As I mentioned last month, listening to audiobooks in the evening has become one of my go-to ways to unwind. I used to love reading, but after working all day on the computer, the last thing I want to do is look at an e-book on a screen. I’ve found that audiobooks are a great alternative that allow me to keep up with the books I have on my radar. Because of this, I’ve partnered with Audible to share the audiobooks I’m listening to each month for the rest of the year, keeping you posted on my favorites as I go along!

Last month, I listed to The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood (which you may be watching as a Hulu TV series starring Madmen’s Elisabeth Moss). I’ve been holding off on watching the series until I listened to the book, so now that I’ve finished, I can’t wait to see how it has been adapted for the screen! I don’t want to give too much away for those who haven’t yet listened to the book, but let’s just say it’s definitely worth it to experience Atwood’s beautiful prose and really get inside the mind of the main character, Offred, as she navigates a disturbing dystopian world that severely limits women’s rights. It’s a complex story that is at points infuriating and at others, illuminating, but it’s a definite must-listen that makes you think deeply about womanhood and how Offred’s world compares to our own.

This month, I’m listening to The Cherry Orchard by Russian playwright Antov Chekhov. I remember reading the play back in college and enjoying it, but I’ve been wanting to revisit it as an adult so I can fully appreciate the play’s complexities in a broader historical context. Set on a Russian family’s country estate at the turn of the 20th century, it explores the tensions that arise when family members disagree on how to handle their debts – half the family wants to sell the orchard, while the others desperately want to hold onto it. I love watching theater, but have never listened to a play read via audiobook before, so I’m excited for this new type of theatrical experience!

If you’re interested in listening to The Cherry Orchard or a different audiobook of your choice, click here for a free 30-day trial. And stay tuned for my next post in June, where I’ll discuss The Cherry Orchard and share the next audiobook on my playlist.

Thanks to Audible for sponsoring this series.