Where a crux of a book holds you to a spot, audiobooks have a tendency to hold you to the activity you are doing when you are around them. So as a book ramps up I find myself walking or cleaning for longer or just waiting those few extra minutes to finish listening to a chapter before I swipe my fob into work.
Anyone else get like this? Like even though you could carry on listening as you move, you find yourself sitting in your parked car for the end of the book?
How to own the room by Viv Groskop
A tower block filled with the richest of the rich descending into madness within its own confines?
You got me.
Read by Tom Hiddleston.
You got me more.
How does modern architecture and technology effect the human psyche? The novel follows a series of months as the inhabitants of the building descend in mass psychosis on tribal levels as the three egocentric men at the centre of the story fall into their own.
The tower itself falling into a microcosm, a city within itself. Taking with it, rules, ranking and regulations. With the liminimal space of the car park isolating them from rationale and reality.
“Later, as he sat on his balcony eating the dog, Dr Robert Laing reflected on the unusual events that had taken place within this huge apartment building during the previous three months.”
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
Listening to Evaristo's Girl, Woman, Other was an incredible experience. Narrated by Anna Maria Nabirye bringing life to the 12 incredible stories.
Spanning time and locations through a collection of exquisite characters, perceptions and longing Girl, Woman, Other is all-encompassing in these women's voices and urges everyone to find the time to read it.
Slaughter House Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Somehow it has taken me this long to get round to reading Kurt Vonnegut, and you know, I sodding loved it.
Lost in this strange sci-fi satire as a representation of post-traumatic stress disorder I found it difficult to get into the rhythm at first, especially with Franco's drawl. But as I got into the flow I couldn't stop listening.
This American classic brings a new light to World War II writing for me and I find myself seeking it out more and more...
The Collectors by Phillip Pullman
Beautifully short and sweet, Pullman's The Collectors is narrated by Bill Nighy and follows a discussion between two men at college in Oxford about two pieces of art.
What they don't know is their connection is part of a story that transcends time and location.
For another touch into the world of His Dark Materials, I highly recommend it.
Lunar living by Kirsty Gallagher
Gallagher's Lunar Living brings moonology to modern audiences.
Drawing on ancient wisdom to empower and bring you more entune with the cycles of the moon. Lunar Living is a soothing support system to help you understand the moon and its effects.
Imaginary friend by Stephen Chbosky
At a hefty 24 hours and a half, Stephen Chbosky's Imaginary Friend was one of the longest books I read last year.
I chose the novel due to my love of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, but the similarities end there. This novel got under my skin in a different way, with veins akin to Stephen King.
Following Christopher and his mother as they escape her abusive partner, they settle in a new town before Christopher goes missing in the woods. What follows is a voice, a secret that came with him from the woods, with a history stemming 50 years back.
Imaginary Friend crept up, building strangely and intensely which I loved, however I did struggle with some of the religious allegory.
After 8 audiobooks in 2021, I wonder how many I will have time for in 2022!
