I've always been a bit of a voracious reader. As a child, I loved the idea that books took you to another world. Truthfully, I guess that is what I still love about books. And while I do like the idea of a book providing some sort of personal edification (like the books we read in Book Club), I think I actually read books purely for entertainment. I am not ashamed to admit that I much prefer a book with a good story to one that makes me think. I love a juicy novel, a beach read...and (shhhh!) even the occasional trashy romance. Though I have gotten pretty tired of the standard trite, trashy romance plot.
In the past few years, I've turned to audiobooks to pass the time during my commute. I've calculated that I spend roughly 10-12 hours commuting a week between Baltimore, Beltsville, and Annapolis. Audiobooks are a great way to be entertained, particularly when I'm sitting in stop and go traffic on I-95. I really love epic, sweeping sagas that involve travel, intrigue, romance, and thrills. I also listen to a lot of political thrillers.
Back in the spring of 2010, I was looking for something new to listen to, and stumbled upon Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. It was billed as a historical romance. When I read that it involved time traveling, I almost passed it over for something else. I'm usually not a fan of sci-fi romance-ish books...they are usually a bit unbelievable for me. Beautiful, independent modern woman travels back in time and falls for chauvinistic, but caring Norse warrior (or some such nonsense). Outlander is 40 hrs long...but the fact that it was one of the most highly rated audiobooks on Audible.com won me over. And I'm so glad! It's one of those books where the characters just jump off the page (or in my case out of the speakers). Over the past year and a half, I've downloaded and listened to all 7 books in the series. I thought the series had been complete for awhile, and that there were about 10 books. That is, until I did some research and realized that my current download, Echo in the Bone, is the last completed book in the series. The author is currently working on the 8th book. When I discovered this piece of information, I had about 6 hours to go in number 7 and was somewhat distraught!
As I slowly dragged out listening to the last part of the book, I realized how much I've come to regard these characters as friends. I know it sounds odd, but these are characters that I've been listening to for a year and a half. They've been with me on road trips, long commutes, and occasional middle-of-the-night insomnia attacks. And I'm distraught that it will likely be another year and a half until I will hear from them again! In this world of portable On-Demand everything...it's hard for me to accept that I can't just go download the next book to find out how my friends are doing and have them in my life again!
I guess it is because the characters are so human; and so likeable. I'm finding that my favorite type of entertainment is that which entertains me AND makes me think at the same time. Take Downton Abbey, for instance. It took me awhile to jump on the bandwagon, but once I did...I'm so there! On the outside, it seems to be a British "period soap opera", but it is truly the characters and their development that make the show so compelling. We want to find out what happens plot-wise, but also want to check in with characters that feel like real people and friends.
I hope that you have "friends" like mine that entertain you and keep you company. While I anxiously await news of Jamie, Claire, Lord John, Brianna, Roger, Jem, William, Ian, and Rachel...I guess I'll have to make do and go back in time (ha ha) with Gabaldon's Lord John series. A few of the characters are the same...and hopefully that will tide me over for awhile!
