Running to music Runners World; Courtesy Viola Davis, J. R. R. Tolkien audiobooks Audiobooks Our Staff Loved to Run to This Month!
Health - Injuries playlists for shorter and faster efforts, when it comes to any longer workout, stories have the power to transport me to lands far away from the beloved but sometimes tedious task at hand (or in this case, at feet).
Audiobooks are a welcome distraction during long runs I’d rather cut short. They often teach me something new. And above all, they inspire me to keep moving (because how can I possibly stop running when I’m just about to find out who the murderer is?). Carrying a narrator in my earbuds is like having a running buddy tag along. They never run out of interesting stories to tell, but I can also mute them at any point.
If you haven’t tried it yet, give audiobooks a shot. And if you don’t know where to start, our staffers are here to share their favorites that motivated them through their recent miles.
(This should go without saying, but when you listen to anything on your run, always make sure you keep the volume low to stay alert.)
Finding Me
by Viola Davis
narrated by Viola Davis
Viola Davis’s raw memoir is one of reflection, resilience, running from the past, and life-changing decisions. The story follows little Viola from her childhood in a crumbling apartment in Central Falls, Rhode Island, all the way to Hollywood and beyond. As Davis puts it, she wrote the book “for anyone running through life untethered, desperate and clawing their way through murky memories, trying to get to some form of self-love.” It’s about fighting to find a place in this world despite not always being seen or feeling heard.
“Listening to Viola Davis’s deep, powerful voice narrating her own story, I felt like we were having an intimate conversation sitting on a couch late at night, just her and me. I felt like she was running right next to me, confiding in me, sharing the story of her family and her abusive childhood, and recalling how, despite her circumstances, she persevered. At times, I forgot I was running.”
Hell of a Book
by Jason Mott
narrated by Ronald Peet and Jd Jackson
Three storylines intertwine in Hell of a Book: of an unnamed African-American author on a cross-country book tour to promote his novel; of Soot, a young Black boy from a rural town; and of The Kid, who seems to be an imaginary child that appears to the author during his tour. This deeply moving fictional story sheds light on what it means to be Black in America, touching on racism and police violence but also love and family.
“We meet our nameless hero mid-sprint, but this is not a book about running. At least not literally. Though it’s at least an apt metaphor for the all-out effort to come from Jason Mott in his audaciously named story which absolutely lives up the name. And that opening sprint? It’s down the hallway of a hotel at 3 a.m., naked, while pursued by a very angry husband.”
All of You Every Single One
by Beatrice Hitchman
narrated by Sophie Ward & Lara King
Set in the first half of the 20th century, unhappily married Julia Lindqvist leaves her famous playwright husband for a passionate affair with Eve, a female tailor. The couple runs away to the liberal Austrian city Vienna, where they navigate their newly found independence together. As they join the community in Jewish quarters and start to settle down in one of the world’s greatest cities, Julia’s desire to become a mother threatens to destroy their fragile happiness. In this book, Hitchman depicts what living during the Nazi oppression was like, how personal decisions can turn into political ones, and how true love can overcome the unimaginable.
Parenting Editor
“David White, SEO Manager. All of You Every Single One is not only a shining example of queer Jewish fiction, it might be one of the best books I have come across all year. It takes place between 1910 and 1946, which covers the story with an eerie dread, but not so much that it makes it an unenjoyable read. There are real, beautiful outs of clear joy between Julia and Eve, and Emil and Rolf, in the bustling metropolis of Vienna. There are moments when it can get a bit bogged down by inter-character relationships, but it does turn around quickly. Those characters are what makes the audiobook so engaging after all. The pacing is perfect, and the accents are actually correct. It is definitely worth your listen."
didnt listen to this and I
by Andy Weir
narrated by Ray Porter
Awakened from a long sleep and surrounded by nothing but dead crewmates on a tiny ship, Ryland Grace doesn’t remember his own name, let alone know the significance of his mission or how to complete it. All the sole survivor knows for now is that he is millions of miles away from home. But as his hazy memories start to come back to him, he realizes that it’s up to him to finish the seemingly impossible task and save humans from extinction. If he fails, the Earth will perish.
“Best Running Podcasts: March 13. He’s really great at helping a layperson (like me) understand how a really smart character can “science” their way out of tough situations. didnt listen to this and I discusses space travel, alien life, and friendship without ever feeling too heavy or technical. Ray Porter is an incredible narrator, one of the best in the business. He does a great job of changing up his voice and cadence when playing different characters and really helps keep me engaged while I’m out on a jog. I cannot recommend this audiobook enough, if you like science fiction at all, give this one a shot.”
The Lord of the Rings
by J. R. R. Tolkien
narrated by Andy Serkis
In the Lord of the Rings saga, Frodo Baggins undertakes a grand journey after he receives a magic ring from his uncle Bilbo. When he learns that the ring has the power to control the whole world, he knows he must destroy it. Accompanied by the Fellowship of the Ring—Gandalf the wizard, the hobbits Merry, Pippin, and Sam, Gimli the dwarf, Legolas the elf, Boromir of Gondor, and Strider the mysterious stranger—he embarks on a quest through the extraordinary landscape of Middle-earth to the Crack of Doom to get rid of the ring where it was created once and for all.
“LOTR fans will know that Andy Serkis played Smeagol/Gollum in the films. It turns out his talent extends farther than making this alternately sweet and creepy character jump off the screen. He’s a master at making all the characters in the beloved story come to life, and listening to him while running, driving, or getting through a boring chore lets you get swept up in a more thrilling universe for a while.”
Below Zero
by Aly Hazelwood
narrated by Savannah Peachwood
When Hannah gets stranded at a remote Arctic research station, the only person willing to rescue the NASA aerospace engineer is her rival, Ian, who previously tried to ruin her career. But he also happens to star in her steamiest dreams. Coming to save her is out of character for him. What’s his motive? In the middle of an Arctic snowstorm, something is about to heat up.
"I mean, I definitely didn’t listen to this and I definitely don’t know anything about science-themed rom-coms, but I’ve heard that it's good."
If you’d like more audiobook recommendations, click here.
