Listen up: Audiobooks continue to grow in popularity

My monthly subscription to www.Audible.com is one of my favorite treats. For about $16 a month, I get a credit for an audiobook, which I can spend when I choose, and an array of “bonus” books and podcasts. Last year I decided to trim this subscription from the budget, but quickly realized I would rather give up something else. I enjoy it too much — and am now officially one of those book lovers who accounts for the ongoing growth of audiobook popularity.

My interest in audiobooks increases as the selection of titles grows; the quality of recordings steadily improves; I can easily get supplementary materials, such as worksheets, online; and more nonfiction titles are narrated by the author.

The enjoyment of recorded books (remember when we called them “books on tape” and prayed the cassette tape didn’t wind up in a tangle before we finished?) continues to soar. Whether commuting or exercising or doing housework, people like to listen to books.

Buying from Audible is not the only option, although it’s the one that works for me. You can also use OverDrive’s Libby app, popular with several of my reader friends. True confession, though, this is one of the few library resources I’ve not got in sync with. Sometimes the book I want is on a long waiting list, and other times, I’m not finished by the time it’s due. (Audiobooks take HOURS.) LibroFM and Hoopla continue to be players in the audiobook market, too.

Deciding on a new Audible book reminds me of choosing books from Scholastic Press when I was a kid or from the Literary Guild and Quality Paperback Book Club from years back. I peruse possibilities, listen to samples and consider when I’ll actually make time to listen to a particular book.

I don’t yet recognize most narrators, although many listeners do. More than a decade ago, I spoke at a library down in St. Francisville and loved hearing two librarians discuss the best narrators. They each had a list of their favorites, while I generally have no idea the name of the narrator—unless it is the author. This seems wrong on my part since the narrator makes a big difference, which is why I won’t buy an audiobook without listening to a sample.

Rarely, if ever, do my husband and I take a driving trip without downloading an audiobook–with negotiations for a title that will entertain both of us. For the past few months, we’ve been working our way through memoirs by comedians, and this helps trips go faster. I recommend “Born Standing Up,” an older memoir by Steve Martin about his early days as a comedian and how his career exploded into fame. We also laughed a lot at “A Very Punchable Face” by “Saturday Night Live” writer and “Weekend Update” anchor Colin Jost. Another great memoir: “Born a Crime” by South African comedian and commentator Trevor Noah. Each of these is read by the author, which makes them extra engaging. Note: Some are more risqué than others, with varying degrees of profanity, so be careful before you cue them up for the whole family.

I generally prefer nonfiction over fiction when listening—particularly on the treadmill when the weather keeps me from getting outside. Genres I enjoy include memoirs (“Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen, read by Springsteen); self-help/business (“Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done” by Jon Acuff); health and fitness (“Runner’s World Complete Book of Running” by Amby Burfoot); and books about various aspects of writing (“Mastering the Process” by novelist Elizabeth George).

Occasionally I slip in a novel (good choices: “The Vanishing Half” by Brit Bennett or “Tending Roses” by Lisa Wingate), but I listen to samples and study reviews before I commit.

Curious: Have you listened to any good books lately?

New Michelle Obama book out in November

Talk about popular: Michelle Obama’s memoir, “Becoming,” has sold more than 17 million copies and book lovers anticipate her new book, “The Light We Carry,” out in November, just announced by Crown Publishing. According to the publisher, Obama will share practical wisdom and strategies for staying hopeful and balanced in today’s uncertain world.  Drawing from her experiences as a mother, daughter, spouse, friend and first lady, she will detail her most valuable practices, like “starting kind,” “going high” and assembling a “kitchen table” of trusted friends and mentors.

Local favorite Joanna Gaines plans new book

Joanna Gaines, a big favorite in the Ark-La-Tex and the person who makes me want to redecorate our house with simple charm, has struck a deal for her first solo memoir, “The Stories We Tell,” according to Publisher’s Weekly. The book will be released by Harper Select, an imprint of HarperCollins. Gaines is a heavyweight in publishing, as well as on television and in product design, with more than 10 million copies of her books sold to date.

Trio of area authors signs for novella collection

Veteran area authors Betsy St. Amant Haddox and Lenora Worth join Morgan Tarpley Smith in signing a contract for “A  Louisiana Christmas to Remember,” a collection of faith-filled small-town novellas to be released next year by Barbour Publishing.

Columnist Judy Christie is the author of 18 novels and nonfiction books. With NYT bestselling author Lisa Wingate, she co-authored “Before and After: The Incredible Real-Life Stories of Orphans Who Survived the Tennessee Children’s Home Society,” the nonfiction sequel to Wingate’s novel “Before We Were Yours.”  For more about Christie, see www.judychristie.com or follow her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/JudyChristieAuthor.

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Listen up: Audiobooks continue to grow in popularity