Do you like audiobooks?
By fluffysue
@fluffysue (1482)
United States
October 26, 2008 1:20pm CST
I have thought of getting audiobooks from time to time, but I generally absorb things much better by reading rather than listening. I'm not sure I would pay close enough attention to follow an audio book. They also seem to be much more expensive than actual books, though downloading them online is less expensive than buying CDs. I am considering getting a couple though, based more on the person reading them than the subject matter.
What about you, do you like audiobooks? How important is it that you like the reader? Do you find it more difficult to follow a story if you are hearing it rather than reading it?
4 responses
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
6 Nov 08
I love audiobooks! If I have to read a paperback, it takes me forever! I love audiobooks because I can be done with a book in only a few hours. Although, I have listened to books that would have taken me years to read probably, since they were about 12 hours long. But if it's a good book, it doesn't seem that long. I really get into it with audio.
With regular reading, it takes too much effort to read the books and then reading becomes an annoying chore. I always hated books until I finally tried audiobooks. I have to say, they are fantastic. Even a reader with an annoying voice is usually okay after awhile. There are a few exceptions though. I wouldn't recommend Lolita on audio.
But yes, they are super expensive! Downloading them in my experience is roughly the same price. Since I basically exclusively read on audio, I've devised a new scheme for reading audiobooks. I'll buy them used on eBay, and then I will resell them. It's like renting. And then sometimes, I actually do just rent them. I rarely buy them, unless it's something really new and I just can't wait a few years for it to be easily available.
1 person likes this
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
6 Nov 08
Ours only has a few. About 10 of the classics, mostly Shakespeare. I think all but 1 of the books were on tapes instead of CDs too. We have a very old library here and there really isn't much selection in anything. The computer books they have are from 1994 and those are possibly the newest books there.
But renting isn't too bad. Usually each book costs me between $5 and $10 that way. I rarely would read any book twice anyway, so it works out pretty good.
1 person likes this
@TheCatLady (4691)
• Israel
6 Nov 08
Some library's have audio books. You might want to check to see if yours does. I understand about the annoying chore. I feel that way reading in my 2nd and third languages.
1 person likes this
@fluffysue (1482)
• United States
6 Feb 09
I just found out that my library "loans" audiobooks through a web site. I am not entirely sure how it works, I think you download it and then it only works for a certain period of time, then they let someone else download it. The site had a lot of books. I don't remember the site, but I think you have to belong to a library that participates, anyway. It's worth looking into.
I like the idea of buying them on ebay, I'll have to look into that. 
@TheCatLady (4691)
• Israel
26 Oct 08
I can't stand them. I find them way to slow. I read much faster than I can listen.
1 person likes this
@fluffysue (1482)
• United States
27 Oct 08
That's another thing. I tend to read fast, as well. Thanks.
@TheCatLady (4691)
• Israel
6 Nov 08
I think I read at an average speed, but it's faster than many.
1 person likes this
@acturpt (28)
• China
27 Oct 08
I have tried audiobooks but I found there don't suit me,I think it's time wasting to "read" an audiobook,they read too slow,and I'm not patient enough to follow them even though I can do other things when listening.And as you say,there're much more expensive than the paper ones.
I don't think we can call it a book if it's not made of paper,including e-books.We can search the imformations we need from them but if you want to read,paper books are your best choice.
Enjoy your reading~
1 person likes this
@fluffysue (1482)
• United States
27 Oct 08
I agree. It takes a certain amount of patience to listen to a story, I don't have that patience either. Even though you can do something else at the same time, I really couldn't because I would end up not listening and miss something. And then, how do you go back? It is not like flipping back to another page in a book to reread something.
I've always enjoyed books, but I like to hold them in front of me and read them. I just happened to find that an actor I like who also has a nice voice has done some audiobooks and was thinking of getting some. However, a couple are on subjects that would require more concentration than I could give an audiobook, and I think the others are children's books. Perhaps I'll check those out next time I have a really drive somewhere, and stick with regular books otherwise.
@annamol (275)
• United States
19 Jul 10
I love audio books. I got an audio book "Girl with a Pearl Earring" by Tracy Chevalier from a library and I'm going to listen to it next week. I like to listen to novels and stories, I do it often. It doesn't take me away from printed book as I read them all the time. It's not difficult to listen to an audio book - it's fun and educational. Sometimes you just can't squeeze a printed book in you schedule and then it comes time to listen to an audio book.
