken Word Album for Children
I’ve listened to most of this series on unabridged audiobook and I think it’s a terrific way to introduce kids to audiobooks, especially if you’ve got a long road trip coming up. Notes, I think most of the Potter books are around 18 discs!
Multiple readers:
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Read by David LeDoux and John Randolph Jones
From the circus days of the Depression to the lonely, forgotten hallways of a nursing home, these two readers join forces to make the most of Jacob Jankowski’s life. The printed book includes photographs, but I simply overlaid my memories of the dusty carnies from HBO’s Carnivàle.
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Read by Jenna Lamia, Bahni Turpin, Octavia Spencer, Cassandra Campbell
Yes, even printed book readers will tell you how much they enjoyed book. Inside, you’ll join Miss Skeeter for the beginnings of the Civil Rights Movement in Jackson, Mississippi. I do believe, these 4 narrators pack an extra bit of sass that’s missing from the printed page.
Non Fiction:
Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil by John Berendt
Read by Jeff Woodman
1995 finalist, Pulitzer Prize Nonfiction
I was determined to do a little advance research before my first trip to Charleston and Savannah. Living in Connecticut, Savannah’s way of life and Southern drawl eluded me completely, but Berendt observes and documents the mysteries and traditions of Savannah with a keen eye for storytelling. He also undertakes a similar effort in Venice with The City of Fallen Angels.
The Atlantic
by Simon Winchester
Read by the author
Occasionally I think Simon Winchester could weave any set of seemingly disparate stories into something truly fascinating. His latest effort chronicles the history and lore surrounding the mighty Atlantic Ocean, but he has found equal intrigue in volcanic eruptions and the Oxford English Dictionary.
Memoirs, read by the author:
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, read by the author.
Some people love this book, others do not. I do think you can grow to appreciate Liz Gilbert… I started Eat, Pray, Love in print and then abandoned not long after the author’s arrival in Italy. Upon watching Liz Gilbert’s Ted Talk on nurturing creativity, I decided to give the audiobook a chance. For me, hearing the author’s true voice helped transform the story (and its heroine) into a more palatable experience.
Paris to the Moon by Adam Gopnik, read by the author
If you like reading The New Yorker, you’ll feel right at home reading these short vignettes penned during Adam Gopnik’s 5 year stay in Paris. I may be a little biased towards this book because I spent a few months under the city’s spell while completing a design internship.
by Bill Buford, read by the author
So you think you can cook? So did this contributor to the New Yorker… until he met Mario Batali and became his kitchen slave. I’ve read plenty of books that describe precision and orchestration required to run a kitchen, but it took an outsider like Buford to help me feel the <i>heat</i>.
One more recommendation for food-lovers: Heat by Bill Buford, read by the author
So you think you can cook? So did this contributor to the New Yorker… until he met Mario Batali and became his kitchen slave at Babbo. I’ve read plenty of books that describe precision and orchestration required to run a kitchen, but it took an aspiring outsider like Buford to help me feel the heat.
End notes:
I often ask other readers if I missed any illustrations or graphics in the printed version. Here are few examples where the photos/illustrations/graphics were notably absent from my audio experience: My Life in France, The Book Thief, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Water for Elephants.
One of my dad’s classmates from M.I.T. tried to show me a few calculations, but the truth is numbers make me nervous! For those of you who do not know me, I’m not being modest when I say no math/science genes were passed on to the next generation! I’ll stick with humanities, thanks. I’m sure this photo will bring back some memories for other folks out there. One day, perhaps I’ll take some time to appreciate just how a slide rule really works. Regardless, I’ll always fondly remember the good ol’ days with my Texas Instruments TI-82 graphing calculator!
