Toss Me That Book

Format: Audiobook Date Started: June 12, 2019 Date Abandoned: June 13, 2019 I knew that I was going to hate this book even as I was checking it out from the library.  But for some reason, the fact that this book had landed on a "Great Summer Mysteries" list trumped the fact that I cannot stand Mary Higgins Clark's books.  They are the completely predictable murder-y cousin of romance novels.  I don't know what I was thinking.  But, I'm pretty sure that my inner monologue went something like this:  "If it made a list, surely it must be pretty good.  I mean, it's not like this list is straight from the publisher.  (Spoiler alert:  It totally was.)  Maybe I'm being a snob?  After all she is a popular author.  (Double spoiler: Lots of people like terrible books.)  I'll give it a whirl." Approximately one hour into the audiobook, the inner dialogue shifted. "I literally cannot.  There are about seven million charac...

Format:   Audiobook Date Started:   January 7, 2019 Date Ended:   January 14, 2019 The current state of world affairs being what it is, I can’t listen to NPR on the radio during my commute anymore.   I’ve happily switched to podcasts or Sirius XM for most of my driving time, but there are just times when I need a break from current events or music.   Sometimes it’s just nice to be read to.   As soon as the first words of a book are spoken through my car’s speakers, it feels like I’m little again and settling in with my brother to have my dad read us stories before bed.   My mom read to us, too, but my strongest memories are leaning back against my dad’s chest as we listened to stories of improbable feats, silliness, and adventures.   Dad did (and still does) a horrible British accent – he sounds like a fishwife crossed with a cat who enrolled at Eton with Prince William.   It is bananas.   He once perfo...