Monday, December 3, 2012

I love audiobooks

As a knitter, I always appreciate something to listen to while I work: live radio, podcasts, radio drama, book recordings, etc. And in the midst of Christmas knitting, it's something of a necessity. Lately, I've had the presence of mind to peruse the audiobooks on CD at our local library branch, as well as checking out the ones you can download from home. (I'm not sure how to refer to the material I've consumed- I heard a good book? I listened to a good book? I sort of read a good book?) I re-listened to The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, and laughed and cried at the usual parts. It was the first audiobook I ever downloaded, back in 2010, following a cottage weekend where we read it aloud in turns. I couldn't wait to go to the library, so I was delighted that I didn't have to! The people chosen to voice the various characters were excellent, and Isola Pribby has to be one of the quirkiest characters ever.

I've also recently listened to The Hiding Place, by Corrie ten Boom (thought-provoking and heartbreaking), and Tina Fey's Bossypants (funny, but perforated with unexpected profanity). I have two others waiting for me, one online and one on CD beside me: Ken Follett's Fall of Giants (which I've heard is good reading for those pining for the return of Downton Abbey), and Jane's Fame: How Jane Austen Conquered the World by Claire Harman. Finally, I've added The Headmaster's Wager by Vincent Lam to my online queue. Clearly, I have a thing for memoirs and historical fiction.

Sadly, no pictures of recently finished objects; these will follow in the New Year, ideally with the recipients in them. I'm planning another Year of No Yarn, which virtually guarantees that a close friend or relative will get married or have a baby. I mean, already Will & Kate have announced their pregnancy, and I only decided not to buy yarn in 2013 a few weeks ago!

Edited to add: The narrator of Fall of Giants also did the voice of Dawsey Adams in TGLPPPS! Very excited to hear more.

2 comments:

  1. Becky! I'm just catching up on your blog and I have just discovered audiobooks myself, this week. My mind-numbingly boring job has been getting to me and istening to music wasn't cutting it for me. I needed something more engaging. I too love historical fiction and would recommend giving Shanghai Girls and its sequel Dreams of Joy. No profanity is in either.

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  2. I was telling someone how I've started listening to audiobooks and she said that the Chronicles of Narnia were amazing as well. I've read the books so I may give them a listen too.

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