I might not have the coolest job in the world. Some days I might collect paper cuts like Pokemon. But I can listen to my iPod all day long. And when I’m not listening to podcasts or trying not to sing along with Duran Duran, David Bowie or Skinny Puppy, I listen to audiobooks. Lovely, glorious audiobooks. Well, not every audiobook is for me (see the blog post about my issue with some audiobook narrators) but I’m willing to give most audiobooks a try to help whittle away the work day.

Something went very right in Library Land this past week because I received e-mails audiobooks I put on hold via OverDrive Media were finally mine. Well, mine for seven days. And lunge for my iPod and download away I went.

Now this might seem logical to the average person but unless you of very stern stuff it’s not the best idea to start listening to Max Brooks’ World War Z on your way to work around 5 am. Especially when you’re driving down lonely back country roads and you’re the only person on the road. You will freak the flip out when a cat slinks across the road. But once you’ve gotten safely to work, put the electric kettle on for your first cups of tea and it’s just you and a security guard down the hall? World War Z is amazing. I hadn’t been at work more than twenty minutes when I went online, found the cast list, printed it out and stuck it next to my monitor as I tackled Work Drawer Everest. I have never done that with an audiobook before. Looked up a narrator? Yes  I’ve done that before. I like knowing what other books a reader has done if I recognize their voice.

But World War Z? Oh my great Tulu the talent! I might have swooned (okay I did) when Jürgen Prochnow started his chapter. (Blacklight: “That’s it! You’re banned from watching Dune ever again!” Me: <ignores Blacklight as she creeps over to the DVD cupboard to find In the Mouth of Madness>). Sadly I didn’t realize until too late I was listening to the abridged audiobook of World War Z. I loathe abridged audiobooks something awful. But worry not! I am so getting the 10 disc unabridged version from the library this weekend if the snow ever freaking stops. Stupid New England winter weather…

Still rather bummed I didn’t get to listen to some of my favorite World War Z stories (if you can listen to feral child Sharon’s story and not cry? You are a monster! Or my brother Andy…), I moped around on Mr Couch once I got home. Then I checked my email. What did I find? Besides Groupon offering deals on wine and vineyard tours. Groupon…I don’t drink!!!!!! I had 48 hours to snap up the second hold I had placed weeks ago. If there is a land speed record for Overdrive Media sign in and downloads on an iPod? I might have set a new record.  The next morning when I logged into my computer at Company X, I had my ear-buds jammed in and was listening to The Astronaut Wives Club. Now Blacklight, who is a NASA nerd and thinks he knows everything about astronauts and outer space claims the best book about space is Mike Mullane’s Riding Rockets. He’s so wrong. Because Riding Rockets needs to stand in line behind Mary Roach’s Packing for Mars. And both those books need to bow down before Lily Koppel’s The Astronaut Wives Club: A True Story because without the support and superhuman efforts of their wives, those space cowboys would haven’t been able to set off a toy rocket let alone go into space. <cue Blacklight looking at me in sheer horror because I have just said the most horrid thing ever.>

Look I’m not a total savage. I’ve read books about space and astronauts. I had Starman: The Truth Behind the Legend of Yuri Gagarin reserved and read before Blacklight even knew the book existed. But for my money, The Astronaut Wives Club: A True Story is the book I want to have in my permanent audiobook collection. Yes, I giggled when Orlagh Cassidy did her best JFK voice (it sounded more Foghorn Leghorn than JFK to me) but damn if I didn’t tear up when Apollo 1 burned up and when poor Joan Aldrin should have just run like hell from her marriage (Blacklight: <coffee cup frozen on the way to his mouth> “Buzz Aldrin is a god! How dare you!”). You know a book is amazing when you go from wondering if the office will close early because of the snow to losing yourself completely in the stories of the ladies who did everything to get their men into space.

Now to figure out what to listen to at work tomorrow. Will this be the time I finally get more than two chapters into Queen Lucia without giving up? Do I re-listen to something from the permanent audiobook collection? Maybe Sybil Exposed? Or do I grab my iPod and see what treasures are available from OverDrive Media?