In which our heroine rediscovers audiobooks

Yesterday I talked about eBooks, today it's audio books, which I can also listen to on my iPhone. When I was little I loved being read to, and when we were dating DH read "The Last Unicorn" to me, though he's never read to me since. You'd think I'd love audiobooks, but somehow live reading is more magical. Or perhaps they were ruined for me when I was forced to listen to the super uplifting "Angela's Ashes" on a family road trip to Yellowstone and back (that's a painful two day drive, folks).

I've rediscovered audiobooks after a long break. These days I read in little fits and starts. In my permanently sleep-deprived state, my eyelids are often too heavy for such a silly expense of energy. Enter audiobooks. I find them almost prohibitively expensive, but fortunately my library has an excellent selection.

Currently I'm listening to "The Demon's Lexicon" by Sarah Rees Brennan, which I first heard about in the DABWAHA tournament this year. Next up: "Devil's Kiss" by Sarwat Chadda, "Airman" by Eoin Colfer, and "Marked" by P.C. & Kristin Cast. "Hush Hush," another DABWAHA recommendation, is on hold for me.

The experience of listening to books is quite different from reading them. I tend to gulp books, gobbling them down without noticing the nuances of language or appreciating the many layers of character and plot. Listening to books forces me to slow down, to pay attention, to savor the richness and color and spice. Books become more of an art form, and less a rush of information. A glass of fine wine instead of a quick and dirty shot. Sometimes I lack the patience to finish. Sometimes I find books should be seen and not heard (certain Regency romances read aloud by a male with love scenes that go on for ten pages or more come to mind). But a good book will keep me hooked for hours.

Do you listen to audiobooks? Which have been your favorite? I loved the Harry Potter audiobooks. The narrator was excellent.