Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Too Busy to Read? Audiobooks Saved my Reading Life!

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When I was a kid, there were books on tape. I even had books on record, ones that gave you a tone as a signal to turn the page of the matching book. I wasn't much interested in them, overall, though I was very fond of my recording of Ferdinand the Bull. They seemed like a gimmick to me, something not necessary for reading, something created for people who needed help with their reading, maybe.

Then, I grew up and became a teacher and a mom and started to try to have a writing life and I realized that 24 hours a day were not enough hours to do all this and keep up the reading life I was accustomed to. I'm a devourer of books, given my preference. I gobble them like Halloween sweets and, as soon as I put one down, I'm ready to begin the next one.

When I don't get to read enough, I get cranky. It's like stories are part of the fuel I need to make it through my days, and being short-changed was leaving me hungry. And I was going hungry a lot.

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And then, I discovered that audiobooks had grown up. In this age of smartphones and online access to anything you want, I can get high quality recordings of so many books! From indie productions like Blake Northcutt's Arena Mode, which my husband kickstarted and gifted to me, to full-scale productions like the Signature Performance of Heart of Darkness as read by Kenneth Brannagh. I borrow CDs  or digital downloads from the library. I buy books through Audible (I love those months when you can get multiple books for 1 credit!). I take the "add audible narration" option on kindle editions.

And my life is full of stories again. I can listen while I drive. I can listen while I cook and do dishes and do laundry. Unlike other kinds of multi-tasking which really mean that I just have divided focus on don't do either thing well, this kind means that menial, repetitive and uninteresting tasks that are necessary to life can also be story time!

I know audiobooks aren't for everyone. Some people tell me that their attention wanders and they lose the thread. Some books And the quality of the narration does make a difference and can color your perception of a story, for the better or the worse (like Mark Hamill's reading of The Spiderwick Chronicles: amazeballs!). But for me, it's been heaven on earth, giving me back extended time in the imaginary worlds of authors. I so love being a 21st century girl!

8 comments:

  1. I don't know, I've never been a fan of audiobooks (maybe I just like the act of actually reading the book), but I never seem to have time to read anymore, so it would probably be a good idea!

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    1. I still *prefer* to read on paper, but ebooks and audiobooks fit my busy life and adapting to those lets me read more.

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  2. My mom listens to books when she's driving. I have a hard time getting into the story though. The voice of the person narrating just throws me off.

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    1. I've had a few I had to give up on. Or sometimes, I'm just too distracted by my own internal life to stay focused.

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  3. When I worked in an office every day, I got an Audible account and enjoyed my one book a month! I listened during my commute, as well as while I was doing mundane tasks like setting up laptops for meetings. SO much of my reading was done that way back then. I joined again last May while we were moving because there were so many hours of mundane work, but now I've discovered podcasts--so many...and they're free!

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    1. Yes! Podcasts are also wonderful. There are several I've enjoyed! I like The Moth and I Should Be Writing. My husband and daughter like Welcome to Nightvale and I've been meaning to check that out.

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  4. Back when I commuted several hours a day, audio books were a life-saver. Even now, though I work at home, while I am knitting, sewing, cooking, etc. I love them. I just finished listening to the Audible version of THE REVENANT--talk about exciting!!!

    @Kathleen01930 Blog

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    1. Some books even work *better* as audiobooks. I loved listening to The Martian, and Neil Gaiman's Trigger Warning. I've also liked ones that take advantage of the form by bringing in different voices, almost like a radio story. Cary Elwes's memoir of the making of The Princess Bride was like that and Yes, Please! by Amy Poehler.

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