Amanda and I have been reading the Mysterious Benedict Series** aloud. She had read the first two before (and yes Carrie, she loved them), but wanted me to read them. Since we try to have a read-aloud going most of the time, she suggested this one. The book is 500 pages, so I balked — for a long while. But then we started, and it was delightful. Because she had read it before, she didn’t mind our typically slow read-aloud pace of no more than 50 pages a week. I’m happy to say that we progressed through the second one rather quickly, and we are almost halfway through the third after only two weeks.
In addition to reading on her own, and having me read to her, she likes audiobooks, and frequently they are books she’s read before. And I get that.
Especially if it’s a great production, the audiobook is an entirely different experience. That’s one reason I enjoy audiobooks — the dramatic tension created as the story plays out — but there are other reasons, the same reason that kids, even tweens like my daughter Amanda, like being read to:
- Storytime evokes love — love that someone is willing to entertain you, even if it’s a voice coming from the earbuds into my head. I know without a doubt that me reading aloud to Amanda shows her that I still care about being involved in her life. It shows her that I am willing to put my time aside to share a book with her. For me to be able to enjoy a book without the complete focus that reading a book takes is a gift.
- Unlike reading a book with your eyes, if you are enjoying an audibook you can multi-task. I listen to audiobooks in the car while driving, but most often while I’m at home, doing housework or preparing meals. Amanda loves to multi-task by either having me read to her or her listening to an audiobook while she cleans her room, eats breakfast (a big read aloud time for us), unloads the dishwasher, or even does her homework (!?!).
If Nancy and I (I’ve written about audiobooks before) haven’t convinced you that you should give audiobooks a try, perhaps winning a free one will.
My Macmillan audio rep contacted me offering to give away a copy of the Fireworks over Toccoa audiobook when she saw that we were hosting the bookclub. I think that this would be a lovely story to be told — to listen to and absorb in that way. Click the link to listen to an excerpt, and leave a comment if you’d like to win a copy (U.S. addresses only). We’ll announce the winner on April 14.
**Carrie is giving away the entire set of 3 Mysterious Benedict Society novels at Reading to Know, so if you don’t own them you must check it out.
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Jennifer Donovan loves getting lost in a good book, whether she’s reading aloud to her kids, holding a book in hand, or listening to a professional recording. She blogs at Snapshot.
I love audiobooks! Please enter me.
I would love to win this. I have never had an audiobook before.
debp
[email protected]
Count me in!
janemaritz at yahoo dot com
I would like this.
Nice voice! The narrator can make or break an audio book despite a fantastic story. I’d love the chance to win!
I would love to listen to this audiobook. Please enter me in the giveaway.
Please count me in.
bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com
I would like to enjoy being read to.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
audiobooks are great! I love listening while driving.
I love to listen in the car. It makes traffic much easier to tolerate.
[email protected]
I love audio books and I heard such great things about this novel
I like to listen while I walk for excercise. gbloganx(AT)aol(DOT)com
Great for a road trip, would like to give this one a listen. Thanks.
I’d like to win this audiobook. I could listen to it while working in the garden or just relaxing on the back porch. Thanks.
I would love to win this audiobook
[email protected]
WHEN I EXERCISE I LIKE TO LISTEN TO AUDIO BOOKS.
I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS FOR MY COLLECTION.
I make my daily walking exercise fun by listening to audio books. This book sounds as if it could keep me walking for hours!!
sign me up
I would love to win this.
I listen to audio books in my car all the time, and I’d love to read this. Thank you for the chance to win.
I would love to spend some of my summer listenign to this
I LUUUV audiobooks and multitasking. So I would LUUUV to receive this one.
BTW, I signed up late to participate in the review mid-April, but the book hasn’t come yet.
Thanks for the giveaway- looks like a sweet story!
My eyes are not what they used to be and I can’t read very long before they blug up. The Audiobooks are just what I need. My libary has a big selection of them but… I have read most all of them because they are all old books. I have found out hearing them even if you red them is quite different. I would love to win this one. THank you
I would really enjoy these for the summer and lounging in the sun 🙂
I would love to try this book by audio.
I would love a chance to win. Thank you.
I was recently introduced to Audio books and love them…
Yes I’d like to win. And thank you for the opportunity.
i want to win one!
I spend almost two hours in my car a day driving back & forth to work. This would give me something to listen to.
This would be great for my commute to and from work
Another great giveaway, thanks for offering it!
I’d love to try this.
My family would love this. Thanks for the chance.
We love listening to audiobooks on car trips! Please enter me.
Another one with a 2hour plus commute, gotta try audiobooks.
I was just telling my granddaughter audio books would be great for her driving time.
My husband loves audiobooks. He never has any time to sit down and read a book.
I’d love to listen to this, thanks!
I’ve never had an audiobook before but would love the chance to try one!
I’m more of a paperback reader but audio books are starting to creep into my collection more and more…hopefully this one too.
I take audio books outside with me in the summer. I don’t worry about abusing a book and can watch the outdoors while I listen.
We heart audiobooks!
I’d love to win this! Hope your week is going well so far…. 🙂
I would love to win this book!
deb55106(at)gmail(dot)com
Sounds like a great set of books, thanks for the giveaway
sharr1226 at yahoo dot com
My mother is blind and needs some audiobooks to listen to.
Looks great! Thanks for the giveaway!
I’m listening to an audiobook right now. This one sounds good, I’d like to win it.