Books have always helped us dive deep into worlds that are different than ours. In a blink, we can stroll the streets of Vienna or whizz by on a magic broom above Hogwarts. In a breath, we can learn the basics of French or even be a part of many misadventures. But, audiobooks go a step further. By Japleen Kaur
Not an avid reader? Or are you so tired with your household work that your eyes get heavy even at the sight of books? If yes, then these audiobooks are meant just for you! Listen to them while working on an excel sheet, washing utensils, right before dozing or even while showering.
Scroll down for books that narrate beautiful travel tales.
1. On The Road, Jack Kerouac
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This book that changed the literary scene of the 50s takes us through the most colourful era of America. Jack Kerouac writes on finding personal freedom and sense of fulfilment via his characters, Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarty. This road trip has a brilliant storyline, many interesting scenes, and excellence with which it paves the way for many other narratives.
Duration: 10 hours and 15 minutes
Listen to it here.
2. The Shooting Star, Shivya Nath
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If you haven’t had the chance to read Shivya Nath’s adventures yet, you can now listen to them online. The perfect way to travel right now is through this avid traveller’s adventurous journeys. Narrated by Karen DeSouza, this audiobook could inspire you to travel the world in the post-COVID-19 era.
Duration: Five hours and 30 minutes
Listen to it here.
3. Neither Here Nor There, Bill Bryson
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Known for his remarkable, record-breaking book A Short History Of Nearly Everything, Bill Bryson is a name that everyone has heard of. While an audio story of that novel is great too, but for us, travel geeks, his writing in Neither Here Nor There —combined with the magnetic voice of artist William Roberts–is an experience in itself. So, are you ready to virtually backpack to Copenhagen, Paris, Istanbul, Germany and more?
Duration: Nine hours and 10 minutes
Listen to it here.
4. Wild, Cheryl Strayed
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Wild is a phenomenon in its own. There are fans of this book, of the movie, and now of the audiobook too! This international bestseller, narrated by voiceover artist Laurel Lefkow, will compel you to take important life decisions. The story will remind you how dauntingly amazing mother nature is.
Duration: 13 hours
Listen to it here.
5. Dogs Of India, Polly McGee
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The story revolves around a foreigner’s take on India and its vibrant corners. When Lola Wedd comes to Delhi to marry an Indian, she finds out that it was a scam. What follows are dramatic adventures worthy of a Bollywood movie! Showing the different sides of the capital, this one is for everyone who has met a foreigner lurking around the streets of India.
Duration: Eight hours and eight minutes.
Listen to it here.
6. Harry Potter Series, JK Rowling
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This list will be incomplete without mentioning the Harry Potter audiobooks! It’s always a good idea to revisit magic via the travel tales of these iconic characters. The question is, which one will you listen to first?
Duration: Five days, 11 hours and 41 minutes (cumulatively)
Listen to it here.
7. Crazy Rich Asians, Kevin Kwan
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Remember the Netflix show of the same name that blew up the internet last year? That show is based on a book, and its audiobook version is just as amazing! If you miss travelling on your private jet to exotic locations with the most exuberant suitcases, then this light-hearted listen is meant for you.
Duration: 13 hours and 53 minutes
Listen to it here.
8. Game Of Thrones, George RR Martin
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There is no better time than now to venture into the world of extreme plots and twists! If you’ve got time in hand, then this hit series will surely entertain. In fact, an audiobook version of this series, read by Roy Dotrice, held the world record for having the most voices by a single narrator in a book—233 voices to be precise!
Duration: Varied
Listen to it here.
9. The Adventure Collection
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One thing that all of us lack these days is an adventure, and this collection of five nostalgic journeys is here to keep that intact. This compilation has the evergreen, Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift; The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling; Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson; The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle; and, White Fang by Jack London.
Duration: 40 hours and 21 minutes
Listen to it here.
Related: #TnlAudioStories: Dream Escape To Magical Places This Weekend With Our Podcasts
