2008 awesomeness and 2009 motivation to be awesome

So I've been whining about not reading as much as I'd like. Besides fun and work, I was looking for more motivation. Well, more like passively waiting for it. So then another teen librarian suggested we compete...

Woohoo! Motivation! http://www.swonlibraries.org/viewevent?id=1594

A reading contest between, well, anyone who wants to participate. Sweet. It's like 4th grade all over again. I WILL RULE WITH MY READING LOG.

So what am I reading now? The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman. After listening to his audiobooks (which he beautifully narrates), I can actually hear him in my head. Kinda creepy and cool at the same time. I've been working on it awhile. It's really, really good, and I think all ages will appreciate it. I've just been lazy and not reading outside of work breaks.

Otherwise, my 2008 reading is going well. I've gotten through:
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
Identical by Ellen Hopkins
Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer (and the rest of the saga, at that!)
Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson
Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott
Impossible by Nancy Werlin
Sweethearts by Sara Zarr

I'm currently listening to:
Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson

I have possession of:
Paper Towns by John Green
Hero Type by Barry Lyga

And the only thing left I don't have and haven't read is:
What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell
Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp

I'm sure there are more, and I've tried to read books previously published (sometimes my only options for listening!). But it's still nice to, hopefully, already have some award winners read when they're announced later this month. Besides, there are only 312 books on my goodreads to-read shelf... I'll never catch up.

Work wise, I'm doing a book discussion on 2008 books. I have a sinking feeling it will turn into a we-love-Breaking-Dawn group, but hey, it's 2008. Our next big reading promotion is for award winners. Luckily, I've already gotten many of them read because of school, but there are always more!!!

Do you listen?

I've been a bad reader. Meaning, I haven't really read a lot lately. I love books. I do. It's just outside of lunch breaks at work, I haven't picked up books often recently.

But I HAVE constantly been listening to audiobooks. I love, love, love audiobooks. No, it's not the same as reading, but it can be an incredibly enjoyable experience in itself. I make use of my commute (30 minutes each way) and even a little time walking to and from my car (thanks ipod). As much as I love reading, I love listening as well. There's something nice about someone reading you a story. And some of these narrators are phenomenal.

I would never discount an audiobook. The fundamentals of reading are still there: using your imagination in creating another world and living vicarously through these characters. Go listen.