Audiobooks

Jul 23

TerrieUncategorized No Comments

Heather gave me this assignment:  talk about audio books vs reading a book so here goes:

I used to have a part time job where we weren’t allowed to talk (at all!) and all we could do was sit there and type zip codes and such into a computer from a scanned piece of mail (of course this part time job was for the postal service) The only form of entertainment allowed was listening to headphones and hence the introduction of audiobooks in my life…

Do any of you enjoy audiobooks? I do (Heather does not) I think that when there is a good narrator (and you’re listening to a good story) it can be quite entertaining. It is not exactly the same experience as reading a book but I think that is okay. I read when it is possible, but when it’s not and I want something to entertain my brain that is when I am happy for audiobooks! Here are some perfect moments to listening to stories:

  • Driving in a car (usually a long trip, especially when you are by yourself)
  • Plane rides
  • Chores around the house like washing dishes and such
  • Working that job for the postal service

I have tried listening while doing other tasks and it hasn’t worked out so well, here are the failed attempts:

  • While watching TV
  • While chatting online
  • While surfing the internet

I guess your brain can only pay attention to one story at a time… so some of the stories I tried listening to, I thought in the end “I don’t think that was a very good story” but turns out I just didn’t really get any of the story. I will have to start some of those ones over!

Another think I like about audiobooks is that I can download them from my library website for free (and keep them on my mp3 player for up to 21 days) and it saves me an actual trip to the library. Yay! Of course they are way too expensive to buy.

For those of you with kids… I discovered that giving them exposure to audiobooks can help them learn! They can be used to:

  • Introduce students to books above their reading level
  • Model good interpretive reading
  • Teach critical listening
  • Highlight the humor in books
  • Introduce new genres that students might not otherwise consider
  • Introduce new vocabulary or difficult proper names or locales
  • Sidestep unfamiliar dialects or accents, Old English, and old-fashioned literary styles
  • Provide a read-aloud model
  • Provide a bridge to important topics of discussion for parents and children who can listen together while commuting to sporting events, music lessons, or on vacations
  • Recapture “the essence and the delights of hearing stories beautifully told by extraordinarily talented storytellers” (Baskin & Harris, 1995, p. 376)

Um… that’s all I have! Thank you for your time and consideration.

There have been a few…..

Apr 22

Rob HarrisUncategorized , , , 1 Comment

books that I can now add to my read list. Some were a bit tear jerky, some had a few swears, some had battles betwixt good and evil….mostly good won out.

So I am lucky enough to have Aimee as a friend who continually supplies me with delicious reads

 {unless she’s pregnant then all the reads are about violent murderers}

 and I digest each read as quickly as I am able, but not the murdery ones. Last night after finishing Twenties Girl I had crazy dreams of ghosts and necklaces and flapper dresses……if you can dismiss the large amount of swears the book is delightful.

I want it to be made into a movie so what happens in my brain while I read will be shown on the big screen, it would translate well.

Read it and lets start discussing cast members, shall we?

I have also started The Ranger Apprentice series. Firstly, I LOVE books with sequels, the more the better. Secondly, I like like the whole fantasy genre, It makes for good brain candy. This series is one I have high hopes for, there are currently 5 books in the series and I am not certain if its over with those five….but I can’t hardly wait to devour the other four.

Your mom called.

~not really, but sometimes when I am stuck for an appropriate segue into the next topic my brain wishes to delve into, I can only think of things your mom does. It’s a sickness. I think it might be Terrie’s fault~

Speaking of Terrie {dig the segue way there?} She lent me two delicious reads, both of which I completely devoured, as in I wanted to jump inside and be a part of the worlds the authors invented. First I read {without remembering that Terrie told me it was the lesser loved story} Hush, Hush. It could be a close world to City of Bones….

I liked it overall, but not at first, I wanted the mysterious stranger to be more like Edward of Twilight. Why?……. I have no idea, perhaps because its similar in a few points. But in the end I loved all the characters, even the ones I was supposed to hate, and I loved them because the author was successful in making me hate them so thoroughly.

Second up from the Terrie library, Shiver. Ok here’s the deal with this one. I was frustrated almost the entire book. It seemed like there were continual interruptions to the story.

How does that make sense?

It doesn’t.

 As soon and I realized that in my mind I was wanting to push the story into a different direction I had to mentally reset and allow the author to present their own story. I hate when I read something and think “I would have written it so differently” , its pointless, it isn’t my brain child and I DID choose to read someone else’s story, it doesn’t make sense to try to boss it around.  I will try to keep that in mind for future reads. All around  there are some very sweet moments in this book that made my little heart go pitter patter a teensy bit, It’s a thumbs up.

Ohhh and speaking of sweet reads, there is a book that rolls my love of all things WW ll and lovey mush into one. You must read The Morning Gift. Oh my goodness, I really loved this book………….read it, please, and lets all shed a few happy tears and discuss.

I love books, I am currently anticipating the arrival of our May selection Cutting Stone. It sounds good, thanks for the intriguing selection Carlene.

Please share what other books you have had a chance to read lately. I am always on the lookout for another delightful read.

 

Oh I just about forgot, on the drive around San Francisco we listened to the audio book The BFG {or Big Friendly Giant} its a children’s book and it was a bit magical in its silliness. I loved the language and I also loved that the BFG continually says “Am I right or am I left” as in right or wrong. Seriously the language is delightful and the reader on the audio book is awesomely funny. Which weirdly reminds me of driving to San Francisco.  Reaching the first toll bridge we came to a toll bridge worker lady that was dancing and singing, it was awesome and she was so happy.

And she shouted for us to “Praise Jesus” which is  good advice, always.

on that note, This post is over. 

You’re Invited

Feb 21

HeatherUncategorized , , , No Comments

When Terrie and Heather decide to do something collaboratively, we fancify the process and usually end up with something that is amazing…..even if we are the only ones that think so. Starting this online book club is basically the most rockstar idea we’ve ever come up with {well not so much, but its awesome} and we want the world to bask in the glory that is our brain child.

 

We like books.

 

We like to talk about books.

We live in different states.

 

Thus our online book club is born………….please enjoy the following message, brought to you by THE creators…..annnnnddd….go..

 

 Terrie:  i will start out the intro and then you do a sentence then me then you then me then you etc…
here is how it will start
“here ye here ye…”    your turn

Heather:  in order to form a more perfect bookclub
 Terrie:  stoopit ha ha ha ha
Heather:  you llove it

Heather:  your turn
 Terrie:  we formed this one
Heather:  ,because we all live many leagues away from one another………
 Terrie:  and we all know how to use the interbet
net
 Heather:  {well most of us do} and we like technology….

 Terrie:  and we like to read books and talk about them
Heather:  and always accidentally read  the same books….so decided we may as well do it intentionally……

 Terrie:  so that is why we formed this club called “book clubbing around” and invited you to be in it too.
 Heather:  and the end

 Terrie:  ok type it all up
 Heather:  ok i will do it fancy

And I did…. and you joined…. and you have love.