Audio Books - My New Obsession

1. I drive a lot for my job.
2. I am a former audio book snob.
3. As a recovering audio book snob, sometimes I am sad when I get to a job site because I have to pause my book.

Because of number 1 on my list above I now adore audio books. I'm sorry to say I judged people who listened to audio books but now I can say it was only because I didn't understand. I didn't understand how I can take a routine activity and spice it up listening to rich stories; fiction and non-fiction.

I now listen to books when I'm cleaning my house and on my runs too. I am one of those people who will forsake all responsibilities because I need to finish a book but sometimes guilt creeps in as I lounge away a day. Enter the audio book, I am productive and getting my literature fix all at once.

I still love curling up in bed with a good book or bringing a novel into a bubble bath but these audio books have opened up a whole new world. And the best part, I get them all for free from my library, I download them onto my phone and play them on the stereo in my van. I am on multiple waiting lists for recently released books (which I don't fully understand, must be a licensing thing).

Here are some of the books I have listened to in the past 3 months (remember, I drive A LOT).

 


I am on the wait list for The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt right now. And yes, I enjoy books written for children.

Have you listened to or read any good books lately?

I'm Proud of You

Ahh, Mr. Rogers. He was genuine, as a kid you never doubted the fact that the Mr. Rogers you saw on the screen was the same man off the screen, but as sceptical adults you develop those doubts.

 

After the Boston Marathon bombing, I came across this quote for the first time (although it has been around much longer):

 

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”

                                                                                                       ~ Fred Rogers

And then I came across this compilation of "Heartwarming and Beautiful Facts" about him. What a great guy, huh?

Finally, I discovered Alexandra Franzen's blog (I have mentioned her on here before) and she is also a BIG Mr. Rogers fan. She talks about this book, "I'm Proud of You." I just finished it and can honestly say I cried and smiled through every chapter. There are quite a few religious undertones to the book but it doesn't take away from the message (if religion is not your thing).

 

Cute side story: I left the book in the van for my husband to return to the library for me. He started to read it himself. I had to renew it so he could finish it. He was reading it in the van while waiting for the boys to be done at school and shed some tears as well. A couple of days later a couple of the moms approached him to see if everything was okay because they saw him crying!