Audiobook Hangover? Yes, Please!
A couple of weeks ago bookwyrms got a throwback to my blog post about book hangovers. And that post created some chatter about audiobook hangovers. And now you’re all getting the brain squirrel ramblings about the thoughts that invaded my memory after listening to a slew of amazing audiobooks in the last couple of months. I mean after all, audiobooks are a big part of the romance novel world. And as a romance novel reader, reviewer, blogger, and editor, it’s in my best interest to immerse myself in the genre as much as possible, right?
I was not always an audiobook person. In fact, I avoided them for a long time. Not really sure why. I think part of it was a time thing. Listening meant not reading. And the place I had the most time to listen, in the car, was also the place I was rarely alone. Getting everyone in the car to agree to listen to the same book just wasn’t going to happen. Another part was the fear that if a narrator’s voice didn’t live up to the character I’d created when I read the book that I would leave that experience feeling disappointed. But I did eventually jump into the audiobook pool and to be honest it was a mixed bag.
At first I would only listen to books I had already read. I was worried if (ok, when) I got distracted I would lose the plot of the book and become frustrated. And it was great. I was reliving some of my favorite books. And while some didn’t entirely live up to expectations, the vast majority really, really did!
I think the first audiobook I truly fell into, completely and totally head over heels for the narrators and the story, was Pippa Grant’s America’s Geekheart. Talk about completely immersing yourself in the characters! Holy Hellballz! Jason Clarke and Erin Mallon were exactly as I imagined Beck & Sarah! Their voices gave the story a completely new level of amazing. It is still one of my all-time favorite Pippa Grant books and definitely one of my absolute favorite audiobooks ever. As with a truly amazing read, this audiobook gave me a pretty epic book hangover.
Now, I thought I was super happy with the dual narration style, then I discovered (ok, I was introduced to) Kayley Loring’s audiobooks. Did you know she has a podcast called Multiple Eargasms with Kayley Loring? I just found out about this! And I cannot think of a more suitable and perfectly representative name for a podcast by Kayley Loring. Her audiobooks are beyond hangover inducing! They are serious eargasm inducers. No, seriously! Have you listened to any of her audiobooks? If not- DO IT! Ok, here are a few recommendations: EVERY AUDIOBOOK FROM ANY AND ALL OF HER BOOKS! Here’s the thing. They’re done duet style. Narrative perfection. And several of them have additional featured narrators who voice the supporting/side characters. And they’re hilarious! And deeper than you’d think, too. Lots of lessons about finding the perfect relationship despite the odds, tests, roadblocks, etc. They are a true listening experience.
For the longest time, I was also doubtful that a single narrator could in any way create the type of immersive experience I had when listening to dual and duet narration. Then Older Spawn demanded that we listen to Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston together. She had been asking me to read the book forever, and was becoming pretty frustrated. I suggested we listen together when we were in the car on our way to and from the dojo. But when I checked it was a single narrator. And I got nervous. And I am so freaking glad I got over it! Yep- audiobook hangover material! One narrator, so many different voices. Ramon deOcampo is really amazing. And the book is absolutely wonderful. Okay, Okay, I get the hype! Great book. Great narrator. Book Hangover acknowledged! Audiobook Hangover accepted!
So now I have been adding to my audiobook TBR (would that be a TBL?) almost as much as I’ve been adding to Audrey II (my kindle TBR). And just like I add authors to my TBR, I’m now adding narrators to my TBL. So just one question for you, my wonderful readers… should I be worried that my internal dialogue now takes on the voices of certain narrators?
