Sunday, June 12, 2011

Sunday Salon: Another Week, Another Book

So if you read my Friday post you know I've started listening to audiobooks. I've done audiobooks before, in the car mostly, on long drives; on the way to Philadelphia last fall my husband and I listened to David Sedaris's new one, Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk, and then we listened to Bill Bryson's Notes from a Small Island on the way home. It worked out pretty well, so I decided to give audiobooks another try since I'm doing some things that leave me with long stretches of time in one place.

I found out that one of my local independent bookstores rents audiobooks, and since I really don't have time to go to the library to borrow them (ironic since I work in one, but I work far from the books themselves), renting has turned into a good solution, at least for the time being. Last week I listened to David Gann's The Lost City of Z and now I'm on to Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand. It's been fun; I don't know how much longer I'm going to need them but we'll see.

And I'm reading print books alongside the audiobooks, too, and I've been reading at a good clip lately. I finished Assaf Gavron's awesome book Almost Dead last week and just finished The Giant's House by the lovely Elizabeth McCracken. Wow.  If you like Israeli fiction there is no excuse for not reading Gavron. It's a black comedy that knocked me off my feet. And McCracken's book was every bit the wonderful classic it's been billed as. Today for whatever time I have to read I'm going to settle into The Bone People, by Keri Hulme, which I started last week but only just. Last night I started The Sweet Hereafter, by Russell Banks, which I've been meaning to read forever. That's my theme for June- the "I've-been-meaning-to-forever" books. So far it's going well! I seem to have good taste when it comes to what to procrastinate on.

EDIT: THANK YOU to Cass who alerted me to free audiobook downloads from the Boston Public Library. Genius!

What are you reading today? Have a great Sunday! More Sunday Salon here.

14 comments:

ImageNations said...

I am still undecided when it comes to audio books. Don't know if I would have enough concentration to follow the story. However, I would one day try it out

Mystica said...

Audio books are not available here but I did listen to one on my flight back home! I did not enjoy it as much as I thought I would though.

Cass said...

Have you tried downloading audio books from the BPL website? It's a great service (and where I get most of my audio books).

Amy said...

I've been getting into audiobooks more and more. Still not completely sold but they are great for long drives especially. I really enjoyed Tayari Jones' Leaving Atlanta on audio, I'd recommend it if you need something new! I have a subscription with Audible which is another great place to get them.

bibliophiliac said...

In a library, but far from the books themselves? That's like working in a bakery, but far from the cupcakes themselves!

Anonymous said...

I don't know why but I've never been into audiobooks. However, once my wife and I did listen to a BBC radio drama of The Lord of the Rings on a trip to N.C. (from southeastern Pennsylvania). That was fun, but I don't know if I could take someone reading to me a book. I'd rather read it myself, I think.

gautami tripathy said...

I am not comfortable with audio books.

Here is my Sunday Salon post!

Anonymous said...

I am not an audio book fan. But, I do like my e-reader when traveling or when not wanting to have a hard copy book to store.

Zibilee said...

I have an on/off relationship with audiobooks, and sometimes have a hard time finding one that I can listen to all the way through and not get bored. I am doing a little better with them, but I am constantly amazed at those readers who can plow through a few audiobooks a week. Good luck with them!

bermudaonion said...

I love audiobooks and sometimes it seems like I have lots of listening time and other times it feels like I have none. I'm reading Folly Beach by Dorothea Benton Frank in preparation for her event here this week.

Kathleen said...

I'm glad you are enjoying your audiobooks. Hope you had a nice weekend!

Brandy said...

Biiiig fan of audio books here! What else would I do in a half-hour (each way) commute?

In addition to BPL, you can download audiobooks (and ebooks!) from the Minuteman libraries, too--just go to the catalog page and click the "Overdrive" logo at the bottom. It's not the easiest to navigate or use, but pretty smooth once you get the first set-up done.

caite said...

I have 'read' a few audio books recently, giving them a try after some past failures.
Sadly my county library has a fairly rotten selection.

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad you've become an audio book convert :)