Perhaps I need to add a new subject to my sidebar--"listening to...". Although I've not really listened to much of Elizabeth Berg's Dream When You're Feeling Blue (It wasn't a first choice in terms of listening material--I just wanted the practice of downloading a book, but I'm in line for another audio book), I absolutely love listening to podcasts. So far I've subscribed to The New York Times' podcast, three different BBC podcasts (Arts and Ideas, Book Panel with Simon Mayo and World Book Club), the CBC's Writers and Company, NPR's Books and last but not least The Guardian's Book podcast. I've still noted the other suggestions I've received, but I have discovered that it takes a while to load new podcast subscriptions to iTunes.
I'm guessing my very old computer is feeling rather taxed these days. I've loaded all sorts of software on to it, and it must take a good five minutes to even bring up iTunes when I click on the icon. I think I will get into the habit of checking once a week for new podcasts and load them on to my player (which means turning it into a storage device and dragging and dropping the shows). Some day soon I'm going to need a newer and faster computer!
I usually listen to my player in the morning before I start work (unless I can't drag myself away from the book I'm reading) and work on whatever needlework project I have with me. I've also been listening on my walk home from work. Now I can't wait for nicer weather and I might just have to spend more time walking places! It's funny as I'm not overly particular in terms of what I'm listening to, as long as it's about books. Why do they all seem so interesting when very articulate bookish people are talking about them? A few highlights: the NYT talked in great detail about Roberto Bolano's Nazi Literature in the Americas. I already knew I wanted to give his work a try. Stacey D'Erasmo talked about his work and his importance in contemporary literature. He died in 2003. He was Chilean, and he's the hot new thing. He's very important in Latin American literature--he's what comes after the likes of Carlos Fuentes and Gabriel Garcia Marquez. In any case, Nazi Literature in America sort of doesn't sound like it would be something I would like, but D'Erasmo was so completely exuberant about him and this book that I think I need to read it. I only wish I could write posts the way she talked about his work!
I also heard an interview with James Meeks about his new novel We Are Now Beginning Our Descent (on the BBC). I loved his first novel The People's Act of Love, but thought this newer novel wouldn't be something I would like. Now I've changed my mind and will try it. On the same show I heard an interview with American author Junot Diaz who's new novel, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao was published last Fall. I've heard of Diaz, but I'm not familiar with his work. I doubt I would ever have picked up his new book, but my curiosity has been piqued.
I think it was on NPR that I heard an interview with Anne Enright. I already planned on reading The Gathering, but now I've bumped it up the pile. The BBC's World Book Club just discussed Edna O'Brien's The Country Girls Trilogy, which I read some years ago and recommend very highly. How interesting to hear the author read from her work and talk about it. Even interviews with authors or talks about books I might not read are often very fascinating.
By the way, the book I'm in line to listen to is Julia Fox's Jane Boleyn: The True Story of the Infamous Lady Rochford (she was Anne Boleyn's brother's wife). It's something I've seen and thought looked interesting but probably wouldn't read. I think I'd enjoy listening to it. I can see this MP3 player was a purchase that is going to get much use and is well worth the money I spent on it!