Audio Dynamite

Audiobooks are the best kept secret in the reading world. Once thought to be an invention for the visually impaired or long-distance driver, they are any and every reader’s best friend. I’ve worked in libraries for years, and I always disregarded them until last summer. Now, I’m a junkie. Trust me, once you listen to one, you’re guaranteed to be hooked and your reading habits will change forever.

These recordings, performed by professional actors, are available in a variety of formats. You’ll want to go for the unabridged ones, for the most part, unless you just want an idea of what a given book is about. In many cases, the audio version is even better than the physical book (as with the Harry Potters read by Jim Dale, or any title performed by Jeff Woodman). You can also get audio courses given by top university professors, put out by the Teaching Company or Recorded Books (in the latter case, the Modern Scholar series). This is a beautiful art form.

The main reason I love them is that people can squeeze more books into their lives during times that they would not otherwise be able to read. In my case, because I need to have several going on at once, I tend to take whatever I find even remotely interesting on the shelf. That has led me to many titles I might have missed under normal circumstances.

There is also the health benefit, which stems in large part from the reduction in stress, particularly if you spend time in traffic. Every formerly aggravated driver I know now looks forward to getting in their car because they have a good audiobook waiting. I use them to combat insomnia, especially the kind brought on by thinking about work in bed. I drift off into a fictional world and forget the running mental list of what has to be done the next day.

Times when you can listen to audiobooks: in the car; on public transit; in bed; while eating breakfast and getting ready in the morning; while cleaning; while going for a walk; while at the gym; while doing yard work; while painting rooms; while doing repetitive brainless tasks (like mending socks); while cooking…. You get the picture.

I just finished two which have been going for a few weeks now. The first is Son of a Witch, by Gregory Maguire. The author himself read the book really well, but I didn’t like the actual text as much, at least in comparison to his amazing Wicked. The Life of Pi by Montrealer Yann Martel was the second title, and it was great. The book itself won the Booker Prize, and the narration is so, so good.

Other fantastic audiobooks (besides the Harrys, my favourites): The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon, Bee Season by Myla Goldberg, and The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini.

If you haven’t yet discovered the marvel that is audiobooks, please render this kindness unto thyself and go pick one up.

Comments

[jmfausti]

I loved "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" on audio. "History of Love" was also very well done.

[Sally]

I have just discovered audiobooks when my husband gave me an ipod for Valentine's Day... I catch the bus to work, and I love listening to my ipod. My first audiobook which I have just finished was C.S. Lewis, "Out of the Silent Planet". It was fantastic. It is a great way to use commute time.

[Dad]

Thank you Library Girl for introducing me to audio books and lecture series. In a short time, we have all become fast friends.

We keep each other company on long drives and, together, shorten the long hours. We travel to places I have never before been and to times I would not have otherwise experienced. I have seen The Five People You Meet in Heaven, lived through Bee Season, and discovered The Rule of Four.

The circle of friends continues to grow – it now includes Franklin, Churchill, Dylan and the Masters of Enterprise - yet there is no jealousy. These friends are caring and giving. They are there for you when you tune in and are not upset when you tune out. You don’t have to feed them, amuse them or remember to call on birthdays. They are, in short, the perfect companions and the perfect guests.

[Audio books]

I prefer only Audio books when I came to know that there are online resources that made the availabity more easy.

[Jeff Woodman]

Hey Library Girl,

Thanks for promoting Audiobooks in general, and my titles in particular! I was so pleased to read your endorsement of my work. In the theatre, you know if the audience is enjoying your work -- and worse, you know if they aren't. But with audiobooks (much like stage acting) you make emotional and vocal choices, record the material, and out it goes into the world. There's no feed back, so the best you can do is hope that people are enjoying the work.

That's one reason it's so gratifying to find a site like yours!

Thank you, Library Girl

Jeff Woodman