I use to read all the time as a kid. I remember practically living at the library sometimes. After school, twice a week, I would go to the public library next to my school and hang out until dance class started. I was constantly checking out books. There were times I would read whole series. Baby-sitters Club, Sweet Valley Twins, American Girl books, Boxcar Children, etc.
I grew up before the internet and cell phones. Books transported me to another world or helped me use my imagination. My dad even built me a bookshelf to keep all my books. Our boys each have one of their own now too.
Since having babies and now busy little boys, I had gotten away from reading. I had been working full time when I had our oldest and just didn’t have the time to read. I wanted to though. I had stacks of books that I had fully intended on reading.
Two years ago, I got hooked on the TV show Outlander and decided to start reading the books. I ended up reading all of them (they are 900+ pages). Some of them I ended up having to get the audiobook and consume them that way. This paved the way for me to start ‘reading’ books. Last year, I hit my goal of 10 books in 2018. This year I made the same goal but I will certainly blow past that. I am already six books in.
Audiobooks are the way to go
As much as I love a good book in my hand, time and demands don’t always allow. I am promise you, audiobooks are just as good and can be consumed faster. Reading an actual book was not going to work for my husband either. He has a 30 minute commute to work each way. We decided an Audible membership would be the way to go.
If you can’t afford an Audible membership, I also use the app Hoopla, which is like a library loan service through an app (check if your local library participates). You will need your library card number to start using the service. They don’t have every book available, but they have a lot of audiobooks (and are adding more everyday). Check at your local library as to which library app they use. My county library system uses Overdrive and Libby. I can’t get very many audiobooks on those apps but they have thousands of ebooks as well.
There’s always the traditional book or ebook through things like Kindle. However, if you can’t afford to purchase a book, check your local library system. My local library has tons of brand new books. For some there is a wait list for, but they are usually available pretty quickly since there are several copies. The way my library system works, it always me to go online and look up the book or even dvd I want and request it. Then, my town library will send me an email when it’s available to pick up.
I am lucky enough that I can listen to podcasts and audiobooks while I work. I am able to multitask and consume the books content via audio. Since I work from home now, i don’t have the ‘luxury’ of listening while I drive, however, I will get some listening in when I run errands by myself. I know some friends who listen while they shop. I have been known to do that on occasion as well. Grocery shopping is stressful for me and this definitely helps!
Most books I can listen to while my kids are in the car with me. One time, I got so into a book (Love’s Reckoning by Laura Frantz) that I popped on my bluetooth headphones and listened to it while doing my chores around the house. That gives new meaning to it was so good, I couldn’t ‘put it down’.
Set some reading goals
You know how last year I set a goal to read 10 books in 2018? Well I set that goal for myself this year as well. Three months in, I’m happy to report- 9 books read! I just started my 10th book! I’m going to hit my goal in the first quarter of the year! I can only attribute hitting that goal to a bulk of my books being the audio version. I think next year I’m going to make my goal 15 books.
Here are my completed books so far. Keep in mind not all these were audio:
- Vegetable Gardening the Colonial Williamsburg Way
- Outlander
- Cozy Minimalist
- A Bound Heart
- The Year of Living Danishly
- Home Body
- Love’s Reckoning
- Girl, Stop Apologizing
- Love’s Awakening
Still not convinced audiobooks are as good as reading an actual book? Check out this great article from Time.
Do you love audiobooks? Does this peak your interest in listening to audiobooks? Let me know some of your favorite