Downtime

I’ve been spending time listening to audiobooks on my iPod lately. As a sometimes manic person, I appreciate the chance to fill the time with something productive while driving.

My first audiobook was Graham Swift’s The Light of Day. I had already read the book but was so taken with it, and the fact that Kenneth Cranham was the reader, that I bought it on CD. The convenience of having something decent to listen to while driving was my main reason, as you cannot rely on the frequency or quality of Radio 4 plays for entertainment. It was also the last book I bought on CD. All my purchases since then have been on iTunes.

When I started my six month secondment in the Republic of Ireland, I knew I would be driving a lot more and stocked up. Titles such as Money, Scoop, The Great Gatsby, Hard Times, Catch 22 and a favourite, The Quiet American, now on my iPod and I’m working my way through them.

This opportunity allows me to listen to books that I normally wouldn’t buy. I have over thirty books sitting variously beside my bed at home, in my car and in my laptop bag, some of which I’ve had for a few years. And yet, I added another two purchases yesterday!

At first glance, the price can seem daunting. £16.95 for Money seemed expensive, but it is sixteen hours and thirty minutes long and in my view is good value per hour.

There are abridged versions as well as unabridged versions available for some titles. I buy only the full versions. The various readers can make a big difference to the enjoyment of the book. Kenneth Cranham sounds like he was born for the role in The Light of Day, but in my current read, At Home by Bill Bryson read by the author; his mid-Atlantic accent grates a little, especially given the subject matter. An enjoyable and interesting book so far, though.

My only non-fiction titles so far have been Losing My Virginity by Richard Branson (which put me right off the guy!) and the War of the Worlds, by historian Niall Ferguson – recommended!