Five Favorite Listens

We love literature in all its forms here at The Bookery, and audio books are a great way to delve into stories, from familiar classics to new releases. Here are a few of our favorite listens so far this year.

The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate There's a good chance you've already read some of Lisa Wingate's books, due to the popularity of Before We Were Yours, a New York Times bestseller released in 2019. The Book of Lost Friends released in 2020 and tells the story of three women whose stories intertwine across centuries: Hannie, a freed slave in the post-Civil War South, and her Creole half-sister, Juneau Jane, and Benedetta Silva, a teacher in Louisiana in 1987. A talented cast of voice actors help you "see" the story, and a desire to know what happens next keeps you coming back for more.

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett A 2019 release by Patchett, the author of Bel Canto and State of Wonder (and the owner of Nashville's independent book shop, Parnassus Books), the audio version of The Dutch House is read by Tom Hanks. Yes, that Tom Hanks, and that's reason enough to give the novel a listen. But the story which follows a brother-sister duo throughout their lives, will soon captivate you in its own right. The novel was a finalist for the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for fiction.

The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin Set against the backdrop of World War II, this novel tells the story of Grace and the Primrose Hill bookshop—but really it's about the power of story and community. The audio version, read by Saskia Maarleveld, clocks in at just a bit over eight hours, making it a perfect companion during a long weekend's drive or an airport adventure.

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

A recent selection to Reese Witherspoon's book club, The Last Thing He Told Me grabs your attention from the beginning, and you'll keep listening to find our what Hannah uncovers next. When her husband of one year, Owen, disappears, Hannah is left to pick up the pieces and care for her stepdaughter, all while deciphering the cryptic note Owen left behind. It's a unique plot with plenty of unexpected twists—maybe not altogether plausible at points—but an entertaining listen all the same.

Call Your Daughter Home by Deb Spera Like Wingate's The Book of Lost Friends, Call Your Daughter Home explores how the lives of three women—Gertrude, Retta and Annie—unexpectedly intertwine in 1924 Branchville, South Carolina. Robin Miles, Adenrele Ojo and Brittany Pressley bring the characters to life. Deb Spera captures listeners' attention with a fantastic first line ("It's easier to kill a man than a gator, but it takes the same kind of wait.") in her impressive debut novel. Exploring motherhood and sacrificial love, Call Your Daughter Home will be a book you'll be thinking about long after you finish listening.

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