Audio Books vs. Regular Books

[Kelley Anne]

So I had an interesting conversation with someone last night and it made me want to throw this topic of conversation out to the group to see what others have to say about it. Does listening to an audio book count as a book that you've read?

For those of you who follow my posts at all, you know that I love audiobooks, and that I listen to a LOT of them. I've even been known to go out and get audiobook copies of the books that I already have or have read in the normal version. If I enjoy a book, I want to have an audio book version of it! Also, I work 2 jobs, so I really don't have a ton of time to sit around and read during the day. So, probably 2/3rds of the reading that I get done is because I can listen to audio books during one of my jobs.

Well, last night, a coworker of mine told me that a book that I listen to, but don't "read" can't be counted as a book I've read. I was told that would be just like someone watching the Harry Potter movies and claiming to have read the books because they know the story. What do you guys think?

What constitutes reading? Is it the actual act of reading the words on the page? Or is it going along on the journey of the characters, no matter how you go along with them. I mean, they say that reading aloud to a child is one of the most beneficial things that you can do, but they're not the ones reading the words on the page.

I mean, don't get me wrong. I'm not thinking that audiobooks should in any way replace regular books. If that was the case, many people would never even learn how to read. Plus, there is nothing more satisfying to me than to see all of my books lined up on my bookshelves. But I think that audio books have their place as well.

What do you guys think? Can you count a book that you listen to as a book that you've read?

[Starling]

Years ago when I was driving up to 100 miles a day for a job I "read" a lot of what where then Books on Tape.

I found that I would listen to a book that I couldn't make myself read. And I would enjoy those books and I was glad that I'd had the opportunity to know those books.

In my opinion, listening to a book counts as reading the book. In some cases you "read" the book more completely than you would have if you had held the physical book in your hand.

[Kelley Anne]

I agree with you when you said you might read a book more completely. I find that if I am really excited about a book, I'll start to almost speed read it and end up missing a lot of important things. But with an audio book, you can't do that! I read all of the Harry Potter books before I listened to them. And when I started listening, I found so many things that I either hadn't noticed or didn't remember about. I seem to remember the details a lot more when I've listened to it.

Also, I'm like you where I've found that some books that I just couldn't get through sitting and reading, I've enjoyed on audio.

[K]

That is an interesting question.
I agree with your co-worker that watching Harry Potter is not the same as reading the books and I also feel that is the case for all movie/ book adaptations.
But I feel that the reverse is true for plays, like the works Shakespeare. Reading the work or seeing it performed offer different experiences but I feel in both that the integrity of the story is intact. Same with audiobooks IMO. They are a direct translation of the book into a performance not an adaption like a movie, which often changes the story to suit the movie.
(I am still annoyed at the changes to the end of the latest Harry Potter movie)

I think in the strictest sense of the word, unless you physically perform the act you haven't "read" the book but in the cases of plays and audiobooks you have still experienced the same story and in a conversational sense of the word you have read it. I think that audiobooks should count as read in the goodreads world.


I have been thinking a lot about getting some audiobooks recently, since I have the sort of job that allows me to listen to my iphone throughout most of the day and although I love music almost as much as reading... variety is the spice of life. I have been thinking of getting the Dresden files in audio format, which series do you recommend?

[Melodie]

It took me a long time to warm up to audiobooks. The first one I tried was one of the Bourne books some years back. Couldn't get thru the first tape. A couple of years later someone told me I should try something I'd already read and liked. So, I got INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE. Still wasn't completely sold on the concept, but I listened to the whole thing. When the first audio for Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden books came out I decided to give it a shot since the book was STORM FRONT and I had really not liked the ink & paper book. James Marsters reads the books and he is so spot on perfect for the series, that I really liked a book I had previously hated. I've since both read & listened to all the Dresden books that have been released on audio, so far. Also listened to TWILIGHT after reading it and loved it, too. And I most definitely DO think they count as books read!

[Kelley Anne]

I've been thinking about getting the Dresden series. That's not a series I've ever read before and I've heard really good things about the audio books.

As for suggestions, wow, do we have a week? lol.

*City of Bones series by Cassandra Clare
*Sookie Stackhouse and Harper Connelly series by Charlaine Harris
*Eragon series by Christopher Paolini (that's one of those that I had trouble reading it but enjoyed the audio)
*Cassie Palmer series by Karen Chance (I really don't think I would have ever read this series otherwise. I had a hard time with the first book)
*Both series by
Karen Marie Moning. The guy who read the Highlander ones does the most amazing Scottish Brogue that makes you want to melt. And the fact that the Fever series is told in first person makes the audio for it really fun to listen to.
*I really liked Bitten and Men of the Otherworld but not the rest of the books in the series quite as much.
*The girl who read the Queen Betsy series by Mary Janice Davidson does the perfect airheaded blond act!
* I wish that the rest of the Patricia Briggs books would come out, but so far I've only listened to Bone Crossed and Cry Wolf
*Both the Rachel Vincent and Richelle Mead audios are fantastic
*And if you are going to read the Uglies series, you should try the audio. The first book is hard to get into, but the audio seems to make it easier. Although I didn't like some of the voices that she used for a couple of the characters.
* And of course I can't not mention Harry Potter. By far, those are the most amazing audiobooks I've listened to!!! Jim Dale won a ton of awards for them, and he deserved every one. He truly brings those books alive, and completely acts them out. He has very distinct voices for each of the characters, and before too long you can pick out what character is saying what just by the voice.

The book that I had the hardest time with for audio was The Host. I love the book, but something about the girl that reads it kinda drives me crazy. I've gotten used to it, because I've listened to it at work. But I don't recommend it.

In case you couldn't tell, I REALLY like audiobooks!!! If you have a job where you can listen to them, you would probably really enjoy that. Honestly, I am the kind of person that usually gets really bored with my jobs. Once the challange of learning all the new things is over, all that I can think about it quiting. But since now I can listen to books, it doesn't matter how boring my job is. Listening to the books is entertaining enough for me! It's my dream job now!

[Starling]

One of the things I noticed when I was doing a lot of audio books is that I preferred listening to non-fiction. But back then I was not using a headset.

I also think there is a big difference between seeing a movie or TV show and listening to audio books. An audio book uses the exact same text as the printed book. A movie is a totally different experience with a different script and sometimes a different plot.

[Jess]

I actually just started listening to audiobooks on my ipod. I listen to them when I walk which makes me want to walk more ;) I just finished my first one today actually!

There's no reason that it can't be considered reading a book. It's the same thing as sitting in a classroom when you were a kid and having your teacher read a story to you. You still read that book, just someone else was doing the reading. I mean really... when a blind person listens to an audio book does that mean they didn't read it? It's just a different form of reading.

There's no comparison between watching a Harry Potter movie and reading the book because the movie is an adaptation of the book. However, audiobooks are literally reading the text to you.

I don't really see how your friend could compare watching a movie and listening to an audiobook? They are pretty much entirely different from one another.

[Sarah]

I have a 30 min. commute to work each day, for an hour a day on the road. I love audiobooks, and I think they definitely count as reading the book (as long as the copy is unabridged). I sort of think abridgements are like teasers, and don't really count them as the whole book. Some of them are done poorly.

Plus in the library where I work, I see lots of people who love to read who HAVE to get audio because they can't read the text in the book. Some are visually impaired, and some are just OTR truck drivers who spend more time in a truck than in a chair reading. Why should they not be counted as readers because they don't have a text in their hand?

Plus sometimes I just love the narrator and how their portrayal makes the characters live and breathe. For example, I'm really looking to get the Dresden Files series on audio. I loooove James Marsters narrating Harry, and I think I'd rather have the audio than the PBs (even though the PBs are cheaper by far).

**Hope I can ask here: Does anyone have a really good online site that sells CD books or downloads for decent prices? I have used Audible.com before, but burning discs can be a little funky on my PC. I really want to get Dresden on CD.**

[Lauren]

I am an audio virgin but i plan to try one this weekend.. so my impression of an audio was it was some one else who "reads" for you but it was the same as you reading the book. In a movie like Harry Potter they change things around in the movie so it's not the same
so i think you can consider listening to an audio as the same as reading a book

[K]

I would also love to know a source for less expensive audiobooks if there is one. I was looking on itunes and it seems like they are all 20+. I understand part of the reason is probably b/c you have an author and a narrator... but still it would be great to find a less expensive source if there is one out there.
I did see that there is a free podcast of Darkfever on itunes, it seems like the same narrator (at least from what I could tell from the preview samples).

[Jess]

I get my audio books through my library system. They have an online site you can download them and then transfer it to an IPOD or other MP3 device. But I don't know if others have that same thing with their library.

[SamBFN]

I love audio books and count them as read. I will listen to books that typically I won't read and will get more out of them. ex: A Very Long EngagementDream When You're Feeling Blue A Novel are 2 books that I would have abandoned if I was reading due to the detail but ended up loving them as an audio. I'm not a fan of the books that are "abridged" so I typically won't pick them up unless they are unabridged.

I became a fan of Nora Roberts via audiobooks as she has so many recorded. I also have my favorite readers: Joyce Bean, Dick Hill, Scott Brick and the guy who did Monings Highlander series was really good.

[Joseph]

Like Sarah, I consider audiobooks true reading, but only if they are unabridged. I find I prefer to read the book myself before listening to it because sometimes the narrator can influence my imagination. The sound of the voices given to the characters by the narrator can be so different sometimes from what I hear and picture when I read it myself. If I read it before I listen it, I can overrule the influence of the narrator, but if i listen to it before I read it, I find that right away what comes to mind is what came to mind when I heard it first. The same thing happens if I see a movie based on a book before I read it, like the mistake I made with Bridge to Terabithia. The pictures I get of what the characters look like is more influenced by the actors I saw than what the author wrote.

[K]

Jess wrote: "I get my audio books through my library system. They have an online site you can download them and then transfer it to an IPOD or other MP3 device. But I don't know if others have that same thing w..."

Really?! That is great to know, I'll have to check out my library and see if they have something similar.