Other than writing everyday, they say that there is no better tool for improving your skill as a writer than to read. Personally I sometimes struggle enough finding the time to write much less having the time to read. After a full day of work my eyes are often too fatigued to read for too long so it takes me a long time to read a book these days. However for christmas my wife gave me an iPod. For those that don't know an iPod is essentially an MP3 player. While having my entire music collection at the touch of a button was cool I soon realized that by trasnfering audio books to my iPod was even cooler. Now during the "wasted" times of the day I enjoy a book. Walking the dog...I listen, driving to work...I listen, Even while using the restroom...well you get the point. My imagination is still engaged as if I were reading it but I get to take advantage of the dead time to do my "reading" and use my free time to write. The result is that I have more time to write and I go through an unabridged book in about a week to a week and a half. I was wondering if anyone else does this. Also since I am going through them so fast I was looking for some recomendations... As some of you know (unless you have only read what I have put in the gallery lately) I like the Mystery, Drama, Spy kind of stuff. I have already been through the Tom Clancy stuff. I enjoy Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch and have actually read the first two so that series will probably be next on the list. My wife who reads alot had picked out the John Grishams that she thinks I would enjoy the most and I also think I may try out the James Patterson "Alex Cross" series. I was wondering if there are any suggestions out there. Thanks.

Attached Link: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5182721

Anything by Michael Crichton is amazing :] Also, don't forget to check out Yard Sales and used book stores for previously-listened to books on tape. I know it is not the same as I-Pods, but still a great way to pass the time, or fill in the "wasted Time." I have also heard of great things from the *Harry Potter* series. There was a great show on National Public Radio [NPR} today about "non-professional" readers ... reading books for I-pods. Some were very good, at least so said the person being interviewed. They usually have NPR shows recorded the next day, so that you can get caught up on ones you miss. kind of Off-Topic another great "listen" would be the following. [A Pulitzer Prize for Copy Editing](http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5182874). Dee-Marie

Oh Dee-Marie! That is so funny. Nothing like a spelling mistake to change the angel... I mean angle of things.

Hey Susi, I cannot count how many times my fingers have mis-typed :] But, that could be a whole new thread topic ;] Dee-Marie

If you spend any time at all exercising at a gym you can't beat audio books for helping pass the time. They really do take the tedium out of the treadmill. One thing I find audio books particularly good for is filling gaps in my literary education. I prefer to take in the classics as audio books. They are things I know I would never be able to plow through by standard reading I'd surely fall asleep after a few pages. But with audio books I've not only gotten through the likes of The Iliad, The Odyssey, and The Aeneid, I found that I liked them! I would have never otherwise have finished Moby Dick. I know, I tried. And I would not have discovered how much I liked Ivanhoe. Dee Marie is right, the Harry Potter series is excellent in audio format, as are Tolkien, and Paolini (Eragon and it's sequel, Eldest). jon

Hey jon, I was having the same thoughts myself. A friend of mine is sending me his Hemmingway Collection. I would like to find the Iliad, the Odyssey and the Aeneid. Who is the reader and where did you find them? Moby Dick would be another good one I hadn't thought about. Thanks Japes

We got The Iliad (Recorded Books) and The Odyssey (State Street Press)at Barnes and Nobel. I got The Aeneid (High Bridge Company) as a Christmas present from my sister, so have no idea where she found it. Moby Dick came from the County Library - can't beat that price! The Iliad is read by George Guidall, The Odyssey by Norman Dietz, and the Aeneid by Christopher Ravenscroft. They all did good jobs. Of the two authors (Homer and Virgil) I have to give the nod to Homer. His works are much more compelling. jon

Thanks for the Info.