I “read” my first audiobook last May, and audiobooks quickly became a major part of my reading life. I started listening mainly so I could be more active. I didn’t think I would enjoy listening to books, so I started with something on the simpler side, Maisie Dobbs. A mystery seemed like it would be easy to listen to, and since it was a series I hadn’t read before, there was no pressure if I didn’t enjoy it.
These days, my only real outings are long walks, and I’m trying to walk an hour each day, so audiobooks have become essential. Audiobooks are also great for house projects that don’t require a lot of concentration, like cleaning and laundry. I bought a little Bluetooth speaker that I can use around the house if I don’t want to wear headphones.
Listening to audiobooks is a lot like reading, though there are differences, and I often wonder whether I would have enjoyed a book more in one format or the other. I think most people read solely in one format but I like to go back and forth, and it’s interesting to think about the differences. Occasionally I’ve had the luxury of trying out the same book, both ways.
One major difference I’ve seen with audio? When you read, you’re in total control of the pace. You can slow down when you need to concentrate, re-read a paragraph, flip back and forward. With audio, you can speed up the voice but essentially the pacing is up to the narrator. For that reason, I prefer not to listen to something really complex and detailed. I find it harder to follow detailed facts, dates, statistics, or books with a lot of different characters and settings, unless I can visualize the words.
Another major difference is that in a print book, you interpret in your head the way people talk, and how they express the words emotionally. With an audiobook, the narrator does that for you. Sometimes, that makes a reading experience even better, and sometimes, not so much. I find that I prefer audiobooks that are more emotional, more atmospheric.
A third major difference: if you’re reading about another country, or people of different ethnic backgrounds, you get the benefit of hearing accents and the correct pronunciation of words. For me this really enhances the book. Maybe sometimes the accents aren’t perfect but I doubt I’d know the difference, so most narrators get the benefit of the doubt.
I access most of my audiobooks from the library. I find that with two library accounts to choose from, the selection is pretty good and I keep a running wait list for the books I want, just as I do with e-books. I’ve done a lot of research on audiobook providers, and it seems clear that Audible (Amazon) has the widest selection. Audible has a policy where you can exchange a book if you aren’t liking it, and since you only get one or two a month, that’s significant. Kobo and Scribd are less expensive but they do have some drawbacks. Scribd is the best deal since they don’t limit you to one or two books a month, but their content is limited and something about their licensing policy means a book you’ve downloaded can actually disappear from your account even while you’re listening to it! I wish there were more options.
Given time and plan limitations, how do you know if an audiobook is good before you commit to it? I haven’t found most reviews helpful, since they generally focus on the writing, not the narration. I recently discovered the Audie Awards, which cover a wide range of categories. Mostly I just have to listen to a sample and see what I think. I’ve found some narrators distract me, and I can’t really articulate why. And sometimes I find a narrator does one voice really well, but another character’s voice is grating or sounds fake. Obviously it’s hard to narrate a book with a lot of different characters and make them all sound distinctive. For that reason, books that are told in the first person or from a few characters’ perspectives work better for me than books with a lot of different characters.
Do you listen to audiobooks? Why or why not? I find I really like having the option. When I need to get out of the house, I can still read. When I have a migraine, audiobooks are also helpful in that I can give my eyes a rest. But when I sit by the fire or curl up in bed, it’s my e-reader I want.
My follow-up post will highlight some of my favorite types of audiobooks, with recommendations for each. Stay tuned!
