Books on Tape

I never really understood books on tape. I figured it was for people with poor vision, who couldn't read. Because who would want to be reading a story, and unable to easily flip back & forth (for clarifications), or be slowed to the pace of someone talking. I mean, I read about 450 wpm, and can eat up a 400 pg book in half a day or so. And books on tape are read at about 150-160 wpm, which is about 2/3 slower. Meaning a book that would take me 4-5 hours to read? 12-15 hours on tape.

So why would I want to spend all that time? When I could cut it by 66%?

Well, I drive to work 35 minutes each way. And I like to sit on the porch at night and slowly deep water my strawberry pot, as I sip a beer and enjoy the sun on my face (note: we've only had sun the last 4 days, in the afternoons Fri-Sat, and all day Sun-Mon. ). Maybe June-uary really *is* gone. And I've been really wanting to re-read Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight" series, as a new book is coming out in August. And I got the first two books at the library, and the wait is long, and I had an Audible account I'd forgotten about, with 12 credits about to expire... so I got them on tape.

So how long do they take each? "Twilight," "Blue Moon," & "Eclipse" take about 14-15 hours each. On digital media.

But I found it strangely relaxing. It's something I can't rush through, that I can enjoy while I'm driving to work, soaking in the tub, watering my strawberry, lolling in the sun like a big fat cat.

The problem? I thought I'd do it occasionally, in the car, or maybe if I ever started walking again. But I find I want to find out what comes next, so I listen to it a lot. And that is taking me away from my reading, and I really, REALLY want to hit 75 books read this year. I was shooting for 100, but I've got to rethink, because it's just over 1/2 way through the year, & I'm only on #37... although I've read almost 130 magazines (14K pgs), too.

Which means I'm so far behind on anything related to TV, or the internet, or even my e-mail, that it isn't funny.

There isn't enough time in the day...

So, does anyone else listen to books on tape (CD/iPod/etc)?

Books on Tape

I never really understood books on tape. I figured it was for people with poor vision, who couldn't read. Because who would want to be reading a story, and unable to easily flip back & forth (for clarifications), or be slowed to the pace of someone talking. I mean, I read about 450 wpm, and can eat up a 400 pg book in half a day or so. And books on tape are read at about 150-160 wpm, which is about 2/3 slower. Meaning a book that would take me 4-5 hours to read? 12-15 hours on tape.

So why would I want to spend all that time? When I could cut it by 66%?

Well, I drive to work 35 minutes each way. And I like to sit on the porch at night and slowly deep water my strawberry pot, as I sip a beer and enjoy the sun on my face (note: we've only had sun the last 4 days, in the afternoons Fri-Sat, and all day Sun-Mon. ). Maybe June-uary really *is* gone. And I've been really wanting to re-read Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight" series, as a new book is coming out in August. And I got the first two books at the library, and the wait is long, and I had an Audible account I'd forgotten about, with 12 credits about to expire... so I got them on tape.

So how long do they take each? "Twilight," "Blue Moon," & "Eclipse" take about 14-15 hours each. On digital media.

But I found it strangely relaxing. It's something I can't rush through, that I can enjoy while I'm driving to work, soaking in the tub, watering my strawberry, lolling in the sun like a big fat cat.

The problem? I thought I'd do it occasionally, in the car, or maybe if I ever started walking again. But I find I want to find out what comes next, so I listen to it a lot. And that is taking me away from my reading, and I really, REALLY want to hit 75 books read this year. I was shooting for 100, but I've got to rethink, because it's just over 1/2 way through the year, & I'm only on #37... although I've read almost 130 magazines (14K pgs), too.

Which means I'm so far behind on anything related to TV, or the internet, or even my e-mail, that it isn't funny.

There isn't enough time in the day...

So, does anyone else listen to books on tape (CD/iPod/etc)?