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Audiobooks, Books, Dinah Maria Craik, Frances Hodgson Burnett, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Literature, Olive, The Secret Garden, Uncle Tom's Cabin
I think that it’s important to read a lot of well written literature while writing. It rubs off on the reader and raises the quality of their own writing.
Unfortunately, I’m a lazy busy person, and I don’t get around to finishing many books lately… I tried to read The Count Of Monte Cristo recently and fell off the wagon on page thirty. It’s sad, but when life speeds up, reading is the first thing to fall by the wayside.
Lucky for me, I have a beautiful little device called an iPhone, which downloads audiobooks for me to listen to so I can pretend that I’m academic.
I’ve heard some people say that audiobooks don’t count as books (for the very reason that you aren’t reading them), but I don’t like to listen to others, so I’m going to listen to audiobooks until the sky falls down and crushes my phone.
Or something like that.
It’s so helpful to be able to listen to stories while I’m doing laundry or driving or cleaning the house. Even though I’m not literally reading, I’m absorbing literature, and it’s helped me ‘read’ so many books that I know I never would’ve gotten around to reading.
I highly, highly recommend Librivox. It’s a free app, and I’ve gotten hours and hours of entertainment from it. 100% worth the (no) money.
Today I’m going to share a few of my favorite audiobooks in hopes that someone else can discover new books that they would’ve never gotten around to reading!
1. Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
This is probably in my top 2 favorite books. I listened to it on Librivox, and the man who read it has such a warm yet stoic voice that he moved me to tears multiple times (me, cry? Shocker, I know). I was so inspired by the very artful way that Harriet Beecher Stowe writes about the evils of slavery and how dark life seems sometimes, yet also about how God is always with us, even when He seems absent. I ‘read’ it during a period of my life when I was learning very parallel lessons about God’s Presence in my life, and I’ve never read a book that struck me so to the core.
2. Olive by Dinah Maria Craik
I read somewhere that Olive was inspired by Jane Eyre, but I have to admit that I don’t see much resemblance, I loved Olive far more than I loved Jane Eyre. I’ve never read a book with such believably flawed characters. Olive is surrounded by so many imperfect people, but she is such a loving, lovable character in all the ways she interacts with them. Every time I read it I’m inspired to see the good in people and be more gentle hearted like Olive. Also, the girl who reads it on Librivox has such a gentle voice that I’m sure she’s the only person who could do the story justice.
3. Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death by Patrick Henry
I am aware that A.) This is a speech, not a book, and B.) I am making known what a colossal nerd I am. But I’ve got to share it. If it introduces anyone else to one of my favorite speeches, it’s worth it! I LOVE this speech, I listen to it on walks, or while I’m falling asleep. I listen to it and mouth along with the words, and when he says “Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me DEATH!” ….. Chills.
4. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Magic. This book is magic. To me, it’s about choosing to be joyful instead of sitting around thinking of all of the things that could scare you. Running in the sunshine instead of complaining about how hot it is. Tending the garden so that flowers can grow instead of only seeing the weeds.
5. An Old-Fashioned Girl by Louisa May Alcott
I’ve loved Little Women since I was a Little Woman. I had a major crush on Theodore Laurence before I had grown in my permanent teeth. Little Women and I go way back. But I’ve got to say, An Old-Fashioned Girl was definitely Louisa May Alcott’s best book. It’s about not growing up too fast and cherishing little-girlhood. It makes me want to go back to being a little girl and stay that way forever.
What are your favorite books?