Audio Books | These are a few of my favorite things {Favorite Friday}

Have you heard of Audible.com? They have become one of my favorite addictions lately.

Totally upfront and honest here… I have a hard time finding time to read. I have to force myself to relax and sit to read a book. When I was younger all I did was read. There wasn’t much else to do… no phones, computers, or technology to get in the way of reading. I would read in the car, at my grandparents house, when I got home. I LOVED a good book. But when I got older and life got crazier, and computers took and consumed life, and facebook took my freetime, I stopped reading. There was a period in my life for probably almost 10 years that I just never took the time to do it. Sad isn’t it? Reading is so good!!

A couple of years ago I was at a conference and sharing a room with someone who I didn’t know. We started talking and she told me that she reads every night and always is reading. I asked her how she found the time and she said she just made time. She then told me that when she color corrects and does mindless computer tasks instead of watching TV she listens to an audio book. I was intrigued. I am not one who can watch a movie while I edit because I want to watch it, but a book on audio… that might work!!

I decided to look into audio books. I knew that in the past they had been boring and I wasn’t interested in listening to some boring person read a book to me, but I decided to give it a try to see if things had changed. So I wandered upon Audible.com and downloaded a book. It was great because it just downloaded onto my computer (no more CD’s that I have to carry around with me). I was able to have it on my phone, which goes everywhere with me, and when I was in the car or editing I would listen. It was AMAZING. I got hooked and addicted. The people who were reading were using different voices for different characters and it was like watching the movie, but in my head.

One of my favorite books that I have listened to is “The Help”. They got 5 different people to read the different parts, so it truly was an amazing experience.

I signed up for their membership and just started downloading books that I had been recomended, always wanted to read, or just felt like listening too. I actually got through editing quicker too because I didn’t get distracted with my own mind thinking of other things to do.

The Iphone has an app that I use now to listen to my books, which tracks how long I listen and it rewards you with Badges and Levels. I know… I know… it’s kinda silly… but my husband and I now are competing to see who can get the most badges and listening stats… for awhile I was doing so much better, but since he has a 45 minute commute each way every day he’s starting to go through these books way faster than me:)

I have also started reading again since i’ve started listening to books. I’m still able to do more listening, but it’s good to cuddle up to a good book too and do nothing but sit there and read. I really hope that our kids grow up understanding how amazing books really are. I hope they never die. A book makes your imagination run and helps slow things down. It’s a good thing.

So, my question to you on this Favorite Friday is…. what are some of your favorite books?? Let’s compile a list and share the reading.