I am not much of a reader, I try to be, but my ADHD really kicks into gear every time I pick up a book and try to sit still with it for more than 5 minutes. My hands get sweaty, my legs get restless, and my mind loses focus. I have always related with Jane Bennet from Pride and Prejudice when she says "I wish I read more, but there always seems to be so many other things to do" -- that quote is from the 2005 movie adaptation of the book (obviously), because, like I said, not much of a reader. However, I was born with an incessant desire to be a good writer. My great-grandfather wrote and published several religious sermons and books. My grandmother, who died long before I was born, was known for her eloquent way with words. My dad can bring emotion into any mundane story. My brother, Nathaniel, can write meaningful poetry on a whim. And my sister, Juline, has such an impressive vocabulary, that I often have to nonchalantly Google words she uses mid-conversation just so I can keep up with her. Each of their examples has influenced me to improve my own writing abilities.
Several years ago when I was considering what measures I would need to take in order to enhance my verbal communication, the thought "you should read more" came to me. I initially felt uninterested in this impression and brushed it aside. But over the course of the next few days, the thought persisted. After more consideration I decided that I could start off slowly by replacing my music with audiobooks while doing my daily activities such as cleaning the house, cooking dinner, commuting to and from work, etc. I eased into this new habit until it became just that--a habit. I quickly found comfort in the books I listened to and even started to enjoy them, rather than viewing them as a means to an end. I can't say whether or not my newly found addiction to audiobooks has yielded improved results in my writing, but it has lead to expanded knowledge in other areas and a greater desire to learn. Of course, reading has many benefits that listening does not. Certainly I could learn a bit more about sentence structure and punctuation by actually looking at a page and reading the words, but listening has helped to expand my lexicon as well as my understanding. No, I still have not become the reader I intend to, but I am an improved listener *wink*. This year alone I have listened to over 300 hours of books, which may not seem like much for a such a long time period, but for a full-time student and employee, it definitely feels like an accomplishment.
I can't in good conscience recommend every book I have listened to over the last few months, but I do want to share with you the ones I loved most. I don't want this post to be too long or wordy, so I am going to condense it by only sharing the top three books I would recommend in each genre, but I will not be sharing my personal reviews of them. For each book I share I suggest you read the reviews, which I will happily link you to. Keep in mind that Audible reviews take into account the narrator, so if you intend to read these books rather than listen to them, the reviews linked below may not be entirely accurate for the experience you choose.
"As with companions so with books. We may choose those which will make us better, more intelligent, more appreciative of the good and the beautiful in the world, or we may choose the trashy, the vulgar, the obscene, which will make us feel as though we’ve been 'wallowing in the mire.'" - David O. Mckay
Biographies
(click each photo to read reviews)
aUTOBIOGRAPHIES
(click each photo to read reviews)
religious
(click each photo to read reviews)
self-help
(click each photo to read reviews)
fiction
(click each photo to read reviews)
"If we know the books located at the bedside, we know much about the man." - Douglas L. Callister
I hope you found a book you're interested in from the selection above. If you did, I would love to hear your thoughts on it. I would also be thrilled to receive any of your suggestions for books to read in this upcoming year. With the Holidays and the end of my semester speedily approaching, I don't think I will have much time in the coming weeks to listen as much as I would like, but I plan to hit the ground running once the hustle and bustle of this season comes to an end. Enjoy!