Bookish Pet Peeves #1: When Audiobooks Fail Me

We all love reading, but there are sometimes things that just really grind your gears: people who dog-ear their pages or highlighting in a book or reading a hardcover with the dust jacket on. There are common pet peeves when it comes to the book world, and then there are the ones that are...particular to certain kinds of readers. In this new, non-regular feature, we'll highlight some of our own bookish pet peeves and hopefully make you feel a little less insane about your own. 😄

I read 352 books last year, but do you know how I accomplished that feat? Audiobooks. I'm kind of addicted to them. Almost to the point where I need them to focus and do the things I need to do. I'm actually a better driver when I listen on my commute, as opposed to when I listen to music and drive like a bat out of hell. And listening to audiobooks makes doing even the most mundane task -- like dishes -- more enjoyable...except when my headphones cord snags on the dishwasher and they're ripped out of my ears. 😉

But there are times when audiobooks have actually let me down:

• When the audio isn't available, i.e. it hasn't been recorded yet (or maybe won't ever be) or only the first book was released on audio and they never finished recording the series. I am so sick of starting a series, only to realize that the other books aren't available in that format. Or waiting and waiting to listen to a book, only to realize that the publisher is never going to release it in audiobook.

• When they change narrators between books. Why would you do that? I mean, I can guess at reasons -- conflicting obligations, money, audience reception, etc., -- but make better decisions. This goes hand in hand with changing covers mid-series.

• When it's a book I've been dying to listen to and they pick my least favorite narrator EVAR. I've ranted about one particular narrator for years now, but after a quick google search, I only just learned she had a small role on Two and a Half Men and now I feel almost justified in my loathing. 😝 

• When the narrator is beloved and the book is fabulous but they abridge the audio. This isn't the worst thing to ever happen to an audiobook. In fact, it can bring a whole new audience to a book, like when I found out Richard Armitage narrated a few of Georgette Heyer's novels. But they were abridged and while that doesn't diminish how amazing they were, they still felt like...less.

So, yeah, there are some books for which the audiobook version is just not the way to go. But they sure are great for re-reading favorites!

Are you an audiobook listener? Have any other pet peeves to share regarding audiobooks? (Besides when people try to tell you that audiobooks don't count as reading? Grrr.)

Until next time...happy reading!

Labels: audiobooks, pet peeves