Audio Books

Perhaps I am a "luddite" (I am not sure, I never thought so).  Or perhaps I am just simultaneously HESITANT and STUBBORN (I probably am both of those.... maybe... I guess.).   But, I have never really chosen to listen to a "Book-on-Tape" (an Audiobook).  Part of me thought I would rather READ the book than hear it.  Part of me did not want to pay for a service like "Audible.com".

But, times change I guess.  Haha.... actually, the following situations have changed:

• I have grown tired of too much "news" such as it is.  Even my beloved NPR is getting rather damn repetitive in terms of repeating the same thing over-and-over..... and it too is (probably a cost cutting move due to the US administration decimating their funding) becoming overly "pundit-y" focused.  
• And, even though I love listening to my NPR Classical Music Feed and my NPR Jazz Feed, and my host of stations on Pandora for music..... I cannot ALWAYS be listening to JUST music.  
• But then..... "Hoopla" came into my life.  Hoopla is an "app" (I really do not like that term.... I prefer "application" or better yet, "a program") that allows you to check out books from your public library in an e-Book format (that is only "ok" because I prefer to read on real paper as opposed to a screen)...... BUT.... also (I came to realize) a huge array of AUDIOBOOKS....... FOR FREE!  I had been checking out eBooks to read occasionally, and even checked out an album of music.... but never noticed nor thought about an audiobook.... until Saturday.
• On Saturday, I was glancing through Hoopla's "card catalogue" of my public library.... and saw the wonderful book/biography about Hemingway that is pictured above.  I was enthralled, as I had not seen that book before, and I am an ardent fan of Hemingway and especially Hemingway biographies (I have ~50+ in my own collection.... most all of which were collected long, long ago while in graduate school at used book stores in the vicinity).   
• But then..... my heart sank..... it was a damn AUDIOBOOK.  And, I could feel my face visibly grimace.  
• After looking around in Hoopla quite unsuccessfully to see if I could find an eBook copy at my library, I said in my mind, "What the hell?  It is FREE to check out.  I will probably hate it, but I can give it a try."
• But, as much as I do not want to admit it...... I am REALLY enjoying this book as an audiobook!  I have listened to it using headphones (to not disturb my wife) before bed, and I have been listening to it in my truck, and I even hooked my phone up to the "gizmo-ey" bluetooth speaker I have in my lab so I could listen there today!  

I am not sure if this will be a permanent affection, or if the joy of it will be only for this specific book.  But, I am thinking I MIGHT have found a new, enjoyable venue for me.  

The book is "Ernest Hemingway: Artifacts from a Life"

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