Hey Jude

A few months ago Dad told me about the greatest website: LibriVox.org. Here is an excerpt from the site letting you know what it is all about . . .

LibriVox: free audiobooks

LibriVox volunteers record chapters of books in the public domain and release the audio files back onto the net. Our goal is to make all public domain books available as free audio books. We are a totally volunteer, open source, free content, public domain project.

Anyway, when Julia was first born I found myself alone at home most of the day with my hands full and not much to do (besides feed, rock, and play with my new little angel). I wanted to read a book but didn't find myself picking one up in my intermittent and precious spare moments. Then Todd lent me Ender's Game on CD. This opened up a whole new world for me! (Besides that of the Buggers.) Julia and I were captivated as we listened to the book throughout the week. I was sad when it was over so soon and longed for another book to listen to. (Later realized it was an abridged version. Bummer, I'll have to read it in full someday!) Then I remembered Dad telling me of librivox. He's been downloading books (chapters at a time) onto his mp3 for months. So I gave it a try.

I read Thomas Hardy book each summer - this year I wanted to read Jude the Obscure. I found it on the librivox catalog and began listening from the computer at once. For the next few weeks, it was Jude, Julia, and me hanging out in our small apartment. Jude could be heard as I nursed her, cleaned the house, cooked dinner, even while I did pilates! Julia and I cried together as we heard Jude's sad tale. (Okay, maybe she was crying because she was hungry. But we cried together nevertheless.) Just as Thomas Hardy books are difficult to put down, I didn't want to turn this one off.

Now we are listening to Helen Keller's The Story of My Life. Wow, this one is truly amazing. I must own a copy so I can make all sorts of annotations and highlights! Anyway, check out librivox if you prefer to listen to great literature for a change. Thanks again, Dad!

WARNING: Thomas Hardy books give an incredible insight into human nature, which tends to be very depressing (thus, I read them in the cheerful summer months). I highly recommend his work, but read at your own risk!