Hey there!!
My dad and I are driving cross country this summer (total around 50hrs of driving, we won’t be listening to books the WHOLE time but probably most of it) and I’d love to find some audiobooks that might appeal to both of us. I’m 24f in case that makes a difference. Basically we both have pretty different tastes in what we reach for normally, but we can agree on good books too (they just aren’t typically either of our go-to genre, if that makes sense, but we both enjoy it). So I’m looking for crowd pleaser books that are easily digestible, well-written, and enjoyable to listen to for long periods of time.
I’m specifically hoping for:
Engaging narration (even if the story is good neither of us are great at paying attention when the voice is too monotonous)
Light hearted fun summer vibes without being too boring/girly for my dad LOL
If there is a good father daughter theme in the book that would be great!
Nature themes would also be cool since we will be driving through some scenic routes and it would fit the vibe
Fiction, mystery, sci-fi/fantasy are all good, no thrillers or anything scary or too sad or dark. Non fiction would be great too as long as it’s interesting!
No explicit scenes please!!!! PG-13 equivalent LOL
In case anyone wants more context, here are some books each of us likes as an idea:
A book we both LOVED is A Man Called Ove.
The rest are from when I was younger but my dad truly loved these too (we haven’t read “together” in a while, other than when I recommended him A Man Called Ove since I knew he would love it)
Harry Potter (actually considering that for this), the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, the Percy Jackson series.
We also both like the show Vikings, though we watched it separately (I would prefer not to have explicit scenes in the audiobooks we are choosing for this trip).
My dad likes the Golden Compass books if I remember correctly, though I haven’t read it. I think he also liked Lord of the Rings. I remember him loving The Fault in Our Stars too, he finished it in 1 day. His biggest complaints about books are getting bored, or that he doesn’t relate to the values (he likes friendship vibes, strong family vibes, things like that). He likes straightforward but good plots, no “twisted nonsense” in his words lol.
I like psychology books a lot (like attachment theory stuff, philosophy type books too), and I’m enjoying ACOTAR at the moment too (just as context, obviously I wouldn’t listen to this on the road trip lol). I have been going for lighthearted romcom type books lately, and I love “found family” storylines.
I know this is all over the place but any suggestions appreciated!!! Thank you!
by WorldAfter4433
9 Comments
This is so wholesome and cute, I love this journey for you guys. The bonding time ♡︎
Ooooohhh, if you guys both enjoyed “A Man Called Ove”, I’d try “Anxious People” by the same author. The narration is super engaging, and the story is full of quirky characters with thoughtful themes.
One of my all-time favorites and the one I revisit once a year…”The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho. It’s a philosophical novel about a young shepherd’s journey to find his personal legend. It’s inspiring, beautifully written, and the narration is really soothing (which now on second thought, might not be the best when driving long distances and feeling sleepy). Regardless though, this is a must-read for everyone.
Lastly…”The House in the Cerulean Sea” by TJ Klune. A super heartwarming story that features a unique family, lighthearted humor, and a charming plot that is both engaging and feel-good vibes. The narration is excellent too!
Have fun and drive safe! xx
OK. This may be a bit of a stretch and would depend on both your tastes in music a bit, but Surrender by Bono (the U2 front man) was a fantastic memoir and does cover a nice story of his life, family bonds with not only his immediate family but his band. It’s entertaining because of all the famous figures he’s brushed up with, there’s humility for all the things he’s done that have made him more infamous (that’s a matter of perspective). And it shows a man with strong values.
Might not be great if neither of you have no idea who U2 is at all.
I have yet to listen to Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman, but I have heard plenty of positive comments about it, no clue how salacious it would be.
If he enjoys rereading books, you could get the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings on audiobook, Andy Serkis did an excellent version of both.
For modern fantasy, I enjoyed the Scholomance trilogy by Naomi Novik, it’s a magical boarding school with a high mortality rate.
For a fun series with a bit of a twist, the Chet and Bernie series by Spencer Quinn is about a PI and his dog, told from the dog’s perspective.
No Good Deed by Goldy Moldavsky
I think audiobook is a great way to re-visit the His Dark Materials/Golden Compass series. There is a full cast version which is excellent.
Howl’s Moving Castle and the Sabriel series would also fit the bill I think
*The Sun Is a Compass: A 4,000-Mile Journey into the Alaskan Wilds* –Caroline Van Hemert
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke would be perfect
If you loved Ove, try My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry. The audiobook is top notch.
True Grit is the perfect book for your trip. It’s funny, the characters are great, and the story clips along. Read by Diana Tartt (author of the Goldfinch) and I’d put her performance up there with Sissy Spacek’s as Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird. Don’t let the genre scare you. I don’t like westerns at all but this book is extraordinary.