Audible.com is my new secret boyfriend.
They finally made it so you could search just for the free programming outside of their Member Audio specials (which I knew they had, since I came across a freebie Neil Gaiman talk last month). I just downloaded a bunch of author interviews, a UN speech from Angelina Jolie, a couple of short stories, and one or two NPR show episodes (like one for Fresh Air). If I'm reading them correctly, non-members can access this free stuff, as well. Most of it is political or health based (or advertising for audible), but there are some gems in there--like a Chuck Palahniuk short story or the Lemony Snicket interview.
Also, I finally got my second credit with which to buy a book. As I can't seem to resist spending things immediately, I searched for a really really long book that would only cost me one credit. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell won out. I tried reading it early last year and got annoyed with the language, so I'm thinking that being able to do stuff while listening to it will get me through it. I mean, the idea is really cool--magicians in historical England having a sort of rivalry--but I found the language and writing style to be too dry. A good narrator should be able to overcome that by making the story more important. I hope.
Also, I finally got my second credit with which to buy a book. As I can't seem to resist spending things immediately, I searched for a really really long book that would only cost me one credit. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell won out. I tried reading it early last year and got annoyed with the language, so I'm thinking that being able to do stuff while listening to it will get me through it. I mean, the idea is really cool--magicians in historical England having a sort of rivalry--but I found the language and writing style to be too dry. A good narrator should be able to overcome that by making the story more important. I hope.