Audio Week! ~ your audiobook year ~

Jen at Devourer of Books asks, "Are you new to audiobooks in the last year? Have you been listening to them forever but discovered something new this year? Favorite titles? New times/places to listen? This is your chance to introduce yourself and your general listening experience."

I love this question because I FINALLY have something to say about the topic! You see prior to this year I didn't really **get** audiobooks (and admittedly I'm still learning the ins and outs of them) but I got opinions!  Which is, by far, something that I couldn't have said a couple of years ago.


  
The Resistance

Part of where my resistance to audios laid in two different traits of my lifestyle.  One, I'm pretty darn lazy when it comes to updating my comp equipment.  In fact, I think that there's an IPhone update reminder on my phone that's been there for a few weeks.  *shrug* It just doesn't occur to me to plug it into my computer and go threw the whole process.  For obvs reason my laziness is a problem when it comes to putting audios on my phone.  I suppose I could use an app, but I've found that most of the free audios (classic reads) the narrators are B.O.R.I.N.G. and they make me want to unplug.  Secondly, my anti-audio status had to do with it just being inconvenient.   I've observed others and their audio usage and for the most part it's in commute.  Well, folks, I'm one of those lucky ducks who lives less than five minutes from my work.  Good for the gas, bad for those occasions when students want to come over to visit. 

Chachahchachanges


Then I started working out.  And nope, it's not what you think...I don't listen to audiobooks while working out.  I very much need music and energy and although there are some ABs that of course compel me to listen longer, it just doesn't work with activity.  BUT, the place where I go to workout is about twenty minutes away.  I know, I know, there are other places closer but I totally dig the people there and the energy is warm and positive and I figure what the heck, it's not like I'm driving far for work.  Like my tangent didn't you?  Let me get back to audiobooks.  So NOW I have all of this time in the car that I normally wouldn't get. And sure I can listen to music but I'm greedy when it comes to books. There's never enough time as far as I'm concerned and so many folks that I adore in the blogosphere claim ABs are the answer. *fist pump*

The Other Side

I was skeptical. I admit it.  I didn't know how I would take to this medium.  I'm a wanderer (obvs with my sidetracked convos) and how horrible would it be to zone out and miss a critical element in the book, right?  Nightmare much?  But with a flippant, "what the heck", I checked out The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairlyland in a Ship of Her Own Making.  I wanted something small and not intimidating.  Makes sense to start off with a raved and beloved children's book.

And ya'll...it was fantastic.  Sure, I totally need to get my hands on a physical copy because there were sooooo many swoon worthy parts that I want to go back to again and again...but how great was it that I didn't want to get out of my car?!  

I didn't stop there.  I plunged into adultness and listened to One Day and Ready Player One as well.  This is when I realized that narrators - good ones - are imperative.  I was NOT a fan of One Day.  In fact, the only reason why I didn't eject that sucker from my cd player and chuck it out on the street (excluding that it was the library's) is owed completely to the narrators.  They were exquisite. 

So yeah, it's official.  I'm a cheerleader for the ABs.  So far I've got nearly six under my belt AAAANNND I have a favorite narrator.  I know!  Already!  Khristine Hvam, I adore you!