You know how reading a great book can make you feel like you’ve snuck in a little something extra for yourself in the middle of an otherwise hectic day, hectic week?
Finding the time to sit down with a book on a regular day in this phase of my life isn’t something that often happens, short of vacations. Can’t read a book while I’m driving, running or grocery shopping. But I can listen to someone read the book to me.
A while back I discovered audible.com and started downloading books onto my iPhone which I always have with me. I began listening in the car on the way to pick up my girls from school or on runs, on bike rides, the elliptical, and yes, while grocery shopping.
The first was Kathryn Stockett’s The Help which I started on a drive to Nashville to do some writing and demos. The story was so riveting, the voices of the characters so real that I kept headphones around my neck for most of the trip just so I could snatch any free minute to sneak in a listen.
After that, I was hooked to the whole audio experience, and pretty soon, I found I was back to devouring books the way I used to be able to, before children, before my life took on its present responsibility level.
And the great thing about it is it feels the same to me. That story fix. That wonderful feeling of getting to know characters and not being able to wait to find out what they’re going to do next or what their fate will be. At first, it was almost like getting away with something. I’m not supposed to have time to read. I have too many other things to do. But actually, I do have time. Nooks and crannies time – which add up to make me what I’ve always been: an avid reader.
Tidbits and Nuggets: The Obvious and the Not So Much 