Audiobooks: A whole new dimension to reading

I became aware of the importance of audiobooks when my grandmother began losing her eyesight about 15 years ago. Since that time, listening to books on tape or CD has become a lifeline for her, and she is a very dedicated Talking Book Customer here at BPL. One thing I've learned from her requests is that listening to books adds a whole new dimension to the reading experience. For example, my grandmother wants not only British mysteries, but British mysteries read by someone with a British accent! I used to think she was being a tad picky, but then I began listening to a lot of audiobooks when I became a commuter and I could quickly see how important the narrator is to the whole experience. Certain narrators draw you right in - for example, the narrator for the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith, Lisette Lecat, has the most beautiful, lilting South African accent and she makes some of the unfamiliar place names sound almost musical. I also listened to some autobiographies, such as Bill Clinton's My Life and Brooke Shields' Down Came the Rain, which were narrated by the authors themselves. Hearing their familiar voices certainly brought these memoirs to life. Another book on CD that I enjoyed was The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, which has two narrators-- the time traveler and his wife -- and it is almost like listening to a play.

What amazed me was that I really enjoyed these books as much as I would have if I had read them the traditional way - if not more. Audiobooks are wonderful for people like my grandmother who cannot see, but they are also a great way to experience some excellent books while you are commuting, travelling or even doing housework!

If you're interested in any of the books mentioned here, follow the links below to our catalogue. Happy Listening!

My Life by Bill Clinton
Down Came the Rain by Brooke Shields
In the Company of Cheerful Ladies by Alexander McCall Smith
The Time Traveler's Wifeby Audrey Niffenegger