Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Crazy for Books

I'm currently in a book daze. Or is it craze? Maybe a book haze, since my head is almost always elsewhere when I'm in the middle of a book ... I know people talk about Crazy Cat Ladies (People), so I guess Crazy Book Ladies (People) is also a thing?

My daze/haze/craze started with a gift for a subscription to an audiobooks program, a form of "reading" that I detested before the pandemic. I'd been wanting to find better ways to spend my indoor winter-time at home other than relentlessly watching TV, or having nothing to do with my mind whilst I crocheted, so I tried a few free trials. I listened to Barack Obama narrating 'A Promised Land,' with a free trial, which was particularly awesome.

I found that it was very freeing. I could get my at-home, and running-the-household chores done whilst listening to a book at the same time. It felt like listening to an interesting talk, or drama, on the radio in the background. I can hang laundry, unpack the dishwasher and cook whilst advancing my story. Since I have a good set of headphones, I can also continue listening whilst I do the vacuuming! I can crochet endlessly without going nuts (though the jury is probably still out on that). I can play Scrabble on my computer whilst listening. 



Sure, sometimes I lose my concentration, but I just go back a little, something I'd have to do with a physical book I'd read silently to myself, anyway. There are also a few things I can't do whilst listening to an audiobook - writing my own stories, or blogging, folding loud paper bags, and running water in my sink.

A bonus for me is not having my eyes feel tired and strained if I read for a long time. (However, the converse is also true .. that an audiobook can sometimes put me to sleep, especially if for once, I'm not busy doing something with my hands, or if the narration is particularly hypnotic). And secondly, I can get the mundane stuff done whilst doing something interesting for myself at the same time. 

I'm not necessarily touting audiobooks as a 'must have,' but for me it's been a life-saver during the pandemic. I like "owning' these books, whilst not having to find space for them on a shelf, and feeling like I'm not a mindless consumer of resources.

I'm embarrassed to say, I haven't got into exploring our library's collection of audio books yet, but it's definitely on my 'to-do' list.











4 comments:

Wendy said...

Wonderful...the way you have focused your time during this time......as an aside...our library delivers and also has curbside pickup. You will be a genius by the end of the pandemic!

Debbie said...

Well do I know that you have focused your time on skill development during this time, too. :-)

Shelley Burbank said...

I've been borrowing ebooks from the library! I also enjoyed audio books on our x-country trip, but for the most part they put me to sleep. Still, my favorite way to read, by far, is a print book. Love the enthusiasm!

Debbie said...

I do love having a print book in my hand, too. It IS exclusive, though ... Nothing makes vacuuming better than listening to a book at the same time!