audiobook

I have just finished working my way through ‘Sadie’ by Courtney Summers. I have mentioned that my attention has been difficult, due to my brain not stopping thanks to anxiety. So, I listened to the audiobook, which kept my attention, and allowed me to become engrossed in the story.

The book starts, with a podcast. The Girls, is a true crime podcast, presented by West McCray. It features West trying to track down a teenage girl, Sadie, who has been reported missing by her Aunt. Sadie, is 19. Her little sister, Mattie, has been found dead. Sadie is trying to track down the man she thinks is responsible for her little sister’s murder.

The narrative of the book alternates between West’s Podcast, and Sadie’s point of view. As Sadie moves her way through small town America, West follows, sometimes a few months later, and interviews the people Sadie meets. The story is unique in how it’s told. How the truth is fed to the reader in small tidbits, just enough to keep you hanging on. As said, I listened to the audiobook, which I believe helped me get engrossed into the book more. The podcast, however, does exist. Simply search ‘The Girls’ into your podcast site of choice, and listen as you read. Listening to the interviews actually brings a new dimension to the book, which makes everything feel so much more real.

You can always tell when you enjoy a good book, because you are thinking of it long after you finish. And that is what I feel right now. I have missed this feeling.

I have been complaining on here about my lack of focus. That I have been finding it really hard to focus on anything at all. Over the last few months it has felt like I have worked, and that’s it. I have to go to work, so in these testing times, that is the only ‘thing’ I do. I am grateful for the routine, and to be able to see different people every day. But, you need to be able do other things, stuff to help keep you sane.

For the last few months, I have been subscribed to Audible, and like most subscription services I seem to accidentally sign up for, I forgot about it. I have always preferred music to listen to, over spoken media, like podcasts or radio. I like a wee sing-a-long, especially when travelling to or from work. Spoken word, seemed to be something that I automatically tune out.

So, noone was more surprised in me, when I decided to listen to an audiobook, on a whim, during my breaks at work. I chose The Beekeeper of Aleppo, by Christy Lefteri. I found myself so absorbed in the tale of Nuri and wife Afra, as they flee their homeland in Syria. With words being spoken to me, I found that I was able to entirely focus on the story, which I found so gripping. It was the first bit of media, that I have been able to lose myself in, for a very long time. It felt like such a release.

Since finishing the audiobook, I have found myself adding several books to a ‘to listen’ virtual pile. I hope that I can continue to enjoy books, in this new way. I find that listening to a calm voice, reading a story to me, and takes me away from whatever is on my mind, at that moment. And it is nice.

Tag: audiobook

Lost In A Book