Quick Lit: March 2015

It's been a pretty slow month for me. I only read two books this month, and I didn't even finish one of them! I did listen to three audiobooks so that makes this post a little worthwhile, right?  At least it's really a quick read this time!  (Linking up with Modern Mrs Darcy, if you want to find out what other people have been reading just click here.)

What I Read:

I'm going to start with the book I refused to finish. Frog Music. I read Room, the author's debut novel, a few years ago and liked it. It was a rough read, the subject matter was grim. And this book was no different. I just never connected with the story. I can't even really tell you what it is about, other than the main character was a woman who worked in a brothel. She had a baby daddy who was clearly only with her because this book took place in California in the 1800's, because he so obviously had his own male lover on the side. I was actually surprised to see this called a historical crime drama. Maybe I quit too soon (almost halfway through the book), but it didn't read like a crime drama at all. Obviously I'm not a fan, but if you give it a shot, let me know what you think! ($9.99 for Kindle)

I read My So-Called Freelance Life several years ago before I started working as a freelance writer, and as I'm working on rebuilding my business now I thought it was time for a refresher. It isn't just for writers, it is for anyone interested in the freelance lifestyle. I highly recommend it. ($9.99 for Kindle)

What I Listened To:

If you read my post about Audible Alternatives, you know that I've been listening to Harry Potter audiobooks lately. The first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, was pretty much as I remembered. Except the Dursleys are definitely worse in the book! If you haven't read the Harry Potter books yet, what are you waiting for? ($5.99 for Kindle)

The Chamber of Secrets was my least favorite of all the books (and movies) until I finished the series and understood how important it was in the grand scheme of things. I appreciated it much more this time around. There were definitely parts of this book that differed from the movie, so it was fun to be reminded of all that I miss when I watch the movie. Plus the narrator is pretty great at voices, except his Hermoine voice drives me nuts! ($7.99 for Kindle)

The Prisoner of Azkaban was the must different from the movie so far. I vaguely remember  thinking that when I saw the movies originally, but that's been quite awhile ago now. Listening to the book now and thinking about the movie has been fun, trying to decide why they decided to keep and eliminate certain scenes. I'm loving these audio books, obviously! ($7.99 for Kindle)  

So that's my pathetic little list. How did you do this month?

 Previously on Mrs Robbins Sparkles...

Audible is Awesome *sung to the tune of Everything is Awesome*

*Not a sponsored post. I'm just obsessed with Audible.*

You’ve heard of Audible by now, right? Most of you are probably nodding, but for the one person out there who hasn’t, let me explain.  Audible is a company that produces and sells “spoken word entertainment”. Meaning, it’s the place to go for cheap audiobooks!

How cheap? Well, that depends. The best way to go is to subscribe to Audible. Currently I pay $14.95 a month, which gives me one free credit to use on any audiobook I want, plus a 30% discount on any other audiobook and access to their member-only sales. Most audiobooks that aren’t on sale will cost more than $14.95, so basically you are paying for one book a month plus all the benefits of the membership.

Why is Audible awesome?

• They offer tons of books. From the classics to the new releases, I promise you will find something you like.
• They constantly offer deals and discounts. As a member you get 30% off any title, but there are also Daily Deals plus regular sales like their recent First in a Series sale. You could pretty much avoid paying full price for an audiobook forever!
• You can listen to the book at different speeds. I only recently discovered this feature, and I love it. Some books move too slowly for me, so I like to kick things up a notch :)
• You can check out reviews of the author & the narrator. The narrator is super important, because they can make or break a book. Always listen to a preview to make sure you can stand the narrator’s voice. But if you happen to buy one that you end up hating…
• You can return a book if you don’t like it! No questions asked. I did this with two that I bought early on in my Audible experience and it was super easy.

If that sounds like something you are interested in, then you should try out the 30 day trial Audible is offering right now. Because you don’t just get 30 days for free, you also get 2 free audiobooks! I’ve been a fan of Audible for almost a year now, and I’m still loving it. In fact, I barely listen to the radio anymore. As soon as I get in my car, I start Audible so I can jump back into the story. I'm currently listening to The Fiery Cross, but I have about 5 or 6 in my queue. I also have a couple of credits I should use! (Pro tip: when spending your credits, choose wisely. I usually buy an Outlander book with mine, because those books can cost up to $60!)

My favorite audiobook to date has been Yes Please! by Amy Poehler, but I also really enjoyed Unbroken. Amy Poehler narrated her own book (with help from some other celebs) and Edward Herrman narrated unbroken so it was like listening to Rory's grandfather read me a story.

Are you an audiobook listener? Why or why not? And if you are, any amazing recommendations I should know about?

As I said, not a sponsored post. It does include affiliate links, so if you are interested then click on through to support Mrs Robbins Sparkles. Because Squarespace does not accept glitter for payment.
 

Previously on Mrs Robbins Sparkles...

I Said Brrr...

Anyone else remember that ridiculous cheer? It's one of the things that I'm afraid will be forever stuck in my brain. Some day I'll be 75 years old and unable to remember why I left my keys, but I will always chant "Brr, it's cold in here. There must be some Toros in the atmosphere." Thanks Bring it On. 

Really though, it is cold in here! Or rather, out there. We didn't get much snow yesterday, but it was definitely snowing on me on my drive in to work this morning. Yes, I'm back at the office today, but I wish I was at home sitting in front of the fire. That's how I spent last Monday and it was delightful. Is there anything better than a fire on a freezing cold day?

No, no there is not!

But alas, not every day can be a home in your PJs in front of a fire day. (Wouldn't that be lovely, though?) 

Ok, I didn't write this just to whine about the cold. I know most of the country is fighting the same thing right now. No, I also want to tell you about a great deal! 

My blogger friend Joey Hodges self-published a book, Yeah, Maybe, and it is on sale for only $1.99 this week! If you're interested in an awesome book at an unbeatable price, head over to Amazon to snatch it up. You'll be supporting an awesome lady!

For those of you wondering what it is about, here ya go!

For quiet, reserved, and focused 15 year old Annie Mackey, school was a sanctuary.  But when her bubbly and beautiful neighborhood best friend joins her at Willow Point High for freshmen year, her world is turned upside down.

Everything Annie could count on for stability is shattered, and she's left feeling more alone than ever before.

Just when she's about to lose all hope, someone unexpected swoops in and gives her a much needed lesson in perspective.

I hope you're staying warm this Monday, friends. Have a great week!

Previously on Mrs Robbins Sparkles...

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