Elantris: Audio or dead tree version?

[Ed]

I noticed a bunch of the higher score reviews for this book wee based on the audio version. Is that the recommended version? Mind you I only skimmed the reviews briefly fearful of spoilers.

[Michael]

I am listening to the Audible version. This primarily because I've built up so many Audible credits that it's easier to pick up the current pick and not feel like I'm spending any money.

I find the narrator to be good at delineating the personalities of the different characters and his pacing is good. It easy to pick which character is speaking from his performance. He doesn't feel rushed but the story moves along. At times, though, he sounds a bit melodramatic.

I think your preference is determined by how vividly you construct characters in your head. When I was younger and reading LOTR, I could hear Gandalf speaking.

My challenge is finding time to listen to it. At 27 hours, it's probably going to fill the next week or two. If I were reading it, I'm sure I could get through much faster. How's that for not directly answering your question?

[Dustin]

It is a well done recording in my opinion. It really helps some of the more emotional characters and as always it helps the pacing issues.

[Kevin]

I read it the dead tree version because I have four copies of the book, plus I don't listen to audio because it takes up too much time to listen.

[Ryan]

I have previosly read the book when I first heard of Sanderson, and I also recently bought the audio because Audible had it on some kind of sale. I recomend trying the sample of the audio, because I was not a big fan of the narrator his voice and style got on my nerves a little bit. He does a good job narrating but his style and pronunciation at times grated on me.

Kevin- one of the main reasons I like audio books is because you can listen to the book while doing other things like in the car, so it allows me to be reading my main book and another book on audio.

[Michael]

The one and only audiobook I've actually finished was 'Little House on the Prairie' during a road trip to Boston. I could not stand the narrator, because she kept making "clicking" sounds with certain words. I've recently decided to give them another go, starting with 'Harry Potter' (which I've read before, but thought that audiobooks would be a nice way to experience the adventure again), but haven't gotten through much that yet either. It's too easy for me to have my attention drawn somewhere else, thereby tuning out the story.

[Sandi]

I got the audiobook several months ago when Audible had one of their $4.95 sales. I haven't listened to it yet though, I keep listening to newer releases.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Print from the library for me - complete with dog bitten pages and a smashed bug!

[Remington]

I'm listening to the audio version. At first I didn't like it because I couldn't keep all of the unique names straight in my head (that's a big problem I've always had with listening to fantasy.) But after putting in 4 hours of listening I finally have all of the characters down. However, had I read the dead tree version of the book I know I would have picked up the names of the characters, cities, and nations faster.

[Brian]

I'd say audiobook, all the way. For Elantris, I really fell that the Graphic Audio (full cast production) version is the best. http://www.graphicaudio.net/c-133-ela...

It's a bit more expensive than the Audible version, but it's definitely worth it. The GA crew does an amazing job.

[Simon]

I would have liked to get the Audible version, but it doesn't seem to be available to Australian customers, so I've bought it on Kindle instead.
There are a few books that I'd like to get on Audible except they're not available in Australia at the moment. When I search for them Audible just pretends that they don't exist, so I can't add them to my Wish List to easily keep an eye on them for when they finally are available. Is anyone out there aware of a web site where I can find out planned Australian release dates for existing Audible books?

[Remy]

I prefer physical books so that I can focus on reading instead of listening to an audio book while doing some task and then not remembering what was just read to me. I tried my mother's Kindle recently, and I enjoyed using it, but I'll always prefer a physical book first if available.

[Visible]

Looks like I need to go with the dead tree version, using Audible I hit the faked scarcity of digital media brick wall :( "We're sorry. Due to publishing rights restrictions, we are not authorized to sell this item in the country where you live."

On second thought, the Graphic Audio version that Brian links to above look like a good solution :) United States and Canada Only as well.

[Kevin]

One audio that I do want to listen to that I found out Graphic Audio actually came out with is Snakes on a Plane: The Audiobook, that must be epic.

[Rovelt]

Well I prefer audio in general. Can't beat listening will you exercise,drive to work, wash dishes, etc.

Specific to this novel it's a very well narrated book. It took a while for the book to hook me. Having the story told to me kept me probably kept me from walking away.

[Graham]

I picked up the audio version from the Library awhile ago, It's been in iTunes library for awhile, I'll give it a shot.

[Stephen]

I read the physical book when it first came out, so I am going to give the audio version a go.

[Don]

Kindle version here. Listening to the last book of the Dark Tower on Audible with this month's credit.

[Nick]

I just finished reading Elantris. I had the Kindle version and also happened to listen to some of the audiobook while in the car. I found the audiobook reader to be a little annoying at times with over-done character personalities, but it was still enjoyable.

[Jay]

Probably listening to a sample of the reader to see if he bugs you would be a good idea. I found I got used to him after a while. I might have given up on Elantris because I find the pace pretty pokey, but having it on audio helps it glide by. (I can listen while I work so I've got plenty of time.) Sanderson's style isn't that dense so is well suited to an audio book.

[Chris]

I bought the dead tree version. I tried the audible version of Mistborn: The Final Empire and could not get into it. I thought perhaps I would take to Brandon Sanderson better with a paperback.

[Domenico]

I read the Audio version and I thought the inflection in the readers voices really made you believe the characters where real. I gave it a 5 star rating.

[Micah]

dead tree version here. Found one at the local 1/2 price books. Can't wait to start

[Daniel]

Elantris is one of the few of his books I would say you could listen to only. Mistborn and Warbreaker have these great touches in the maps and appendixes that make the book even better then just the stories.

Way of Kings is a master piece of book crafting. I mean you are missing half the book if you are reading it electronically and/or listening to it. There is such care and design added to all the illustrations and glossary/appendixes that you need to get the paper versions to appreciate the whole of the skill at work here.

[Icelord]

Kindle version. It's my first kindle book and I thought it was not a bad choice. I'd be curious for the audio version in order to hear the author's pronunciation (presumably the narrator and producer would get the author's pronunciation) for names of people and places and objects. I noticed from one of the S&L podcasts that Tom and Veronica couldn't agree on pronunciation, so that's the only thing I feel like maybe I would gain from the audio version.

[Sandi]

I really liked the audiobook. I couldn't stop listening.

[Therazor]

I read this book as soon as I heard that Sanderson was writing the Wheel of Time books. I found the dead tree version a real quick read and I found that a Fantasy book that wraps itself up in a nice little bow in one book was refreshing.