Vacationing with Audio Books

Growing up, I went on family vacations that involved long car trips. Due to pets and livestock, we usually did day trips around the state, which meant early mornings and late nights spent on the road. Unfortunately, cassette players were not standard features in cars. DVD players weren't even a possibility at this time (did I just age myself?). Though I did entertain myself with books, it would have been easier with audiobooks. 

Thankfully, now I do have the option of taking audiobooks on vacation with me. Whether you are in the car many hours or on a sunny beach, you can take your favorite fictional characters with you. With the Georgia Download Destination, you don't have to worry about keeping up with multiple discs. The files come in mp3 and WMA and can be downloaded to almost any audio player.

Are you hesitant to check out library books while traveling for fear of not being able to return it in time? Books from the digital library automatically return when the lending period is over - no late fees! And even better, if you run out of reading material, you can access this digital library from anywhere.

I listen to audiobooks whenever I'm needing to multitask, but want a little entertainment. Here are some of my favorites.

For trips with the whole family:

Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling- I've read the series several times, watched the movies even more, yet I still found the audio version entertaining. Jim Dale is a excellent narrator. 

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - After watching the movie, I opted for the audiobook. It was great; I couldn't believe how faithful the movie had been to the book. Fair warning though, the waiting list is still quite long. If you want it for a trip towards the end of summer, put your name on the list now.

13 Gifts by Wendy Mass - If you are traveling with younger children, then this book would be a good choice. It is actually the third book in the series, but you don't have to have read the first two to know what is going on in this book. 

For ladies only trips:

The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs - Are there multiple generations in your car? Then go with this book. It is also a series so you might be able to go through several of them. Do you ever find yourself running out of conversation topics when spending a vacation with a group of people? The large cast of characters in this book will give your group plenty to talk about.

Twenties Girl and The Undomesticated Goddess by Sophie Kinsella - Who doesn't like a bit of chick-lit while on vacation? If you prefer paranormal in your romance, then check out Twenties Girl. Both are wonderful choices, and, if you are a Kinsella fan, there are many of her books available in audio.

The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen - This book about friendship and Southern charm would be the perfect pairing for a lazy vacation in the deep south.

For mixed company trips:

The First Patient by Michael Palmer - There is a little bit of everything in this mystery that will make it a good listen for both guys and gals. While you think it is a straight forward political mystery, there is a sharp curve towards the end. It is another great book for providing conversation topics.

Room by Emma Donoghue - This is probably my favorite audio listen (outside of Harry Potter). This story is heart wrenching and if you are wanting something fluffy for your vacation, Room is not it. I thought the narrator was perfect and I don't think I would have been able to adequately capture the 5 year old voice had I just read the book.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen - The narration added an extra layer to this story and everyone should experience this book in audio. 

June is Audiobook Month, so if you are needing more recommendations it won't be hard to find a blogger who has featured a few titles at least. It also means there a more than a few blogs hosting audiobook giveaways.

If you prefer to read books to yourself, but don't want to incur accidental late fees by checking out library books for your vacation, the Georgia Download Destination has a decent collection of fiction and non-fiction titles available for your Nook, Kindle, or iPad.

For book reviews and more, please visit my blog at Girl Who Reads.