As we are in the midst of holiday travel season, I wanted to share some of my top audiobook picks to keep you entertained as you make your way over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house. Although I am a bound-book purist and prefer thumbing through pages rather than swiping across a screen, I enjoy the occasional audiobook, particularly while traveling. Whether you’re going by planes, trains, or automobiles, audiobooks make the hours tick by faster and alleviate some of the holiday travel stress.

Some things to consider:

1. Time.  I always try to match my audiobook selection to the estimated time allotted for travel. Sometimes I select a book that will take me one way, other times I find one that will last the entire round trip. If you have a short 30-minute drive, I recommend finding a short story or a selection of short stories. I never download an audiobook that lasts significantly longer than my allotted travel time, because I probably won’t return to it immediately after traveling since I don’t typically listen to audiobooks. Also, make sure you download your selection BEFORE you begin your journey because you (almost always) must be connected to WiFi while you download. And as always, if there’s a book you really want to listen to but don’t have the time (or patience), there’s no shame in the abridged game.
2. Audience.  If you’re taking a road trip with your family or friends, I recommend considering your passengers when selecting an audiobook, either for content and language or for the simple fact that not everyone wants to listen to a ten-hour reading of The Iliad. Listening to audiobooks as a group can be a fun way to pass the time and to share your literary passion with your loved ones. Besides, how often do you and your family or friends read the same book at the same time? It’s also surefire way to prevent spoilers.
3. Reader.  When selecting an audiobook, make sure the person reading to you has a voice that you won’t mind listening to for an extended period of time. Sometimes, authors will read their own books on tape (though John Grisham described this process as ‘digging in the sand with your face’). If the book is a memoir or an autobiography, listening to the author tell his or her own stories can be particularly enriching and entertaining. Often, there are multiple versions of audiobooks available, especially if it is a classic, so take the time to select your reader. Sometimes actors or actresses record audiobooks, which are usually quite good.
4. Price.  There are a lot of bargain-priced audiobook options out there, so if you aren’t keen on shelling out $20 for a 4-hour reading, shop around a bit (classics tend to be cheaper since many of their copyrights have expired, and since there are usually multiple versions that have been recorded).

When I first started listening to audiobooks while traveling, I purchased and downloaded them from iTunes because they were compatible with my phone. They have a great selection and will download to your “iBook” app if you are using an iPhone. The upside of iTunes audiobooks, in my experience, is that they rewind about ten seconds if your GPS interrupts, so you don’t miss a thing!

Recently, I’ve begun to use audible.com and their accompanying app. Audible.com is a subscription service that connects to your Amazon account. For $14.95 per month, you get a free audiobook, regardless of price, and access to a large selection of audiobooks you can purchase and download to your device. Even if you cancel the service, you can keep your purchases forever. This is a great option if you’re an avid traveler and reader. They give you the first month free, so it’s worth a try! This is also a good chance to splurge on a pricier audiobook that you may have had your eye on.

If you prefer to support local bookstores, libro.fm is another great option. If your local bookstore has an account with libro.fm, you can purchase the audiobook directly from your bookstore through their website. Libro.fm also features “on sale” audiobooks and have a section where you can shop the New York Times Bestseller list.

Below I’ve listed my audiobook holiday favorites. I’ve included a few non-seasonal options for your trip home from grandmother’s house, when you’ve had your fill of Christmas treats and merry-making.

1. A Christmas Story, by Jean Shepard; narrated by Dick Cavett

This is the novel that inspired the beloved film, and Dick Cavett nails Ralphie’s dry humor in his reading. Fans of the film will recognize familiar scenes and characters, but the storyline is a bit different in the novel. Christmas happens in the first quarter of the book, and the story continues through Easter, when the Bumpus hounds enjoy a special feast. Dick Cavett’s reading is hilarious and heartwarming, and the novel captures the magic of being a kid on Christmas. This audiobook also includes sound effects that give this reading extra special pizazz, which is important when dealing with leg lamps and pink bunny suits.  Be warned that the book does include some mature language, so keep this in mind if you are traveling with young ones.

This audiobook lasts about 3 hours and 35 minutes.

2. A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens; performed by Orson Welles and Lionel Barrymore

While this performance of A Christmas Carol technically doesn’t fall under the “audiobook” category, Orson Welles and Lionel Barrymore’s radio play is hard to beat. Lionel Barrymore’s Scrooge is second to none, and Orson Welles’s voice is one I could listen to for hours. The performance appropriately begins and ends with Christmas carols.

This performance lasts just 45 minutes.

3. “A Merry Christmas,” The Christmas Stories of Louisa May Alcott by Louisa May Alcott, narrated by Susie Berneis

I downloaded this audiobook by accident, with the intention of downloading a longer narrative, but this snippet from the March family’s Christmas. If you’re a lover of Little Women, like me, this was a heartwarming return to the beloved family and is a good way to introduce others to the vivacious sisters.

This audiobook lasts a short but sweet 25 minutes.

4. Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman Capote, narrated by Michael C. Hall

If you’ve had your fill of Christmas, Breakfast at Tiffany’s is worth a listen. I often use audiobooks as an opportunity to check off my To-Read list, which is how I came across this recording of Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The novel is narrated by Holly Golightly’s neighbor, Paul Varjak. Michael C. Hall’s narration sounds quite a bit like George Peppard’s voice, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Truman Capote’s novel reveals the depth of Holly Golightly that Audrey Hepburn gracefully captured in the film.

This audiobook lasts just under 3 hours.

5. Talking As Fast As I Can by Lauren Graham, narrated by Lauren Graham

I’ve raved about listening to Lauren Graham’s reading of Talking As Fast As I Can before, so I won’t go into too much detail, but Lauren Graham’s quick wit and energy will keep you going through the most hopeless moments of gridlock traffic!

This audiobook lasts a little over 3 hours.

6. This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald, narrated by Brian D’eon

Listening to this audiobook was another check off the reading bucket list, and I thoroughly enjoyed Brian D’eon’s narration. D’eon’s voice captures the aristocratic indifference of the novel’s protagonist, Amory Blaine. This is a nice read if you’re feeling quasi-Christmasy because there are a few stunning wintertime scenes that just might put you into the spirit.

This audiobook lasts 8 hours 14 minutes.