Recently, knitting has been a tool for me to receive clarity and relaxation.
However, as I have been progressing I find myself wanting to multi-task. And sometimes, I feel like doing something other than sitting on the couch knitting while watching Netflix.
Don’t get me wrong, I love knitting with a cup of tea and Gilmore Girls playing, but sometimes I need to switch it up.
I have found that audiobooks are a perfect balance. Since I have gotten better at knitting, I no longer need to put all of my attention onto the needles and yarn. So with an audiobook, I am stimulated enough to not get bored, but I can look at what I’m doing and not miss out on any of the action.
Now, when I knit while putting on an audiobook, I am able to get that relaxation that I look forward to at the end of the day: it's something that is very calming and allows me forget about whatever worries I may have. I try to incorporate this into my routine every day so I can give much-needed time to myself.
Here, I have compiled a list of the best audiobooks I have listened to while knitting.
*Note: I tend to listen to books at 1.2x or 1.5x speed so it doesn’t take the full amount of time listed. The numbers may look overwhelming, but it won't feel as long as you think.
The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel
Genre: Historical Fiction/Coming-of-Age
Length: 11 hours 21 minutes
Publication Date: July 6, 2021
This is a very new release from the author also known for The Winemaker’s Wife and The Book of Lost Names. It tells the story of a young woman during World War II who was stolen as a child and grew up in the wilderness. She uses her experiences and knowledge of the forest to help Jewish refugees escape.
Fun Fact: This is also narrated by author Kristin Harmel, alongside Madeleine Maby
Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner
Genre: Women’s Fiction/Mystery
Length: 10 hours 54 minutes
Publication Date: May 5, 2020
One reviewer describes the story as “Mean Girls meets Cape Cod” which is exactly where Daphne is placed. Unexpectedly Daphne’s ex-best friend, Drue, returns to her life, in hopes that she will agree to be her maid-of-honor. Following Daphne’s past, her love life, and career as a plus-size Instagram model, Weiner creatively crafts a balance between friendship, love, and mystery.
If you have already read Big Summer, her new book That Summer was released a few months ago!
Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
Genre: LGBTQ+ Literature/Romance
Length: 12 hours and 15 minutes
Publication Date: May 14th, 2019
This is one of the longer fiction audiobooks I have listened to, but it most definitely did not feel this way. If you’re a fan of the frenemies to lovers trope this one is for you. Alex, the First Son of the US finds himself entangled with Henry, the Prince of Wales. This book will definitely leave you grinning.
Though it has varying reviews, another book I would like to listen to soon is One Last Stop by McQuiston; which is described as “a queer time travel rom-com.”
Man Enough: Undefining My Masculinity by Justin Baldoni
Genre: Autobiography/Personal Narrative
Length: 12 hours 36 minutes
Publication Date: April 27, 2021
Also narrated by Baldoni himself, he tackles uncomfortable subjects surrounding masculinity including strength, relationships, body image, sexuality, gender equality, and more. He also has a podcast of the same topic with guest stars, linked below if you want to hear more.
https://manenough.com/podcast/
The Guest List by Lucy Foley
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Length: 10 hours 22 minutes
Publication Date: June 2, 2020
This is the first audiobook I listened to while knitting and I was pleasantly surprised by the talented voice actors and my ability to understand and engage in the entire story just by listening. The Guest List is set on an island off the coast of Ireland for a celebrity destination wedding. As perfect as the plans are, things quickly go awry, the ugly past unfolds, and someone on the island turns up dead. Who is it? Who did it? And why?
The Girl They Left Behind by Roxanne Veletzos
Genre: Historical Fiction
Length: 10 hours 57 minutes
Publication Date: October 9, 2018
Loosely based on Veletzos’ mother, it follows the story of Natalia, a young Jewish girl found on the steps of an apartment building in Bucharest. Placed in an orphanage because of Bucharest’s ally with the Nazis, she is adopted by a wealthy family. In an “impossible-but-true” story, this is a unique and distinct war novel.
Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams
Genre: Psychological Fiction/New Adult Novel
Length: 9 hours 45 minutes
Publication Date: March 19, 2019
Queenie Jenkins is a 25-year-old Jamaican British woman living in London, sitting between two prominent cultures but fitting into neither. Working at a predominantly white national newspaper while going through a messy breakup, Queenie struggles to find comfort and often finds it in the wrong places. Described as “Bridget Jones meets Americanah,” the wit and honest perspective by Carty-Williams is worth the read, well...in this case, listen.
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
Genre: Literary Fiction/Fantasy
Length: 6 hours 48 minutes
Publication Date: September 15, 2020
Audie Audiobook of the Year 2021 winner, Piranesi lives in The House. The House is filled with seemingly infinite rooms, clouds, animals, and statues. With only two people in The House, Piranesi and another man, “the Other,” they decide to work together in search of answers. This inventive and fantastical novel is not one to miss.
Beach Read by Emily Henry
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Length: 10 hours 13 minutes
Publication Date: May 18, 2020
January, a romance novelist who no longer believes in love, finds herself neighbors with Augustus, an acclaimed author of literary fiction. Both in a creative rut, they strike a deal to spend the summer writing in each other's respective genre...and they have to give each other lessons to spark their creativity.
And just for fun, here are some audiobooks on my list:
- Disoriental by Négar Djevadi
- In West Mills by De’Shawn Charles
- The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave
- The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
- His Only Wife by Peace Adzo Medie
- The Kindest Lie by Nancy Johnson
Have fun listening and knitting!
About the Creator
KB
A snippet of life. Some real, some not. Thanks for reading!
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