I Listen to Books

Sometimes I get funny looks from people. Not necessarily bad looks. They are more like split-second flashes of surprise or confusion. Sometimes I get them when I shop at Lowes and the employers act as if they’d never seen a teenage girl buying dirt before. Sometimes it’s when I say things like, “there’s a ‘possum in the barn” or “I almost hit a turkey on the way to school.”

There have been a few occasions when I have gotten those looks after saying a sentence similar to, “I was listening to this book the other day…” And there it is--the look. The look that says, “Don’t you mean ‘read’?” And I have to explain that I really did mean listen, as in an audio book. And then I may hear things like, “That’s cheating!” or “That’s not the same as reading.”

I started “listening to books” when I was old enough to go on road trips with my family. On a twelve-hour drive to Florida, before DVD fixtures were put into every mini van, audio books were the best way to make the time pass other than my parents’ famous hand-puppet theater.
 

The first book I listened to on my own was Harry Potter read by Jim Dale, and that is still the best series of audio tapes I have ever listened to. Jim Dale’s voices are perfect (particularly Hagrid--he does a good Hagrid). I would make excuses to stay in my room just so I could listen to it longer, even if it meant organizing my closet. Of course, that was until I got an IPod with OverDrive Media, an app that allows you to download books from the library. I can now download books and listen to them while I’m driving or gardening or whatever.

There are pros and cons to audio tapes. The downs are that you don’t get to experience the classic feel and smell and mind-consuming bliss of reading the pages of a book. That, and sometimes the reader’s voice is so obnoxious or dull that you can’t stand them past the first chapter. However, there are several pros as well. First, I would never consider it “cheating” to listen to a book. For a child learning to read, yes. That would be cheating. But I know how to read. I can pay attention to the language, story, metaphors, and other literary devices and themes of a book as much with my ears as with my eyes.

Second, I am a slow reader. I recently listened to Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. As a five-part book with quite a few chapters about politics, history, and philosophy, (not to mention hundreds of confusing French words to struggle through), I would never have been able to read this book in the time I did without listening to it. Plus, I got to hear the French words pronounced and go around thinking in an accent for a month. Lastly, listening to books allows me to be productive with my hands while simultaneously developing my mind through literature. Sometimes, being lazy and reading all day is fantastic. Other times, there is simply too much to do to spend hours on the couch. My favorite time to listen to a book is in the car.

Just think. You can be reading two books at a time this way—one on audio and one for rainy days. Simply download OverDrive Media onto your iPod or iPhone, find your local library, and you can try it for free. Sometimes there is more than one version of each book, so you can choose a reader that doesn’t sound like they have water in their throat or are teaching a math class. I typically choose long books that I wouldn't have time to read, and/or books with lots of difficult words, such as French or Russian names. I am currently listening to Anna Karenina by Tolstoy, and I'm going to have to make a list of the characters before too long or I'm going to start losing track of them! But at least I can hear them pronounced correctly!

So next time you go on a road trip or have long commute to drive every day, I encourage you to use that time to read--that is--listen to books.

 

Happy Reading (and listening)

-Emily

3 Books to Add to Your Bookshelf

Summer is almost over, and I am devouring books as fast as I can before textbooks take over my reading time. However, even during the school year, I always keep two books with me--my Bible, and a devotional book. The devotional book does not have to be laid out as a day-to-day lesson book like most. To me, a “devotional” is simply a book written with the intent of focusing the reader on God and who He is. No matter how many textbooks and short stories are assigned to me, it is always refreshing to read inspiring words by other Christians. It encourages me to know that others have experienced walking this path that God has called us to take. The encouragement is not always pleasing at first. Sometimes it hurts, but it pushes me to go the right direction. If you are looking for some guidance and encouragement, here are three books I would highly recommend:

 

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

C.S. Lewis has been my favorite author for a long time. I have read most of his books, but this one is the most life-changing. As a former atheist, C.S. Lewis knew all the questions people had about God. He tried to disprove God’s existence, but never could. When he became a Christian, he found the answers to a lot of those questions, and he shared them in this book. His logic is extraordinarily simple and understandable. Some of it is speculation. Much of it is metaphor, helping the reader see God in a new, fresh way. All of it is a revelation, not only of God’s existence, but also of how we, as Christians, should respond to that existence. Read this book slowly. Reflect on each page. Faith cannot be taught, but sometimes we need to embrace logic. When we do, it may not build our faith, but it can help us better understand what and Whom we believe and how we should respond to Him.

 

My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers

There are different versions of this book. The classic edition is written in old English and is difficult to understand. I am reading an updated edition right now. It takes a year to go through, with one page a day (I sometimes read two a day, one in the morning and one at night). The book is a compilation of lectures and writings by Chambers, who did not intend them to be published. The first day I read this, I knew it might change me. It has challenged me every day to think about things differently. I am amazed that a man from the early 1900s could write things so relevant to a nineteen-year-old girl. He points out things in myself that I never recognized before, and he has instilled in me a passion to give everything to God day by day. James Reimann, the writer of the updated edition, writes: “I encourage you to read with this book in one hand and your Bible in the other. This book is not the Bible—it is intended to point you to the Bible.” Chambers did not intend to write a new theology. Read prayerfully, seeking discernment, and be willing to let the words change you.

The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence

This compilation of writings were not composed by a great theologian, but by a humble cook in a monastery. His words gave me a new understanding of worship and devotion to God. As the title reveals, he teaches that we must practice living in God’s presence every moment. His relationship with God aroused a hunger in me for the same. Reading about how someone lived so beautifully is as affective, if not more affective, than a sermon. It makes the Christian life real and attainable and irresistible.

As I read these books, I had to remember, as Reimann said, that these are not the Bible. It is always important to read God's Word. Even more importantly, I had to remember that time spent in a book is not always the same as spending time with God. I must spend time in reflection and prayer and practice living in God's presence throughout the day.

I hope you enjoy these as much as I did,

Emily

A Strange Use for Banana Peels

My last post was about a delicious way to use bananas. But why waste all those peels? Why not put them to good use and try something new? You’re about to think I’m a little crazy, but some Pinterest pins attract me because of their craziness. I have to try them to see if they actually work, especially if they are simple and involve saving money.

 
Here is the original pin:

 
I know it seems weird to rub banana peels on your teeth, but after only one treatment, my teeth were noticeably whiter! Now, I have learned that this is like brushing your teeth—it only works for a while. If I stop doing it for a day, there is already a difference. But if I do it every day, my teeth get successively whiter. The key is to be consistent. However, say you have an event coming up--like prom, for instance. This can be a perfect, cheap, temporary fix to make your smile whiter for pictures!

 
The pin does leave out a few pieces of information. For instance, please rinse the peels before use. Who knows where they have been? Also, do this before brushing and not after. If you have ever had a green banana, you know how bad it feels on your teeth. Finally, what if you don’t eat a banana every day? I have tried saving the peels in foil, but they still turned brown on the inside. It would be nice to have enough reserved that I could do this regularly. I'm going to keep trying different things, but for now my best bet is to use fresh peels, which means I have to eat a lot of bananas. I like to mash half a banana in my oatmeal every morning, so it's not too bad.

 
I hope you don’t think I’m crazy, and that you will actually try this. I promise it works! And if you’re already trying the Nice Cream, then why not try this as well?

 
May your teeth be ever white,

 
Emily