A Favorite Pastime
One of my favorite pastimes is reading. My books of choice are romance novels, although I enjoy other genres from time to time. My favorite romance writers include Belva Plain, Nora Roberts, Nicholas Sparks, Danielle Steel, Robert James Walker and Phyliss A. Whitney.
In December 2008 I received an iPod for having the most upsells in the call center at which I worked on a part-time basis. I soon discovered a new way to enjoy my favorite pastime.
In March 2009 I subscribed to a 14-day trial of the AudibleListener Platinum plan, which included two free audio books. On March 14, 2009 I downloaded Danielle Steel’s “One Day at a Time” and Nora Roberts’ “Tribute”. As I read each book, I found that my reading experience was enriched by the feeling of a pause, a breath or a smile through my headphones. At the end of the 14-day trial period, I chose to keep my Audible membership at a cost of $22.95 for two downloads a month. From March through September 2009 I downloaded ten additional audio books:
- “Crossroads” by Belva Plain
- “True Betrayals” by Nora Roberts
- “Someone Knows my Name” by Lawrence Hill
- “Salem Falls” by Jodi Picoult
- “Black Hills” by Nora Roberts
- “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” by Stieg Larsson
- “The Girl Who Played with Fire” by Stieg Larsson
- “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett
- “The Shack” by William P. Young
- “The Last Song” by Nicholas Sparks
I “retired” from my call center job in May 2009. The cost for Audible was an unnecessary expense, so I ended the subscription in September 2009. I returned to work in August 2010 but did not reinstate the AudibleListener Plantinum plan subscription. I was reading, but I had gone back to reading the printed word on the paper pages of a book.
Along comes Christmas 2010. Bob gave me a Kindle for Christmas, and I discovered yet another way to enjoy my favorite pastime. Since December 2010 I have downloaded the following books onto my Kindle:
- “Safe Haven” by Nicholas Sparks
- “Vision in White” by Nora Roberts
- “Bed of Roses” by Nora Roberts
- “Savor the Moment” by Nora Roberts
- “Happily Ever After” by Nora Roberts
- “One Deadly Sister” by Rod Hoisington
- “Summer Secrets” by Barb Freethy
- “Public Secrets” by Nora Roberts
- “Bridleton” by Becky Barker
- “The Outsider: A Novel (Shaker)” by Ann H. Gabhart
- “The Best of Me” by Nicholas Sparks
- “Just the Way You Are” by Barbara Freethy
- “Happy Birthday: A Novel” by Danielle Steel
- “Legacy: A Novel” by Danielle Steel
- “Deeply Devoted (the Blue Willow Brides)” by Maggie Brendan
- “All She Ever Wanted” by Barbara Freethy
- “Lakeside Reunion (Love Inspired)” by Lisa Jordan
- “O Little Town: A Novel” by Don Reid
- “The Next Always: Book One of the Inn BoonsBoro Trilogy” by Nora Roberts
- “A Plain & Fancy Christmas” by Cynthia Keller
- “The House of the Whispering Pines” by Anna Katharine
- “Change of Heart” by Fran Shaff
- “Fools Rush In” by Kristan Higgins
I like my Kindle very much. My Kindle resides in a leather book-like case. It feels like a book in my hands. I can even fold back the case, like a paperback book. I no longer have the iPod. I sold it when I purchased an iPhone. I can, however, still listen to audio books on the iPhone or on my Kindle. My preference, though, is to read the written word rather than have someone read the book to me. Audio books do still appeal to me, especially when riding in a car. I learned quickly that it is not possible for me to listen to an audio book, while lying down in the dark. I fall asleep!
Reading Kindle books is easy on the budget because Amazon and other Internet sites have books available to download free or at a very low price. In addition, my public library now offers Kindle library books for loan. The majority of the Kindle books listed above were from the public library or free. I paid for the first five books with a gift card that my wonderful husband gave to me, along with the Kindle. The Kindle provides an economical way for me to enjoy my favorite pastime. It is a good idea to keep an eye on unnecessary expenditures at all times; however, it is more important now that I am once again “retired.”
The Beauty Around Us 
11 Responses to “A Favorite Pastime”
Hi Linda, You really are a reader… Do you know that I have NEVER enjoyed reading? I will read things that interest me –but never have ever sat down and read a romance novel… My poor Mama loved to read –and when I was little she did everything she could to make me interested in reading. NEVER worked. Don't know why—but I just never have had an interest in this area. BUT–if I get involved with my Family History or with Birds or Health Issues, I'll read for hours… haGlad you got your Kindle!!!! How is the new desk????Hugs,Betsy
I'm jealous! But I still like to read – for me it's still with those old fashioned books! 🙂
Linda, I am glad to see there is another voracious reader out there. I do a lot of it too, especially when doing certain types of wildlife photography where one waits in a blind for a long time for the subjects to appear, or when I am in Elk County I do a lot of reading at nights or through the middle of the day when everything is slack. I like the idea of a Kindle and need to try one of them–they should really cut down on clutter by eliminating a lot of books lying around.I read your last several posts this morning and I am glad that you retired and can devote more time to what you really want to do. Best of luck in your endeavors in the coming year!
I used to be quite a reader but not so much anymore. Most everything I read is on the computer ( not books)..
I really like audio books when Rich and I are traveling in a car on trips. We can enjoy the book together and that is really fun. I haven't had much opportunity to read since Mary has been born. She is getting old enough now that I can read a little more lengthy books to her. We started reading a chapter each day from Black Beauty this week and she really likes it!
Hi Linda, I love reading also and the books I have are usually detective novels, though I do enjoy other genres. I didn't think I would ever read anything other than a good old paper book where I could turn the pages, but then my son gave us a Nook each for our Christmas 2010 gift and we've never looked back, though I still love picking up a book every now and again. One of my sister-in-law enjoys her audio books. Have a great weekend.
Hi Linda, when i was younger i read a lot of novels too, but i realized the theme change with time or with age! I even read those thick books with small fonts of James Clavel during those times. Now i seem to like non-fiction already, have you heard of Secharia Sitchin, Gregg Brady, Caroline Myss? However, i havent heard of Kindle yet, maybe we don't have it yet, and i might not afford one! LOL.
Linda,I love to read but hardly have time for it anymore. I try making more time maybe before going to sleeep. I would love th have an ipad, but I think I will need a ne desktop before I buy anything else. I hope you are having a great weekend.
Linda, I too enjoy reading, especially before bedtime because it relaxes me and I sleep so much better. I have an ipad and have a downloaded (free) apps to add ibooks or kindle books and I have added some classics, but not read any yet. Grenville has an Acer tablet and reads had been reading classics on it for the past several months and really enjoys it. He 's read Sherlock Holmes and now Alice in Wonderland. I usually go to the local library once a week or buy books at the thrift stores. Somehow never quite enjoyed audio books, though lots of people do, and they are such a boon to folks with vision problems or those who enjoy them while travelling.
Oh, Linda, I got a kindle for my birthday in November and it has been one of the best gifts ever. There are a couple newsletters that I get that have 'free' books….some of them are free all the time, some are just free for a day. If you are interested and don't get them, let me know.I have sure been back to reading more since I got it…easier on my eyes some how. I think I have 170 books, have actually bought about 4, and the rest are free. Most of them I have not read the authors before, but they sound good. and have read some and liked them. At least if I don't like them, I did not lose any money. I like a wide variety of books…I read a lot of mysteriers, and love reading historical fiction, plus I like a lot of memoirs…not of famous people though. Just ordinary people telling about their life.And I love first person accounts of living in Alaska, or anywhere way up north. Oh, this is way long…
I meant to say I love to listen to audio books while I am cleaning in the kitchen or sewing in the basement…but i have to be doing something mindless…I cannot carry on a conversation and listen to one, and I cannot do anything that requires thinking and listen to one.