Audio Books That Kept Me Company During One Of The Hardest Seasons Of My Life

Today is Day Two Of The Ultimate Blog Challenge for July. Yesterday I shared how I am getting back to myself after a very traumatic experience. Today I thought I would share about the audiobooks I listened to during some of the hardest two months of my life.

As I mentioned yesterday, I can't share the details surrounding the situation. What I can share is that it required me to drive two hours round trip to visit a hospital. With all that driving to and from a stressful destination, I needed a distraction. I especially love memoirs and self-help books. I love learning about the life stories of other people and how they overcome their struggles. I also enjoy learning knew ways to view my life and tips for navigating challenges. I very rarely listen to fiction or read it when I am actually reading a hard copy of a book.

"Even The Good Girls Will Cry" by Melissa Auf Der Maur

I was a fan of the band Hole back in the in the 90's. I especially loved their album Celebrity Skin, which I still blast from time to time. Melissa was the bassist for Hole. She was offered that position after bassist Kristen Pfaff died from a heroin overdose. This was also not long after Kurt Cobain died. A turbulent time for Kurt's widow Courtney Love who was the lead singer of Hole. From 1999 to 2000 she was asked to join the Smashing Pumpkins after bassist D'arcy left. I always admired Melissa in the 90s and was so excited to listen to her book. Being a woman in the 90s music scene had some big challenges. Her unlikely journey into these bands is fascinating. She is also vulnerable about how she lost her sense of self and found her way back. I was mostly through this book, before the traumatic situation happened in my life. Melissa kept me company during those first challenging few days. I was sad when the book was done.

"Anxious People: A Novel" by Fredrik Backman

This was the only fiction book I listened to in this list and the first one I listened to or read in a long time. I am part of a book club at my job. This was the selection that won the vote on what to read next. It is about a bank robbery that doesn't go as planned. An unlikely group of people are stuck in a hostage situation that unfolds into an introspective story. It took some time to fully connect to the story. There were a lot of characters an back stories to keep track of. Once it unfolded, I got really into it.

"Hit So Hard" by Patti Schemel

Patti Schemel was the drummer for the band Hole. Heroin addiction took over her life and lead to her being let go from the band. Her story is intense and vulnerable. I also had a chance to hear her version of events that Melissa talked about in her book. Her story is an inspiring example of overcoming hardship and addiction.

"Acid For The Children" by Flea

In 2007 I read the book "Scar Tissue" by Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. It was an interesting read and distraction while I was transitioning my life from Syracuse, NY to Brooklyn. My mom had just died and I was starting a new job in NYC. Flea's book "Acid For The Children" came out back in 2019. I recently watched documentary "The Rise Of The Red Hot Chili Peppers: Our Brother Hillel" on Netflix. It reminded me that Flea had come out with his book awhile back. It was interesting hearing him talk about his journey and chaotic childhood. It also fit in with my theme of rock musician memoirs.

"Be Your Own Bestie: A No-Nonsense Guide To Changing The Way You Treat Yourself" by Misha Brown

Misha Brown has been popping up in my social media feed and I absolutely love him! His stories about boundary setting and advocacy for self-love always inspire me. Misha also used to be a people-pleaser and shares his journey of breaking away from self-abandonment. His authenticity and humor were pleasant company during those challenging drives.

"The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach To Living A Good Life" by Mark Manson

This book came out in 2016. I have thought about reading it from time to time and just never did. Recently Mark Manson's reels have also been popping up in my feed. I appreciate his no nonsense approach. Especially as I am working on cultivating more alignment in my life. When I needed to pick another book to listen to, I decided to check this one out. This book is pretty straightforward, humorous at times and reminded me of where I need to take a stand in my life. I think I found all the cursing very therapeutic as well. I am currently listening to his follow-up book "Everything Is F*cked: A Book About Hope".

Have you read any of these books? What books have you read recently? Please let me know in the comments.

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Jennifer Shlomovich is a Plant-Powered Lifestyle-Educator on a mission to help others improve their health by eating more plants. Jennifer is also passionate about educating others about the realities of animal agriculture and how embodying a vegan lifestyle is a beautiful experience. As the only vegan in her household, she knows firsthand how challenging it can be to stay true to your values when the people around you aren’t on the same path. For years, she put everyone else’s needs ahead of her own, but through her journey, she discovered the power of setting boundaries, living by her values, and confidently prioritizing her well-being. On her YouTube channel, The Confident Vegan, she shares inspiring interviews, practical tips, and empowering conversations about what it really means to live in alignment with your values. She is also the co-host of That Vegan Morning Show with Kimberly Winters of the Did You Bring The Hummus podcast.