Whew! We’re moved! Friday the 13th turned out to be very lucky day for us — no problems at all before, during, or after the move.

In the past two weeks, there were three or four days when I did not read more than ten pages. I’ve been reading so much in the past few months, it was very strange. I was so busy packing up the house and then cleaning the new house, that I didn’t even read at the end of the day.

Then I remembered that I could listen to an audiobook.

My library has audiobooks for download, Librivox.org has audiobooks to download, and there’s always the old-fashioned way of going to the library and checking out a book on CD.

So in the past two weeks, despite the fact that I couldn’t finish many of the books I started in January, I did get through two and half audiobooks: Animal Farm by George Orwell, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, and half of Will in the World by Stephen Greenblatt (a biography of Shakespeare).

It was very nice to have something to listen to as I packed up boxes. My husband was out of town during much of the packing and I felt very overwhelmed. But as I followed Elizabeth and Darcy’s romance, for example, I didn’t mind the hours of chores. It was fun to hear the story as I worked.

I’ve decided I much prefer to read a book. Both Animal Farm and Pride and Prejudice were “rereads” for me (and I’ve been wanting to reread P&P for months) and so it was OK listening this time around. I also find listening to nonfiction (like the biography) to be easier on the ears — it’s easier to follow if I miss a few seconds.

However, the time I get to read is time cherished. Listening to a good book is not the same pleasure, although it still makes the chores bearable.

What’s the last audiobook you read? Which genre is easiest for you to listen to in audio?

I still have many boxes to unpack, so I suspect I’ll get through the biography in no time this week! I also have a few books I finished in January and the early days of the month that I need to review on Rebecca Reads, so be on the look out for some reviews in the coming days (assuming I have time to sit down and write them…).