Does it count as reading if you’re listening?
I started listening to audiobooks two years ago when I got an ipod for Christmas. I love the fact that I can listen to it while doing my chores around the house. The spoken word doesn’t block out sounds like music does, and so I can still hear the phone ring or a child whine.
But I’ve enjoyed audiobooks in so many other ways as well:
- in the car as a family on roadtrips
- as motivation for my daughter to clean her room (she’s as chore-challenged as I am)
- as a way for my four-year-old son to enjoy books that might otherwise be a bit above his level
- and for that matter for my daughter to enjoy books that might be a bit below her own preferred reading level
- as an alternative to TV as I’m winding down before going to sleep at night
- as gifts for people who might not consider books a fun gift
At first, audiobooks were a way that I found to “read” an extra book each month in little bits and chunks and enjoy a book at a time when I couldn’t read (although when I was a dumb teenager enthralled in my latest Stephen King or Dean Koontz book, I DID sometimes read and drive!).
But now I’ve found that I appreciate the audiobook experience in itself. Unlike watching Books on Screen, which can enhance or detract from the author’s story, an audiobook IS the novel. Added to the joy of experiencing the story, I’ve discovered the delicious thrill that my children know — that of being read to.
Occasionally a boring or nondescript narrator might make a book hard to listen to, but I haven’t run into that (however, I do listen to a clip before purchasing, and often decide not to buy if the recording doesn’t grab me). If the story holds up, a boring narrator doesn’t add to the telling of the story, but doesn’t really detract either. There have been some books that I enjoyed as audiobooks even more than if I had read them. Some of the productions have gotten good. I’ve added an “audiobooks” category, and if I “read” the book as an audiobook, in addition to reviewing the story, I will review the audiobook production s well.
Audiobooks are readily available. Our library stocks a large selection (and this is our source for most of the children’s books we listen to). A new feature for adults at my library (and available for purchase) is the “playaway
Another of my favorite sources is audible.com. When I got my ipod I signed up for one of their reduced-fee plans for a year. It was an awesome way to build my audio library. You can listen to those books straight from your computer, or upload them to your ipod or MP3 player, or burn CDs to listen to as you commute. If you join as a member, you get discounts. I no longer have a monthly plan, but have kept my membership to be able to take advantage in great sales, so now I just stock up a few times a year.
Do you enjoy listening to audiobooks for yourself or as a family? Like me, have you come to appreciate them as a separate genre to the printed book? When and how do you listen to them?
Managing Editor Jennifer Donovan also blogs at Snapshot about life with her tween daughter and preschool son.
We have often listened to audio books while traveling but recently I’ve found them to be an indispensable part of our homeschool curriculum. We happen to need to spend a fair bit of time in the car each week, so we are making good use of the time with audiobooks. Sometimes I will alternate between the audio and the “regular” book – listening with my kids in the car, reading aloud when at home. It helps us to make much better use of our time driving!
I love audiobooks. I drive a lot for work (sometimes 2-3 hours/day in short bursts), and after I got tired of the radio I started borrowing books on tape from our local library (I drive an old car that only has a cassette deck). Because the selection on cassette at our library is a bit more limited, I’ve listened to some books that I wouldn’t normally have read, which has mostly been a good thing.
If you’d asked me 2 years ago I wouldn’t have predicted that I’d like audiobooks because I generally DON’T like being read to- I’m a very fast reader and generally don’t like listening to people read aloud. In the car, though, it just works for me.
Format-wise, my biggest pet peeve is when there is a very long lead-time when changing to the second side on a cassette. There’ve been a few audiobooks I haven’t finished, but its been more due to the story’s not holding my attention. Because I listen on cassette, the “readings” of the story are pretty straightforward, although when I listened to A Thousand Splendid Suns I think it was actually easier because someone else was pronouncing all of the unfamiliar words.
If you use mostly an mp3 player I’ve found that our library’s website now has mp3’s of books that you can download for a certain amount of time and transfer to an ipod or other device. After 14 days the files get “returned” and the books go inactive.
I love audiobooks – it makes me feel like all the time spent folding laundry, washing dishes, and cooking isn’t wasted. Plus, I have trouble with insomnia, and I can lay in bed and listen to an audiobook without bothering my hubby – don’t need the light on.
I have found a few that I quit listening to because of the narrator, though. I’m pretty picky about my readers.
Audio books are the solution to my no time to read dilemma. I totally enjoyed my first audio book, then tried the next one and was very disappointed. I didn’t do audio books for a long time because of that. Not too long ago, I decided to try again and borrowed an audio book from the library. I enjoyed it. And have been listening to audio books since. My drive to work is so much more enjoyable and I look forward to getting into the car so I can continue where I left off. I haven’t been listening to audio books consistently for too long, but my observation so far is that books read by the author seem to be more attention grabbing.
I started listening to audio books in the car last summer. I get them from the library so it doesn’t cost anything and I’ve enjoyed almost everyone of them.
I love audio books for traveling! Usually get them from the library.
I love audiobooks and, like you, they allow me to get in an extra book or so every month… and serve as motivation for cleaning the house! We’ve loved audiobooks for years here, and used to borrow them from the library weekly. Chad used them when traveling, and I’d have one in the car to listen to in little snatches of time. But our iPods have really increased our audiobook addictions. Audible and iTunes keep us well supplied. I have one quirk: I never get an abridged audiobook. I just can’t — it needs to be the whole book or nothing.
Your relationship with the giant audible.com notwithstanding I hope you also find the time to check out small audio presses like Rattling Books. We are a small Canadian audio press so if you’re looking for something a bit different I hope you’ll drop by for a visit.
http://rattlingbooks.com
I love audio books! I listen on the way to/from work, and sometimes when I’m home alone (which is VERY rare). Kiddo (almost 7 yrs old) enjoys them as well, and has listened to several teen and adult level books that way – books that are just too long for us to read together in a reasonable time period.
I also review the audio book quality on my blog – I have a separate tag for audio books which makes my reviews easy to find.
I have listened to audio books for years when making the trek to and from my parent’s house. It’s about a six hour drive one way, so I can get through a book or two or a short story collection on each trip.
I just use my library, but I have found some good authors that way. And I also listen to books I probably would never actually sit down a read like current best sellers. It’s a good way to know the story without spending the hours actually reading it.