redsquirrel Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 I have an unexpected car trip this week and need an audio book. I will be in the back seat, traveling with my mother and her husband. He prefers right wing talk radio...so, in order to keep my sanity, I am bringing along an audio book and a knitting project. It seems to be a 7-8 hour drive each way. I just happened to borrow Sarah Vowel's "Assassination Vacation" from the library. I rarely listen to audio books, but this looked ideal for me. I love Sarah Vowel, I love humorous, I love fun but educational. Plus each chapter is read by a different person, so I will stay engaged. I feel like I sometimes have trouble focusing on audio books and miss important things. I am a better reader of books than listener, I guess? I feel like my attention can wander a bit at times. Not good with a complicated plot....but sometimes I am totally hooked and I can get really into them. So obviously, it depends on the book. So, I have one way there covered. The book I have is just over 7 hours. All the other books I am looking at are so much longer, like 32 hours, lol. Well, it was a Dickens books, so what was I expecting? Anyone know of a less than 10 hour audio books that they really enjoyed? I like history, biography, lit, essays, short stories, fiction, non-fiction, science fiction and fantasy, classics. It can be young adult if you think it is engaging and worth checking out. I am not a fan of 'chick lit' but can be convinced to change my mind if the writing is engaging. I am also not a fan of the current 'romance novel' type book, but I don't mind romance or a love story, if that makes sense. I am getting it out of the library, so it might take some searching before I find something that isn't checked out, but the selection is HUGE. I am a member of the NY city public library and their audio book game is strong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plink Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 (edited) I don't know the exact length, but The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiller was fairly short but fun as an audio book. ETA, I just realized that YOU are in the back seat. Doh! Maybe one of the books from The Cat Who series? Edited January 16, 2016 by Plink Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seeking Squirrels Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 How about 10 hrs 53 min.? I'm listening to The Martian by Andy Weir right now and it's excellent. The reader is very engaging. I also have a hard time paying attention to audiobooks most of the time. My mind wanders too much. I haven't had any trouble staying tuned in to this one. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 I've been listening to Neil Gaiman's Trigger Warning, a collection of short stories. He's a great storyteller and a wonderful narrator as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 A second vote for The Martian. Another audio book that my husband and I both enjoyed was Johannes Cabal The Necromancer; it appears to be just under 11 hours long. Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kim in Appalachia Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 I think Neil Gaiman is a great suggestion. I loved listening to A Tale for Time Beings, by Ruth Ozeki, but I think it's longer than 8 hrs. A collection of short stories would be good. I liked Trigger Warnings, but also good was Vampires in the Lemon Grove, by Karen Russell. Maybe Neil Gaiman's (and Terry Pratchett) Good Omens. I think it was on the shorter side. His Graveyard book is shorter as well since it's for kids, but it's still a great book to listen to. Hope you find something fun! Enjoy. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 Maybe Neil Gaiman's (and Terry Pratchett) Good Omens. I think it was on the shorter side. His Graveyard book is shorter as well since it's for kids, but it's still a great book to listen to. Hope you find something fun! Enjoy. I liked both of those audiobooks too. I decided I will never read a Neil Gaiman book again if it's possible for him to read it to me instead. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsquirrel Posted January 16, 2016 Author Share Posted January 16, 2016 Thank you all so much for the suggestions. I've...I've read almost all of them though :blushing: I do agree that Gaiman is the BEST reader around. I haven't read Trigger Warnings yet, I might get lucky and will try to find that one. I think I can recite The Graveyard book, lol. If you like him be sure to check out his Odd and the Frost Giants, also a great audio book. That is a family favorite. And The Martian is SUCH a good book! I loved it. DH read it to ds2, with an appropriate amount of on the fly editing of course, and it was a huge hit. If I hadn't just read it last month I would be all over it as an audio book. I will see if they have the Cat Who series and Vampires in the Lemon Grove. This is going to be a looong trip. A long drive to Michigan for a Funeral for my mom's brother, who is not someone I liked at all. He was a bit too aggressive with his faith, very judgmental, and it was easier to just not deal with him. But, I am going for my mom. So, many hours while her husband drives and listens to talk radio and then lots of family I don't know well and I am sure regards me as a freak. But, we're Irish, so there will be booze. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kim in Appalachia Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 The Dog Stars or The Painter by Peter Heller. Both very different, but really good. Anything by Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl) or Jo Walton. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom22ns Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 If you like fantasy, I've enjoyed Jim Butcher audio books. His Fury series is my favorite. The Furies of Calderon is the first book in the series. I love Robin Hobb audiobooks as well, but I think they are quite a bit longer than your limit. Her assassin series (Assassin's Apprentice is the first) is the best starting place. I keep an audiobook going at all times and I get them all through the library. I listen to YA and adult books, but mostly fantasy. If you are interested in those, let me know and I can look back through my listening history and give more recommendations. I rarely notice length though. One YA suggestion, dd and I both just listened to 13 Reasons. It was fairly short and we both liked it. It is not a happy book though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsheresomewhere Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 I Must Say by Martin Short. It is funny and it draws you in. It does have some bad language in it if that bothers you. His life is fascinating. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 I'm listening to All The Light We Cannot See. It's longer than ten hours, though. It's funny what you said about finding it harder to listen to books than read them; that is true for me, too. My DS would rather listen to a book, hands down, but I miss details more easily in audiobook than if I'm reading visually. I also have Career of Evil on audible, but I haven't listened to it yet. I like the Corman Strike novels so far, but this is my first on audio. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debbi in Texas Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 What about Bill Bryson's books. He reads them aloud himself. I cannot remember how long any of them are though. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debbi in Texas Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 I have enjoyed: Room by Emma Donaghue We need to talk about Kevin by Lionel Shriver The Irresistible Henry House by Lisa Grunwald Greek Tragedies by The Great Courses. anything by John Grisham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 I enjoyed Carl Hiaasen's YA book Chomp on audio; it's only 6 hours, though. But then you could follow up with Neil Gaiman's Fortunately, the Milk. It's only an hour but so much fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsquirrel Posted January 17, 2016 Author Share Posted January 17, 2016 I love fortunately the milk! We listen to it on every road trip. So, I started searching using the suggestions here, and I ended up with a book that I wanted to read, but had forgotten about. So, I will be listening to Caitlin Moran's book "How To Build a Girl". It's written by Louise Brealy...Molly Hooper from Sherlock, which is delightful! I read her earlier book "How to be a woman" a couple years ago. I was in a tent with my family, and I am a night owl. I was lying there in the dark, reading and having to bite down on my knuckle to stop from bursting out laughing. I really loved it. Hopefully this book will keep me occupied on this long trip. My mom is already starting to drive me nuts. I swear there are not enough carbs in the world for the upcoming week. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 You could download a few podcasts for back up. My current favorite is A Way With Words. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forget-Me-Not Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 I recently finished "Amy Snow" by Tracy Rees and enjoyed it. It's more like 15 hours though :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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