March 2024 — Audiophiles: Open Your Ears

I fully admit that my love for audiobooks and podcasts may be linked to the avoidance of my own ceaseless mental monologue. Time flies on long drives and while doing chores when I permit a guest(s) to commandeer my inner world. The consensus of many audio-media lovers is that some books require careful visual absorption, while others are undeniably enhanced by the animated voice of a talented narrator.

For this blustery month, I wanted to take a deeper look at what makes an audiobook different from its printed version. Sometimes, the author's voice is crucial for imbuing their words with raw emotion, other times the help of professional screen and voice actors can create a more polished performance. When done well, a good audiobook immerses and engages devout multitaskers – prompting many book lovers to dawdle in driveways or lose themselves on the way to the store.

	Narrated by Author:
	I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings - Maya Angelou "Maya learns about love for herself and the kindness of others, her own strong spirit, and the ideas of great authors who allow her to be free instead of imprisoned. Poetic and powerful, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is a modern American classic that will touch hearts and change minds for as long as people read."
	Angela's Ashes - Frank McCourt "Frank endures poverty, near-starvation, and the casual cruelty of relatives and neighbors — yet lives to tell his tale with eloquence, exuberance, and remarkable forgiveness. Imbued with Frank McCourt's astounding humor and compassion — and movingly read in his own voice — Angela's Ashes is a glorious audiobook that bears all the marks of a classic."
	I'm Glad My Mom Died - Jennette McCurdy "A heartbreaking and hilarious memoir about her struggles as a former child actor... and how she retook control of her life."
	Becoming - Michelle Obama "Warm, wise, and revelatory, Becoming is the deeply personal reckoning of a woman of soul and substance who has steadily defied expectations—and whose story inspires us to do the same."
	Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim - David Sedaris "David Sedaris lifts the corner of ordinary life, revealing the absurdity teeming below its surface. His world is alive with obscure desires and hidden motives — a world where forgiveness is automatic and an argument can be the highest form of love."
	Celebrity Narrators:
	Day - Michael Cunningham, Julianne Moore (Narrator) "Moore's narration is engrossing and moves easily among the different characters' points of view, giving each family member emotional depth and development."
	The Dutch House - Ann Patchett, Tom Hanks (Narrator) "A sensitive and warm reading of a fine novel about love, loyalty, redemption, forgiveness, and what we will do to make the world the way we want it to be."
	*The Great Gatsby* - F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jake Gyllenhaal (Narrator) "Gyllenhaal’s reserved tone lends polish to Fitzgerald’s text, accentuating the mood of poetry that pervades the novel."
	*To the Lighthouse* - Virginia Woolf, Nicole Kidman (Narrator) "Nicole Kidman brings the impressionistic prose of this classic to vibrant life."
	Full-Cast Narration:
	Daisy Jones & The Six - Taylor Jenkins Reid "Recounts the story of a seventies rock band’s meteoric rise to fame and mysterious fall from grace. The full cast works together in perfect harmony to deliver an unforgettable listening experience."
	Lincoln in the Bardo - George Saunders "While it may take a few moments to acclimate to the quirks and syncopated rhythms of this unconventional novel, there’s an undeniable appeal in hearing this impressive cast of narrators."
	American Gods - Neil Gaiman "Hats in the air for the whole cast, a flawless production, and a tour de force of a tale."
	Acclaimed Audio Book Actors:
	Americanah - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Narrator- Adjoa Andoh "Andoh's rich voice and distinct characters and rhythm keep the listener engrossed..."
	Stephanie Plum Series - Janet Evanovich, Narrator- Lorelei King "King masterfully performs the quirky crew surrounding bounty hunter Stephanie, including familiar and new characters."
	Outlander Series - Diana Gabaldon, Narrator- Davina Porter "Davina Porter is a Golden Voice narrator, well-loved for voicing Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series and many more."
	Behold the Dreamers - Imbolo Mbue, Narrator- Prentice Onayemi "As Onayemi takes us on the emotional journeys of the characters, it’s a delightful and at times discomforting experience—but well worth the listen."
	Summaries sourced from publishers' marketing materials and AudioFile Magazine reviews.

March's Featured Review

This Is Not A Love Song - Brendan Mathews

Hop on the Holds List

1. A Calamity of Souls – David Baldacci

2. Summers at the Saint – Mary Kay Andrews

3. Think Twice - Harlan Coban

4. One Perfect Couple – Ruth Ware

5. Middle of the Night – Riley Sager

Quote of the Month:

"We have two ears and one tongue so that we would listen more and talk less." - Diogenes

Bookish News and Links:

Love Lists? Try these:

AudioFile Magazine and its podcast have a huge collection of reviews, recommendations, and articles about pretty much any audiobook in existence.

The Audie Awards are granted by the Audio Publishers Association and are considered the highest honor given contributors to spoken-word entertainment.

Libro.fm partners with independent bookstores for order-fulfillment and provides a great resource for info on the latest releases.

Adaptation News: Upcoming movies and shows based on books:

Amor Towles's bestseller Gentleman in Moscow (Paramount+ 3/31) has been turned into a TV show produced and starring Ewan McGregor.

Spaceman of Bohemia starring Adam Sandler is based on the book by Jaroslav Kalfar and will be available on Netflix (3/1).

Dune fanatics will be first in line at theaters when Dune 2 is released on March 1.

Founding Father Benjamin Franklin is envisioned as a character in Stacy Schiff's A Great Improvisation. April will see a limited series, Franklin (Apple 4/12), based on the book.

HBO MAX will premiere a series based on Viet Thanh Nguyen's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Sympathizer on April 14.

Recent Reads

I have recently finished The House of Last Resort by Christopher Golden and Mary by Nat Cassidy. I also just finished listening to The Between by Tananarive Due on Hoopla.

I am reading Fourteen Days, a collection of COVID stories edited by Margaret Atwood and Douglas Preston. I also just started Why We Read by Shannon Reed. I am listening to the audiobook of The Sight by Melanie Golding.

What format do you prefer - hardcopy, digital, or audio? Does the narrator make a difference when selecting a version? Tell me all about it! : jnmegan@gpl.

Until next time: Be safe, be well, and be well-read!

Joelle

So, who am I, anyway? I am a resident of West Groton, with a husband, 3 children in college (and one at GDRHS) and a Samoyed that keeps my vacuum well-employed. I am currently working part time at the Groton Public Library and in a former life I was a Director or PR/Marketing at a high-tech consulting firm. My BA is in Psychology, but most of my time was spent in college earning a Concentration on the Novel. That is all to say that I make no claims at being an expert of any kind and my thoughts, opinions and mistakes are solely my own. I am just a person whose passion for books has continued to grow from the moment I was first able to grip and gnaw on them. I have been devouring them ever since.

Mar 01, 2024 / Joelle M Egan