If we’ve ever had a voice-on-voice conversation, odds are, you’ve heard me mention at least one of the following:
1) The OverDrive App
2) The book, ‘Generation Me’ by Jeanne Twenge. (life-changer)
3) My dog, Cannoli.
4) Some sort of education philosophy (and by complete hate for the Montessori cult)
5) The latest thing I learned about alternative medicine including, but not limited to: milk thistle, biotin, ginger tea, yoga, green tea, sea salt, honey, and tea tree oil.
Today I would like to take this opportunity to share with you the wonders of the OverDrive app.
It’s life-changing.
And I mean, LIFE. CHANGING.
I feel so much smarter.
Rather than listening to Eric Church all day every day (which does certainly have its merits), I listen to audio books. Glorious books. The OverDrive app allows you to borrow both audio books and eBooks onto your phone or iPad from your local library for free. You have access for three weeks, and then it disappears. No need to worry about late fees. Yesss.
Spending a ridiculous amount of money on eBooks are a thing of the past. Now, I borrow them for free.
So, the only disadvantage of these is that brand-spankin’ new books sometimes take a while to arrive in e-form. Be patient. Odds are, it’ll be there soon.
I alternate between children’s lit (for work.. and because I love children’s books), fiction, and memoirs… And books about spirituality… and classics… And.. well… I’ll read pretty much anything but fantasy. Because we all know that there aren’t other worlds in closets.. or wardrobes.. Whatever.
All you need to access this app is a library card from your local library.
Prepare to be addicted.
Here is what I’ve “read” (listened to):
– Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand: Literally THE best book I’ve ever read (…listened to). Ever. Be warned, though, it’s addictive. This tells the story about Louie Zamporini, a World War II soldier with an amazing, unfathomable story.
– Killing Lincoln by Bill O’Reilly: Tells the story of Lincoln’s assassination in the style of a thriller novel. Amazing.
– The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff: Loooooong book but more than slightly fascinating. This tells the inside story of the Mormon Church, and, after my constant viewing of Sister Wives, totally piqued my curiosity. I recommend.
– The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown: takes place in my adopted hometown of Washington, DC. Like any good Dan Brown book, tells about yet another conspiracy theory. Love.
– Everything That Rises Must Converge by Flannery O’Connor: This is a collection of short stories… I have several friends who are obsessed with Flannery O’Connor and I still can’t understand why. OK, it’s worth the listen if you have nothing else to do… But I’m still flabbergasted by the appeal. Here’s O’Connor’s writing style:
1) Meet characters who may or may not have names.
2) Get emotionally attached to a character.
3) Said character either dies or gets reviled at the end.
4) Story ends abruptly with the reader very confused.
– My Father at 100 by Ron Reagan: Written by “Ronnie,” who is a little bit of an ungrateful first brat.. But it’s worth the read. This tells an insider story about the greatest president of modern times.
– Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm: Children’s Lit! Cute story. Quick read/listen. Takes place during the Prohibition Era on Key West… How’s that for an oxymoron?
– Lily’s Crossing by Patricia Reilly Giff: Also Children’s Lit! Takes place during World War II in America. Great story.
– The End of Normal: A Wife’s Anguish, A Widow’s New Life by Stephanie Madoff Mack: Wow. This is a personal memoir of Mark Madoff’s (son of Bernie Madoff) widow. This is a candid, unapologetic story of someone who was deeply affected by one of the worst white collar crimes in modern times.
– Beautiful Boy by David Sheff: This is an absolutely, positively, heart-wrenching memoir about a father’s journey through his son’s meth addiction. Warning: it’s more than slightly a downer.. But is a great story of beauty in the midst of such darkness.
I’m currently reading:
Making All Things New: An Invitation to the Spiritual Life by Henri J. M. Nouwen
The Beautiful and the Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald
In my cue:
– The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
– The Last Tycoon by F. Scott Fitzgerald
– Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris
– Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
– And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
– The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie
– The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
– Paris by Edward Rutherford
– New York by Edward Rutherford
– Inferno by Dan Brown
– Ladies Night by Mary Kay Andrews
– Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight
As someone who feels as thought it’s difficult to find time to sit and read, audio books that can be listened to in the car and during workouts make life all that much brighter.
Enjoy. Be addicted. Explore.
… and no, I’m not getting paid for this post ;).