The Sleepy Bookshelf

The Sleepy Bookshelf is a great option for winding down before bedtime. In this podcast, creator and host Elizabeth Grace reads out loud from classic novels.

Difficulty falling asleep at night is something many people struggle with. It's often because they struggle to stop their thoughts racing through their heads. It's almost like a switch stuck in the "on" position. The Sleepy Bookshelf is a podcast designed to help people flip the switch from "on" to "off."

An actor by trade, Elizabeth came up with the idea for this podcast in 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic had left her without work. She was struggling to fall asleep and trying to transition to voice acting. The Sleepy Bookshelf was the culmination of those goals.

Every episode of The Sleepy Bookshelf follows the same pattern. First, Elizabeth leads the listener through a simple relaxation activity. The activity is a breathing exercise, a visualization, or a short meditation. Then she provides a summary of the previous episode's chapters. Finally, she reads a chapter or two from that season's book. Episodes last about an hour each. It's plenty of time to get relaxed and immersed in the story. Elizabeth's soothing voice and unhurried pace make it easy to fall asleep.

There are plenty of classics to choose from on The Sleepy Bookshelf. Elizabeth reads well-known books like To The Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf and A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Sometimes she picks lesser-known works. Listeners can relax to The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Amim. Or they might prefer White Nights by Fyodor Dostoevsky. Elizabeth's bookshelf also includes fairy tales and children's books.

The Sleepy Bookshelf is a good choice for listeners who need help getting to sleep. Busy people who want to listen to classics will also appreciate the podcast. Some of the episodes might appeal to children and their parents, especially at nap time.