THE 30-SECOND COMMUTE

Three years ago Stephanie Dickison, self-described "pop-culture vulture," quit her office job to eke out a living as a full-time writer, blogger, and reviewer in Toronto. This brief, entertaining audiobook follows her successes and struggles in that endeavor, dispelling the myth of the carefree freelancer. THE 30-SECOND COMMUTE is a kind of audio blog, with brief, random "posts" that don't really need to be listened to in order. And it works well. Suzy Myers's girlish, ebullient narration suits the format perfectly, capturing the author's self-deprecating humor as she riffs about exasperating editors or the fatigue that sets in after one too many Italian restaurant reviews. It's all good fun that will ring true for anyone who writes from home. D.B. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2010]