Hoarded Ordinaries

During 2008, I didn’t keep track of the books I listened to; I just listened to one after another, letting the mood of the moment (and the vagaries of whatever titles were available for download) determine what I “read” next. In 2009, I want to be more methodical about my audio-book habit. Although I still don’t have an official reading list, I want to keep track of what I read as I read it…and what better place to do so than here on my blog!

For that reason, this year I’ll be participating in J. Kaye’s Book Blog 2009 Audiobook Challenge, the guidelines for which are as follows:

1. You can join anytime as long as you don’t start listening to your books prior to 2009.
2. This challenge is for 2009 only. The last day to have all your books read is December 31, 2009.
3. You can join anytime between now and December 31, 2009.
4. When you sign up under Mr. Linky [on J. Kaye's Book Blog], list the direct link to your post where your audiobooks will be listed. If you list just your blog’s URL, it will be removed. If you don’t have a blog, leave the URL blank.
5. You do not have to list your books ahead of time. If you decide to, you can change them as you go.
6. Our goal is to listen to 12 audiobooks in 2009. No need to list your books now. You can do so as you go.
7. Feel free to post a link to your reviews in the comment section on J. Kaye’s blog. That way, we can visit your blog and read your review.

Given the number of audiobooks I listened to in 2008, I have no doubt I’ll be able to listen to 12 titles in 2009. For me, the challenge is to keep a blog-record of what I read: not necessarily a full review, but a short post noting when I’ve finished a particular title. I trust that this practice of keeping track of what I listen to will be as fruitful for me and my own memory as it will be for any of my readers. In any case, I’ll keep this page updated with links to my mini-reviews in order to track my listening habits over the course of the challenge.

As 2009 begins, I’m listening to Marilynne Robinson’s Gilead, which I’m re-visiting in order to refresh my memory of the storyline before beginning Robinson’s new novel, Home. Because I started listening to Gilead in 2008, it doesn’t count toward J. Kaye’s 2009 challenge, but I’ll get started with that soon enough.

In the meantime, why don’t you join me in taking the challenge? Even if you can’t listen to twelve books in twelve months, surely you’d have fun trying?

2009 Audiobook Challenge reviews:

1. Home by Marilynne Robinson (posted January 12, 2009)
2. A Mercy by Toni Morrison (posted March 18, 2009)