Best audiobooks and tourist traps for a three week cross country road trip (1 Viewer)

[cosjobs]

We're leaving CT for a few weeks to enjoy spring in Texas this February. Lots of options on the route. If bad weather I'll probably do 95 to 10 to hug the coast,but I usually angle down towards Memphis. Any attractions, great dog parks or 3 star $50 pets allowed motels on my route would be appreciated.

I can get 4 audiobooks from Hoopla before I go. My wife will be with me, so I prefer something she will enjoy and not feel compelled to complain or attempt to tell me where/how to drive.

I imagine 75-80 hours of listening time, so maybe longer books would be good idea. Lonesome Dove would have been great, but we've both read it several times.
Thanks

 

[Chris B.]

Does your local library have eAudio books to borrow? I Los Angeles, we can borrow audio books, and stream them from the library's app or download them onto the Libby app so you can listen offline. Pretty handy if you think there were be spotty cell service.

 

[cosjobs]

Does your local library have eAudio books to borrow? I Los Angeles, we can borrow audio books, and stream them from the library's app or download them onto the Libby app so you can listen offline. Pretty handy if you think there were be spotty cell service.

Our library allows me four audiobooks a month from Hoopla. I can get four more tomorrow (Feb. 1). THat's why I started this thread, so I can maybe find a few solid recommendations. Unfortunately no one seems interested in doing that, so I'll use my traditional choosing method of looking at lists from sources I trust, like the NYT or WaPo Best books of... I just have to use older lists because they are much more available.

 

[uwillbsoon]

Does your local library have eAudio books to borrow? I Los Angeles, we can borrow audio books, and stream them from the library's app or download them onto the Libby app so you can listen offline. Pretty handy if you think there were be spotty cell service.

Our library allows me four audiobooks a month from Hoopla. I can get four more tomorrow (Feb. 1). THat's why I started this thread, so I can maybe find a few solid recommendations. Unfortunately no one seems interested in doing that, so I'll use my traditional choosing method of looking at lists from sources I trust, like the NYT or WaPo Best books of... I just have to use older lists because they are much more available.

What kind of books do you typically read? What's your wife like?

 

[cosjobs]

Does your local library have eAudio books to borrow? I Los Angeles, we can borrow audio books, and stream them from the library's app or download them onto the Libby app so you can listen offline. Pretty handy if you think there were be spotty cell service.

books of... I just have to use older lists because they are much more available.

What kind of books do you typically read? What's your wife like?

I'm very eclectic and read a lot, now that I've had cataract surgery. Maybe 4-5 a week. Most recently
"Give Us a Kiss" Dennis Woodrell. I liked it pretty well, I've been told he has much better.
"Road Dogs" Elmore Leonard. I believe it was the only book of his I've never read. I wish I could still say that; It's his worst ever .
"Underworld" Delillo. Magnificent, overblown, tedious, profound, way too long. Glad I read it
"********'s Chance" Ross Thomas. Big fan of the author and this is a fine representation of his work. Similar affection for Lawrence Block
ALL TIME FAVES
Sometimes a Great Notion
All the Kings Men
Lonesome Dove
Sirens of Titan

 

[the moops]

Wife and I listened to a podcast called "Dead Eyes" when we did a cross country trip a few years ago. Very enjoyable. Humor, sadness, redemption, incredible guests. Very good

 

[Uruk-Hai]

The "Lonesome Dove" audiobook is good. It won't get you there and back, but will put a good dent in your trip.

 

[Don Quixote]

History/nonfiction up the alley, or prefer sticking with fiction? If open to history… David McCullough narrates the audiobooks for many of his books — he’s got a great voice. Listened to a couple of Robert Caro’s LBJ books on audiobook too. Those would fill up a lot of time.

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

The only thing that I can think of is Lamberts cafe. Don't know if it's on your routes or not but one location is 2 hours north of Memphis and another location might be on your route if you hug the coast.

 

[uwillbsoon]

Caro's Robert Moses book (The Power Broker) is fantastic, too. Patrick Radden Keefe's Empire of Power is also a favorite non-fiction. As is American Prometheus, which the movie Oppenheimer was based on. I usually do audiobooks for non-fiction.

Not sure about the audiobook, but one of my favorite books from last year is The Bee Sting.

 

[brun]

Years ago I started reading Atlas Shrugged and, while I liked the story & message, I was turned off by Rand's style (just too many words). This worked out well as an audiobook for me. Might be a good candidate for a cross country trip.

 

[Ron Swanson]

I'd highly recommend a night in Clarksdale, MS, particularly just outside of town at Shack Up Inn. If you can get there on a Monday night and hit the dinner and music next door at Hopson Commissary, even better. All the famous blues clubs and restaurants in town are closed on Monday's so Hopson puts out a great BBQ spread and has live music for something stupid cheap like $15 a head.

It's a very unique experience, perfect for an entertaining night's stop.

 

[Sand]

The Martian
Project Hail Mary
The Boys in the Boat
Unbroken
Dungeon Crawler Carl
Red Rising

 

[cosjobs]

History/nonfiction up the alley, or prefer sticking with fiction? If open to history… David McCullough narrates the audiobooks for many of his books — he’s got a great voice. Listened to a couple of Robert Caro’s LBJ books on audiobook too. Those would fill up a lot of time.

Fan of fiction and non fiction. Wife leans more fiction, but I don't really care if it's well written/read and interesting/stimulating.
I'm a fan of McCullough, have read not listened, have also read and like Caro.
Thanks