knitting kitchen

Everyone has their own guilty pleasure. I have mine. I love to listen to an audio book and knit. Short of eating a birthday cake all by myself (I’m not saying I’ve done this, but I have seriously considered it), sitting alone in a quiet room, snuggled up on the couch with some good knitting and a great book being read to me on my ipod…it doesn’t get too much better than this.

I’ve had an account at audible.com for years now. My first audible.com book was The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy ready by Douglas Adams himself. I played it on my Compaq ipaq 3955 (2003). Time has marched onward and I’m on my third ipod (techno gadgets…another guilty pleasure? Thanks, Dad!!). The number of books I have listened to is staggering and I’m grateful that people are writing, reading, and recording. It makes my life a much better place.

With all this listening going on, finding the right book for my mood can be an exhausting task. During the past few months, I’ve listened to a few books that have mostly served to make me much more cautious in my selection. While I loved The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo, I am warning you off Still Life by Louise Penny. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society was enjoyable. The Lace Reader’s Guide and Christine Falls were not my cup of tea.

So what’s the best way of finding my next great read? I have several techniques, all of which involve almost as much time as it takes to read the book. Recently, I was in a terrific independent book shop in Lake Placid, NY — The Bookstore Plus.  When I commented that whoever was doing the store’s buying did a great job, the lovely store owner generously handed me a copy of this.

I never professed to be on the cutting edge of anything, but I do believe in spreading the word about cool stuff that makes my life better. So here you have my new favorite thing of the day: IndieBound for iPhone. I can find books recommended by people who read and love books. I can buy them from an independent bookstore closest to where I’m standing that moment (nothing like instant gratification!). I can surf my way over to Audible and download and audio book that is less like to be a real disappointment. It makes me very happy and I just thought I’d share the love.

…and while you’re out book buying, why not support #1 daughter’s new employer: Hachette Book Group. Congratulations Jessica!!!

Jessica graduated from college and got a job! Graduation party photos