The Audio Books Blog

Holidaze...Bah.

Excuse the cheesy post title, but it's been that kind of couple of weeks.

I'm usually one of those really obnoxious people that has all their shopping done by mid-September, with maybe 50-70% of my shopping done during the Boxing Day sale season.

For those non-Canadian readers unfamiliar with our Northern Vernacular, Boxing Day is December 26th-- theoretically a day of rest and recuperation, but actually the day that we've all been training for all Christmas shopping season... it's like the Festivus Maximus of holiday shopping.

Okay. Enough whingeing. Back on point, a very specific point, actually, which for this particular independent media outlet is audio books. Tying our two somewhat divergent topics together, here are the official Ninja Kitten picks for what audio books to give to whom, assuming that you are like me and have no freaking clue what to get for your nearest and dearest. Bah. If you really have some dough to blow, or if someone's been very, very nice this year, you could also buy them an MP3 player, then preload it with a couple of downloaded audio books, and you're done.

For your Mom: As I've mentioned before, my moms listens as she quilts. Maybe your mom cross-stitches. Maybe she decoupages. Maybe she fixes carburetors. Listening to a great story like Colleen McCullough's Morgan's Run while she drives to work or indulges in whatever it is she does to avoid strangling your dad (maybe I'm projecting here, but you know what I mean) will keep her happy and less likely to care that you're still single.

For your Dad: Middle-aged guys seem to be universally fascinated with great men-- and most seem to have a renaissance of their childhood astronaut fascination. Or perhaps it's just that they are less good at self-editing. Try a biography like John Glenn's audio book for him to listen to while he putters. He'll get a faraway look in his eye, and you can buy him a telescope for his next birthday. Or some nice Superman pj's. Definitely one of the two.

For your Brother: Maybe switch it up a little and get him a DVD or something. Or get him the Daily Show audio book.

For you Sister: You can't go wrong with Jane Austen, especially Pride and Prejudice. You just can't. Period. When her and her friends are all gushing over the movie, she can throw in some haughty remark about its faithfulness to the novel in a supersnotty tone. This will make her very, very happy. Plus, you can borrow it when she's done!

posted by TheNinjaKitten @ 11:06 AM