Thought I'd pass this along

[Qapla]

I spend a bit of time on the road so I listen to audio books (got tired of radio)

The book I was listening to today had a portion that made me think of this board - especially with the experiences some of us have had.

The main character of the story went to his cabin in the country to relax. While there, he found his neighbor using a brand new Kubota Backhoe/Loader. Keep in mind that the tractor incident in the book had nothing to do with the story. It seems that the only reason it was in the story is to make this guy a little more "human" so we could identify with him.

His neighbor is a banker also from the city with a cabin in the woods. The neighbor had this brand new Kubota and was talking about how he was getting pretty good with it. He was planning on clearing the snow from all the driveways in the area - as a nice neighbor gesture.

As the story progressed, they took the Kubota out and the neighbor taught the main character how to dig with the BH.

While using the tractor, the main character took note of "several new gashes" in the wood around the garage door where the neighbor parked the Kubota.

Just thought it was interesting that, even in a work of fiction, they tend to run into the garage door with the tractor. :laughing:

 

[MikeInEburg]

So what is the book title? I've probably listened to 200+ books over the past 15 years. Always looking for recommendations.
Mike

 

[Ford tractor]

I'd bet the author's wife made him put that part about the garage gashes in there!

 

[sandman2234]

I enjoy listening to books on tape, but don't do a lot of it lately. The main problem is either the cost of the books or the problems associated with returning rentals/loaners. About the time I got a good selection of books on cassette, the leased truck player died and they replaced it with a CD, which left me with a bunch of books I couldn't re-read. (sometimes I think I just do it for the noise, lol, since a lot of them I can quote word for word). I started listening to my type of music via Pandora on my cellular and plugging it into that neat little hole (aux connection) on the CD playing radio and three weeks later my lease ran out and the company put me into another truck that didn't have an aux connection. They aren't leaving me in that truck, so I just have to suffer thru till they find the right truck for me.
Little touches like the doorway gashes are signs that maybe the author is doing their homework (like reading this site!!) or maybe his Dad or Son recently bought a tractor and that was pointed out by the wife.
David from jax

 

[TripleR]

That is from one of John Sandford's "Prey" series isn't it?

 

[CBW1999]

If it were anything BUT a Kubota, the author would have wrote about them standing around the broken tractor wondering how to fix the garage :laughing:

 

[Travelover]

I enjoy listening to books on tape, but don't do a lot of it lately. The main problem is either the cost of the books or the problems associated with returning rentals/loaners. ...........

You might be able to get digital books for free from your local library. At my library they have a contract with an audiobook company and by entering my library card number, I can download any of hundreds of books to my MP3 player for free. The book "expires" after a few weeks. You never have to go to the library to either pick it up or return it. I use an in vehicle FM transmitter so I can listen to the book on the radio speakers.

 

[MikeInEburg]

You might be able to get digital books for free from your local library. At my library they have a contract with an audiobook company and by entering my library card number, I can download any of hundreds of books to my MP3 player for free. The book "expires" after a few weeks. You never have to go to the library to either pick it up or return it. I use an in vehicle FM transmitter so I can listen to the book on the radio speakers.

I do exactly the same thing. Works like a champ for me..
Mike

 

[Qapla]

That is from one of John Sandford's "Prey" series isn't it?

As a matter of fact, it is from the 10th in the series, "Certain Prey"

You might be able to get digital books for free from your local library. At my library they have a contract with an audio book company and by entering my library card number, I can download any of hundreds of books to my MP3 player for free. The book "expires" after a few weeks. You never have to go to the library to either pick it up or return it. I use an in vehicle FM transmitter so I can listen to the book on the radio speakers.

Our library has the same thing. You just have to make sure your MP3 player is compatible. The iPod previously was NOT compatible, but now it is.

I also have the FM transmitter, but my new radio has an AUX-in jack. But since the library has a large collection of books on CD, I have not yet bought an MP3 player for them. However, I may try d/l one to a flash drive and see if I can do it that way (my radio has a USB port)

 

[Travelover]

........... However, I may try d/l one to a flash drive and see if I can do it that way (my radio has a USB port)

It may have changed now, but in the past the MP3 player had to have DRM (digital rights management) software to allow you to play it. I picked one up for $15 a few years back - they are probably cheaper now. You also want one that picks up where you shut it off - some restart at the beginning which is OK for music, but not for a book.