Getting outside has been saving my sanity lately. These are anxious times and taking a break from working at home to get out of the house and walk around my neighborhood really lifts my spirits. Whenever my neighbor friend can’t join me for a socially-distanced walk, I put on my audiobook and walk to my heart’s content. If you can’t or don’t want to be outside, putting on an audiobook while you knit, craft, cook, clean, or even just play simple games on your phone (I like Bejeweled) can be a great stress buster.
We have digital audiobooks available for free download with Overdrive (download the Libby app – it’s so easy to use!) or Hoopla. We’ve even extended our Hoopla downloads while we’re closed, so right now you get 12 downloads per month. And today I have five suggestions for great audiobooks that are available on Overdrive.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by JK Rowling, read by Jim Dale. 2012. 8.5 hours. If a comfort read is what you’re looking for, revisit the Harry Potter series this month. Overdrive and Pottermore have made this first book in the Harry Potter series available for simultaneous use for free during the month of April, no holds, no waiting. And if you’ve never read it or if you want to introduce your kids to Harry Potter, this is a great time to do it. Bonus: we’ve got it available in a plethora of different languages.
The Lost City of the Monkey God by Douglas Preston, read by Bill Mumy. 2017. 10.5 hours. Travel the world without leaving your neighborhood with this action-packed true adventure set in the Honduran jungle. My husband devoured this book and recommends it all the time. Best-selling author Douglas Preston climbed aboard a single-engine plane to the jungle to explore the legend of the ancient White City, rumored to harbor immense wealth… and deadly curses. If you like narrative nonfiction that reads like fiction and are looking to have a reading adventure to pass the time until you can go on a real adventure, this is your book.
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion, read by Dan O’Grady. 2013. 7.5 hours. This funny, feel-good novel centers around genetics professor Don Tillman, a man who’s never been on a second date. He doesn’t have many friends, he’s not really good at social situations, but he decides that should get married and embarks on The Wife Project, a thoroughly thought-out, evidence-based plan to find a wife. Of course, matters of the heart don’t always go to plan. This is an Australian import and hearing the story read in an Australian accent is really fun. It’s funny and light-hearted and makes a great listen.
Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik, read by Lisa Flanagan. 2018. 18 hours. This a rich tapestry of a fantasy novel and perfect for escapist listening. Miryem is the daughter and granddaughter of moneylenders, but lately her father’s inability to collect the debts owed to him has sent their family into poverty. So Miryem steps up to take over the family business, but she doesn’t count on attracting the attention of Staryk, grim local fey creatures hungry for gold. With a strong heroine, an engrossing fairy tale-ish Northern setting, and plenty of twists and turns that will change your mind about who is owed what, this is an absorbing book that’s wonderful for fantasy fans.
The Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish, read by the author. 2017. 6.5 hours. If you’re looking for a laugh and enjoy Tiffany Haddish’s raunchy comedy, this memoir is escapist gold. She keeps the laughs coming as she talks about her career, her relationships, and her childhood. She’s been through some serious stuff, including being bounced around to different foster homes after her mother sustained a traumatic brain injury, and although she keeps it real, she also tells her story with a lot of humor. It’s narrated by the author who’s a stand-up comedian, so it’s great on audio. A celebrity memoir might be just the thing to take your mind off your anxiety right now.
Have you listened to any great audiobooks lately? Let us know in the comments what audiobooks you would recommend!
