The Sunday Symposium is a weekly feature in which I'll be discussing various bookish topics and asking for your commentary, as well. This week, I'm discussing my affinity for audiobooks because it's been a topic of conversation among my group of bloggy friends lately, mostly because they're either afraid to try them or they have a penchant for collecting them.
I. Love. Audiobooks. Love them. If not for audiobooks, I'd never make a dent in my mountainous TBR pile. But many I've encountered are simply afraid to try them. Reasons vary from "I don't think I could concentrate on it" to "I'm afraid I'll hate the narrator". Yes, I've run into both of these problems and many others while listening to someone else read me a book, but I've at least enjoyed 90% of the audiobooks I've listened to. I think those are pretty good odds, if I do say so myself.Besides helping me catch up on books I'd otherwise never get to, there's the nostalgic factor to consider. Remember how much you loved having your parents read you a story at bedtime? All the funny voices and such? I didn't have this fortune often as a kid, as my parents aren't really big readers (gasp!), but I was enthralled whenever I did. Because of that, I make sure to read to my daughter every single night. And since we read a lot of princess stories, I get to use my English accent and ferry her away to a fantasy world she's not yet old enough to read about herself.
My point is, that joy I felt as a kid, hearing the story and envisioning it myself as I listened to Mom or Dad, that's the same feeling I get when I'm transported to another world by an audiobook. Maybe not always on the same level, but it's close. Hell, I've listened to some series entirely on audio, and I never felt like I was missing anything because I wasn't reading the print version. Because I don't read to myself with an accent or with the measure of urgency or dismay called for by the written words. But the narrators of these audiobooks do. They bring the story to life in a way that I wouldn't. I read so many books so quickly now that half the time I'm skimming, which means I'm missing things. And I hate missing things.
My younger sister has never been much of a reader, unless it was some kind of informational text or self-help book. But last year, prior to the movie's release, I got her to read the entire Hunger Games trilogy, and she loved it. After that, I recommended some other novels to her, both in written and in audio forms, with little success. Failures included The City of Bones (written) and Divergent (audio). However, she is currently reading The Host in preparation for our trip to the theater, but I was also able to convince her to try out the Delirium audiobook when she found out I was reading the final book in that series and that it was also a dystopian, which seems to be a favorite sub-genre of hers. Two or three days later, she wanted the next book in the series, which I happily downloaded for her. And now she's chomping at the bit for Requiem to release on Tuesday. So, while she waits, she's already listened to Amy & Roger's Epic Detour and she's in the middle of The Fault in Our Stars, both of which she seems to have been enjoying, despite a few minor dislikes, but we all have those, right?
But this is what matters: I turned my non-reading sister into not only a [good] book lover but also an audiophile! All in the span of a year! And after she finishes the audio for Requiem, she's even going to do a guest post about the experience for me. I am over the moon about this! And that's kind of my goal with this post...to show you that audiobooks aren't the evil that some people seem to think they are. ;0)
So, I want to know about your experience with audiobooks:
- What are your thoughts in general on audiobooks?
- Have you ever tried audiobooks? Did you enjoy that experience? If you didn't, was it the book or the narrator? Would you be willing to try again with a different book and/or narrator?
- For my friends who enjoy a good audiobook as much as I do, do you have a favorite audiobook, one that you might go back to for a re-listen every now and again? How about a favorite narrator?
- How do you use audiobooks? To make mundane tasks (driving, exercising, ironing) less so? To refresh your memory before a sequel? Just for the sheer pleasure of them?
- I like to review the audiobooks I listen to, even if they weren't provided by the publisher. I know what I need to see in an audiobook review, but what would you like to see in my reviews? What might persuade you to pick up the audiobook as opposed to a written copy?
- How do you acquire your audiobooks: library, Audible, purchased CDs, etc.?
I really hope I'm surprised by the responses to this post and that more of my friends are audio fanatics than I would've guessed. Either way, I love you all and value your opinion, even if I may not agree with it. :P
And just for your time and effort, I have a giveaway for you: an audiobook of choice from Audible.com, up to a $30 value.
Rules:
- This giveaway is international, as long as you can accept and listen to audiobooks downloaded from Audible.com.
- One entry per household.
- All entries will be verified. Any entry found to be falsified will result in disqualification of all entries for that participant.
- Winner will be notified via email. Winner will then have 48 hours to respond before another winner will be selected. Please check your SPAM folders!
Love them! Hell, I probably love audiobooks more than regular books. Where else do you get to read while driving/working/doing whatever other mindless activity? I can't imagine anyone not liking them. It's like saying you don't like ice cream. Which I guess not everyone does, but why not? It's awesome! Plus, by listening to audiobooks you get to learn the pronunciation of those words that bring you up short in a story. Of course, that might just be second language English issues.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I have some audiobooks I never finished. Sometimes the narrator annoys me (high pitched voices, omg, do not want), but mostly I find it's a not so great book and even my favourite narrator can't lift it up. My favourite narrators tend to be dudes (this probably goes back to bad high pitched voices experiences).
I would never have tried the Dresden Files if I didn't have a "wait, what, James Masters?" moment, and that would have sucked because I love the books. I have books 1 to 10 in audio, and the others in print. I found Kevin Hearne's Iron Druid Chronicles because of one of my favourite narrators, Luke Daniels. LOVE those! I gave the Beautiful Creatures series second shot when I received the first 3 books on audio as a gift. Hadn't liked the book much when I first read it.
Most of my audiobooks are from Audible.
What would I like to see in an audiobook review? Oh man, tough question. A warning about high pitched voices? HAHA But yeah, I want to know your opinion both of the story, and of the narration. *rubs chin* I wonder if a double rating system would work for audiobooks.
~ Lindie
Haha...love this: "A warning about high pitched voices?" I think I actually do note that for the most part because it annoys me, too. I tried Beautiful Creatures on audio, too, and had a difficult time getting into it. Maybe I'll give it another try someday.
DeleteGreat post, Jen! I think you are well aware of my love for audio, which you helped create by letting me know about the awesomeness that is Audible.com.
ReplyDeleteI don't know that I've read enough to have a favorite narrator, but I've definitely seen how some narrators are better in some books than others. Such as Kate Simses. She was rather whiny in Matched, yet I thought she was perfect in Shatter Me.
I enjoy audio as you to help get my review pile down. I have a rather long commute during the week, so it gives me a lot of listening time. I also enjoy as you mentioned the fact that the story is more "acted out" than if you were to read it yourself.
I wholeheartedly believe anyone that hasn't tried an audiobook should. What do they have to lose? It's like a potato chip... You get hooked! And you can't stop after just one. ;)
I love that analogy...it is so true! I am definitely hooked on audiobooks. But like you, I've definitely noticed that some narrators are better for some narrators than they are for others. Some of my faves have narrated books that I absolutely loathed, and not even their narration could save the audiobook for me.
DeleteI enjoy reading audiobooks especially as a blogger because it really helps getting books that I want to read and still get my review books done, I tend to read them while I am driving or doing hw since I am in college and it helps me still get to read when I am too busy to actually read. What I would really like to see in a review is probably review of the narration, right now I am listening to the first book in the Morganville vampire series by: Rachel Caine and the narrator makes a ditzy sounding voice for one of the characters and it is driving me crazy because I don't think I would think that certain way about the character if the narrator wouldn't have put that in my head. Great post!
ReplyDeleteKristin @ Young Adult Book Haven
Awesome...I do try to incorporate how fitting the narrator was for the characters, but I try not to be overly critical since it all comes down to interpretation. I often wonder if narrators get notes from authors about how they think their characters would sound.
DeleteMy sister in law convinced me to try audiobooks a few years ago. We've listened to the Sookie Stackhouse series, The Hunger Games, The Night Huntress series, and a lot others.
ReplyDeleteI think the experience depends a lot on the narrator. The narrator for the Sookie Stackhouse books is great; Tavis Gilbert (Night Huntress) is amazing, by far my favorite.
The narrators for The Hunger Games and Divergent series were so blah for me. They may have fit the tone of the story, but put me to sleep.
I'm looking forward to your sister's post!
Girl, I LOVE the Night Huntress books! Tavia Gilbert is effing amazing! She's definitely one of my favorites. I listened to both THG and Divergent, and I agree, I was not impressed. They were okay, but I'm glad I read the books myself first.
DeleteWhat a great idea. You already know most of my thoughts about audiobooks. I mean, do other people who like book snot have boring stuff to do and need entertainment????
ReplyDeleteHeh...book snot. :P I know what you mean...these days, I can't imagine doing laundry or driving without an audiobook playing.
DeleteI love audiobooks! I've started listening to them last year to practice my English and they're so helpful! Thank you for this giveaway :D
ReplyDeleteIriel
Oh, dual purpose, I love it! :) Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteTo be honest, I've never even tried an audiobook. I've been thinking about it lately. How awesome would it be to listen to a book while you clean? Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteIt is TOTALLY awesome! :P I hope you do give them a try and find that you love them!
DeleteI love audiobooks, especially Harry Potter audiobooks. I don't listen to frequently though! I acquire my little selection from buying them or borrowing them from a friend. I listen to my favorite while cleaning my room, doing laundry, or when I feel sick. overall, I love listening to audiobooks! Although I am always a little hesitant.
ReplyDeleteEmily @ Counting in Bookcases
I haven't tried the HP audio. Might have to give those a listen. :)
DeleteI think audio books are a great way to to 'kill 2 birds with one stone' so to speak; While hanging out on the net, driving, doing chores, running errands, etc. When my son was in preschool I use to get him audio books for those times when I couldn't sit with him to read. Both he and I loved those audio books. The narrators for the children's books were always so expressive and made for a wonderful experience. The only non-children's books I have experience with are A Marrraige Bargain by Jennifer Probst and Indian Hill book 1 by Mark Tufo. Both are great books and I enjoyed the audios. With a TBR that rivals Mt Everest, I'm considering trying out some more. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteHuh...I haven't listened to any audio with my daughter, but that's a great idea!
DeleteI won an audiobook late last year and listening to it was an enjoyable experience. I was actually doing some chores while listening. That is, sadly, the first and only time I listened to an audiobook. i wouldn't mind listening to more.
ReplyDeleteI hope you get the opportunity, especially since you seemed to enjoy your first experience with audiobooks!
DeleteOh good topic. I love love love audiobooks. I started when I found I didn't have time for all the books I wanted to read. When I can't actually read a book because of other things... work, cleaning house,traveling ( I get really car sick from reading.) I listen. When I mention audio to others I get the... I can't stand the way the narrator reads, I would lose focus... Yes sometimes the narrator sucks and yes some books I are so slow I lose focus and have to read the book instead. so audio do the have their place in my lives but so do books too. Some books I think I wouldn't have liked if I read the book and some I think I would have liked better if I read them so it is a bit of a draw if I will love the audio or not. Most of the time I do. I loved I Hunt Killers, Chronicles of Nick and Harry Potter on audio. Harry Potter is one I tried to read and couldnt, but I had a great time with them on Audio. Divergent is one I didn't like and maybe would have if I read instead of Listened to. I love Jim Dale.. he is one of my favorites. I use overdrive at my library or audible for my audio.
ReplyDeleteI get really sick from reading in the car, too...always have. And I am really going to have to look at a library in a larger city for audio options. Audible gets expensive after awhile. :P
DeleteThanks for the great post and giveaway! I haven't tried audiobooks. Not that I don't want to just haven't picked one up yet :)
ReplyDeleteI hope you get the chance! Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteI like audio books as much as I like paper books and ebooks.they make me feel like someone is reading to me :-)
ReplyDeleteI like that about them, too. :)
DeleteI've honestly never listened to an audiobook. I have one, but haven't been able to listen to it yet.
ReplyDeleteCurious to know which one will be your first. :)
DeleteI generally don't listen to audiobooks because they give me headaches. I read SO much faster than I listen, and I try so hard to make narrator voices sound like how I think they SHOULD sound rather than how they do. However, I've had some slight success with audiobooks recently, so I'm hoping to expand just a bit. They're especially useful while driving. My commute to work is almost an hour one way every day.
ReplyDeleteI have a long commute, too, and audio definitely helps pass the time. I don't speed through books, nor do I wish to, so most audio is fine for me. With Audible audio on my iPhone, I can change the speed, though, so if it's not working for me at the current pace, I can adjust that. I'm glad you're having some success with audio, though!
DeleteI love audiobooks for when when I'm busy because it allows me to mono serial task! I can clean the house and listen to book, or driving places and listen to it, never a wasted moments.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing that kind of annoys me with audiobooks, though it's not the audiobooks fault, is that listening to it a book is a lot slower than me reading it, and sometimes that gives me enough time to realize how stupid some things are in a book, that I might not have not though of it I was reading it haha.
Seems to be a common complaint, but like I was telling Shelver, some audio lets you adjust the speed. I do agree that listening to a book allows my mind to wander a bit more and pick up on things that I might not have noticed if I was reading the story myself.
DeleteI've only ever listened to one audiobook which was 'Sherlock Holmes.' I listened to it on an extended trip that required lots of driving. It's not that I'm against them, I just haven't had much experience with them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway!
mestith at gmail dot com
I bet Sherlock Holmes would be great as audio! I've loved those stories since I was a kid. I hope you get the opportunity to try out some others!
DeleteSometimes it's difficult for me to focus my attention on audiobooks, but if the narrator is great then that makes it pretty easy. We always listen to an audiobook when we have hours to drive. And sometimes the only way that I can convince myself to clean or exercise is to bribe myself with listening to a good story.
ReplyDeleteI would never get the hubs to agree to listen to an audiobook on a long trip. He doesn't even see how I listen to them as it stands, doesn't understand how I can concentrate on them. I bribe myself with audiobooks, too! I actually WANTED to work out the other day so I could finish up TFiOS. =)
Delete-I'm pretty indifferent to them. They really just don't come to mind when I think about books.
ReplyDelete-I've only listened to one, Prisoner of Azkaban. I liked it well enough, but I felt I could have gotten done a lot faster just reading it myself. I'd be willing to give them another go.
-When I was listening to that, it was on the bus on my way to school.
-I think a special narrator would draw me in, if it was a celebrity or someone whose voice I enjoy (Ian Somerhalder, Tom Hiddleston, etc.)
-I received one in a giveaway once, but my Harry Potter one was from a thrift store.
Thanks for the chance to try another :)
I do like it when voices I already know, including celebrities, narrate audiobooks. Except that then sometimes I find myself equating the voice with a character they'd previously portrayed. Anyway, I'm glad you're willing to give audio another try!
DeleteI do enjoy audio books. I started out with them because of cross country trips while I was in the army - they would help keep me awake and alive on the road. Now a days I still listen to them while driving but also while exercising if I'm on a machine (still use music while running cause that is more motivating). A narrator can completely ruin a book for me. Also if its a slower book I find I'm better at reading those instead of listening to someone read it to me. I mostly use the library now for them...I used to use Flying J's truck stops but there aren't any of those around here.
ReplyDeletePabkins @ My Shelf Confessions
I love audiobooks! I started listening to them mostly for long road trips when you get caught in an area with no radio and you have listened to all your CD's. Then I got a job not so close to home and now I ONLY listen to audiobooks in my car. I have added more books to my yearly reading goals, completed a few books off of my TBR list.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite audiobooks so far are Ready Player One, The Fault In Our Stars (just finished today) and The Shoemaker's Wife so far.
My favorite narrator is Wil Wheaton and Kate Rudd.
I hate to say it out loud but I am not a review reader because I like going into books and audiobooks without a perceived opinion on it.
I get my audiobooks MOSTLY from audible.com or giveaways. I will be getting them from my library as soon as I finish this pile.
Thanks for this giveaway!!! LOVE THE POST!
Probably 60% of the books I read each year are audiobooks because I can listen at work. I really enjoy them, but the narrator makes a huge difference. I've also read so many if them, I also know which production companies I prefer to others and some narrators I love (Emma Galvin)... I've never tried audible because it seems so expensive, but I would love to have a huge selection like that. Currently I just use my library system, which has enough to keep me occupied. I loved this post!!!
ReplyDeleteI don't have experience with audiobooks, so this would be my first experience if I win. So, lucky me. Y have curious.
ReplyDeleteI have only listened to a couple of audiobooks when making a long trip.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely am in love with audiobooks! I became hooked when I tried my first one in November 2010. Were it not for audiobooks, I would not get much reading done!! I have small kids and not much down-time. My sit-down reading time is spent reading aloud to the kids. I listen to audiobooks on a daily basis whenever I can squeeze it in: Doing my hair and make-up, making meals, shovelling snow, cutting the grass, driving, walking, doing laundry. Audiobooks allow me to multi-task, which is important for me!!
ReplyDeleteI love Jim Frangione, narrator of the BDB series by JR Ward. I know that I'll likely re-listen to the series because I've enjoyed it so much.
I, too, have an Audible membership and buy audiobooks from there all the time. I also make use of the library's digital downloads from Overdrive and audio CDs. Sometimes, when Tantor Audio is having a good sale, I buy from there as well.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Haven't had an audiobook previously but I'd like to have some. I'm just affraid of it's size would taken up my HDD in short period of time ;p
ReplyDeleteBut I like to play with autoplay on .lit book extention. it's so ridiculously funny i can't keep myself from smilling.
Thanks for the giveaway ;p
I don't have a lot of experience with audiobooks. A have listened to a few years ago and I didn't like the narrator. My son was listening to the Harry Potter audiobooks and I did like those. I would be willing to try again. I never thought about listening to a book instead of watching TV while I work out.
ReplyDeleteI love audiobooks! I have a 45 minute commute every day, and listening to an audiobook makes the time fly. I've listened to so many wonderful books that I would never have picked up to read in print. I recently tried Audible and loved it, though I also get books on cd from the library sometimes. My reading life has totally expanded since I discovered audiobooks!
ReplyDelete~Lesley D
Initially, I was an audiobook skeptic, but after years of listening to our daughter's "story tapes", then Jim Weiss's storytelling CDs, and finally all the Harry Potter books read by Jim Dale (our daughter's favorites) and some other lovely audiobooks for children and young adults, I became a convert.
ReplyDeleteAt first, I listened in the car, then got an iPod so I could listen while doing housework, washing dishes, knitting... I reviewed the entire Harry Potter series that way, before the final movie came out. Never mind that I've heard them all before, some in bits and pieces over the years, and some on long car trips. They're good enough that I can listen to them more than once. There are other audiobooks I feel that way about, too: Ian Carmichael reading almost any of the Dorothy Sayers mysteries, Derek Jacobi reading The Daughter of Time.
I've enjoyed almost all the books I've listened to so far, with few exceptions. (I did have trouble with the narrator of one of the Pern books, who had a Southern accent that clashed horribly with my own expectations of Pernese speech.) There are some narrators whose performances are so good that I'll listen to almost anything they read, no matter what it is.
If a reviewer has listened to the audiobook rather than reading the book, I want to know. The reader's performance can make a bad book seem better, or a good book seem boring. I also want to know who reads the book and how good the narration is. How well does the reader/narrator create different voices? Is s/he good at voicing the opposite sex? Is it done by a single reader, or a full cast, the way the Full Cast Audio books are? If I'm told "great story, but the narration was flat," I'll avoid the audiobook but might read the book. If I'm told the reader was fantastic, I'll consider listening to the audiobook.
How do I get audiobooks? We've bought some on CD from Amazon, mostly for our daughter, who listens to her favorites over and over. We borrow others from the public library, which has an extensive collection -- that's fine for books I don't intend to listen to more than once. I haven't signed up for an Audible membership yet, but that may come.
I like audiobooks, but I usually only listen to books that I've already read and loved. My attention span is a little short to listen to a new to me book.
ReplyDeleteI love listening to them on long car rides or when I crochet.
I love listening to the Stephanie Plum series and the In Death series. My favorite narrator is, hands down, Lorelei King. She is so amazing!
I prefer to borrow audiobooks from the library.
Thanks for the giveaway!
I haven't listened to an audiobook yet and that's why I've entered this contest! My friends listen to audiobooks all the time; and I read so much I'm afraid my eyes might go bad. I absolutely LOVE books whether i'm reading them on my phone or listening to my computer read teasers. Anything. Literally. I can't stop!! So I'm hoping I'll be one of the lucky 13 people to win some audiobooks!
ReplyDelete