June is Audiobook Month
New Audiobooks!
June is Audiobook Month, and if you haven’t yet enjoyed one, we’ve got a couple reasons why you should give one a try.
Audiobooks are great for enjoying books while multitasking. An audiobook is the perfect companion to mundane tasks and an excellent way to fit reading into a busy schedule. What better way to pass the time then with your favorite author?
Beyond a great story, audiobooks add an additional dimension of enjoyment through the dynamic reading by the narrator.
Audio book narration is a specialized skill. Different from other types of narration, the actor must voice all the characters, giving each a distinctive sound and attitude. He or she must keep each character separate and consistent so the listener can easily distinguish one from the next.
Dark Places by Gillian Flynn, read in part by Rebecca Lowman. Finders Keepers by Stephen King, read by Will Patton.
A great narrator, much like a prolific author, can also help expand your reading into genres you normally would not read. MPL Librarian Beth will listen to any book narrated by Rebecca Lowman, Will Patton, or Wil Wheaton (yes, Wesley Crusher), regardless of whether it is Young Adult, Romance, Non-Fiction, or Horror. Beth's first ever audio book, Wil Wheaton reading Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, made her an audio book convert for life.
As You Wish, by Cary Elwes. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, read by Wil Wheaton.
Another great starting point for the audiophile newbie is the celebrity memoir, especially when that memoir is read by the author. Hearing someone's story in their own words and voice is an unforgettable experience. Recent favorites of Beth and Mia are Amy Poehler's Yes, Please and As You Wish : Inconceivable Tales from the Making of the Princess Bride, written and read by Cary Elwes.
If you don't have a favorite narrator yet, the library has thousands of audiobooks ready for you try. There are many ways to experience a narrated book: CD, MP3-CD, cassette, e-audiobook, or portable audiobook device. Discover one at your Milwaukee Public Library through CountyCat or OverDrive.
Want to know more about how to access OverDrive on your device? Visit the East Branch Library each Wednesday at 6pm for BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) to get started.
Let's get listening, and happy Audiobook Month!
Cheers!
Mia (Central Library) & Beth (East Branch)