Listening to Audio books

[jwebser12]

It's not near the same as holding the book and having your own "interpretation" as you read, but I have enjoyed an audio book now and then. I especially like them on long drives to pass the time.

[LOutlaw]

I love audio books and listen to them almost every day. I started using Audible a few years ago and really enjoy hearing a good narrator read the book to me. With audio books I don't need hands or eyes. I can clean house or close my eyes and imagine the story. It works when I am lying down to sleep at night or running around after my kids. They are also great for road trips. I still pick up a book to read and I still use my Nook. I just like to have options. Right now, I am listening to one book and reading another on my Nook. It just depends what I am in the mood for.

[JanDem21]

I think autobooks are convenient but I like creating the characters voices on my own.

[Robin_Reads]

I love this option. I wish there were more available at a reasonable cost! I listened to A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson this way and laughed my butt off. It was a great experience. Btw, I loved its movie.

[Alylynn317]

I LOVE Audio books! I actually forget that those are considered books, because I listen to them so often! I travel about a half hour to and from work each day so it gives me plenty of time to listen, plus I like to listen while I go for a jog as well (I am not a huge music person, so I much prefer books). I honestly could not count how many I have listened to over the last couple years. Honestly though, if I didn't travel far or run, I probably would not listen to them as much because I wouldn't just be able to sit down at my house and listen, I have to be doing something simultaneously but to where I could pay attention to what is going on in the book. So I would say it depends on what you would prefer and the time you have. I would never replace books with audio books but they are very convenient for the times you want to listen to a story, but can't very much read at that time.

I prefer fiction books when doing audiobooks, it is easier to get off tract and start day dreaming so it is important to listen to something you will enjoy. I usually get my books from Audible. You have to pay, but they let you return books for credits if you did not like them, which is pretty convenient.

[Ubissen]

I love listening to audio books, especially when they are preformened right. I have listened to some with severel different actors and it was like listening to a play. I often listen while I drive, or play a game, but also when I am too tired to read but not tired enough to sleep. There s something soothing listening to someone read a book to you. It does depend on the genre though. I think that audio are best for slow reads. You know the ones you want to take your time with to get all the details. I read very fast, so sometimes audio is a good tool for me to slow down and get more details from what I read.

[angelsfantasy26]

I personally can't do audio books. I am the type of person who likes to read a book and watch TV at the same time. If I listening to the audio book I can't do anything else.

[susieloveschemistry]

I love listening to audio books, especially when they are preformened right. I have listened to some with severel different actors and it was like listening to a play. I often listen while I drive, or play a game, but also when I am too tired to read but not tired enough to sleep. There s something soothing listening to someone read a book to you. It does depend on the genre though. I think that audio are best for slow reads. You know the ones you want to take your time with to get all the details. I read very fast, so sometimes audio is a good tool for me to slow down and get more details from what I read.

Do you have any suggestions for particularly good audio books? I've struggled in the past to keep focus with them but maybe I just haven't found a good fit yet. I'd like to get into them since I will be driving quite a bit in the near future.

[rssllue]

The dramatized version of Pilgrim's Progess is a great one for drivetime!

[CrescentMoon]

I listened to an audiobook for a book that I really wanted to read one time, because the hardcopy of the book wasn't available yet and it was not yet on Kindle. However the audiobook was out, and I was so curious to know the story, that I decided it was worth it to listen to the audiobook. After listening to it, however, I realized I was not much of a fan. I actually really did enjoy the book and bought the physical copy and re-read it because the story was good, but listening to it I feel like I missed a lot of things. I would have to rewind to certain parts and it was hard for me to tell when dialogue was happening or if a character was thinking something. I personally prefer to read than listen.

[ipuerta]

Hello!

Well.. if there is truth in that it´s nothing like reading yourself, I admit that it´s a great way to enjoy a book in a moment when you can´t read like driving or cleaning your home, doing the dishes, collecting laundry, etc... It´s like listening to music, but with stories instead of songs. Those that were recorded with human voices are more pleasant but if you don´t mind, there are apps with text to speech (tts) features that would "read" a specific text.

Hope this helps!

[RuthAnn0211]

I like reading it myself as opposed to having someone else read it for me. However, I have two small children, so it does help to listen to the audio while doing things around the house. It makes me feel like I am still able to get things done, while still being able to read my favorite books.

[Pip Cowan]

I love audio books but a good narrator can make or break a book. I enjoy audio books while I am doing house chores and with audible you can switch between the two which is pretty fantastic. I would suggest listening to the audio samples first to make sure you find the narrators voice and tone agreeable.

[Jennifer Allsbrook]

I tried out some audiobooks recently with a free trial to Audible. I downloaded two of the Black Dagger Brotherhood books that I couldn't find in the library or at the local stores. I had never tried the audiobook format before so I thought I would give it a shot. It was odd listening to the narrator say phrases like mother f---er, etc. but I got a kick out of it mostly. The love scenes were interesting and I found I could listen in the car which was a plus since I could continue my story while driving. I had about 4 hours of drive time so this was a positive. I also found that I could use earbuds and listen while doing chores. I did miss the visceral act of holding a book. I missed the weight, the smell, the turning of pages. I think that audiobooks have uses as described above. The time investment is huge though. The two books required eighteen and twenty three hours of listening time, respectively. I can read much faster. I think you should give it a try and see what the experience is like for you. Overall, I got to hear the two stories that I was missing in a series for free and I enjoyed the books.

[smhawkins]

It all depends on what kind of learner you are. I am more visual/kinesthetic, so I much prefer reading to listening to an audio book.

However, I will say audio books are GREAT for long road trips. Especially if you're road tripping solo!