June is a special month in the world of audio books because it is National AudioBook Month. What exactly does this mean? During this month the industry as a whole makes a big push to bring the appreciation of audio books to those that may not be aware of all the pleasures and benefits of listening to audio books. Though the growth in audio book listening may have slowed due to the recession, changes to the way we "read" are happening all around us.
If you are a reader you will find a way to read the books you love by the authors you favor. Opening up the world of reading to others as well as expanding the time available to read is one of the great things that audio books offer users. One of my favorite uses of audio books is for learning. Whether it is trying to learn a new language or keeping up with topics that relate to your profession or hobbies audio books allow you to do this while doing other things. Though many people listen in their cars I prefer to listen during my daily walks which have become a necessary part of my health routine. I take a 40 minute walk a day and instead of "wasting" my time I listen to my audio book collection. It has really made my walk something I look forward to every day.
In honor of June being audio book month and my true desire to open up the world of audio books to more people we are offering a special discount of 25% off of the audio books at our downloadable audiobook store CreateTimeAudio. At checkout use coupon code junerocks to get 25% off your order. Our audiobooks discounts page has also been updated for June 2010 and includes Gotta Keep On Tryin' by the DeBerry/Grant author team.
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A mother's love can move mountains. As Mother's Day approaches this weekend it is a great time to reflect on all the mother figures in our lives and how they have made a difference. We have updated our Mother's Day AudioBooks selection and a new one this year is Jenny McCarthy's update on her journey with the challenges of her son's autism. This new audio book shares stories of other mothers and families that have recovery stories of their own.
Today in our town a wake was held for a boy that got hit by a tree during a recent wind storm. These tragic and unforeseen events beg for an explanation that will never come. For those of us left behind we value the bond between mother and child even more and understand that nothing can be taken for granted. In many ways Mother's Day is more about our children than it is about us.
Whether we have great relationships or not it is clear that the bond between mother and child is probably the deepest in existence. To explore these relationships further I recommend both Mothers and Daughters by Carol Saline and Mothers and Sons by Colm Tóibín. So this Sunday don't just celebrate mom, celebrate the children.
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As both a fan of poetry and audio books I wanted to highlight some of the poetry offerings of our downloadable audio book store. This month is National Poetry Month in the United States. This annual celebration of poetry was started back in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets. Inspired by other monthly celebrations like Black History Month the month of April was chosen apparently for lack of competition from other celebrations.
A while back I posed a question about "Who Created Audiobooks?" and Chris Benson commented on the audio book industry considering Dylan Thomas' readings of his poems as being the first official audio book recording. Poetry was meant to be heard with it's rhythms and rhymes.
The audiobook format is great for producing works of classical poetry readings by notable narrators and full cast productions of classics like Virgil's Aeneid and Homer's Iliad. Listening to Milton's Paradise Lost is also a feast for the ears and the soul.
Poetry is a fundamental part of literature that may be in jeopardy as younger readers and listeners gravitate toward easier genres. This could be a function of the public educational system. Exposure is key to developing any kind of appreciation. Back in high school and college I remember many kids thought getting the Cliff Notes or short versions of books they had to study. It was a short cut to understanding what the books were all about, especially for longer books. When it comes to poetic works like the Iliad or Paradise Lost and even Shakespeare a lot of the meaning and understanding is relayed in how the book is read. Audio books help to understand how to interpret and read these types of works. Many readers don't get Shakespeare until they hear it read by someone not hesitating because they don't understand what is being said.
In honor of National Poetry Month we have put up a coupon which will give you a 20% discount on all orders until the end of May 2010. Just enter coupon code poetry at checkout.
Browse our collection of Poetry Audiobooks here.
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Yesterday the APA(Audio Publishers Association) announced the nominees for the 2 most prestigious awards to be given out at the Audies Award Ceremony in May. AudioBook of the Year and Distinguished Achievement in Production tend to get a lot of the press even though the Audies are awarded across 30 categories.
The nominees for 2010 Audio Book of the Year are:
- Nelson Mandela's African Folktales, Read by a star studded cast including Samuel L. Jackson, Whoopi Goldberg and Matt Damon Published by Hachette Audio. This is actually a collection of quite a few different folktales.
- The Time of My Life, Read by Patrick Swayze and Lisa Liemi, Published by Simon&Schuster
- The Word of Promise Audio Bible, Read by over 600 actors anchored by Michael York, Published by Thomas Nelson Inc.
As usual these titles were nominated for:
Audiobook of the Year recognizes the audiobook that, through quality, innovation, marketing and sales, has had the most significant impact on the industry.
There are actually 5 audio books that were nominated for 2010 Distinguished Achievement in Production. This award is given to audio books productions that "represent the best the format has to offer in listening excellence".
- Graceling
- The Help
- The Maltese Falcon
- Nelson Mandela's African Folktales
- The Screwtape Letters
More details can be found on the official press release issued by the APA.
We plan to provide more information on these titles as we get closer to the Audies Gala in May.
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April is Alcohol Awareness Month and we have decided to put together a page of our audio books on alcoholism. This collection of audio books covers topics like managing addiction and treatment options. You can get 20% off your order this month by using the coupon code stopdrinking at checkout.
There are many factors that can lead to a person becoming addicted to alcohol. Though stress can play a big role so can uncontrollable things like heredity. Though we have included some of the better known self hypnosis audios on alcohol and addiction we have also included 2 other titles that focus on treatment and recovery.
The Betty Ford Center is well-known for treating sufferers of alcoholism. Time is All We Have: Four Weeks at the Betty Ford Center is writer Barnaby Conrad's own story of his time at the alcohol treatment center.
All of these People is personal story of reporter Fergal Keane:
At the heart of Fergal Keane's story is a descent into and recovery from alcoholism, spanning two generations, father and son; a different kind of war, but as much part of the journey of the last 25 years as the bullets and bombs.
Though drinking is everyone's personal choice, trouble with drinking affects everyone around that person. Teenage drinking, including binge drinking is becoming more and more of a problem. As a society we need to understand what can lead to alcoholism. You can find more information and resources about Alcohol Awareness Month at this US government site.
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