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In many ways, listening to an audiobook these days is far simpler than six years ago when I first discovered my love for them.  At the time, I still relied on a cassette tape player and frequently changing tapes or turning a tape over to side B were all necessities for listening.  I never thought to be annoyed or saw stopping what I was doing to attend the cassette player as an inconvenience.

Now, most of my listening is via my iPod and downloading audiobooks rather than waiting for one to come by mail is not only extremely convenient but immediately gratifying as well.  No longer do I need to check to make sure I’m not missing any tapes before beginning a book, nor do I spend time wondering if I kept them sitting in the sun too long.  Rather than loading that box of tapes (and usually a rather large player) in the car for a trip, I just drop a very small device in a specially sized pocket in my purse or clip it to my shirt and I’m off.  But give me a grueling night of technical challenges on my laptop when I’m attempting to download my latest purchase or, dare I say, a loss of my hard drive, and I find myself wishing for the – yes – simpler days of a cassette tape player.

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One truly unique aspect of listening to a book rather than reading the printed word is the feeling of existing within that narrative.  There is no need for me to stop reading to cook dinner or run errands since an audiobook keeps reading the story to me wherever I may be.  And never have a felt that sensation as strongly as I do now as I listen once again to Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series in preparation for our November Speaking of Audiobooks column.  Finishing the fourth in the series, Drums of Autumn, by November 1^st, means listening 2-3 hours a day and I must admit that at times I feel as though I am living in 18^th century Scotland while my frame of reference swirls around the happenings within this series.  When I think of the vegetables I used in last night’s salad, I’m reminded of Jamie’s reasons for leaving Helwater.  When I think of folding laundry late last night, I recall Claire’s buying that Jessica Gutenburg dress.  Yes, I am truly immersed and loving it.

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