East Atlanta Branch Library: Family Road Trip Listens

Press release from the East Atlanta Branch Library:

November 15, 2021

Now that preparations for the holiday season are well underway, it's time to think about how to make the drive to your gathering more pleasant. Will everyone be using earphones and in their own world, or will you pick an audiobook that gives the group something to discuss later? A family road trip audiobook doesn't have to be boring; why not start a thrilling science fiction series or escape into fantasy?

Listen to local authors explain Stuff You Should Know or learn about the trees outside the car window while they pass you by. When you get where you're going, everyone can give their opinion on Murderbot's humanity, Howl's broken heart, Josh and Chuck's opinions, or the benefits of Atlanta's urban forest. If none of those books interest your group, search our audiobook catalog for titles suitable for smaller ears or titles in dozens of categories.

Start a tradition on your family road trips of listening to an adventure of Hercule Poirot or a work by Terry Pratchett (hint: you don't have to read the Discworld books in numbered order).

Try downloading a few different audiobook selections to your favorite device before the trip, and if your vehicle will be full, get everyone to weigh in on the audiobook selection! Debating what you will listen to is a good way to engage the whole group before the trip, and to build memories together. Don't forget to take the run time of the audiobook into consideration before you make your selection.  Below are some recommendations by trip time and audience. Please be aware of who will be listening; every family is different, and while some may love true crime with loads of detail, others may prefer a gentle cozy mystery. Patrons know their traveling companions best, and all recommendations should be screened for appropriate content if listeners may be sensitive.

Family Road Trip Recommendations by Audiobook Run Time:

Atlanta to Macon and back (approximately ninety minutes each way)

For vehicles with passengers under ten: Misty of Chincoteague Duration: 02:31:51 

For vehicles with passengers over ten: The Bad Beginning: A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 1 Duration: 02:30:24

For vehicles with all adult passengers: All Systems Red Duration: 03:17:45 

Atlanta to Augusta and back (approximately three hours each way)

For vehicles with passengers under ten: The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents Duration: 06:35:39 

For vehicles with passengers over ten: Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH Duration: 06:13:29 

For vehicles with all adult passengers: Dolly Parton, Songteller Duration: 05:18:52 

Atlanta to Savannah and back (approximately four hours each way)

For vehicles with passengers under ten: Wee Free Men Duration: 07:12:39 

For vehicles with passengers over ten: Howl's Moving Castle Duration: 08:36:35 

For vehicles with all adult passengers: Cahokia: Ancient America's Great City on the Mississippi Duration: 06:57:11 

Atlanta to Brunswick/Golden Isles and back (approximately six hours each way)

For vehicles with passengers under ten: The Hobbit Duration: 11:05:04 

For vehicles with passengers over ten: Educated: A Memoir Duration: 12:15:24 

For vehicles with all adult passengers: The Library Book Duration: 12:09:01

This press release was produced by the East Atlanta Branch Library. The views expressed here are the author’s own.