I'm trying, I really am

The beauty of listening to a book, as opposed to reading a book, is that listening to it is like listening to/watching a play. If the reader is good, you have different voices for different characters. The actions actually make sounds instead of just reading the words "he sneezed". You get the idea. The problem with listening to books, as opposed to reading books, is that if the reader sucks, forget it.

There are many books that I haven't been able to read because something about the story pulls me out too often. For example, when I tried to read THE DAVINCI CODE I couldn't. Too many words were in French and when I tried to sound them out, it pulled me out of the story. It's the same reason that I can't read the Kay Scarpetta books. I L O V E the Scarpetta series, but I can't read them. Without sounding like a complete idiot, the medical terminology pulls me out. They are not words I know so I have to stop and sound them out. (I swear, I'm not an idiot.) When I was reading LOVER MINE by J.R. Ward, I was pulled out every couple of chapters when she changed eras. These are some of things that pull me out of books. The other reason I listen to a book instead of reading it is if I have problems getting through it.

My daughter and a handful of friends have been telling me how completely wonderful the TWILIGHT series is. DD has read the series so many times I'm sure she can repeat it back to me from memory. I read all the Harry Potter books and I enjoy Meg Cabot and Gena Showalter's YA books, so it's not a YA thing. We all know I love paranormal so that's not it, I've just never had the inclination to read them.

I decided to give them a shot, I liked the movie, why not the book, so I picked up my daughter's copy of TWILIGHT. I read about a chapter and put it down. I never picked it back up. Why? I dunno. It didn't hold my interest. The first line is a grabber, "I'd never given much thought to how I would die..." it grabs you doesn't it? That was it though. The first chapter and I gave up.

I have decided to give TWILIGHT another chance. I've really enjoyed the movies, although Robert Pattinson is the worst Edward ever. I love him as an actor, but not as Edward. I watch the movies and wonder why Bella is such an idiot and doesn't just take up with that smokin' hot, barely legal werewolf. I mean seriously? My friends all assure me that Edward is awesome in the books. I want to see that for myself, so I've picked up the book on CD.

Back to the beginning of this blog. The reader of a book on CD is everything. This girl, who reads this book, is not. Don't get me wrong, she doesn't stutter, she doesn't whistle her S's or anything obnoxious like that. She reads the book. I could do that. I picture this girl sitting in a chair reading to me, like I used to do for my kids when they were younger. She does put emotion into the reading, but that's just not enough.

I am determined to get through this book. I want to get through this book. Wish me luck!

Audio Books

The way my summer has been going I'm working a ton of hours, hence the lack of blogging and LSM Mondays, so my reading time for hold it in your hand books has seriously diminished. I've been getting my book fix by listening to audio books and have discovered a lot of new to me authors thanks to my neighbor at work who also listens to audio books. I've enjoyed books by Lisa Kleypas (Blue Eyed Devil) who I have included all her titles in my TBR pile, Greg Iles (24 Hours) whose suspense is just amazing, and Mark Gimenez (The Abduction) who I am currently enjoying.

Here's the problem that I'm running into, not every author gets audio books. There are a lot of authors who have been recommended to me by all of you and other readers that are not available as audio books. Elisabeth Naughton, Tara Janzen, Lori Handeland, Anne Stuart (can you believe it?), Sarah Mayberry, Lori Foster, the list goes on and on of authors who are not available as audio books. What's a reader to do? Who do you think is in charge of making these decisions? I'd write to my congressman but I don't think he gets a say and I don't think he'd care.

I know a lot of you don't listen to audio books, but those of you who do, any recommendations of authors? I could always use a few more authors to read, er, listen to.

Happy Friday Eve my friends.