Two Minutes Du Jour

I’ve always been a fan of books — the feel of a paperback, the weight of a hardback, the satisfaction of turning pages. But I never embraced digital platforms. I spend enough time on screens, thank you very much. That is, until the last few months.

With travel to Corsica on the horizon, the idea of lugging multiple books in my carry-on did not appeal. Enter Libby, a free app that lets you borrow ebooks and audiobooks with your library card. Suddenly, I had an entire library — plus international magazines — in my pocket.

AirPods in, I could “read” anywhere, anytime. During our travels, I devoured The Rose Café: Love and War in Corsica by John Hanson Mitchell, a quiet, lyrical memoir about summers, small towns, and finding beauty in simplicity in Corsica during the Algerian and Vietnam Wars. I also discovered thriller writer Lucy Foley. The Paris Apartment was a twisty, atmospheric ride through an eerie Parisian apartment building. Now, several of her titles are on my TBR list.

And then there’s LivreVox — free, public-domain audiobooks read by volunteers around the world. My husband shared this gem and we recently listened to two classics by F. Scott Fitzgerald: This Side or Paradise (BTW, it was his debut novel) and The Great Gatsby; next up? Tender is the Night.

Our summer also included a 12-hour drive to Montana, during which I read Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea aloud to my husband — one of his longtime favorites that I had never read. It was our own version of an audiobook. Spare, textured prose came alive in a new way as we experienced the story together, sparking thoughtful conversations along the way.

Looking back, I realized I’ve discovered four new ways to read this summer:

• Libby ebooks for when I want the book in my hand but not in my bag.
• Libby audiobooks for walks, housework or long flights.
• LivreVox audiobooks for timeless classics.
• Reading aloud — with my husband, or maybe next time with our grandson.

If it’s been a while since you picked up a book, maybe this is your sign. Read for pleasure, not just for work. Revisit a favorite classic or explore a new genre. Start a book you’ve been “meaning to get to” for years. Or, take a cue from my oldest sister, who keeps an “upstairs book” and a “downstairs book,” ensuring a story is always within reach.

Who knew my AirPods and Hemingway would make such good travel companions?

Two Links Du Jour:

LivreVox – Free public domain audio books read by volunteers from around the world

Libby – Thousands of public libraries offer free e-books, magazines and audio books.