3 out of 4 stars
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Audible, a monthly audiobook subscription service, has been around for a few years. It’s frequently advertised on Amazon (it is an Amazon-owned company), and several of my Facebook friends are fans of the service. So what better way to become acquainted with Audible than to write a review for it? At least, that’s what I was thinking when presented with the option. For this review, I enrolled in a 30-Day trial membership, which gave me access to not one but TWO free audiobooks to download and listen to.
That being said, I chose The Confession, by Robert Whitlow, and Elantris, by Brandon Sanderson. I’ve been wanting to read these both for a while, and this trial run of Audible gave me the perfect opportunity…which leads me to what I believe is the greatest facet of the audiobook service, opportunity and convenience. As a family man with a wife, children, and full-time employ, reading can become somewhat of a luxury. There have been occasions when I’ve had to simply “give up” on a book because I just didn’t have the time to give it my undivided attention and respect. The audiobook format allowed me to eke out a couple of chapters during the commute to work or when performing solo tasks at home, like mowing the lawn. I found myself suddenly able to pace myself through my books of choice without having to compromise the constructs of my lifestyle. It was almost a guilty pleasure.
Another huge positive to members of Audible is the price. Membership is billed in advance monthly at $14.95 for one book, or $22.95 for two books. On a two book plan, that’s $11.50 per audiobook, which is just a slight increase over a mass market paperback and certainly cheaper than a trade paperback or hardcover. The Audible membership also makes the audiobook format more economical, as new release audiobooks on CD range from $35 to $50 on the average. Speaking of CD’s, Audible’s digital downloading is hand-over-fist better than having to keep up with a hard copy of your book. Audible’s cloud storage means you can delete the book from your listening device once you’re finished without losing your purchase; you don’t have to guard your audiobook with your life to keep a disc from getting scratched; and you can download your files to whatever device is convenient for you, so long as you can run the Audible app. I used both my phone and my tablet to listen to my books…did I mention that the Audible app syncs your audiobook between devices? I was able to move fluidly from one device to the other without ever losing my place. Two key aspects of value are price and convenience, and Audible, without a doubt, has delivered on both counts.
A final plus for Audible, and another huge component when assessing value, is its level of customer service. When cancelling my trial membership online, I mistakenly opted to continue the service and was charged. Once I realized I’d done this, I simply called the 800 number on the Audible website and was introduced to a friendly representative who corrected my error without a bit of hassle. The overall customer support experience was a refreshing contrast from the usual drudgery of navigating through a website for interminable amounts of time to find a contact number, selecting 15 different options from the robotic operator, and waiting grudgingly for someone to finally take you off hold and (maybe) resolve your issue. This was the final determinant in deciding that Audible is an insanely good value for those looking for the convenience of an audiobook without having to break the bank. I can’t speak highly enough of the service.
However…
As an audiobook rookie, I did have some concerns about the products I selected. The Confession was a poorly narrated butchery of what otherwise would have been a great read. The narrator could not figure out his emotions, acting completely astonished over a basic turkey sandwich while falling flat and sounding incredibly bored as key plot elements were unfolding. Also, dialogue became a nightmare as the narrator used the same speaking voice for EVERY character. I found myself rewinding on multiple occasions because I could not figure out who was saying what and was left utterly confused by the many conversations that occurred in the book. The way this book was read to me greatly diminished its enjoyability, and I found myself wishing that I had just purchased the paperback. Elantris was better ten times over in terms of delivery, but the reading itself was SLOW. This six hundred page book was transformed into a 27.5 hour behemoth being read at a rate of twenty three pages PER HOUR. The otherwise fast-paced narrative was interminable to the point that I actually grabbed a copy of the book so I could finish before my 11-year-old daughter graduates from high school. I just was not impressed with my selections.
In conclusion, I have realized two things. First, audiobooks are NOT for me. I would greatly prefer to have a book in my hand and operate at my own pace. However, I can also think of numerous circumstances where one might prefer or even need an audio copy of his or her favorite literature. My second realization is that, in those circumstances, the ease and affordability of Audible is second to none. For this reason, I give Audible 3 out of 4 Stars. I can’t give it 4 Stars because I feel that each book purchased is a gamble not only in its content but in its delivery as well, but I do believe that the free trial is too good to pass up for anyone wanting to try out audiobooks (like me) or for the seasoned listener who wants a great method for acquiring more titles.
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