When music becomes overplayed and conversations dry out, you just wish there was an engaging story to override the hum of the engine, the monotonous drone of the road and the endless nagging in the backseat as you journey down an endless road. There are a lot of audio books out there, so it’s understandable why you might not be sure which would fit your mood, taste or even your location.
So, consider the following choices as you pack up your Civic and head for the road.
1) Exotic Location:
Ruth Ozeki – A Tale For The Time Being (2013)
Ruth Ozeki’s novel tells two parallel stories: one of a young Japanese girl, Nao as she writes in her diary about the world of cyberbullying, religion and heartbreaks; and the story of Ruth, a writer living on Vancouver Island, who finds Nao’s diary in a Hello Kitty lunch box after a tsunami in Japan and then attempts to locate her while coping with her own life.
This Man Booker Prize has shortlisted the novel as a mystery-filled, page-turning (if audio books had pages) drama. It is a wonderful choice for a road trip in a foreign land. As the story takes you leaps and bounds through time, it also reminds you of the importance of the present, regardless of where you are.
2) Fun Trip With Friends:
David Sedaris – Me Talk Pretty One Day (2000)
Long-time humourist, David Sedaris has been entertaining readers for the past several decades, and Me Talk Pretty One Day is arguably one of his finest collections of stories regarding his own life, like his move to France and attempts to learn the local language – hence the title.
For a journey with companies that just want to stare out the window and chuckle now and then, Sedaris is a perfect road trip companion.
3) Family Vacation:
Lemony Snicket – A Series of Unfortunate Events (1999-2006)
A Series of Unfortunate Events tells the story of the three orphaned Baudelaire children as they attempt to escape their evil uncle Count Olaf, who is constantly plotting to steal their inheritance.
The thirteen-book series may at times feel repetitive for adult listeners, but the witty writing and humorous observations of Lemony Snicket (Daniel Handler) is enough to keep the whole family entertained for a long time.
4) Solo Cross-Country Trip:
Stephen King – The Stand (1978)
Arguably Stephen King’s most revered work, The Stand is a post-apocalyptic story that links multiple characters from all across America in an epic narrative feast. The Stand is one of those stories that will stay with you through the whole length of your journey, whether you finish listening to it or not. It is epic. It is memorable. Both the story and your trip, that is.
5) Intellectual Road Trip:
Malcolm Gladwell – What the Dog Saw (2009)
Malcolm Gladwell’s collection of magazine pieces blend together beautifully in What the Dog Saw, an examination of modern society’s zeitgeist, including the evolution of certain brands and industries. Gladwell is a master of words and stories in the short form, and What the Dog Saw will inspire and educate you, even if you are on the last leg of your journey. Each of his stories is a rejuvenating ride. You can find a review on this site.
6) Epic Trip:
David Benioff – City of Thieves (2008)
Benioff, best known as the show runner for the television series Game of Thrones, has written an exciting, intelligent and thrilling adventure story set in the grips of World War II Russia. City of Thieves will keep your blood pumping through the most tedious parts of your trip and engage you with your surroundings as your drive. It’s contemporary storytelling that matches cinematic excitement.
7) Find-Yourself Trip:
Yann Martel – Life of Pi (2001)
Sometimes we just need to drive, get away from the hustle and bustle, and really find ourselves. Life of Pi remains one of the stories that resonate with those of us who are both adventurous and spiritual.
What is travelling if not an experience akin to religion? In the process of both listening and driving, we see that we are able to identify the diversity of the world and the strength within ourselves to find comfort in a place so different from our home.
8) Space Travel:
Douglas Adams – The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (1979)
Douglas Adams’ classic is still one of the funniest novels in the galaxy. Unlike most books that are meant to be experienced in privacy, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is a dish worth sharing. Layered with humour that has spanned decades, the novel is able to encapsulate the mystique of travelling and the absurdity of the universe. After many revisions and cinematic remakes, nothing beats the original story that has presented honesty within all the silliness.
9) Time Travel:
Kurt Vonnegut – Slaughterhouse-Five (1969)
If you want an experience, look no further than Slaughterhouse-Five by Vonnegut. The nonlinear style of storytelling about a soldier and the bombing in Dresden during World War II may sound like a boring historical novel with melancholy content. But, Kurt Vonnegut is a master of irony, and Slaughterhouse-Five is perhaps one of the finest satirical novels ever written, with continuing effects on pop culture. Wherever you are going, Slaughterhouse-Five will make its mark at various check-points.
10) A Little Bit of Everything:
David Mitchell – Cloud Atlas (2004)
Some novels are just meant to be read to you, and I believe Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell is one of them. The unique storytelling technique used by Mitchell to tell six different tales nested within each other, spanning decades may sound like an ordeal on a journey. But, it’s his lyrical wordplay and stylistic transitions that keep the listener engaged over a long distance. A diary entry, a letter, an interview, etc., Cloud Atlas breaks free from the narrative model of novels and leaves the listener spellbound. In a way, it’s so mesmerizing, it’s not unlike listening to music itself. It’s also nothing like the movie. You can learn more about the differences between the two here.
