I have a secret…

I read very few books these days. I’ll pause now for your collective gasp.

Before I’m kicked off BRRC forever, let me amend that statement by telling you that I’m nearly exclusively an audiobook listener.

Why? Well, I’ve always enjoyed being read to.

My absolute earliest memory is crawling up in my mother’s lap in the rocking chair in the corner of our kitchen and her reading to me. The book of choice that three-year-old me craved, Whales Go By. Looking back, I’m not sure it was the story that captivated me so much as the animation in my mother’s voice as she read the story about migrating whales.

As a young girl, long before audio cassettes, CDs, and Audible, I listened to Little Golden Books on the record player in my room. The inside cover of the book had a pocket where the 33 1/3 RPM record was housed. I don’t remember how many Little Golden Books I owned, or if mom took me to the library to get additional ones, but I do remember spending many hours on a lazy rainy day laying on my bed, hand propped beneath my chin, while I listened to Little Red Riding Hood, Hansel and Gretel, or Chicken Little.

But I truly fell in love with books in seventh grade. My math teacher, Miss Slusher, would read to us after lunch for ten minutes before beginning our lesson each day. (Please note the irony of me falling in love with reading in math class and not math, which by the way, tells you a whole lot about me.) Island of the Blue Dolphin and The Red Badge of Courage are the only two titles I remember all these years later. And, truth be told, I remember even fewer of the details of those books, but I’ll never forget how magical it felt to be transported into the pages of those stories as her engaging voice brought those characters and their adventures to life.

Award winning historical romance author @KellyGoshorn makes a confession then pulls on her headphones. Find out more... Share on X

Suspending Reality

Another reason I love audio books is that I find it easier to suspend reality. I’ve never read books quite the same way since I began writing. When I’m listening to a book, I’m less likely to analyze sentence structure, notice how many -ly words the author used, or how long the novel’s scenes and chapters are. It’s just me and the story.

I’m always amazed when I find folks who are not fans of enjoying books this way.

One drawback I often hear is the narrator didn’t capture their attention. I agree that can be a potential problem, but I find that more often than not, the voice actor does an exceptional job. With that in mind, I highly recommend anything narrated by Stephanie Cozart (Karen Witemeyer, Amanda Cox, Crystal Caudill) or Andrea Emmes who brings Jen Turano’s quirky characters to life.

Another problem can be the cost of audiobooks. While they can be pricey, don’t let that hinder you. There are many places to find FREE audio books. Digital Book (mostly classics), Learn Out Loud (classics and non-fiction), or Lit2Go (stories and poems for K-12 students). Overdrive (Libby) or Hoopla are the best way to get fiction and new releases for free, and all you need is a library card. If you love a bargain, Chirp offers deeply discounted audiobooks. I can often purchase three to four audiobooks for the price of one Audible credit.

All this talk about audiobooks has sparked the need to grab the dog’s leash and hit the trail. What am I listening to? When the Day Comes by Gabrielle Meyer.

What are you listening to?

Meet Kelly…

Kelly Goshorn weaves her affinity for history and her passion for God into inspiring stories of love, faith, and family set in America’s vibrant past. When she is not writing, Kelly enjoys, binge-watching BBC period dramas, board-gaming with her family and friends, exploring historical sights, and spoiling her Welsh corgi, Levi.

To learn more, check out Kelly’s author page.