Audiobooks discussion
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Read vs. Listen - How do you decide?
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Melanti wrote: "Abigail wrote: "I scrolled through the responses to see if anyone else does this too, but I actually DO BOTH AT THE SAME TIME!? Now that may sound weird and sometimes I do feel weird for doing it b..."Thanks Melanti, I'm actually in the market for a Kindle Fire HD and I like to know they have this feature! Thanks for the info, now I definitely want that Kindle!!
I rarely do both at the same time, but every once in awhile, with something like Game of Thrones, which someone already mentioned. There are so darn many characters that it's hard to keep track of if I don't start out the first chapters by reading/listening at the same time. Then I usually just continue listening for the rest of the book.Every once in awhile I get a book and narrator that are so engaging that I've started my usual multitasking, then find myself sitting down and reading and listening to the book at the same time and have no idea how I got there. It's rare, but a real treasure when that does happen. I found myself doing that with Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption which is something like 600 pages and I devoured it in two days!
I cannot imagine going back and forth, Whispersync-style, between the print and audio editions of a book; to me, they're two separate experiences. I could see switching from the audio to the print version for the rest of the book if I thought the story wasn't bad, but the narration ... lacking.
John wrote: "I cannot imagine going back and forth, Whispersync-style, between the print and audio editions of a book; to me, they're two separate experiences. I could see switching from the audio to the print ..."That whole thing also rips off the poor authors who sometimes go to considerable expense to get their books in audio format. I refuse to buy into it.
Sandra wrote: "John wrote: "I cannot imagine going back and forth, Whispersync-style, between the print and audio editions of a book; to me, they're two separate experiences. I could see switching from the audio ..."I agree, it isn't something I would want to do. If I start an audio and don't like the narration, then I would go to the print version. If the book is a long one then that can make the decision for me to listen to the audio. I just don't think I could do both with one novel, it is like John says, two separate experiences and I don't want to do anything that muddles up the enjoyment of the novel.
That having been said, I do know someone who refuses to listen to an audiobook unless she's either read it already, or has access to a print copy, for fear she might "miss" something.
I like having access to a print copy as well, especially for names or graphics like maps, but I actually feel I get more by listening, because the narrator actually pronounces every word, rather than my quick reading where my brain skips over a lot of the words on the page (something all of us do while reading... our brains fill in a lot of words without actually reading them). It forces me to slow down and really digest the book.
It's not unusual for me to listen more than once to a chapter or section, but I rarely do that when I am reading. This is usually a tribute to the narrator. But - oddly - I often want to know how to spell a name! It's the whole visual experience that I occasionally miss with audio.
Sue wrote: "It's not unusual for me to listen more than once to a chapter or section, but I rarely do that when I am reading. This is usually a tribute to the narrator. But - oddly - I often want to know how ..."If I really really like a book, I'll often buy both audio and print format. But I don't have trouble finding the place my listening is... I just dislike the way Amazon is ripping off authors with the special pricing and the whispersync technology. Which is only one of the things I dislike about Amazon.
John wrote: "I cannot imagine going back and forth, Whispersync-style, between the print and audio editions of a book; to me, they're two separate experiences. I could see switching from the audio to the print ..."Sometimes I get so caught up in reading a book that I don't want to stop -- in those situations, being able to listen when reading isn't possible (such as while walking or driving) lets me continue with the book. I don't do this that frequently but sometimes. Most often with classics, where the free Librivox recording is OK but not excellent (especially if it is one where each chapter is done by someone different)...
I really find the immersion reading to be enjoyable. I finish books more quickly. I get wrapped up in the story easily. I will also switch between audio and book format even if the Whispersync is not set up. I notice that the voice in my head while I am reading begins to sound like the narrator's voice of the audiobook.
Sometimes when there's a book I've heard a lot about and want to read but don't think I'll be able to get through it, I'll listen to it and that usually works for me. And sometimes if I have only a few chapters left to an audiobook and it expires I'll read the ending instead.
John wrote: "I cannot imagine going back and forth, Whispersync-style, between the print and audio editions of a book; to me, they're two separate experiences. I could see switching from the audio to the print ..."This fall was the first time that I abandoned one of Susan Ericksen's fine audios of the Eve Dallas In Death mysteries from J. D. Robb (Nora Roberts). Thankless in Death has a great deal of the story told from the POV of a killer, and at one point I had to stop listening because it got to be too grim. So I hopped over to Amazon and downloaded the Kindle edition.
It's not that the story was especially gruesome, I think I was just in a sensitive mood that day, and eager to finish the newly released book.
After 65 years of sight reading for learning and pleasure my eyesight began to fail. Feeling resentful, I tried the audio cassette books. I discovered to my delight that a reader can make a good story even better and fell in love with audiobooks. For some nonfiction, like Naked Economics and Naked Statistics, etc., I have had to go back to print. Audio slid by too fast for comprehension..I use both the library and Audible and try to not buy or borrow too far ahead of listening. Sometimes library books I've waited months for all come at once!
The books I listen to while I dog-walk are strictly audio, but the books I read/listen to at home are whispersynced and I'll switch back and forth or do both at the same time. I like that the audio turns the page for me on the ebook so I can keep both hands busy.
I cringe when I see folks reading books while walking along the sidewalk, fearing they'll trip and smash their faces open right in front of me.
John wrote: "I cringe when I see folks reading books while walking along the sidewalk, fearing they'll trip and smash their faces open right in front of me."Admit it, though... if you ever saw someone do that, you laughed... ;-)
I wouldn't laugh at someone falling down and injuring themselves.
Well, no, not that part, but tripping a little because they weren't paying attention. You know, the one where they look up quickly, hoping no one noticed the skipped step, and dashing off in a hurry? (Having been said person to trip and embarrass myself, I'd laugh at me :) )
John wrote: "I cringe when I see folks reading books while walking along the sidewalk, fearing they'll trip and smash their faces open right in front of me."Even worse, suppose they tripped and dropped their ereader
Margaret: as the young folk might say (text) "U R 2 much!"
For me audiobooks are the only choice. I wouldn't be physically able to digest even one quarter the material I do were I forced to read. I’m one of those crazy-obsessive, earnest, ‘would love to go pro’ writer types who seem to gravitate to this site like bees to a field of wildflowers. Our bodies are something we ultimately use up, so I suppose it’s no surprise I suffer a lot from eye strain. Having wasted vision pouring over my own pitiful work, I shut my eyes, or struggle to focus them on distant points, and enjoy someone else’s superior offerings. I absolutely love audiobooks. They’re like a lifeline to me. I tend to pick up print, either ebooks or hardcopy, only when another author’s work dazzles me so sufficiently that I must see it to study the structure of their prose. That happens more often than you’d think, though it’s rare for me to read an entire book. I tend to gravitate to the sections that intrigue me.
I always have two books going at one time. An audio book and one I'm reading. I like listening to books like Stephen King and mystery's on audio. Just can't seem to get into reading them. But, I may love the book on audio. Seems more thrilling on audio as long as the reader is good.
Other books on audio would be books like Jodi Picoult if they have more than one reader doing the characters. You get to know their voices. I love it when there's like five characters and there is five different readers. I tend to get irritated when one reader tries to change their voice to something that sounds totally weird.
Then I will have whatever book I want to read to carry with me to places like the Dr. offices, or in the house.
I usually listen to an audio in the car or when I'm busy doing stuff like sitting and scrapbooking.
Audiobooks aren't just for driving anymore, in fact 90% of my reading is done with audiobooks; think cooking and sewing and gardening and..... I'm not a person that sits very well, so audiobooks are a natural choice for me. Like so many people I enjoy staying busy, but with the added discomfort of eyestrain should I sit down to read and relax I will just fall asleep, which means reading from a book is very rare unless it's researching for the various projects and activities I'm involved in.Listening to audiobooks can be quite an adjustment for some as in a normal day we have learned to blot out all kinds of noise from various sources so it's perfectly natural that the spoken word would also be ignored. I believe there are a wide variety of benefits that can be obtained from listening to well narrated audiobooks, as the spoken word practiced for stories can express events beautifully and also bring about a sense of comfort and truly the spoken stories will teach you to listen with greater comprehension in other areas of your life.
Most public libraries have thousands of audiobooks from a variety of genre, and many libraries have statewide digital consortiums for which books can be downloaded onto the various devices that many of us now own. Plus as mentioned above in the various posts there are places such as Audible to purchase books--this is something I have not personally done but I understand from reading posts about that subject it must be pretty nice; I'm still not sure about the whole membership thing.
In regards to comments asking if audiobooks were appropriate for reading challenges I would have to say I see no reason why they shouldn't be considered normal reading. In this day and age where we strive to immerse people with all levels of disabilities into the general populace I can't imagine that such a question is even considered. As long as you're getting the unabridged version of any story you are hearing the exact same thing that others are seeing and in both formats one still has to develop a picture of events in their mind. If it weren't for audiobooks many of my patients would not get the satisfaction of the stories they've been told about or that they wish to reread from days long ago.
As for reading and listening at the same time, for me that would defeat the purpose and pleasure of audiobooks as I would ultimately have to sit to do both and I truly enjoy multitasking. I don't skim listening to the books as I find the stories envelop me, and if I don't enjoy them, rather than becoming bored I just discard them; there is one exception to this rule and that's when I'm involved in a group read such as William Faulkner's Absalom Absalom--oh the suffering I endured:).
Seriously though, listening brings me joy and comfort and I believe helps my creative genius when designing and sewing Victorian gowns and western apparel or doing anything creative for that matter. I think that since the start of 2014 I've already finished 20 books of different genre so finding time is not difficult and as with everything we do we must make time for what we enjoy. Since I enjoy lots I must carve out time from a day filled to the brim with lots but that doesn't mean I don't relax, it just may not look like your type of relaxing.
May you enjoy a good book today in whatever format you choose.
Hi, I just joined this site but have been an avid listener for about 20 years, back when audiobooks were all on cassettes. I think it is great that we all have options to follow our preferences for paper/ebook/listening/combining. Some of us retain information better from seeing, some from hearing or any combination. And as some have mentioned, if our physical abilities change, we now have options! I have tendencies to the ADD side so having a book to listen to during long drives actually helps me focus more than having nothing, when my mind could totally become absent!And we have different tastes. I have found I usually dislike multiple narrators. Somehow it reminds me it is a performance where a single narrator seems to me more like reading a book. Some like audio because they find it faster than print reading, but I find the opposite. If the book is non-fiction, I'd rather read it in print, where I can skim. On the other hand, some lightweight fiction and mystery which is just OK in print is outstanding when well read, such as the Number One Ladies Detective Agency series or Chet and Bernie mysteries (narrated by a dog!)
The narrator makes a big difference to me. If I like someone, I will listen to other books by them even if I never would have read that book.
The "immersion" idea of both audio & text at the same time would be terrific for language learners. I could see doing that in Spanish where I have some knowledge but would struggle just trying to listen or read singly. At the moment, I always am doing something else while listening, whether driving, housework, exercising - so great to always be able to have a book!
I look for my audiobooks and print books separately, although if I see a print book I'm interested in reading, I always check if it's on audiobook first, since it takes me forever to read a print book because of my medical condition. I pick audiobooks first on narrator quality and second on story (I've discovered a lot of genres I never would have read thanks to audiobooks!) As I said, I tend to browse for audiobooks separately and rarely find ones I'd read in print (because I have different tastes for audiobooks than for print books), but if I'm really dying to read a particular book and I don't like the narrator I will read it in print.
My eyes decided for me. It's too exhausting for me to read visually anymore. Also, I like the sound of another human voice in the house. I'm not a TV watcher.
Audio tends to be my preference especially if the book is on Podiobooks dot com or LibriVox dot org or if my local library can get it on CD. It is currently rare that I read anything longer than a blog post but I consume many audio books and audio drama.
The rest of my house likes to read dead tree book so I often buy the books I hear for someone else to read.
I like to listen to the chunkster-sized books, otherwise I doubt I would ever get through them. It's how I read all five ASOIAF books last year, and since then I find myself hooked on audiobooks. I also find myself needing reassurance from the narrator -- that is, can they perform all the character voices without it pulling me out of the story?
I've had instances happen where I didn't like the audiobook but it was more the fault of the story than the narrator (Divergent) and instances where the narrator's vocal choices made me set the audiobook aside in favor of the print version (Angelfall).
I also have favorite narrators whose work I will look up and immediately listen to, both to listen to them read more and so I can check the book off my TBR.
Audiobooks
Books mentioned in this topic
Thankless in Death (other topics)Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption (other topics)
A Game of Thrones (other topics)
Gone Girl (other topics)
Sandry's Book (other topics)
More...
I also watch reviews here to find new authors then look to see if book is available in audio format.
Most of my bound book purchases these days are cookbooks.
It was a lot easier packing up my 2000+ audio book external hard drive when I moved cross country than it was to pack and move 12 three foot long shelves of cookbooks.