I (Amy) am trying to listen to more audio books in the new year as a way of squeezing in even more books. I’m almost finished with one, but they will take awhile as my commute to work isn’t that long and that’s the best time for me to listen.
There are elements that I like about audio books…being able to hear another story…and this one seems extra special because it’s read by the author. I do find myself at times having to go back a few minutes because my mind has wandered.
Do you listen to audio books? If so, what do you find to be the difference between reading and listening to a book? Are there certain types of books you’d prefer to listen to? If you don’t listen to them, why not? And do you have any recommendations for good books on audio?
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January 9th, 2009 at 9:30 am
I LOVE audio books! Mostly because I also find it as a way to squeeze in more books. Plus, I like not having to hold the book open. I put most of mine on my MP3. That way, I can take it anywhere. I listen during my commute, while washing the dishes, even taking a bath. One that I recently really enjoyed is “Killing the Shadows” by Val McDermid. My review of it is on my blogsite.
Good luck with them!
January 9th, 2009 at 9:49 am
I love listening to audiobooks on early morning commutes even though it is short and on trips, as you know.
What I love about them–this only applies when the narrators are well chosen–is the voices and emphasis in language given to characters by the readers. I love how these narrators place their own spin on the characters. My favorite audiobooks to listen too are nonfiction, suspense, thriller, and comedy (i.e. Christopher Moore)
January 9th, 2009 at 11:46 am
All right girls, to show how much I love your blog, I have awarded you with the Kreativ Blogger Award! Here’s the link: http://cafeofdreams.blogspot.com/2009/01/kreativ-blogger-award.html
Have a great weekend!
January 9th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
[...] Original post: The Friendly Book Nook » Blog Archiv… [...]
January 9th, 2009 at 10:45 pm
I like listening to books that I wouldn’t normally take the time to read. Right now I’m listening to Life of Pi, and I’m loving it, but I don’t know if I would have picked it up and read it. I’m planning on picking up some more award winners from the library later this year to listen to. I think the slower pace of the audiobook gives me more time to savor deep passages (and if not there’s always the pause button).
January 9th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
I love audio books – but not all audio books. I have to start listening to them and usually by the end of the first CD I know whether or not I am going to like it! I just finished The Road by Cormac McCarthy on audio and absolutely loved it. I started Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, but because the book is so long, and my listening time is usually sporadic, I am changing to the written one. I just checked out Holes by Louis Sachar and hope to start it sometime this weekend.
January 9th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
I really like listening to audio books when I’m traveling, doing housework or when doing ‘nonthinking’ tasks on the computer (okay, that’s pretty much Zuma or Chainz2). I usually choose books that others have recommended for listening to or light mysteries, unless it’s a long trip than I’ll listen to anything.
Recommendations: Never Have Your Dog Stuffed by Alan Alda and read by him. Any of the No.1 Ladies Detective Agency series read by Lisette Lecat. And I loved listening to Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett because of the Scottish accent of the little men. If I think of any others I’ll come back and add them.
January 10th, 2009 at 1:09 am
Thank you so much for the recommendations! Serena..Christopher Moore sounds like a great choice for audio books!
April…thank you!!!
Alyce…I pondered listening to some classics, too.
Kristi…I want to read The Road, but maybe I’ll listen to it instead.
booklogged…I want to read more in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series (I’ve only read the first one) so that might be a great choice for me!
January 10th, 2009 at 6:10 am
I have yet to listen to an audio book. I need to get something to listen to them on first. I have thought about it though. What would be the best to use for audio books?
January 11th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
I love audiobooks – I listen when I’m driving, unless it’s a long drive when I need to be singing to stay awake and focused, but I also listen when I’m at the gym, grocery shopping, doing laundry or housework, walking to work, or anything that requires eyes and hands but not ears or brain. If it’s a good book, I can use it as incentive to get myself to do chores that I don’t want to do: “I don’t want to do the ironing! But I *could* get through another few chapters of my book…”
I listen to the same types of audiobooks as I do in regular books, but I have an easier time listening to the classics vs. reading them. Something about the long sentences and flow of the language just doesn’t get into my brain when I’m reading, but when someone articulates it for me, it makes perfect sense.
January 11th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
I like listening to audiobooks, but these days don’t get much opportunity (with a 2 year old and a baby). However, one of the absolute best audiobooks I ever listened to was A Walk in The Woods, by Bill Bryson. I had to pull over, I was laughing that hard. Also, The Hobbit was pretty good. I managed to listen to P.S. I Love You by Cecilia Ahern about 6 months ago, and it was really good. I find that for me, the reader makes it or breaks it.
January 12th, 2009 at 10:06 am
I love listening to audiobooks, but I don’t have enough quiet, uninterrupted time to listen to them as I would like. I discovered Librivox.org a few years ago – I download audiobooks there and listen to them through iTunes while I use my computer. Librivox is maintained by volunteers and only has public domain audiobooks. My goal is to listen to Pride and Prejudice every year. That story just never gets old.
The one thing I like about audiobooks is that I can use the internet while I am listening to a book, which is hard to doing while reading a book.
January 15th, 2009 at 12:39 am
I am not sure why these folks keep coming up with things.
March 18th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
I listen both at home and in the car. I really like the audiobook reader from Audio Pod. They also are building a big online lending library, and it includes Pride and Prejudice. I really like the MP3 bookmarks that allow me to have lots of books open at the same time. Right now I am listening to ‘The Elusive Pimpernel’, and the kids are using ‘Bloody Jack’, ‘Badge of Infamy’ and about 2 dozen Beatrix Potter books.
March 26th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
I actually prefer reading a hard copy book. The feeling of the paper between my fingers, the allowance to take a break. These are the reasons why I prefer the old way.
I do however, love to listen to audio books in the car with my family. I got through the entire Harry potter series driving back and forth to visit family.
They both have their advantages and dis-advantages.
Thanks it was a good read.