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April 19, 2009
My Long-Lost Love of Audiobooks
For years, I was an audiobook reviewer for Library Journal and AudioFile Magazine. These were my first regular writing jobs. I loved them, and I used to listen to audiobooks all the time.
Then I did two years on the ALSC’s Children’s Notable Recordings Committee, which was in many ways one of the most rewarding experiences of my professional life thus far, but it also killed my desire to listen to audiobooks for quite a long time. Years, in fact. I’ve thought more about listening to audiobooks over the last couple years, but I found something had changed in my brain and I no longer liked listening to them in the car. I think it’s because I just have a lot more on my mind than I used to, and I like things to be nice and simple when I’m driving.
Several months ago, though, it occurred to me that I was spending a lot of time cooking and cleaning in the kitchen—more than I wanted to some days—and I thought that maybe I should start listening to audiobooks there. That’s what finally took. I don’t know why the kitchen is different than the car, but it is. Now instead of being the stereotypical audiobook listener who drives around the corner an extra time or sits in the driveway for fifteen minutes to finish a book, I just bake an extra loaf of bread or clean out the spice shelf.
Here’s some of what I’ve been listening to:
The Princess Diaries Series by Meg Cabot, narrated by Anne Hathaway and Clea Lewis (Listening Library and Recorded Books)
I listened to books one through nine in this series all in a row. I would have listened to ten, but it wasn’t in the system yet when I was ready for it because I hadn’t yet purchased it for WPL’s collection. I bought it when I realized this, of course, but then some patron checked it out and now I’m on the holds list. Anyway, listening to these was kind of cheating because I’d read them all before, but they’re just so funny and the readers are fantastic. I had a hard time when the reader switched from Anne Hathaway to Clea Lewis in book four, but I think part of that was just because book four is not the best book in the series. By book five, I was completely adjusted.
Nation by Terry Pratchett, narrated by Stephen Briggs (Harper Children’s Audio)
If you know anything about Pratchett and Briggs, then you know that this was an excellent match. I think Harper Children’s Audio is putting together some of the finest and most interesting children’s audio productions in the business, and this is the sort of audiobook that periodically makes you want to talk to it to reassure and clear things up for the poor confused characters.
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, narrated by Joel Johnstone and Debra Wiseman (Listening Library)
I’m going to go out on a limb and say that it is way better to listen to something funny while you’re trying to cook than something depressing. Even so, this book was just begging to be made into this excellent audio about a teenage boy, Clay, who is listening to tapes left by a girl in his class, Hannah, who committed suicide. Johnstone narrates Clay, and Wiseman narrates Hannah. Still, may be best-suited for when you’re chopping onions or jalapenos or something.
Posted by adrienne at April 19, 2009 05:54 PM
Comments
I read about half of 13 Reasons Why and then had to give the book back. Can you say whether the book in some way, or in ANY way, ends up justifying the girl's suicide? The reason is I need to know if it would be much better NOT to give it to a 16-year-old I know who is quite depressed.
Posted by: Deb at April 19, 2009 07:11 PM
It's hard to say. It does wind up exploring the idea that Hannah was on a somewhat deliberately self-destructive path and that she didn't see and even turned down offers for help along the way. It doesn't condone the suicide; it even recognizes the selfishness of it on some level. I don't know how someone who was depressed would react to or perceive the story, though, especially a teen. I saw those things as an adult experiencing it--and it's a very adult reaction. I kept thinking what a waste it was for this clearly bright girl to kill herself. I hope that's how a teen would see it, too.
Posted by: adrienne at April 19, 2009 07:59 PM