Ode to the Audiobook

This  Ode to the Audiobook perfectly describes my addiction. I may forget to take my cell phone, I may forget to lock my door, I may even forget to put on real shoes when I go out to do errands, but I never forget my audiobook! Most of the time I get my chores & errands done while I'm in another world.

This past week I was still in the world of Maisie Dobbs.  So far I have heard four books from the series, the first 4 actually.   I heard Messenger of Truth (4th in the series). This book shows how Maisie has grown both professionally and personally.  In the midst of solving two mysteries, Maisie realizes that her independence and her work are more important than personal relationships and she ends her romantic relationship with Andrew Dean.  She always seems to get involved with a mystery other than the one she's paid to solve.  I enjoyed reading Jacqueline Winspear's blog Maisie Dobbs - Inspiration from an Extrardinary Generation.

The last Maisie Dobbs book I heard was the second in the series Birds of a Feather.  This one is set in the spring of 1930.  Maisie has an office and an assistant, Billy Beale.  She has been summoned to find a wealthy heiress who has disappeared.  Three women who were friends of the runaway woman are dead, apparently all killed by the same person who left a white feather at the murder scene.  Maisie solves the crimes and finds the heiress by using her powers of observation and meditation.  I highly recommend the Maisie Dobbs series to anyone who loves a strong female protagonist and a good mystery without blood and violence. 

I have now heard three different narrators and I'm not sure who is my favorite.  I really liked them all but Kim Hicks who narrated Birds of a Feather might be my favorite.

My mp3 player keeps skipping tracks and causing me to utter words I don't say in public.  I can't afford another right now but I've been researching to see what brand I want next.  So far I've only used Creative products and have been happy for the most part but I'd hate to have a temper tantrum and stomp it because it failed me at a crucial moment.   I really wouldn't do that, or would I?

I just finished listening to Dear John.  While I wished it had a happier ending, what could I expect from the title?  It was a bittersweet ending and one I could see coming but enjoyed the story anyway.  Nicholas Sparks really knows how to write a love story.

The title brought back memories.  I could remember the radio hung on the wall when I was a child.  My Daddy loved music and the radio would play into the night while we were falling off to sleep.  Dear John sang by Ferlin Husky and Jean Shepard was one of my favorites. 

The story brought back memories too.  Like Savannah, I survived a time when the man I loved was away in Vietnam and Okinawa.   As I heard John and Savannah's story, feelings came flooding back and I wish so much that I had kept those letters.  I can't remember why I didn't. He didn't keep mine either. 

Now I really want to see the movie.  I am getting so behind on movies I want to see because I heard the book first.  I guess I'll have to sign up for Netflix DVDs so I can catch up.

I enjoyed reading this interview of Nicholas Sparks

I wanted something different for my next listen so I chose the first in the Maisie Dobbs series. The story takes place in London.  I love anything British so I'm looking forward to this one.

I'm an addict

I love to listen to audio books!  I have always loved good fiction and now I have a way to enjoy a good book while I'm doing other things.  Mowing the lawn is such a pleasure while I'm walking The Green Mile with John Coffy or confronting a fugitive with Stephanie Plum or experiencing The Hunger Games with Katniss Everdeen.

I like to hear the book before I watch the movie so I can compare.  I saw The Green Mile a long time ago and now want to see it again since i recently heard it.  I have not seen One For the Money yet but I'm so looking forward to it.  Recently I heard The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks and I'm looking forward to that movie as well. 

My name is Judy and I'm an audio book addict but I'm not trying to cure my addiction.  I just want to connect with others who share it. 

Right now I'm listening to Dear John by Nicholas Sparks.

So, what are you listening to?