by Patron Service Associate & Creative Content Coordinator Hannah
I like walking quietly—hearing the birds, noticing the rustle of the trees, thinking my thoughts—but sometimes I enjoy a little company. Not necessarily a loved one beside me, but a voice telling a story while I move through the world.
Between screens, notifications, and the ever-growing to-do list, a walk is an excuse to literally step away for a little while, especially if you have no particular destination in mind. And there’s something about an audiobook that can transform that walk into an adventure, a mystery to puzzle out, or a journey somewhere new.
Some days I want a mystery that keeps me guessing. Other days I want to learn something new, laugh out loud, or travel somewhere far from home. Here are a few listening moods to try on your next jaunt.
A twisty story can make you want to keep walking till you get to the end. In The Woman in Suite 11 by Ruth Ware, an invitation to the press opening of a luxury Swiss hotel owned by a reclusive billionaire seems like the answer to a prayer. But is it? Fans of The Woman in Cabin 10 will enjoy revisiting Lo Blacklock in this suspenseful sequel.
If you are feeling a bit bitten by the travel bug, American Rambler: Walking the Trail of Johnny Appleseed by Isaac Fitzgerald feels like a once-in-a-lifetime trip without the stress of packing, while Ann Patchett’s State of Wonder can quietly shift familiar streets into an Amazonian expedition that makes you thankful for Ohio weather.
If you’re feeling curious, walks are a good time to learn something new. Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy by Mary Roach has a way of settling into your thoughts so naturally that you don’t notice how much you’ve picked up until you’re bringing the topics up in conversation later.
If you’re feeling cozy or in need of a soft place to land, The Curious Kitten at the Chibineko Kitchen by Yuta Takahashi, translated by Cat Anderson, invites you in for a soul-nourishing meal in the company of a kitten.
If you’re feeling adventurous, Daryl Gregory’s When We Were Real will introduce you to memorable characters and make you wonder if we are all actually walking around in a digital simulation.
If you need a laugh, a funny audiobook can make miles disappear. Anxious People by Fredrik Backman finds humor in a failed bank robbery, an apartment showing, and a cast of wonderfully imperfect people.
Whether you’re walking around the block, wandering a local trail, or just making a grocery run, I hope one of these stories keeps you company along the way.
And with that… try to do as I say and don’t always do—stretch.