Hello! It’s Tuesday again, and you know what that means! Top Ten Tuesday! Today we’re talking about Audiobooks. I don’t listen to a lot of audiobooks, so I’m just going to make ten random observations about them. Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl!
Audiobooks allow you to get more reading done. I listened to Fangirl on audiobook last fall. It’s possible that if I hadn’t listened to it on audiobook, I’d still be saying “someday I’ll have to read this book.”
Audiobooks help you pronounce names correctly. I recently listened to Legend on Audiobook. I’ve read the story several times, but I wanted to listen to it on audiobook for a very specific reason: I discovered that I was butchering the pronunciation of some of the names. I didn’t know how to correctly pronouce Iparis, Metaias, Kaede, and even Batalla Hall. After reading this book on paper a lot of times, I figured if I listened to the book on audiobook I could beat the incorrect pronunciations out of my head.
Sometimes audiobook accents are really annoying. If I recall, Frostblood was a book which was pronounced with a British accent. While I enjoyed the book, I was really annoyed by it. I don’t know if it was because the reader has a British accent or if they think because it’s in some medievally-Europe setting that it needs one… all I know is, if I ever get a book published and they make an audiobook, my characters don’t speak with British accents.
Some books are more disturbing on audiobook. I got Pennies from Amazon.com free on both audiobook and in print. The subject matter of this book can be disturbing enough to read, but I found it even more difficult to listen to on audiobook. I might be able to get more reading done this way, but I just can’t do books with disturbing subject matter this way.
Audiobooks make great walking companions. I listened to The Great Influenza on audiobook years ago, back when I used to live in Arizona. I’d walk back behind my house, listening to this book at about midnight. If you have a good audiobook, there’s great motivation to get out and walk!
I typically don’t listen to my favorite books on audiobook. This is probably just me, but I often find audiobooks as a way to get extra reading in. So I don’t always listen to the books I’m most excited about on audiobook. Daughter of the Pirate King didn’t end up being my favorite (although I’d try other series by this author).
But sometimes I find books I want to continue… in print. I thought Furyborn was a good book, but I was a little confused by the time switching of the book, especially at first. I think it would have been easier for me if I had read it as a print book. I’d like to continue this series… in print.
Sometimes you can get good deals on audiobooks. I found Storm Glass for free on audiobook. I ended up liking it so much that when I saw the sequels to this book go on sale for $1.99 each, I ended up buying them.
But sometimes they can be expensive. Everless was a good audiobook, but I got it from the library. If I wanted to buy this book, it would cost $28.99 (the Kindle edition is $9.99). I suppose if you get an Audible membership you can get them for a better price. That might be the way to go, because the wait at my library is pretty long for audiobooks.
My overall take on audiobooks: I like how audiobooks give me the option of getting more reading done, although I prefer the print format better. After writing this topic today, I went and subscribed to an Audible membership, because there’s always room for more reading in your life, right?
So what do you think about audiobooks? Do you like to listen to them? When do you listen to them the most? Should I get an Audible subscription so I can get more reading in?
Next week, we’re going to talk about Things That Make Me Want to Pick Up a Book. See you then!