Pompeii

It was a long time since I listened to a CD book. But last weekend when I had a big spring clean weekend I borrowed Pompeii by Robert Harris. I mainly choose this book for its length, which might not be the best measuring tool, but I was lucky. It not only kept me occupied the whole day, but the story is intriguing with lots of subplots and roman history all set with the rumbling Mount Vesuvius in the background.
Josefine

My recommendations: The Bridge over the River by Johannes Gramich

My Christmas present

I decided to give myself an early Christmas present this year. It is the ultimate gift to myself or any other booklover. It is a CD box of Penguin Classics, including my personal favourites of: Anne of Green gables, Little Women, Peter Pan and many more. It is the perfect gift, because I can listen to some well-known stories as I do other things as well. And then of course it only helps that I got it at a great discounted deal through The BookPeople.
Josefine

My recommendations: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

CD books II - voices

Lately, I have listened to more CD books, especially when I bike to and from work. I now realize how much the voice of the reader affects the story. One of my favourite books to listen to was Rikard Wolff and Hamadi Khemiri reading Montecore a unique tiger by Jonas Hassen Khemiri. This book was probably more entertaining to listen to than to read on its own (I never read the hardcopy).

Right now I listen to Zadie Smith’s book On Beauty. In Swedish it is recorded by Johan Rabeus, he also recorded the Swedish version of The ultimate hitchhiker’s guide to the galaxy by Dougals Adams. When I listen to On Beauty, I hear Arthur Dent and the other characters in Adams' story, but now they are in new costumes and live in Smith’s world. A voice, no matter what it actually says, can really create a picture before me and now I have to alter that picture, it is a strange feeling.
Josefine

My recommendations: Call it whatever you want by Marjaneh Bakhtiari (another good CD book from my latest collection)

The art of reading more then one book at the same time

I have noticed that there are two kinds of bookworms. There is the ones reading one book from cover to cover before starting on a new. Then there are those, like me, who has any various numbers of books started at the same time. For example, I currently read an autobiography, an historical non-fiction, a collection of feminist essays and listen to a fiction CD book and of course the random magazines that I subscribe to.
To me it depends on what kind of mood I am in. It requires a special mood to follow in the sometimes difficult arguments in the essay collection. On the other hand, I need the CD book when I bike to work at six in the morning and want something that does not require full brain activity. There are different times for different books.

I can’t understand those people who only read one book at the time. I t would take me too long to do that. What if I am not in the right mood, then what would I do? Not read? But I have to admit that sometime I admire those people who read only one book at the time, it requires a determination to finish what you started, which can be helpful in other aspects of life as well.
Josefine

My recommendations: Wild swans by Jung Chang

New Technology – CD Books

Despite declining user statistics at libraries, there is one product which is increasingly sought after – Books on tape. People have become hooked on CD books, and so have I. Technology has taken us from the old large cassettes to the more compact CDs and MP3 files. They have become so popular that in some cases, they are now released at the same time as the printed version.

I bike and use public transportation a lot, and for those times, instead of listen to music in my old portable CD player I listen to a book. I am sure that there are several commuters who can relate to this. It is so easy and it makes the time pass quickly.
Right now I read/listen to Wilhelm Mobergs classic epic Emigrant. It is a series I have wanted to read for many years, but there never seems to be any opportunity to do it. This is why I was so happy to find it on CD at my local library.
But there are also times when I regret that I borrowed the CD instead of the printed version. One time I borrowed Patricia Cornwells book Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper - Case Closed. It was a book that was difficult to comprehend when only listening, I wish that I could have seen the words to actually get a grip of what she meant and how she came to the conclusions she did.

I believe CD books are just another transition away from printed books, which brings good and bad things. Next thing is the e-book and the P.O.D. (print on demand), which by the way something the Rejecter discusses in her blogg. Please send me you comments, on CD books vs. printed books and where you think this is going. I love to hear from you.
Josefine

My recommendations: Michael Shaara. The Killer Angels. The CD book narrated by George Guidall who does an awesome job.