1) Librivox.org has a large selection of classics. I have recently enjoyed books by Jane Austin, Mark Twain, and Rudyard Kipling, thanks to some dedicated people who volunteered their time recording books for free download. Many of the narrators are professionals who doa great job.
2) The public library is desperate to keep up with the needs of patrons in the digital age. Our library has subscriptions to two audio and ebook databases. The selection is not huge but is certainly adequate. They also have many books on CD and cassette.
3) Friends will sometimes own a copy of a book on MP3. It is within their rights to lend you a copy as long as you don't share it with anyone else.
4) Paid services like Audible.com are worth the fees if you find that listening to audio books helps you complete housework that would otherwise be neglected.
I'm going to listen to an Elizabeth Peters book while I clean out the storage room. That is a big job! It might take two audio books to complete.
How do you listen to audio books with little people around???
ReplyDeleteI used to LOVE books on CD - until my daughters got to be old enough to interrupt with questions, quarrels, etc. I don't even bother to try to listen to books anymore because I miss so much while dealing with our daughters' needs.
The best way to do it was recommended to me by another mom. She uses an MP3 player with earbuds to listen to books that she doesn't want her kids to overhear.
ReplyDeleteI only have a CD/ cassette player (boombox type, if you will :-) so I make sure the books are pretty clean and only turn them on when 1) the older two boys (ages four and six) are playing outside 2) during the kids' rest time 3) when my husband can take them outside or away from the house for a couple of hours or 4) after they have gone to bed.
I usually have an hour every day at one of these points to knock out some of the bigger misses in our home!