Skip to main content

Features

A Conversation with Anne Glasgow

Now that she’s retired, Anne Glasgow has more time for books than ever. She maximizes her reading by listening to audiobooks, so she can get caught up in a great story, even on the go. Here, she talks about where and how she listens, and why it’s important to always keep a well-stocked library on your iPhone and earbuds in your bag.

A Conversation with Melinda Jones

Melinda Jones retired three years ago...and has been enjoying non-stop reading ever since! When she was a child, she used to think she could read every book ever written, and it sounds like she’s well on her way. So far, she has passed along her passion for books to two generations of voracious readers, including a grandson who travels everywhere with a book. Here, she talks about her favorite audiobooks and why sometimes it’s important to give a book you didn’t quite like a second chance.

A Conversation with Bill Bolander

Bill Bolander works in a factory and can fix anything except his difficulties with dyslexia. Listening to audiobooks has opened up a new world of books to him. Now he can discuss books with his bibliophile wife, Linda Johnson, an avid Bookreporter.com reader who --- not coincidentally --- shared her own thoughts on audiobooks with us a few weeks ago. In this "Sounding Off on Audio" interview, Bill tells us about some of the great books he has listened to. And for all of you biography and history lovers, he has some excellent recommendations!

A Conversation with Marlene Cole

Since retiring, Marlene Cole has enjoyed the freedom to indulge in whatever book strikes her fancy. Now that she is no longer pressed for time, Marlene relishes the chance to listen to a good, unabridged audiobook. She’s been listening to audiobooks --- long and short --- since 1989 (a good year: Taylor Swift was born, and Woody Harrelson hosted “Saturday Night Live” for the first time), and here she shares with us some tips for the best experience. Hint: If you’ve maxed out your audio-borrowing from one library, just head over to the next county and load up!

Laura Hillenbrand, author of Unbroken - Audiobook

On a May afternoon in 1943, an Army Air Forces bomber crashed into the Pacific Ocean and disappeared, leaving only a spray of debris and a slick of oil, gasoline and blood. Then, on the ocean surface, a face appeared. It was that of a young lieutenant, the plane’s bombardier, who was struggling to a life raft and pulling himself aboard. So began one of the most extraordinary odysseys of the Second World War.

A Conversation with Deborah Barrow

As a media executive in magazines, broadcast, the Internet and beyond, Deborah Barrow has seen it all. Now, working development for a regional NPR affiliate network, she finds herself on the road a lot, where audiobooks come in handy. Though she's relatively new to the medium, Deborah shares some apt thoughts about her experience as a listener.

A Conversation with Anna Knapp

Anna Knapp was one of our amazing chat room moderators in the early days of The Book Report Network. Back then, we had a chat room call Bookaccino, where readers would gather to chat (actually type their comments) about books. Anna would help host these chats, and facilitate readers talking about books throughout the day, greeting them and keeping the dialogue going. No stranger to the union of books and technology, Anna has now been listening to audiobooks for decades! Here, she talks about how she distinguishes reading books from listening to them, and which audiobooks have drawn the strongest emotional responses from her.