Audiobooks: An Ode to Listening

Audiobooks move with me, turning errands into episodes and chores into chapters.”

When I was a kid, being read to felt like magic. Someone else’s voice carried me to another world. That feeling has never left. As an adult, I’ve found that audiobooks offer that same transportive experience.

Audiobooks have become an essential part of my daily life. Hearing a well-written passage delivered with rhythm and emotion brings text to life in a way that deepens understanding and appreciation of language. A skilled narrator can take a well-written line and enhance the meaning in ways the page alone sometimes can’t.

One of the things I love most about audiobooks is how well they slip into the rhythm of my day. With my earbuds and a good narrator, any moment becomes a chance to read. I can enjoy a book while I’m on a walk, pruning my container garden, or navigating traffic. I’m no longer tethered to a page or screen, and that freedom has transformed how, and how much, I read.

Audiobooks move with me, turning errands into episodes and chores into chapters.

Favorite Audiobook App

Our Pierce County Library System offers library cardholders access to the Libby app for checking out audiobooks. It’s free and easy to use and accessible on a range of mobile devices. Libby is straightforward and has a variety of helpful features, including adjustable speed, tags to sort through different genres and interests, and the ability to rewind if I want to repeat a passage.

The app also allows listeners to use virtual bookmarks to help keep track of their reading progress and take notes. Being able to place holds on titles I’m interested in and the space to maintain a wish list helps me keep track of what I want to read next.

Favorite Nonfiction Audiobook

“Franchise” by Marcia Chatelain presents a perspective on race relations and civil rights in the United States that I hadn’t considered before. The book dives into the complicated relationship between McDonald’s, Black communities, and the evolution of the civil rights movement in the late 1960s.

The audiobook version stands out because the narrator’s calm, steady delivery matches the tone of Chatelain’s research-driven but approachable writing. Listening helped me absorb the dense history without feeling overwhelmed by the content. The book isn’t just about business or race or politics; it’s about all of them at once. I came away with a deeper understanding of how systemic racism shows up in everyday places, even at the drive-thru.

Favorite Fiction Audiobook

One of the newest fiction authors I’ve discovered is Chevy Stevens. Her novels feel so real and raw that I often forget they’re not true stories. Stevens’ writing dives deep into trauma, survival, and resilience, and the characters often feel like people I’ve met or could meet someday. Each book is tense and intimate, with layered plots that unfold slowly but keep your attention.

The individual narrators for each book match that intensity, bringing each character’s voice and inner world to life with real depth and emotion. I’ve listened to all of her titles, and I couldn’t choose a single favorite. Each has captivated me, and the honest examination of humanity in her characters stays with me. These audiobooks are suspenseful, grounded, and left me examining my own life and history.

Favorite Collection of Short Stories

“Women’s Short Stories,” Volumes 1-4, are my favorite collections in audiobook format. I turn to these when I want a mix of voices, styles, and eras, or I don’t have the time or interest in starting a new full-length book.

Each volume features a range of stories by women writers, from classic names like Virginia Woolf and Kate Chopin to lesser-known authors. The variety keeps things fresh and surprising and allows me to digest a single story regardless of how busy my day is. What makes these collections stand out is their narration. The stories are read by different actors, many with theater backgrounds, and their performances bring out the unique tone and emotion of each piece.

Favorite “Oh, boy, this is longer than I expected” Audiobook

Stephen King’s “11/22/63” is my favorite “This is way longer than I expected” audiobook as it clocks in at a whopping 30 hours. It is more than a time-travel story about preventing JFK’s assassination. It is a love story, a historical deep dive, and a contemplation of fate and consequences.

It is the longest audiobook I have listened to, but the pacing never drags. The narrator, Craig Wasson, does a great job bringing the characters to life, especially the main protagonist, Jake Epping. His portrayal feels grounded and relatable through all of the book’s twists and turns.

After finishing “11/22/63,” I went back to Libby and checked out “Marina and Lee: The Tormented Love and Fatal Obsession Behind Lee Harvey Oswald’s Assassination of John F. Kennedy” to learn more about Oswald and his wife. Their fictional depiction in King’s novel left me wanting to explore more about their relationship and how it affected the world-changing events of November 1963.

Favorite Spoken Language in an Audiobook

The descriptive language in “The Life We Bury” by Allen Eskens makes it an ideal audiobook. Eskens writes with clarity and precision, painting vivid scenes without overloading the prose. As a listener, I could picture the book’s setting of cold Minnesota landscapes and its drama of tense courtroom scenes. The details are just enough to ground you in the story, while still letting your imagination fill in the rest.

Eskens also has a strong sense of pacing and mood, which translates well when read aloud. The emotional depth of the characters comes through in both the writing and the audio performance. Eskens’ work feels cinematic because the language is beautifully crafted as an ode to its listener.

How To Listen

Many books and magazines have audio versions available for sale online, but many more can be borrowed for free from the Pierce County Library. Patrons need a library card and a free app, such as Libby, available through the library website. The app also serves as an eBook reader.