Audiobooks discussion
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Do You Think Listening to a Book is Cheating?
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Welcome to the group, Aprilla!
Thanks John, I'm really loving audiobooks and glad to have found this group :)
I second John with welcoming you Aprilla! I think listening to an unabridged reading of a book isn't cheating. An abridged version is just wrong in my mind but more recently most of the audio publishers put out an abridged version of 6 hours instead of 3 hours so the hack job on the story isn't QUITE so severe.
One thing I've noticed that is different between READING a book and LISTENING to a book is how people absorb the information. Some people are more visual and seeing the written words connect with them more and allows them to visualize better. Some people are more likely to connect with listening. I've found that I sometimes like a story better in audio (In Death series by Nora Roberts) because of the narrator and how he/she can really emphasize aspects of the characters through the narration that may have been missed in a "flat" reading of the book. There are some books that I prefer the print version (mostly due to the narrators).
In the cases where I LOVE a book and read it and then get the audio, I tend to get MORE details out of listening because I have already read the story and probably skimmed some of it with my quick reading and impatience. Listening to a book takes me hours longer than actually reading it. I LOVE re-listening to books that I enjoy!
Diane wrote: "I absolutely love that I can listen to books on CD. I only listen to unabridged copies. I've heard some people scoff at listening to books, saying that's not reading. I disagree. If you hear th..."No, unless it's the abridged version maybe.
Hi! New to Good Reads and new to this Group. I'm a nut when it comes to audiobooks. I don't think that listening to an unabridged recording is cheating. Whether I read it, physical book in hand, or listen to it, I'm still enjoying what the author wrote. The one thing about audiobooks is that I have stopped listening to books because I can't stand the narrator. No matter how great the book itself is, if the narrartor stinks, I can't finish the audiobook. Occasionally, I'll pick up the book and read it if I was that interested in the storyline, but not always. I have also found myself searching Audible for narrators I like, rather than author! Thanks for a great group!
Angie wrote: "Hi! New to Good Reads and new to this Group. I'm a nut when it comes to audiobooks. I don't think that listening to an unabridged recording is cheating. Whether I read it, physical book in hand..."Welcome Angie, I do the same thing...looking for narrators I like that introduce me to books that I may not have normally read if not for their narration.
I also wish that authors would not change narrators in the middle of a series. Once I have a character's voice in my head, a new read and voice makes it difficult to get back into the story.
Grumpus wrote: "Angie wrote: "Hi! New to Good Reads and new to this Group. I'm a nut when it comes to audiobooks. I don't think that listening to an unabridged recording is cheating. Whether I read it, physica..."When they change narrators in the middle of a series, I just go and read the book. It really kills the flow for me. The only way that works is if the new narrator is much better than his/her predecessor (which does happen, but I have yet to hear it).
The Maisie Dobbs mystery series went through three narrators for the first four books, yet I didn't really find that a problem.The Miss Julia cozy series changed after a few, and while I didn't care for the new reader as much, now I'm used to her.
I believe the only switch I couldn't handle was changing Stephanie Plum from C. J. Critt to Lorelei King - ugh!
I find that I almost get more out of listening because I tend to skim through long paragraphs and sometimes miss important descriptions.
Beth wrote: "I find that I almost get more out of listening because I tend to skim through long paragraphs and sometimes miss important descriptions."Great thread here...I am pretty new to this group. Have been an Audible member for about 6 years and I "read" as well. I totally agree with Beth, depending on the book I get more out of it spoken. I think non-fiction especially, but also books that are long and descriptive like "The Thirteenth Tale".
Agree on the Plum switch. I've gotten used to Lorelei King but the first book with her was jarring to say the least.
Carol wrote: "Joe, I think you made a really good point when you said "The real question is: did I comprehend what I just read/heard and can I discuss it? Many people can only say "it was good" or "I didn't like..."I listen to several books a week while working as a mail carrier. If I am listening to nonfiction or something heavier (the recent George Washington bio comes to mind), I check out the hard copy to reference at home. 10 yrs ago, as a newly divorced, working full-time+ parent, books fell by the wayside. I was just too tired. When I discovered audio, it opened a whole new world to and for me. I don't really care what the purists say about audio, because I have usually "read" more than they have! I listen to a good mix of nonfiction, memoirs, current fiction, classics, young adult, etc. and therefore, I have a lot to say. I have a little book club going with some of my customers and we exchange recommendations and reviews. I love Jim Dale, Scott Brick, George Guidall, and Tom Stechschulte as narrators. I like memoirs read by the author. Even though they may not be the best choice, the author knows what is important and gives authenticity to a memoir. Sydney Poitier was FABULOUS... he has a voice like silk. Sorry, getting off track....
Carol wrote: "Joe, I think you made a really good point when you said "The real question is: did I comprehend what I just read/heard and can I discuss it? Many people can only say "it was good" or "I didn't like..."I am that 'good/bad', 'liked/didn't like' type.
It's a good point but I really don't think it's because of paper vs audio for me. I think it's because I don't, or didn't, take an opportunity when finished a book to do more than comment to myself - 'that was good' or whatever... and possibly moving very quickly to a new book adds to this. I've always been like that even during paper reading so I can't blame my new audio habit.
Since finding groups I do love reading reports and reviews of books, both read and unread. I can agree/disagree with what I'm reading there but in truth, I'm just not good at getting it out. I admire and am thankful for those who can.
Sometimes I feel audiobooks are better because the narrator can give the book a life it never had on the page.
I love audio books, and have been listening to them for the past 12 years when I started spending 15 to 20 hours a week driving. Boy, it was tough keeping track of 40 or 50 cassettes for a really long book!! I was thrilled to get my first audio player back in 2002. I can't conceive of describing 'listening' as cheating :( I agree that reading and listening are very different and some books (especially when I need to learn the content) I read. In most other situations, reading is entertainment for me, and a good story with a good narrator is one of the most enjoyable things I can do.
Although I do think I get more out of a book if I actually read the paper version, by re-reading key phrases or viewing photos and such, I never was able to cover as many books before I started listening. Maybe I am sacrificing quality for quantity, but I feel enriched by audiobooks so, no, I do not consider it "cheating" (or at least not totally).
I also got onto listening to audio books because of my work. Driving and especially at night was so boring. I nearly quit my job till I found audio books. I've been hooked ever since. I will read print or ebook versions if it's not available on audio. I do prefer reading hard copies of Stephen King's books. I buy/read old books, like history or diary's. Gutenberg is a good source. I have friends that don't like audio, which is inconceivable to me. lol. But listening is in no way cheating. I started my own blog about narrators. It's wonderful to find others who love audio books like I do. narratorreviews.blogspot.com. I am having a hard time figuring out how to use that blogger. ugh. lol and I agree with you guys that it seems harder to write a review than just say I liked it or I hated it.JennieM
I don't think listening is cheating. I didn't even realize people considered it. I have a horse farm so even when I was a kid doing barn work I'd *replay* scenes from my favorite books in my head while I was working. Now I have many times a voice better than the voice in my head. I tend to listen about 8 hours a day at least so now I *read* more books than I used to altho I've always read a lot. Now I do about 4-5 books a week. I do think you have to train yourself to listen. It didn't come automatic for me. I also think certain books do better audio and others reading, even regardless of if the reader is good or not. Epic Fantasy with lots of odd similar sounding names can be hard to track.
Ignorant people believe that - they confuse listening to the (unabridged) book with watching the screenplay.
Vinity wrote: "I don't think listening is cheating. I didn't even realize people considered it. I have a horse farm so even when I was a kid doing barn work I'd *replay* scenes from my favorite books in my head w..."I have to agree with you on "training yourself to listen". At first I found it difficult because I found myself impatiently racing ahead of the reader instead of enjoying the ride. I settled on a compromise however. My iPod allows me to speed up the narrator without distorting his/her speech (I find that many speak very slowly). So it helps a lot. Now I can really appreciate the nuances good narrators bring to a book. Humphrey Bower (Shantaram) and John Lee (A Fine Balance) and Frank Muller (All the Pretty Horses) come to mind immediately because they blew me away with their characterizations and accents as well.
I'm a fan of the slow readers. I have slow southern ears LOL I think the best way to start listening is to listen to a book you know really well. I listened in cars with cassettes on trips for YEARS but with the ipod thing my audio book addiction went in overdrive. I think my breakthru was listening to James Marsters read Dresdan. I already knew the books well so I could just enjoy the performance.
I have always been a slow reader. I read at about speaking pace, so I have never had to train myself to listen. When I read, I am essentially already just listening to myself read in my head. :) This also means that I have never experienced an impatient feeling with a narrator's performance.
Work smarter, not harder, the paper readers are just jealous that we can multitask! (actually I'm also a paper reader and a nook reader, so I'm already a multitasker!!! )
I have to say, I wondered this very question myself recently! I'm still on my first audiobook and I am enjoying it a lot and have decided no matter what others think about it, I'm going to consider my 'listening' to a book the same as if I sat down to read it hardcopy. :D I think I'm going to be 'double reading' for a while - finding a hardcopy book to read when I have the time to sit down to read it...then when doing other activites - like commuting to work, chores, etc. choose a different book to enjoy via audiobook. :D Also, I have to agree, especially for those persons that have an impairment and have no choice but to 'listen' to an audiobook - it counts! :) Happy 'reading/listening'...whichever you choose! :D
Margo wrote: "I have to say, I wondered this very question myself recently! I'm still on my first audiobook and I am enjoying it a lot and have decided no matter what others think about it, I'm going to consider..."Margo
If you like the classics or have been meaning to read them...try Librivox....it is free
you can download or stream.
https://catalog.librivox.org/
Heidi (so what if I'm picky) wrote: "I don't consider it cheating, but I always feel like I am fibbing a little bit when I say "I read that" when I actually listened to it. "Thankfully, here on Goodreads, they allow you to change the "edition" of a book, so when I listen to an audiobook (which I normally do on my 40 minute commute to work) I make sure I put down that the edition I'm "reading" is in fact the audiobook, which is great because then it measures your progress not by a number of pages, but by a number of disks, or tapes, or just plain ol' percentages. I don't like ereaders, I confess I'm snobby on that front, but I think audiobooks are another great way to experience a story. In fact, there are some books that are *better* in audio format! The YA novel "13 Reasons Why" is told from the perspective of someone listening to a voice on tape...so to "read" that story via audiobook was not only perfect, but in my opinion enhanced the story all the more! Don't feel guilty about "reading" via listening. Audiobooks, just like physical, tangible books, take just as much concentration and dedication to get through them.
Shirley - thanks for the info. about Librivox. :)
Margo wrote: "Shirley - thanks for the info. about Librivox. :)"You are so very welcome.
For me it is a completely different experience from reading. I have often read a book and then gotten the audio book so I could listen to it too.
Kathleen I gotta tell you how great you look for someone who is 111 years old.
Not sure it's been mentioned yet: Cheating by taking a peak at the last paper page through squinty eyes to see if a character makes it through to the end. I haven't successfully been able to do that with an audiobook yet, but I'll find a way. Hmmm, maybe "la, la, la"-ing during the second to last track to hear only the name mentioned.
Nancy wrote: "Not sure it's been mentioned yet: Cheating by taking a peak at the last paper page through squinty eyes to see if a character makes it through to the end. I haven't successfully been able to do t..."LOL Nancy!
Hint - If you play the file (or the last track) on your computer you can scroll to the end and, with the volume really really low, pretend you don't hear the end!
Faster & easier than doing it on mp3 players ;)
i drive 2hours a day for work and i would never get any books "read" if i didn't listen to audiobooks. I love them and agree with the previous comments that i can get through some audiobooks that i would probably not be able to get through reading. I have enjoyed almost all of the narrators, their emotions and their pronunciations. One exception was "the secret diary of adrian mole", which was read by an older british woman instead of a 12 year old pubescent boy. My only problem is the limit of selection i have encountered.
I have always been a slow reader and was used to friends and family asking me if I had finished a particular book yet. I had to have time and be in the mood to sit and read and often lost interest half way through. Now I listen to audiobooks on my smartphone and always have something on the go. I'm currently looking for a new series to start having finished the Outlander Series and A Song of Ice and Fire.
Having never been much of a reader when younger, I came across Audio books quite by accident about 2 1/2 years ago. Almost 450 books later I can probably say I am an addict. I use a Sansa Clip 8GB + MICRO sd card. My fav narrators are Alyssa Bresnehan, George Guidall, and Will Patton. Fav authors James Lee Burke, Steig Larrson, John Billingham to name a few. Audio books have opened up the literary world to me. I love them.
John wrote: "Liz --I would probably never have read (and enjoyed!) Dickens, Trollope, etc. without (unabridged) audiobooks."
No kidding. I can't slog through some things when I try to read them, but listening to them has proved to be a much more enjoyable experience. Many classics are difficult, dense books, and were it not for listening, I would not get through them.
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I'm hooked on audiobooks just over a year now and I wouldn't be 'reading' if I hadn't discovered them... eyes getting older, holding books at a certain distance to focus just too much trouble, that's all, but it put a stop to an avid reader. Now I'm back LOL
I found this question remarkable when I first saw it, wherever that was. I immediately thought - the method of 'intake' isn't important!! But then I remembered that I used to be quite unimpressed when someone 'knew a story' because they saw the movie but hadn't read the book... my bad! LOL
Now, I think whatever the way we prefer to take it in is fine. For me now that's unabridged audiobooks with fantastic narrators please, and I only wish I'd found them years ago!