Bookish Stuff

June is Audiobook Month!

Jonetta | Blue Mood Café
June is Audiobook Month
Photo courtesy of audiobooks.com

June is the month when we celebrate audiobooks! If you follow me here, you have to be well aware of my love for this reading form. At this stage in my life, I listen to more books than I read. I’ve come to love the time I spend listening to a story each and everyday.

 

 

Greyfriars Bobby

 

I guess my fondness for someone reading me a story dates back to when I was seven years old and my parents bought me two record albums. One was Greyfriars Bobby, about a Skye terrier who refuses to leave his master’s grave. I can still hear the ditty of the story in my head. The second book was the timeless Peter and the Wolf. I’ve never forgotten the wonder of having someone tell me a story out loud.

 

 

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When asked when I listen to books, my immediate response is whenever I can’t hold my iPad to read. Many know of my husband’s gift of some fancy Bose wireless headphones, which I think he bought for his own peace and quiet. They allow me to listen to books while vacuuming, doing laundry, grocery shopping and other mindless chores. My house is so much more orderly since I got these headphones😏

 

 

Road Trip Listening

 

But the best time for me to listen is when I do these long road trips. Two years ago, I was on the road every week for eight months, 9 hours round trip. Audiobooks were my salvation for a truly boring ride. There were times I’d arrive at my destination and not recall half the trip!

 

 

Narrator in Studio
January LaVoy in Studio

Audiobooks have literally undergone an explosion of demand over the last few years and that’s been great for listeners. The competition amongst narrators has produced some of the best performers I’ve had the pleasure of listening to and most books published these days have an audiobook option. And, to my delight, those stories with multiple points of view are being published in audio using multiple narrators!

 

 

 

Here are some of my favorite narrators (I’ve many more, but I’ll stop at 10):

  1. Robert Petkoff (truly talented!)
  2. January LaVoy
  3. Julia Whelan
  4. Hilary Huber
  5. Andi Arndt
  6. Davina Porter
  7. Bahni Turpin
  8. Imogen Church
  9. Renée Raudman
  10. David Chandler

 

Here are some of my most favorite audiobooks (my list is legion so here are a few):

  1. A Ladder to the Sky by John Boyne
  2. Unraveling Oliver by Liz Nugent
  3. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
  4. My Favorite Half Night Stand by Christina Lauren
  5. Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren
  6. Year One by Nora Roberts
  7. Those Who Wish Me Dead by Michael Koryta
  8. The Kept Woman by Karin Slaughter
  9. Desolation Mountain by William Kent Krueger

 

 

Enough about me!

  • What would you like to share about audiobooks?
  • Do you listen to them? If so, when do you listen? If not, what’s stopping you?
  • Who are some of your favorite narrators?
  • What are some of your favorite audiobooks?

Published by Jonetta | Blue Mood Café

27 thoughts on “June is Audiobook Month!”

  1. I am 100% with you there. Nowadays I much prefer audiobooks to actual reading. It is so lovely to have a story read to you. Favourite narrators include Stephen Fry, Kobna, Holdbrook-Smith and Ian Hanmore.

    The big advantage is that you can listen whilst doing other stuff. I rarely sit down with a book, but I listen to audiobooks when traveling, commuting, grocery shopping, training, etc.

    Great post!

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  2. I have just discovered audible books. I know where have I been? I particularly like non fiction true crime stories to listen to although Jan and I just finished Mistress of the Ritz and enjoyed listening to that as well. Love this post!

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    1. Marialyce, I’m so happy to see you discover audiobook listening💜 I ONLY listen to the true crime genre. Hard to explain but I find it tough reading that reality. It’ll be interesting to see what other genres might work well for you in audio.

      Thanks for sharing your experience😍

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  3. I love listening to audiobooks and always have one on the go, as well as a physical book. I listen in the car, doing housework, blow drying my hair, gardening, basically anywhere I can’t read. I enjoy listening to several narrators you mention Julia Whelan, January LaVoy, also MacLeod Andrews, Christopher Ragland, Luke Daniels, RC Bray, Peter Forbes, Aoife McMahon. Davina Porter is brilliant narrating the Outlander series.

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  6. Yay for audiobooks! You and Jennifer got me listening consistently. It was great for moving again long time in the car. I’ve listened to all those narrators except Imogene Church. My favorites beyond your list include Steve West, Gabra Zackman, Amanda Ronconi, Lorelei King, Simon Vance, James Marsters, and so many more. Happy listening!

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  7. I too have Peter and the Wolf on record, narrated by David Bowie 😊 Not quite an audiobook, but I love to listen to David Sedaris reading his own short stories on the radio.

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  8. I admit audiobooks and me don’t get along so far, but I do want to try one again in the future so I’m going to save this list and see if a different narrator/story will help win me over. 🙂

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  10. I just started listening to audiobooks I was always telling people why would you want to listen to a book when you can turn fresh crisp pages of a new book! So my sister encouraged me to just try it and let me tell you all it has changed my dreaded 2hr commute to work for the better! Now I can be stuck in traffic and not mind as long as i’m listening to a good book to distract me! This week i’m listening to The Will by Kristen Ashley, narrated by Hollis McCarthy who does a pretty good job! I still enjoy reading physical books and now I just get more reading in, win/win.

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  12. I have to think about my favourite audiobooks. I do enjoy memoirs narrated by their author and so I loved In Pieces by Sally Field and Becoming by Michelle Obama. So many to think about. Great post.

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