I love this. Audiobooks are great (I still enjoy reading physical books best, but audiobooks can be an even better experience sometimes when they have the right narrator.) They help me to concentrate and take notes when I have to read books for school (I actually can't read a book for school without the audiobook anymore. I listened to The Night Circus a while back and absolutely loved the narrator and the whole experience was amazing and wow! Why on earth are they so expensive, though?
Unfortunately they can be expensive. They have to give money to not just the author, but the narrator and publishers as well. I am planning a series on how to obtain audiobooks when you are on a budget (which I definitely am).
Such a great list! Audiobooks are the one thing that gets me through the summer when I'm working, as I'm working outside with flowers. I think I'd die of boredom if I didn't have audiobooks.
I loved your list, but couldn’t figure out how to comment as a guest.
Audiobooks are my jam too. I never thought about listening to an audiobook to help fal asleep!! Why did it never occur to me to listen to a book I’ve already read before?!? You are also spot on with a good narrator making a book better! I have found that Will Patton is one of my favorite narrators!
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Yeah, it's important to find what works for you. I had originally hoped to do a bunch of non-fiction, but found that I have to have a format that makes it easier to take notes so audiobooks don't work for that.
I’ve recently gotten into audiobooks. I relate to a lot of the items on your list, especially about audiobooks making drudgeries bearable and that having a great narrator can raise a book up to the next level. Great list!
Don't hate me, but I've never heard an audiobook until recently and completely. I picked The Bell Jar narrated by Maggie Gyllenhaal and I loved listening to her, but I kept thinking I was missing something and didn't want to keep playing the chapter from the top once or twice, so I ended up just reading from my Kindle. Sometimes I played the audiobook at the same time I read on the Kindle and it was nice, though. I just can't quite concentrate and I wish I could, they would make my life easier. Great post, you persuaded me to try again and gave me the idea to try a book I have already read.
Can't say I'm much of an audiobook person, but I like the idea of using them to re-read books. I'm always re-reading favorites but feel guilty with so many other books I've yet to read.
This is a great list! I like to listen to an audiobook when I clean--at least if my daughter isn't home. When she's home it's too distracting. You mentioned anxiety--I definitely agree there, especially when my mind won't stop buzzing with that anxiety and I need to focus on something else for awhile.
oh oh I relate to this post SO VERY MUCH. *shrieks* I love audiobooks. They help so so much for just about everything...particularly for doing mindless jobs and yet still keeping on top of the TBR. Also company!! I love audiobooks because I feel like I'm having a conversation without having to do any work. XDXD Company is a big factor too. Ahhh. AND ALSO SAVOURING THE BOOK YESSSSS. I tend to rush reading and when I re-read via the audio I'm like "Gawsh I never noticed that the firstt time". So it's endlessly good. Ahhhhh. I am SO GLAD AUDIOBOOKS EXIST. (Although bad narrators can totally ruin a book too right?! *winces*)
Yeah, a couple of times I've been crushed when a book I had waited a long time for came out and the narrator was terrible. I also really hate it when they can't be bothered to look up the pronunciation of common word.
Have you listened to The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf by Ambelin Kwaymullina? She is Australian author and so is the narrator. (There are no dragons, but there is a giant serpent.)
Agh I find myself in a conflicting and somewhat unpopular opinion situation here? I so so SO want to like audiobooks (this list literally explains how amazing they can be) but I don't know. I can't seem to get into audiobooks? I feel like I wouldn't be able to concentrate on the words and then there's the whole issue of narrators and.. sigh. I would really love to listen to more audiobooks though! :) Maybe with time I'll grow to love them as much as everyone else haha. Love this list, nonetheless!
I often have an opposite opinion from the majority, so don't feel bad. If you would like to give audiobooks another try, you should check out my post on how I learned to love them. http://gotmybook.booklikes.com/post/1350552/intro-pt3
The only time I listened to an audveraudiobooks when a free sample of Cress and Winter (The Lunar Chronicles) came out! But recently I'm being slowly convinced by all the posts I've read y they love audiobooks (including yours,of course) Do you have any good recommendations?
My first recommendation is to start by listening to a couple of your easiest to focus on favorite books, something you are already familiar with. My current favorite series is The Pillars of Reality by Jack Campell. You can find other high rated book in my Review Index.
Great list! I've never really listened to audio books before, but it sounds like there are some great benefits! I also tend to read really fast, so audio books sound like a good solution. :)
Audiobooks are good if you want to read a bit slower, to catch everything. Some fast readers find them frustrating, since they can take longer. If I'm in a real hurry (limited time), I tend to read rather than listen. But I also listen at higher speed when I can.
Great list - this makes me want to plug in my headphones and listen to an audiobook straight away! I actually haven't yet listened to an audiobook, but recently I've been debating giving them a go, and this list definitely inspires me to even more :)
Be sure to check out my post on learning to love them if you have any problems, sometimes they don't click right away. You can find in with the Discussions on the sidebar.
I've been trying to start listening to audiobooks. I just can't find the time to do it. My commute time isn't very big, and I usually listen to podcasts when I do my mindless stuff. But I really want to try it out someday.
I haven't really got the time to download audiobooks and it never has been on my to-do list, but I enjoyed the Harry Potter audiobooks a lot! :) I just love to read the books myself, but there are a few audiobooks that I actually would want to listen so maybe someday I will :)
I just started listening to my first audiobook an hour ago and I love it! Although I can't really relate to the items on your list (I mean, like I said I just started my first one an hour ago so I'm not really "experienced") but I do understand them all! Lots of times when I feel too ill to read, an audiobook would be perfect!
I never listened to an audiobook before because they're so expensive, but now I have a trail subscription to Storytel (it's a Dutch audiobook thing similar to Audible) so it's free for two weeks and it's a great way to try and see if I like it (I'm really liking it so far!) I spend about 3 hours travelling to and from college alone, so it's perfect to listen to a book in those hours. :)
They can be expensive. We are lucky here in the States because a lot of libraries have them available to borrow & download, which really saves on the budget. They help me a lot with traveling, so I hope it all works out for you with Storytel.
I enjoy listening to audiobooks while doing housework or if I got on a walk in the park. It gives me something to focus on and the next thing I know, I'm done. But I agree with all of your points. I also enjoy listening to books in bed because in a way they lull you to sleep and you don't have to worry about dropping a book or ereader on your face! LOL
Thanks for stopping by and commenting! Great blog!
I have just recently started listening to audiobooks and they help me fall asleep as well! For a few weeks I was listening to Harry Potter before bed and it was an amazing way to wind down. Great list!
Oh my, I had never really thought of the benefits of audiobooks. I actually have never really listenned to audiobooks but one of the things I really hate when I'm knitting is that I can't read! So I will usually do line a row of stitches then read a chapter, then another row and so on. Which takes me agesssss to finish anything!
Yeah, I've tried the reading and knitting at the same time thing also. I'm not a skilled enough knitter to make it happen. Listening is perfect though.
Personally, the narrator makes it or breaks it for me. I haven't actually listened to a full one completely because I can never find a good narrator! However, I've always wanted to listen to a celebrity memoir like You're Never Weird on the Internet or Binge!
Thankfully I'm pretty forgiving of narrators, but there are a few really good books that I just can't stand listening to. Really bad accents are probably the thing that's most likely to make me give up
Audiobooks are my jam too. I never thought about listening to an audiobook to help fal asleep!! Why did it never occur to me to listen to a book I’ve already read before?!? You are also spot on with a good narrator making a book better! I have found that Will Patton is one of my favorite narrators!
In the comments of this post (http://gotmybook.booklikes.com/post/1343112/intro-pt2), we discuss great options for listening in bed (with and with out a partner) .
Thanks again for stopping by.
Thanks for stopping by NovelKnight!
Have you listened to The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf by Ambelin Kwaymullina? She is Australian author and so is the narrator. (There are no dragons, but there is a giant serpent.)
I never listened to an audiobook before because they're so expensive, but now I have a trail subscription to Storytel (it's a Dutch audiobook thing similar to Audible) so it's free for two weeks and it's a great way to try and see if I like it (I'm really liking it so far!) I spend about 3 hours travelling to and from college alone, so it's perfect to listen to a book in those hours. :)
Thanks for stopping by and commenting! Great blog!
Kristine @ The Writer's Inkwell