Audiobook opinions 📚

I only infrequently listen to (read?) audiobooks. I usually find myself getting distracted, drifting off, losing concentration, and missing parts of the reading.

Ultimately I find that I really need to be doing nothing else other than just listening; it’s difficult for me to listen whilst performing other tasks. In practice, then, I may as well just read the books! There are a couple of exceptions though. I can listen whilst out on longish, quiet walks and I can listen on public transport, again as long as it’s a relatively quiet environment.

However, I have recently had more success. I’ve listened to Robert Graves’ I, Claudius read by Derek Jacobi and have nearly finished Lawrence Durrell’s Balthazar read by Nicholas Boulton.

These books have worked for me in audio format. It helps that both have excellent narrators in Jacobi and Boulton but also, I think, that the novels themselves are written as if narrated by their main characters. This works well. Another plus is that Durrell’s very descriptive language is very enjoyable to hear read aloud.

Additionally, it is probably of relevance that I have some familiarity with the content of both books. I know something of the events told in I, Claudius from remembering a little of seeing the BBC TV series in the late 1970s, as well as some general knowledge of Roman history. Balthazar is familiar because it is essentially an elaboration and expansion of Durrell’s first novel of The Alexandria Quartet, Justine. I have read this twice and the characters and events have stuck in my mind. This familiarity with the books made the readings easier to follow and more difficult to lose track of their threads.

So, my plan is to persevere with the format. Next up will probably be the remaining two books of The Alexandria Quartet. As I often only listen in 15-20 minute sessions that will take some time!