The Windup Girl
I've found that one of the best ways to pass time on an international flight is to listen to an audio book. I began this trend with Percy Jackson and the Olympians on a flight to Spain a few years ago and was hooked - not only the the story (even though it's YA, or especially because it was YA) but on audio books. For the trip to France, I randomly selected The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi, partly because it was supposed to be a bit steampunk in nature.
The novel takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where plagues and blights have killed off the natural food supply, all plants for consumption are genetically engineered and people have exhausted the planet of its oil. The story is set in Thailand where the unstable government, foreign agriculturalists and displaced Japanese and Chinese people clash together. It is written from different viewpoints and hearing this through an audio version made the different stories more impactful. One of the criticisms of the book is that, because of the Thai setting, that the names and some of the words are indecipherable, but, again, I didn't find that to be the case with the audio version. The narrator rattled off Thai, Japanese and Chinese names with ease.
If you haven't been initiated in the world of audio books, I recommend this story as one to start your journey. The price (around $25) is more steep than a book but you also realize that it is almost 19 hours of storytelling. There's something relaxing too about having someone do something as simple as tell you a story.
The novel takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where plagues and blights have killed off the natural food supply, all plants for consumption are genetically engineered and people have exhausted the planet of its oil. The story is set in Thailand where the unstable government, foreign agriculturalists and displaced Japanese and Chinese people clash together. It is written from different viewpoints and hearing this through an audio version made the different stories more impactful. One of the criticisms of the book is that, because of the Thai setting, that the names and some of the words are indecipherable, but, again, I didn't find that to be the case with the audio version. The narrator rattled off Thai, Japanese and Chinese names with ease.
If you haven't been initiated in the world of audio books, I recommend this story as one to start your journey. The price (around $25) is more steep than a book but you also realize that it is almost 19 hours of storytelling. There's something relaxing too about having someone do something as simple as tell you a story.
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I have never listened to an audio book. I've always loved to read so much, that I never even thought about it. Since you recommended it, I'll have to try it out.
ReplyDeleteOoh that sounds like a great recommendation. I'm a big fan of audio books - I have an Audible subscription (which is much cheaper per book, btw) and often listen to books while busy doing other things like washing or commuting etc. I also recommend the Phryne Fisher series by Kerry Greenwood: really charming female detective from the 1920s. Easy listens.
ReplyDeleteSounds interesting! I have actually no habit of listening to audio books, but maybe I have to give it a try! :-)
ReplyDeleteI've never really tried audio books either, but I just might. Stephen King also recommends it:)
ReplyDeleteAnyhoo, that book sounds pretty interesting. That's gonna go on my to-read list now.
I have SUCH a hard time sitting through an audio book. Probably an issue with relaxation. A flight sounds like the best opportunity though...plenty of time on your hands...no where to go. I'll give it a try next time!
ReplyDeletesuch a good tip- i dont know why i've never done this. i've got a ton of "this american life" podcasts stored up that i havent had time to listen to yet. i'm flying in 3 weeks time- this is perfect.
ReplyDeleteI've never gotten into audio books, not sure why. I did go on many road trips with friends, and sometimes I convinced them to do a trade: when they were driving, I'd read for them, when I was driving they'd pick up where I left off. It worked with some of us, but not all. It was fun when we got into the story.
ReplyDeleteHmm. . . I've never listed to an audio book. But this sounds intriguing-I may need to give it a try.
ReplyDeleteI have listened to stories on flights, however--totally unintentional. Just flipping through the plane's stations, when I happened upon a Winnie the Pooh story. The one where Christopher Robin grows up? Bawled like a baby. SO embarrassing . . . because I was totally an adult! :)
I am not a reader. Audio books may be just the thing for me.
ReplyDeleteHmm I've always liked to have something to look at in front of me but maybe on a flight it wouldn't be so bad to just sit back, relax, and listen. This would be great for my boyfriend, he gets motion sickness if he looks at anything while in a car/plane.
ReplyDeletexo erica
thanks rooth for the reco - i think i will try this at some point because it does sound pretty relaxing!!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Sounds like an interesting read. I have only tried a couple of audio books, for me an ebook is the easiest experience..Hope you are having a wonderful day!
ReplyDelete-Jyoti
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I haven't tried an audio books yet,
ReplyDeleteso thank you for the heads up.
I used to work in an audio book store in Toronto! The Harry Potter books were the most popular because of the narrator!
ReplyDeleteHave you read the Hunger Games?
I've never given audio books a try, maybe I should!
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