I listen to books. I hate READING - so the idea of reading for fun is anything but. I have a reading disability- which I can thankfully balance by also being an auditory processor- thank GOD. I have fallen in love with listening to books. I can so vividly place myself inside the story; like it's a move and I'm on set real time as they are describing the world and moment around me. I can listen to a good story for hours without needing a break. In 2023 I set a goal for myself to LISTEN to 365 hours of books by the end of the year. As I am writing this in February I am on track to hit that goal by the end of the school year. I average 2.5 hours a day on week days and 6 hours a day on weekends. As a teacher my weekends are me time- but instead of my normal be lazy and watch trashy tv- I am now, being lazy- listening to a good story or 4 and coloring or shopping for groceries online. I'm still not "productive" on the weekends, but I'm not a waste either- I am growing.
I listen to most books between 1.2 and 1.4 speed- I find the pauses in people's speech to be distracting and I'd rather they not be there. I did have to slow down Different not Less to 1.0 as she like me is Autistic and doesn't pause.
When I had the goal of doing 365 hours for the year I thought I'd do 1 blog post for the year, maybe 2, but as I sit here taking a break from story number 19- I realize that would be too much to process. So now I plan to talk about 20ish at a time. Some are novels, some are short stories, some are collections of information, there is mostly fiction, but some non-fiction as well. I have added the amazon links for all of these, because I use Audible- but if you are a reader please use local book stores or libraries when you can.
1. Spare By Harry Duke of Sussex - The one that started it all. I so badly wanted to know his side, and listening to him read it gave me a joy that has continued long beyond his book. My skill for placing myself in the space being described was both a joy and a bit scary in this book- which is written as vignettes. I realize there is a side to this story we will never hear, because of the barriers and consequences to those who may wish to tell it- namely those in direct line to the thrown- but it was nice- as someone who grew up seeing all the headlines to hear his perspective.
2. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo By Taylor Jenkins Reid- The first of many books I have listened to by this author- and more importantly this narrator-whose voice has brought me into books in new and wonderful ways. That's the hard part about listening to books- you have to be able to not just tolerate but enjoy the voice. Within the book there is a journalist and Evelyn- when the journalist is in her own head, I find myself not enjoying the story- but Evelyn's story is a joy filled with heartache and passion and accepting ones self. Ms. Reid creates amazing stories and I'm happy to have found her.
3. Evidence of the Affair By Taylor Jenkins Reid- This short story is written entirely through letters of 2 spouses who are on the outside of an affair between their partners.
4. Talking While Female: And other dangerous acts by Teatro Luna I missed about 1/6th of this story because I do not speak Spanish- but I don't think there is a woman alive who could not relate to at least one of the short story entries. The experiences of mental health, intimacy, abuse, and women's health, cross cultural, racial and ethnic lines.
5. Confessions of a Prairie Bitch by Alison Arngrim. In her memoir Alison shares the not so pretty family life that lead her to find a home in Little House on the Prairie. A home which once gone she longed for. A created family that would help her find her purpose in life long after the cameras stopped rolling.
6. Mrs. Wickham by Sarah Page follows the life of Lydia Bennet (Youngest sister of Lizzie from Pride and Prejudice) It's a piece about coming into ones own and learning what she can and should ask for from her partner and what she can do herself.
7. The Natural World of Winnie-The-Pooh by Kathryn Aalto- If you don't know me personally you would not know that I love all things Winnie-the-Pooh. Eeyore is my spirit animal and his tail is tattooed on my leg. I have a band of stuffed animals that take the place of emotional support animals because I am allergic to all things with fur- but need something to pet and squeeze and I get anxious- which is most of the time. It was interesting to place myself in the experience of being in the place that inspired the 100 acre woods of my childhood tales and be able to imagine being there. The lovely thing is that this is a travel guide or could be used as such and I can go there some day.
8. A Mind of Her Own by Paul McLain. Madame Curie when she was just Marie Sklodowska.
9.. Agent 355 by Marie Benedict is a short story about a possible answer to who the fem fatale of the Culper Ring during the American Revolution could have been. This fictionalized account of the events brings excitement and intrigue to this point in our country's history.
10 and 11. Rivals- Books 1 and 2 by Scott McCormick- Looks at 4 pairings of "enemies" throughout history. Each pairing is about 45 minutes long and provides a brief introduction and look into their conflicts throughout time. Would be great for car rides with kids as everyone will learn something and you may discover a topic worth investigating further.
12. Smoke Signals by Marie Benedict- yes the same as Agent 355- is a quick commute length listen provides a fictionalized account of a famous author becoming intertwined with historic events of WW2 in the UK.
13. Starchild by Camille Acker. Because there is no one way to grieve.
14.Different Not Less by Chloe Hayden combines memoir with self-help book for us Neurodivergent folks.
15. Growing up Wizard by Tom Felton - Is another memoir where the magic we see on screen does not always mean reality is lovely. We are human and the human experience doesn't really care who you are. There were some lovely stories and behind the scenes thoughts about the first books that taught me to love books and the movies that have brought me so much joy with friends throughout the years. But in the end- we are all just human trying to find our way- Magic or not.
16. One True Loves By Taylor Jenkins Reid. When you find yourself yelling at an audio book on the car ride into work and then again on the way home- you know they've got their claws into you. I could not put this down- I was invested and in the end I was happy.
17. Women's War by Stephanie McCurry looks at 3 experiences of women during the Civil War in not so United States: 1) Women as rebels themselves and the need to redefine their role in active warfare 2) The role and legal ramifications of the Black Soldiers Wife both during and after the war and 3) the role and experience of the white southern women during reconstruction.
18. After I Do By Taylor Jenkins Reid. Do not read this book when fighting with your spouse. It will cause you to feel all the feelings so much bigger- just don't do it. Wait til life is good or feel free to read if you are single whenever. Marriage isn't easy- the point is to not give up when it's hard.
19. Alone with the Stars by David Gillham is a fictionalized account of what may have happened to Amelia Earhart and the impact it had on a young girl's life. Sweet and charming short listen.
I think I will stop here for this one. I have other books I've started and not finished because they were that bad- My goal for December is to "Finish bad books". I've also got a few I'm currently working on, but they can go on the next post. As of today I've listened to 4 Days 15 hours and 41 minutes or 111.68 hours of books.
Signing off for now
-C
