The Joy Of Listening: Mandel Library Recommends Audiobook Titles

From the Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach:

September 10, 2020

By Tina

Do you listen to audiobooks? If you do, do you have a sense that you should be slightly apologetic because you’re not reading a “real” book? Please, feel this way no longer!

Many people listen to audiobooks in the car. I discovered the delights of this practice when I was making monthly trips to Gainesville. I remember the very first audiobook I listened to: Sacred Clowns by Tony Hillerman. I was hooked by this captivating mystery set in Navajo territory. The trip had never been so enjoyable and went by in a flash. I do remember that when we first talked about getting audiobooks at the library, a few people said they would never listen in the car. I recall also that one of those people became an avid listener on the road. Don’t knock it if you haven’t tried it. And of course, there are many other occasions for audiobooks: crafting, working out, waiting for a friend….

But why do people think listening to an audiobook is inferior to reading words on a page (or screen)? I’d like to point out that we spent many more centuries gathered around the fire listening to storytellers than we have since the invention of movable type. Books are extremely convenient, and I am passionately devoted to reading, but I have to tell you that I think I might appreciate a title more when I hear it read. I made this discovery when one of my colleagues was putting together a list of library staff’s favorite books of the year, and I discovered that all my favorites for the year were titles I had listened to.

Now why would that be the case? I think the key is that when we hear the story read with expression by a gifted narrator, the story comes alive. When it’s well done, we hear the voices of the characters, and they become individuals. And the nature of the medium requires us to take our time and not skip over description or rush ahead. We have the full experience of the story.

So, if you are an audiobook reader, be proud! If you haven’t tried audiobooks, I highly recommend giving them a try. Remember that we have downloadable audiobooks on cloudLibrary and hoopla as well as on CD. Here are a few of my favorites:

• The Harry Bosch series by Michael Connelly
• A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon
• The All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness
• The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
• The 44 Scotland Street series by Alexander McCall Smith
• The Lido by Libby Page
• The Inspector Gamache series by Louise Penny
• The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
• The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson
• A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

Happy listening from the Book Goddess!

This press release was produced by the Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach. The views expressed are the author's own.