Audiobooks discussion
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Do You Think Listening to a Book is Cheating?
I've thought about this a lot. Here's part of a quote from an article by Bob Williams at The Modern World:If a man in the Middle Ages read silently, others might have suspected him of being a magician. The accepted way to read was to read aloud. A monk read to his fellows at meals and a reader delivered the text to scribes. Up to fairly recent times, a reader could amuse workers busy with dull, repetitive labor. To Jane Austen, a good reader was second only to a good actor, and had much the same responsibilities to the audience. Family readings were once a common entertainment, and most of us have fond memories of being read to at home and at school both before and after we learned to read.
If you want to read the whole article, here's the link: http://www.themodernword.com/joyce/au...
I just started listening to audio books back in January. I've been a voracious reader since I was a little girl. For me, listening to a book is not the same as reading a book. It is the same as being read to though. It's not cheating, it's just a different way of consuming literature. Because I listen to audio books, I'm able to consume books at times when I wouldn't be able to read otherwise. I still prefer reading words on a page because there isn't a middleman (the narrator) between me and the author. However, if it's a choice between a middleman and not getting to know a work, I'll take the middleman.
When I first decided to throw audio books into the mix, it was because my to-read list is unmanageable and there are so many books that I want to read. Secondly, I spend several hours a day in the car. It makes sense to fill that time with books, reading while driving is frowned upon, so audio books also make sense.That having been said, at first I thought of audio books as a form of cheating, but then I listened to Pride and Prejudice. Shortly after listening to this book, I read a "fan fiction" book by Amanda Grange, Mr. Darcy's Diary. This book is supposed to be Pride and Prejudice from Mr. Darcy's pov. The amount of retention that I had from listening to Pride and Prejudice, in my opinion, is just as good if not better than if I would have read the book. The next piece of my own personal puzzle came through listening to the Twilight Saga on audio book. I've read the books numerous times, listening to them I found parts that I had forgotten or never "caught" before. I think hearing the book gives you an entirely different perspective from reading.
It takes me anywhere from three to seven days to get through an audio book depending on time allotted and length of the production. It takes me one to five days to read a book, again time and length being factors.
I only listen to unabridged audio books. I think that abridged would be getting closer to cheating. What is actually cheating, in my opinion, is when someone watches a movie based on a book and then says "oh yeah, I've read that book". Not the same, not by a long shot.
Through audio books, I have experienced and loved many books that I may have never picked up and read on my own. I generally stick to a particular genre when choosing a book to read. I look forward to how this will boost my overall book count and listening to books that maybe I wouldn’t have ever read.
Carla --I would probably never have read any "classics" (Dickens, etc.) without audiobooks - too daunting (remember, the original audience was for magazine installments, not the tomes we read today).
<>I've always listened to audio books during long drives, but last January I began walking at least an hour a day and decided to distract myself with audio books vs. music. So that means at least 30 more hours of books during a month for me (I guess my total is about twice that).
Also, I have A Thing about reading dialects (reading them always slows me down) and long paragraphs (I hate them); with audio books, I never notice such things.
Thankfully, I have access to a huge library system (Harris County, TX) and I always borrow their printed version of the book to help me with proper names of characters (besides, there's still that need for a connection to the printed word that I just can't give up).
So, no, I don't think listening to a book is cheating. How can learning -- through any method - be cheating?
Stanley's Mom- I live in Harris County also(Cypress). I recently picked up a Houston Public Library Card and a Fort Bend County Library Card. All I needed was my TX Driver's License to get them. They both have Overdrive like Harris Co and some other books as well with Hou PL. I have an even greater selection to borrow audiobooks from now, you should get cards from them also.
Philip: I've never had much luck finding books in the library's Overdrive selections; I have an MP3, and there seem to be fewer titles in that category than any other.
Have you used Harris County's Interlibrary Loans? It's a goldmine, with access to a database of books/audio from libraries all over the country (including Houston, of course). The only drawbacks are the publication date must be prior to 2010, and it can take weeks to receive the book. But one can request up to ten books at a time,and it's free!
John wrote: "Carla --I would probably never have read any "classics" (Dickens, etc.) without audiobooks - too daunting (remember, the original audience was for magazine installments, not the tomes we read tod..."
Absolutely. I even hope now to read more classics that I wouldn't have normally taken on. Defiantly Dickens is on that list. Not that I am unintelligent, but looking at prose from a prior era, well - sometimes it may as well be in Aramaic for all the focus that I can give to it.
Carla I highly recommend it. I just listened to Dostoevsky's
- while I had read this book before, listening to it so well read I think brought to life the text more for me than the reading of it. Let us know what you think.
While you read, you hear the words in your head. Listening just cuts out the middle man!I too listened to "The count of monte cristo", oh boy was that long....never ever would have got through the book!
Stanley's Mom wrote: "Philip: I've never had much luck finding books in the library's Overdrive selections; I have an MP3, and there seem to be fewer titles in that category than any other.
Have you used Harris C..."
I used to use interlibrary loans all the time when I listened to books on tape, now I just download audiobooks. Have you ever thought of picking up an iPod shuffle? My wife got one used pretty cheap off eBay(I think). You can set it to play in order and listen to an audiobook on one as a cheap alternative to buying a more expensive iPod.
Harris County's Overdrive is top-heavy with trendy popular authors and genres, books I don't usually read. And -- while it would be nice to download every book -- as long as I can find the title via ILL, rippiing isn't that big a deal. Besides, my Sansa Fuze has a memory card slot, so I have unlimited space and have a pretty big TBR library on memory card.
Stephanie wrote: "While you read, you hear the words in your head. Listening just cuts out the middle man!"In my opinion, audio books add a middleman rather than cutting one out. At least the voice I hear in my head when I read a print book is my own interpretation, not someone else's.
Carla and John wrote:Carla - I would probably never have read any "classics" (Dickens, etc.) without audiobooks - too daunting (remember, the original audience was for magazine installments, not the tomes we read today..."
Absolutely. I even hope now to read more classics that I wouldn't have normally taken on. Defiantly Dickens is on that list. Not that I am unintelligent, but looking at prose from a prior era, well - sometimes it may as well be in Aramaic for all the focus that I can give to it.
I'm the opposite. Much as I love audiobooks, I have trouble listening to what seems like convoluted language in many of the classics. Somehow, when I'm reading, I can focus better. I've been trying to listen to The Three Musketeers for something like a year and I have to keep re-playing and re-playing the same parts. Each time, I find out something I missed before!
I personally don't think that it's cheating if you are listening to a book rather than reading it because I usually love to listen to audiobooks while I'm driving, since I can't pick up a book and drive at the same time. :) Also, you will still have a very good idea about what is going on in the book, because the narrator is practically reading the book to you, so you will still know what is happening in the book. I usually like to listen to audiobooks especially when it comes to certain books such as Romeo and Juliet and Pride and Prejudice and the language in those books are so hard to pronounce and understand, but whenever I hear a narrator narrating those types of stories for me, I find it much easier to understand those books than I would have if I have read the actual material. Also, some of the narrators who narrate these books make some of the books more interesting to listen to and therefore you can easily get into a book that you wouldn't have read to yourself. So, I think that audiobooks are very helpful when you travel so much and when you don't understand a book that has difficult language in it.
Ellen wrote: "Carla and John wrote:Carla - I would probably never have read any "classics" (Dickens, etc.) without audiobooks - too daunting (remember, the original audience was for magazine installments, not ..."
I love listening to Toni Morrison read her own books. Listening helps me to understand the books. I also read her books. I find it difficult to go through her books only once and I get a much better insight from hearing her read it and then physically reading when I can highlight the wonderful prose in her novels.
There are some that I like listening to and there are some that I only like reading. I also only listen to unabridged versions and sometimes I like it so much that I buy the book too.
No, I don't think it's cheating. Why would it be cheating? I've 'read' many more books by listening to them than I would've had time to 'read' otherwise.I will sometimes buy the book too if it's something I particularly like.
I have been able to listen to much more and faster because they are on audiobook before I can check them out.
There are differences between the experience of listening and reading, though these differences are clearer in some cases than others. There are some things which are ‘lost’ in an audio version of a novel (for example, illustrations, tricks of the text like the snaking trail of words in Alice in Wonderland, Shooter – with page headings designed to imitate police/psychological reports, and books which refer strongly to their own existence as text (such as something which starts with ‘As I write this page’). Likewise, much expression is ‘lost’ from a book when compared to an audiobook. There is, perhaps, a tendancy to think of the written version of a book as the one which is closest to the author’s intended product, though this itself may be altered by editors and publishers.
I think the fixedness of the narration is the stone upon which (at least some of) the ‘audiobooks are cheating’ crowd set their argument on. Ask an audiobook listener ‘how do you imagine Edmond Dantes’ voice?’ and they may have difficulty in answering, espcially if the version of the book they listened to was dramatized. This is similar to a phenomenon with films – if I hadn’t read LOTR and Harry Potter at a young age Aragorn would be inseperable from Viggo, and Harry would have always acted and looked like Daniel Radcliffe in my mind.
So, here’s my question. Given an audiobook with just one narrator, do you find that you imagine voices for the characters beyond the narrator’s different tones of voice? I haven’t listened to that many audiobooks where this has been an issue, but I’d be interested to read what your experiences are :-)
Lori makes an excellent point about the oral history of storytelling. It seems very strange that quiet reading has become the norm.
Fellows wrote: "So, here’s my question. Given an audiobook with just one narrator, do you find that you imagine voices for the characters beyond the narrator’s different tones of voice? I haven’t listened to that many audiobooks where this has been an issue, but I’d be interested to read what your experiences are :-)"Good post, Fellows. In answer to your question, I don't listen to and read the same books. I rarely re-read so I don't am unlikely to listen to a book I've already read or vice-versa. The only experience I can use to answer your question is my recent listen of Side Jobs: Stories From the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. I've read every Dresden files novel in print and I'm totally hooked on the series. My daughter and her husband love the books, but have listened to all but three of them. What I found with listening to the short stories was that the main character didn't sound anything like I imagined from reading. The Dresden Files books are all written from a first person point of view, so this was significant. Even though the narrator was excellent, I will absolutely be reading any future Dresden Files books in print because I want to hear from the Harry Dresden in my mind.
I have always loved having poetry read to me but I find audio books just don't suck me into the story like a paper book. With a paper book I become totally disconnected from the outside world. If the story is really good I forget to eat and my family know that there is no point trying to talk to me.
With an audio book I am easily distracted and suddenly find I have missed a chunk of the text because my mind has wandered off. Sometimes I even physically wander off and get so involved in what I'm doing that I'm no longer listening to the story.
With an audio book I always feel I've missed something and if I really liked the story I want to buy the actual book and reread it.
What I like to do is read it first, then listen to it if I enjoyed the book, it's like a refresher and I hear parts that I don't remember reading. Some narrators though can kind of ruin a book for me. I love Phil Gigante doing male voices but when he tries to do a female voice, it's so awful that I find every female voice/character irritating. So, in a way I would do better to read the books he narrates because I might appreciate them more, if that makes any sense.
Blech! I'll never get another book narrated by him!
Hi I'm new, here and in Goodreads.I love audiobooks. They help me in a lot of "dead moments" as ironing, cleaning, driving the kids around the town. I also listen only to unabridged editions.
At the moment I'm finishing Anthony Trollope's The Last Chronicles of Barset, and already downloaded, of the same author, Orley Farm
Where do you usually find them? I prefere going to librivox.com
Public library first - downloads or ripped from disc (or even inter-library loans for books I've heard of that they don't have), then Audible.com. I do have one librivox book that I haven't listened to yet: Uncle Silas.
I've yet to pay for an audiobook. I usually get my audiobooks from the library. We just got NetLibrary here, so that's my second choice. I'll listen to librivox recordings if pressed... But I ALWAYS prefer versions of books read by a single narrator than by a bunch of narrators.
I absolutely cannot listen at home doing nothing, except at bedtime, and even then only for a short while. Audio is great on night flights when everyone is asleep; I don't generally sleep myself, but they're good for passing time that way.
If I'm really into a book, I sit and play solitaire on my computer while I listen. That's mindless enough to enable concentration. If my mind keeps wandering sometimes I start over - just like with reading a paper book. Or if I'm bored to death, I just give up and figure it as a lost cause.
I listen in the car, while doing dishes, cooking, and cleaning around the house... I've tried while working on my finances, but it just isn't compatible...
I know that it's very difficult for some people to really "listen" to audio books and I think they're some of the ones who say it's cheating. I know I had to practice - keep roping my brain back to the text. Now I read in all ways - paper, Kindle, computer and Audio (yes, I'm a member at Audible also). I have no favorite way - it depends on the book. HIstory is usually paper though because I want the graphics (maps etc) and the notes, bibliography, etc.
Becky wrote: "I know that it's very difficult for some people to really "listen" to audio books and I think they're some of the ones who say it's cheating. I know I had to practice - keep roping my brain back t..."I think you may have a point. But some books definitely are better in print, like GG Kay - I haven't enjoyed the ones I've listened to. A lot depends on how much the narrator 'fits' the story, too. If I really love a book, I get it in several formats. Paper, audio, eformat.
But it's never even occurred to me that it's cheating. How could it be cheating? Were the stories my mother read to me 'cheating'? I don't think so.
I guess there's a presumption that audiobooks are always abridged by definition among those who feel it's an "inferior" experience?
John wrote: "I guess there's a presumption that audiobooks are always abridged by definition among those who feel it's an "inferior" experience?"Well, I don't know, but I NEVER buy abridged books, audio or otherwise.
Every time this comes up, I feel compelled to mention that I listened to the autobiography of the actress Ellen Burstyn, which is only available as an abridged recording. By the time it was over, I liked the book well enough, but felt fairly certain that the missing info (words) probably contained details that would've dragged out the story. There have been another book or two where I wished I had gotten the abridged version instead!
I never listen to abridged versions either - I may have one time by accident. Almost all the books at Audible are unabridged these days - the newer ones anyway.
Sara ♥ wrote: "I listen in the car, while doing dishes, cooking, and cleaning around the house... I've tried while working on my finances, but it just isn't compatible..."I'm a bookkeeper who works from home and you could almost measure my productivity by the amount of audiobooks I listen to. Its the most successful combination for both my reading comprehension
and my work productivity.
If I really want to concentrate on finishing an audio book I will play solitaire to stop my mind wandering but really if I have time to play solitaire I'd prefer to curl up with a dead tree version.
John wrote: "Every time this comes up, I feel compelled to mention that I listened to the autobiography of the actress Ellen Burstyn, which is only available as an abridged recording. By the time it was over, I..."I have on rare occasions listened to abridged books if that's all that was available, but by and large, I feel that if a book needs to be abridged to be enjoyed, then I'm not interested in reading it.
I don't think it is cheating at all...it just adds another layer to the rich experience of story-telling!I enjoy books in all forms...my Kindle, buying on-line, borrowing, library, etc.
I dont think its cheating its the only way i get my book fix. There is just not enough hours in the day to do everything else and find time to read.
I love my audiobooks! I have a 45 minute commute one way, to and from work, every day. My trusty IPOD goes with me everywhere, and turns my daily drive into precious private time. I still love to hold a real book in my hands. I generally keep an audiobook and a real book going all the time. To keep them separate, I'll try to choose different types of reads - a suspense audiobook and a family drama for the read, or a girly-girl beach type read on audio and a crime thriller in my hands. I feel like the audiobook option has added to my reading life!
Hi, I just joined this group as I've just discovered how brilliant Audiobooks are. I personally don't consider listening to an audiobook cheating, I don't listen in lieu of reading, I still read at night, but to be able to listen to a book whilst doing something where physically reading a book is impossible (ie walking or driving) is great. Audiobooks are an awesome way to squeeze another book in. My library have just increased their audiobook catalogue significantly over the last couple of months... :)
I do see folks who read while walking, though I'd never do that!
John wrote: "I do see folks who read while walking, though I'd never do that!"Oh I do that all the time! While walking my dogs.
I really don't think listening to audiobooks is cheating. Although I much prefer reading a book as opposed to listening still I find that audiobooks have enriched my reading and allowed me the opportunity to get through many more books then I am generally able to. I listen to my audiobooks anytime I have chance, driving, gardening, cooking, walking the dog etc. Still I much prefer the connection I have with the written word, the feel of turning the pages, and that certain scent of a new book
I think it's merely efficient, as I can do other things while reading books. So there is a way to win, I guess.
I listen to alot of fantasy/sci fi and am happy to learn how to pronounce some of the invented language spellings. A few times I have learned that I have been mis-pronouncing a word for years and other times I have been amused by a narrator's goof. Once I was listening to Robert Parker read a Spencer novel and he poured some "Peanut" Noir (as opposed to "Pea-no")Also, I agree with the sentiment that the author is writing a story not a "book"; seems as if it shouldn't matter HOW that story gets into my head--via eyes or ears.
Are you certain that it wasn't actually "peanut" in print, as some sort of "joke" that doesn't work in audio? I'd be very tempted to write down roughly where in the story that happened and compare a print version later!
Wasn't literally peanut, just that he pronounced the "T' Don't think it was a joke, at least not from the flow of the story (pun intended). Haven't listened to Spencer since, print version all the way. Also, when listening I discovered everyone in Parker's books "says" everything-- he said she said they said, etc. NEVER any other form used (he shouted, she whispered e.g.) I can skim that when reading but the vocal repetition of it made me nutso. Guess I need more Pea-not Noir lol
Audiobooks
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Sometimes after listening to a book like this I go and look at the print book in the library or bookstore, so I can associate the words I heard with the written words.