Discovering the world of audio books

I don’t remember my mother reading aloud to me when I was a child, although I know she did. When I was old enough to read on my own, I much preferred curling up with a book somewhere and escaping to worlds unknown. I never enjoyed following along as someone else read aloud in school because I could read so much faster silently than they could (or I could) out loud, and I especially didn’t like it when teachers read aloud to us. Well, the exception to that is Mrs. Haney in fourth grade. She read Heidi to us, and I was captivated. I wanted to live in Switzerland on a mountain after that.

You can see why  audio books never interested me.

Until life threw me a curve ball.

If you follow my blog or know me personally, you know I have vision issues that prevent from doing the one activity I love more than any other. Holding a book in my hands and reading. Thanks to the world of technology, I can do limited reading on tablets or the computer, but even that is a struggle.

When my son and daughter-in-law gave e a six-month subscription to Audible for my birthday last year, though, my life was forever changed.

I LOVE audio books, and I regret not discovering them sooner. I listen while cleaning house, while eating my lunch alone at home (I’m retired), while walking (I am a fitness walker), even while working in the yard. You can listen to them while traveling, at the gym, waiting at the doctor’s office, etc.

All you need is your cell phone (well, I guess a tablet too) and occasionally ear buds.

You can check out audio books (the kind you put in a CD player or the kind you download to your smart phone) through your library. Our local one uses an app called Libby. My understanding is there are other free sources out there as well. The Audible subscription I have (my kids gave me a renewal for Christmas) allows me to download one book per month. With most books being anywhere from ten to fifteen hours of read-aloud time, that works out fine for me.

However, there is one problem.

Some readers are, well, not so good. I’ve tried a James Patterson book that I couldn’t finish. I think I have six hours left on it, so maybe I’ll get back to it someday. A Colleen Coble book that I have no doubt would be a great book to read, but the narrator/reader…well, it was a struggle.

Suggestion: try the sample audio before purchasing or borrowing.

Here are some I’v listened to over the past year that are terrific books with very enjoyable narrators/readers who do the book justice, in my opinion.

1.  The Reckoning by John Grisham. This book reminded me why I began reading his books years ago. This is one of his best. I also enjoyed Camino Island, but that may be because I’m a writer, and the book’s main characters are writers and/or book lovers.
2. Before We Were Yours, Tending Roses, Good Hope Road by Lisa Wingate. I am a huge Lisa Wingate fan. I think I’ll start a fan club.
3. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. A fantastic book, and I was impressed that the reader actually pronounced the French words correctly! (I’m a retired Spanish and French teacher.)
4. The Whole Town’s Talking by Fannie Flagg. What an enjoyable book! The last chapter or epilogue is a little weird, but I’ll let you figure that one out.
5. The Cinderella Murder by Mary Higgins Clark. If you like her mysteries, you’ll like this audio book.

These are a few of the wonderful books I feel comfortable recommending. If you’ve never tried an audio book, try one. My world, turned upside down by that curve ball I mentioned, is a much happier place.

Oh, I forgot another great way to use audio books. By the pool or on the beach! Put on those sunglasses, put in the ear buds, lean back, and relax. The only problem? You might fall asleep, but you can always rewind.

Happy listening!