Do you use audiobooks?

Question

I've tried to listen to one before and I dunno, I just don't get into it. Because you hear one static voice for every character that speaks. I find I get lost in it, who just said that? Especially when the person doesn't try to change their voice, or when they do change their voice and it's so...laughable. I prefer to read it myself I think, it doesn't put me to sleep that way.

Does it depend on the type of book it is? Romance audio books I bet would be a real drag...but then I'm a visual person anyway, not really an audio person.

What about you?

Answer 1

I have listened to some good ones, among them a Harry Potter novel, a biography of the Romanov family of Russia, a Clive Barker novel, Galilee; and Jarhead, as read by the author himself.

I think which one you enjoy depends not only on the writing, but on the reader and how well he or she reads.

Answer 2

I listen to audio books all the time. I frequently travel along routes with no radio so it's good to pass the time. I also find them enjoyable when doing mundane task around the house like the dishes (no dishwasher here). Some are more easy to listen to than others. The Glass Lake by Maeve Binchey was the first audio book I ever listened to & it hooked me. The narrator had a beautiful soft Irish accent. Tick Tock by Dean Koontz was read by B.D. Wong. He did such a good job of creating each character that after a 6 hour car ride we kept driving past our destination just to finish the story. I recently listened to Persuasion by Jane Austen but had a difficult time getting into it as the narrator just wasn't as engaging. Will try reading that book myself in the future.

Answer 3

Having listened to a couple of hundred Audio Books - like any book - it depends on the book, and the narrator. Most good narrators will do multiple voices (only relevant if its a fiction book - doesn't matter if it is non-fiction), so its easy to keep track of characters. A good audiobook based on a good book I think can be more engaging than a book.

Try something that is voiced by multiple actors like The Golden Compass, by Philip Pullman:
http://www.thehouseofoojah.com/audiobooks/ccp0-prodshow/the-golden-compass-philip-pullman-audio-book.html
Multiple voiced audio books are the Rolls Royce in audiobooks - its like listening to a movie.

Answer 4

I "read"/listen to audio books very regularly as I can then do two things at a time.
I listen to the books when I'm driving or when I am doing things around the house like painting or sewing.
How much I enjoy the book is very much effected by the character of the voice by the narrator.

Answer 5

I listen to audiobooks all the time. Mostly get them from the library. It helps a lot if it's read by a good reader, some are better than others. If you're a Harry Potter fan the guy who read those books can do about 20 different voices and they're all different and distinguishable from each other.

Answer 6

I agree that reading the book yourself is much more enjoyable.

I do listen to audio books in my truck. I drive about 200 miles a day for my job, so I gotta have something interesting to listen to. I get sick of music, so lately I've been trying audiobooks.

It's true that sometimes I find myself distracted from the story by the goofy voices the narrator uses for varying characters.

Right now, I've been listening to Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill. Stephen Lang narrates, and the voices he uses are sometimes just plain ridiculous.

Answer 7

My wife uses them because she is going blind. She enjoys them a lot. Unfortunately, we get them from the library and a lot of times they are in such bad condition she misses parts. But they are so expensive to buy.

I have heard the books while she was listening. They didn't sound that bad to me. A lot has to do with who is reading the book. Personally, I would rather read the book. But she has no choice. So they are a blessing for people like her.

Answer 8

I found that audio book requires the same level of concentration just like when you're actually reading a book. And no intonation just makes it harder to concentrate to the story line. I think it's easier to listen to nonfiction book than fiction. i'd never like to listen to romance. the idea itself sounds cheesy :)

Answer 9

i love audiobooks. i listen to them during my commute. they were a lifesaver when i had to do that 8 hour trip from houston to dallas and back. it also helps that i don't have to sit down anymore to read. i listen while i'm doing my chores, or even in the gym. it's important that it's the story that counts, not the voice.

Answer 10

ive listened to a buch of them most are done in different voices and some are computer created voices