This post is sponsored by Audible, however opinions expressed are our own.
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‘Tis the season. Cozy up by the fire, sip your pumpkin spice latte and cuddle under blankets with your latest book. Except…who’s got time? I don’t, you don’t; most of us just don’t have the luxury of time to read a book cover-to-cover these days. This fall, as the leaves change colour and the air gets crisper, I’ve been relying more and more on Audible to get my listening in.
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Along with a dozen or so other professional women in their 30’s, we meet every 6 weeks to discuss our latest read in my book club. From fiction to nonfiction, classics to new releases, our crew’s book club choices run the gamut of categories.
Truthfully though, it’s a struggle to keep up and so, I rely on Audible. During my commute to and from places, running errands in the city, and when I’m out for a walk, I just can’t beat the convenience of Audible. And, when I’m home, prepping food for the week, cleaning or just milling about, I listen to Audible on my Echo Show 5, using Alexa. If that isn’t the ultimate productivity hack, I don’t know what is.
So, what’s new and good these days? If you haven’t guessed already, our latest read was The Testaments, Margaret Atwood’s follow-up to The Handmaid’s Tale. Narrated by Bryce Dallas Howards, Ann Dowd (Aunt Lydia!), and Margaret Atwood herself, this is one of the year’s most anticipated releases and it does not disappoint. Plus, it’s Canadian. One of my favourite things about Audible is the listening experience and the life it gives to a book. Instead of silently reading the words to yourself, Audible allows you the magic of hearing characters’ voices as it takes you on the book’s journey. It enriches how you ‘read’ a book and adds so much colour and depth. The Testaments is a great example of this, bringing to life polarizing and electric characters. No spoilers, so let’s move on.
Another book I won’t soon forget is Three Women, by Lisa Taddeo. Divided into 3 stories that weave back and forth throughout the book and narrated by an all-female cast (including Mena Suvari!), Three Women explores the sexual lives and desires of 3 very different females with an in-depth, raw and very honest lens. It was hard to hit pause as their stories unfolded and this was one book that really had our book club talking.
As women, we love to talk about our relationships, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that we chose An American Marriage recently as one of our book club selections. Tayari Jones’ new novel takes us through a marriage after a wrongful conviction lands one of the main characters in prison shortly after his wedding. The story unfolds largely through letters written to each other and the intimate tone really draws the reader into the intricacies of their relationship. The beautiful southern drawls and the detail in the narration as the characters move from newlyweds to middle aged really sealed the deal on this one.
And of course, this list wouldn’t be complete without including Heartbreaker, by Toronto’s very own Claudia Dey (part owner of the luxe clothing brand Horses Atelier, and part poet & author). This knock-out read from the tail end of 2018 was an unforgettable listen and consumed us from the beginning until the end.
This past year, I’ve been able to hear so many incredible books and discuss them with my peeps – like-minded, culturally and intellectually connected women – while keeping up with the busyness of everyday life. Integrating Audible into my everyday life has given me the ability to make time for reading – plus the convenience of it and what it provides just can’t be beat. Everything is better when we listen.
Now’s your chance. Audible Canada’s catalogue has over 440,000 audiobooks and other spoken-word content to choose from, so get listening!
Already looking for holiday gifts? Head on over to the Audible.ca Gift Centre and you’ll find options including memberships for 1, 3, 6 or 12 months or even gift a special title of your choice!