Friday, June 29, 2012

I’m Trying Audiobooks. Again.

audiobook-2

I’m a reader. I love seeing words and taking my time with them. I like re-reading passages that I really love (this may be the reason that I can only finish two books a week). I’ve tried to get into audiobooks a few times but they did not work for me and honestly, I gave up on them very quickly

I work from home so I don’t have a commute. A lot of people, like my husband, listen to audiobooks in their car and love the experience. I always have at least one of my two children with me and since I spend my time with them, it’s hard to listen to audios at home as well. When I do have free time, the time I spend reading, I prefer to read an actual book than to listen to one.

Well, all that is about to change. Since we are expecting our third child in December, I know the little reading time that I have will be cut or eliminated altogether, at least for the first few months. I want to keep escaping into my books and of course, blogging about them and audiobooks are the best way that I can think of to do it.

I’m trying to incorporate audiobooks into my routine now so when December/January gets here, I’ll be accustomed to them. So instead of listening to music when I take my walks, I listen to my audiobook. I also started listening to them when I’m cleaning or doing chores around the house.  

bloodlines  clockworkangel enclave

I’m currently listening to Bloodlines from Richelle Mead and it’s very good! I also got Enclave by Ann Aguirre and Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare in audio format from my library. These are books that I have been wanting to read forever so I think this will be a good way to experience them.

Do you listen to audiobooks? If yes, when do you listen (in the car, at home?) Do you have any tips or suggestions for me on how I may be able to get more reading in after the new baby is born? Leave a comment, I would love to hear from you!

13 comments:

Annette Mills said...

I'm sure you will read less after the baby, but just enjoy what you do get to read. I listen to audiobooks in the car, but I have a very short commute, so it takes me forever. But that's OK. I usually listen to epic books that I probably would never get to in print. I think it will be a choice -- sleep or read-- for you for a while. Good luck. Enjoy your little ones -- mine are all grown and it went so fast!

Bekka said...

I've only ever listened to two audiobooks. Once while just BSing around the house, and another during a 24 hour bus ride. I know a lot of people who LOVE audiobooks, but I just can't get into them, really. Though I have to say, I did love Delirium by Lauren Oliver on audio - the narrator was amazing (I thought the print version was boring but the reader really brought it to life.)

Danny said...

No idea about the babytime.. but.. I LOVE audiobooks so so freaking much! So I listen in the car when going to work and at home when I do laundry and stuff:)

There are some phenomenal audiobooks so I hope you go one with them! :)

Beth S. said...

I listen to audiobooks whenever I have some sort of mindless task to do. Driving is the obvious one but also doing laundry, cooking dinner, taking the dogs for a walk...

What really helped increase my audiobook habit was loading books onto my iPhone so that they're always at my fingertips. If I get an audiobook that's a set of CDs from the library I'll rip them onto my iPhone and then DELETE them when I'm done (I don't want anyone to think I'm stealing material here. I don't keep them. I just store them in a more convenient device until I'm done with it).

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

We travel...and always listen to audio books! We love them..it makes the time go by faster!

Alexis @ Reflections of a Bookaholic said...

I listen in the car mostly. If a book is really good, I'll listen to it while I'm cooking or something like that.

I'm glad you are giving them another try. Audiobooks where a slow fit for me but I found that they can help get reading fun in when life gets crazy.

Getting Your Read On said...

I actually got an audio book that I REALLY wanted to read and told myself that I could only listen to it while I exercised. As soon as the book was done, so was my exercising. :) hee hee.

I also do audio books on road trips. One earbud in, one ear listening to the kids. Not ideal, but it helps the miles pass.

Katie said...

Oh my GOSH! CLOCKWORK ANGEL is one of the best books I've ever read. It just...wow. So glad you're finally getting to "read" that one. :)

I'm not a huge audio book fan because I have a hard time focusing. I'll forget what the reader just said.

But I think you can request audio books from publishers if you get really into them. Andye over at Reading Teen reviews audio books a lot!

kay - Infinite Shelf said...

I only recently got into audiobooks, after many unsuccessful tries, and now I can't go without them. I listen to them mostly while doing my chores around the house, and when listening to a great one, I'll even do cleaning and organizing I had been putting off for too long. As Beth said, I load them onto my phone so that I always have easy access to it. I put the phone on speaker so that I can listen without being encumbered by the headphones.

Meg @ A Bookish Affair said...

I really only started listening to audiobooks recently. I love listening to them in the gym and while cleaning. It helps to take the drudgery out of both events ;)

Truly Bookish said...

Thanks for the great advice you guys! I've started listening to my books while cooking and cleaning, sometimes with only one earbud in so I can listen out for the kids and so far, so good. It does make the time fly by so much faster!Also, I'm glad to know that I can request them for review. I just may do that!
NC

Tales of Whimsy said...

My daughter brought me to audios. Now I love them. When I do have a spare moment I catch up on my blog. Then I use chores, cooking, errands, and laundry time to listen to my audios. It works for me and I'm soooo hooked, I'm not sure I want to go back. We'll see. Enjoy!! :)

My advice, start with shorter ones and sample them on Audible first.

Good luck!

The library realllllllllly helps.

Darlene said...

BK (Before Kids), I was an avid reader and always had my nose in a book. From 2002 to 2009, I spent all my time reading to the kids and never had any "me" time to read adult literature. I read three books in about 7 years!! In 2010, a colleague recommended a book to me and the library had over 100 holds on it but the audio CDs were available. Since I worked part-time three days a week, I figured I could listen on the commute.

I was reluctant to try audiobooks because my mind tends to wander when listening to long passages, and oral comprehension in school was my least favourite subject! But I became hooked! Then I got an iPod for my birthday, and I listened to more books in two months than I read in the previous 7 years!!

I love audiobooks, and I can always find time each day to squeeze in listening time. I listen when I'm making supper, doing laundry, while making myself up after my shower, while walking or cycling, and whenever I am out in the car. I love my iPod!! I absolutely recommend listening to books to moms with young kids who can't find any sit-down alone time to read. I totally get that, because my life is like that. I know some people like to listen to audiobooks at bedtime, but I prefer to read a traditional book or something on my iPad at bedtime.

I also suffer from insomnia, and I am sometimes up during the night for two hours until I can fall back to sleep. I find listening to an audiobook can help pass the time instead of just tossing and turning. You'll probably be up with night-time feedings, so that could be another opportunity to listen to your books!

Congrats on your imminent arrival!!

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