I talk to people about books a lot. I usually ask what they're reading or what they've read recently that they really enjoyed or would recommend. One thing I've learned is that people are not only are reading books, quite often they are listening to them. Mostly it seems that is due to long travel times back and forth to their jobs. Sometimes traveling is a part of their job, and certainly audiobooks are a fabulous way to fill that time on the road or in airports and airplanes! You can listen to them on CDs in your car or download books to your iPod or MP3 player and listen while you jog or work out, too! My friends tell me the reader is such an important component. Hearing the accents adds a richness and personality to the character, and the ages come across in the voices, as well. It's like listening to a play. Recent recommendations have been "Charley Wilson's War" and "Water for Elephants". Be aware that some are available in abridged versions, condensing them somewhat, so be careful to choose what you prefer.

The top sellers in Audiobooks are mostly self-help selections. A couple of popular CDs are "A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose" by Eckhart Tolle, one of Oprah's selections, and two by Marianne Williamson, "Meditations for a Miraculous Life" and "The Age of Miracles: Embracing the New Midlife" They even give Grammys for audiobooks! This year's Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album was awarded to J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" (read by Jim Dale) in the children's category and to Barack Obama's "The Audacity of Hope" (read by the author).

So, when you are on the go don't let that keep you from your favorite books, just pop in a CD. Or if you just want to curl up and close your eyes, you can hear a tale told to you like the days of bedtime storybooks. Don't forget to check your local library - they often have a wide selection of audio books.

Happy Reading!

Frances