Audiobooks are a great way to get some reading done while cleaning, doing yard work, or while completing other tasks. The Livingston Public Library’s digital collections Overdrive / Libby and Hoopla both have many audiobooks for you to choose from across all genres.
That’s right! Whether you’re looking for a nonfiction read, a thriller, or a romance novel, our digital collections have something just for you! June is also National Audiobook Month, so whether you’re an avid audiobook listener or trying one out for the first time, now is the perfect time to get listening.
If you’re looking to learn more about audiobooks, check out this article from the New York Times. If you’re interested in hearing about how authors feel about recording themselves narrating their own books, check out Penguin Random House’s mini-podcast This is the Author.
In the meantime, here are a few audiobooks that I listened to over the past year and loved.
Look Alive Out There by Sloane Crosley
When I was just starting to venture into audiobook land, I started by listening to essay collections. These short essays, such as those in this collection by Crosley held my interest when I listened while driving to work. This collection is also read by Crosley, which I think adds a certain layer of appreciation to the work. It’s about he life observations told in a witty and humorous way.
Surprise Me by Sophie Kinsella
This was one of the first “longer” audiobooks I listened to, taking about eleven and a half hours to complete. I adore Kinsella’s print novels and think they are absolutely adorable and funny. This audio version of Kinsella’s work was no different. In this story, Sylvie and Dan have been together for ten years. They are both extremely healthy and their doctor says they will be together for a long time- maybe even another 68 years. This idea of being together for so long makes them go a little bit crazy…
Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur
I had read the print version of Milk and Honey about a year prior to listening to the audiobook. This audiobook is short- only about an hour, but it is full of emotion that lasts well beyond the last track. Listening to poets read their work gives a whole extra layer of appreciation to the poetry and captures emotion that is sometimes lost through the author – text – reader translation.
In Other Words by Jhumpa Lahiri
In Other Words is a memoir by Lahiri, who is a Pulitizer Prize winner. This memoir explores the author’s love and adoration of learning and embracing the Italian language. The audiobook is first told in English and then in Italian, giving the reader and sense of the wonder and beauty of language. This novel was also originally written by the author in Italian.
Educated by Tara Westover
I decided to listen to Educated after I heard Westover speak on the Ellen show. I enjoyed the way she spoke, and because Westover narrates the audiobook herself, I decided to give it a listen. I think hearing Westover actually talk about her life experiences kept me immersed in the story line in a way that I may have missed out on if I had chosen to read the print version of the text. At some points I didn’t want to get out of my car!
Tell us in the comments below what you’re listening to this month! And be sure to visit our Instagram to see more staff recommendations!
-Jessica, Adult Services and Acquisitions Librarian