My Audio Book Obsession

I am nuts about Dickens. Especially David Copperfield.

I purchased and downloaded the audio book, David Copperfield by Charles Dickens - all 34 and a half hours of it. It is read by Martin Jarvis, who I have to say is the master of narration. There is none better - no, not one.

It took me nearly 2 months to listen to it all. And I was sorry when it ended. Audio books are perfect for me, because I barely get time for leisurely reading these days, but I have heaps of time while I'm ironing or cleaning or prepping for dinner, and it makes me feel productive to be doing two things at the same time - plus it makes the chores so much more nicer!

I'm the type of person that when I read a good book that I love, I can believe that those people are real, and that those events really happened. I think it means that somewhere in my childhood I didn't make the transition between imaginary and reality. It's why I can't watch really violent movies - or really intensely sad movies - because they will haunt me.

But David Copperfield is a delight to the senses. It is almost rivaling my love of Jane Eyre. I don't know which I enjoy better.

One thing I love about Dickens' writing is that he rounds things off very nicely at the end. You're never left hanging, trying to guess the fate of the characters, or thinking about what is going to happen next. It's very, very satisfying.
If you have seen the movie, David Copperfield, with Maggie Smith playing a wonderful Betsy Trotwood, then you should read the book too, because the movie left out some wonderful characters such as Tommy Traddles and Dr. Strong and Annie, and while I love the movie, the book is better.

I have an audio book to download before we go on holiday tomorrow, and I am torn over what to get. More Dickens (Great Expectations or Bleak House) or a Jane Austen (Pride and Prejudice or Sense and Sensibility) or an Agatha Christie. Such a big decision.