more photos on flickr >>

 

I’ve recently started listening to audiobooks in the car on my way to and from work. I’ve listened to a few in the past, but only on long cross-country trips where I was able to listen to an entire book in a single day of uninterrupted driving. My drive to work takes me about 30-35 minutes in the afternoon and 20 at night when I get off—but I was getting bored. My drive is so much more interesting (and less stressful) when I get to pay attention to a story, rather than spending time unsuccessfully flipping from station to station trying to find something decent to listen to on the radio.

I was originally taking the interstate to work because it was about ten minutes shorter to drive, but it was also seven miles longer, one way. Now I’m taking a shorter route, but it takes a little bit longer since I have to fight my way through traffic and stoplights. But seven miles saved is seven miles saved, and it’s not like leaving ten minutes earlier is hard on me. And I especially don’t mind it now that I have something to keep my mind occupied while driving.

I thought that I might not like to listen to an audiobook for only 20 or 30 minutes, and then have to stop it when I got to my destination—but that’s actually not the case. It’s just like when you read a book, and you have to put it down for whatever reason in order to do something else. I don’t find it difficult at all to pick up where I left off.

Interestingly enough, I also don’t mind listening to fiction when I’m in the car, as opposed to the nonfiction I’m usually drawn to when I read physical books (and yes, I also carry a book in my work bag to read during my dinner break). Right now I’m listening to Never Let Me Go, by Kazuo Ishiguro.