Hello Audiophiles! This past week, I’ve been at my parents’ house in Kentucky. Appalachia isn’t generally an easy place to fly into, so it was quite the experience going from one puddle jumper (tiny plane) to another, flying from my island home to my former mountain home. Plus, this was the first time I’ve flown since the start of the pandemic. I’m not gonna lie, I was pretty nervous and arrived WAY too early for my flight out. But once I got through security, I had a chance to sit, relax, and breathe.
To help pass the time, I played Animal Crossing while listening to the end of Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe. I’ve had a wide range of discussions with my Irish family members from both the Republic and the North of Ireland, but this was the first time I got a broad overview of some of the key events of the Troubles.
Between games of Phase 10 and Mario Kart, I’ve been listening to The Shape of Thunder by Jasmine Warga and The Cancer Journals by Audre Lorde. Both of these books have been waiting around on my iPhone for a bit, so I was happy to finally start them.
While I’ve been gone, the Corgis have enjoyed going to the office with their dad and exploring the outdoors in the warm South Carolina sunshine. I saw this photo and couldn’t believe how big Gwenllian is now!
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New Favorite Listen
Ten Steps to Nanette: A Memoir Situation by Hannah Gadsby
The moment this audiobook landed in my audiobook app, I dropped everything I was doing to listen. Like many Americans, I discovered Hannah Gadsby via her comedy special Nanette. The moment I finished watching Nanette, I started frantically googling, hoping to find out more about this incredible comic. When her memoir was announced, I immediately wrote it down with all of the underlines, arrows, and bolded print. I needed this book.
As an audiobook lover, I knew this was a must-listen memoir. Gadsby narrates her memoir, describing her childhood in Tasmania. Growing up as a queer, neurodivergent child made navigating the world incredibly complicated for her. At the time, she and her family didn’t know that she has Autism Spectrum Disorder, they just knew she was different.
In her late 20s, Gadsby discovered that she had a knack for stand up comedy, and slowly the world unfurled before her, giving her opportunities that she never imagined. After a decade in comedy, Gadsby began crafting the show Nanette.
There’s nothing like listening to an author narrate their memoir. Of course, her comedic timing is perfect. And as a neurodivergent person, I appreciated hearing about Gadsby’s story of trying to find a diagnosis later in life. When your brain views the world differently, you can often feel adrift, too different to matter. Gadsby captures those feelings so beautifully in Ten Steps to Nanette.
Performed by the Author
New Releases!
A House Between Earth and the Moon by Rebecca Scherm
Alex Welch-Peters has put everything on the line for his scientific research. He believes that his super-algae can reverse the effects of climate change. When a tech company offers to fund his research he agrees, but there’s a catch: his new lab is going to be in space.
Narrated by Xe Sands
Four Aunties and a Wedding by Jesse Q. Sutanto
The Aunties from Dial A for Aunties are back. Meddy Chan’s day has finally arrived! After attending countless weddings, it’s finally time for her to have her own. But when the mafia plan to use her wedding as a cover for some sketchy deals, Meddy’s aunties swoop in to help keep Meddy’s special day drama free.
Narrated by Risa Mei
Conversations with People Who Hate Me: 12 Things I Learned from Talking to Internet Strangers by Dylan Marron
From the creator of the podcast Conversations with People Who Hate Me comes a book about having difficult conversations. It’s part guide and part personal story, giving listeners a range of ideas for having more hard conversations with the people in their lives.
Narrated by Dylan Marron
Wild and Wicked Things by Francesca May
Annie Mason has no desire for any sort of magic in her life. After magic ruined her life, she never wants it in her life again. But on the island she now calls home, magic lies in wait, biding its time until it can make its appearance—again.
Narrated by Marisa Calin, Gemma Dawson, and Ralph Lister
Don’t forget you can get three free audiobooks at Audiobooks.com with a free trial!
Over on Book Riot
“Audiobooks and ADHD” by Nikki DeMarco – I really appreciated Nikki’s discussion of how her ADHD influences her listening.
“On the Road Again: 26 of the Best Audiobooks for Road Trips” by Mikkaka Overstreet – Have a road trip coming up? Mikkaka is here for you!
“9 of the Best Audiobook Subscription Services” by Kate Krug – Kate gives listeners a birds eye view of different subscription services to help you choose the best for you.
“I Love Audiobooks, But Will My Nephew Love Them Too?” by Kendra Winchester – I share about how I played samples of a dozen audiobooks for my nephew to see what ones he liked best. Here are the results!
Around the Web
“Saudis Embrace Audiobooks as a New Form of Entertainment” (Arab News) – I love seeing how audiobooks are taking off all around the world.
“Audiobooks, Translations, and Other Letters to the Editor” (The New York Times) – One of the letters to the editor includes someone who wonders why NYT has only been reviewing nonfiction audiobooks (when they review audiobooks at all). I am glad they said something, because I had been wondering the same thing!
“New Report Shows Link Between Adult Audiobook Habits and Mental Wellbeing” (National Literacy Trust)
“Your Guide to Independent Alternatives for Books, Audiobooks, eBooks, and Beyond” (Libro.fm)
That’s it for this week! You can find me over on my substack Winchester Ave or over on Instagram @kdwinchester. As always, feel free to drop me a line at kendra.d.winchester@gmail.com. For even MORE audiobook content, you can find my articles over on Book Riot.
Happy listening, bookish friends!
~ Kendra