1st Tuesday topic I want your input on: Audiobooks
- Do you count them as a ‘read’ book? And, do you also count them as a read book in your goodreads reading challenge?
- Could you read a book faster than listening to it?
- Do you find yourself constantly rewinding as your thoughts may wander off while you are supposed to be listening?
- Are you less invested in a book when you listen to it rather than read it?
- Do you find your book reviews for audiobooks have a lower rating average versus books you have read?
- Do you think audible is worth $14.95/month?
Tell me all your thoughts on audiobooks!
Saturday Nite Reader 
You bet your sweet patootie I mark as a “read” book! It definitely takes me longer to listen to a book than to read one in a more traditional manner. I try to listen to less intense books (intense being a book that requires close concentration) so if I do miss something it doesn’t matter quite as much. Sometimes I’m MORE invested in the audiobook version, I think it depends a lot upon the narrator.
I’ve got the yearly Audible membership, so you pay like $100-ish for the whole year in one fell swoop. It feels a little more worth it to me, because there’s some more flexibility to carrying over credits. Also, I’m trying the free trial of the Audible Romance Package, which is $6.95 when you have an Audible Gold/Platinum membership (or Kindle Unlimited) versus $16-ish. I wish it was just included in the Audible membership, because then I would say the $15/month price point is definitely worth it.
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1. I DEFINITELY count it as read! How do you think I completed my reading challenge so quickly? 😉
2. I could probably read a book faster than listening to it but my listening app allows me to speed up the voice, so sometimes I listen to it at a quicker pace. I agree with the previous comment, I really only listen to teen or childrens books. More “intense” books I prefer to read (with my eyes).
3. So I don’t find my mind wandering too much because it’s pretty easy to follow along.
4. Not necessarily.
5. Not at all. However, I think it is very different. A bad narrator can totally ruin a book for me.
6. I borrow for free from the library so not worth it for me!
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1. Sadly I don’t. I think you can get still enjoy a story with an audiobook, but I would still want to go back and physically read the book too.
2. Yes, definitely – I’ve always been a speedy reader, whereas with listening, I have to focus constantly otherwise I’ll miss bits.
3. Yes, as I mentioned!
4. Again, yes; I always feel more captivated by a book if I’m physically reading it.
5. I can’t really comment on this, as I don’t review audiobooks, only physical books.
6. Definitely not! I buy my books from charity shops, borrow them off friends or the library to keep my costs down. I used the free trial of audible to get 2 free audiobooks, but I didn’t pay for it, and subsequently don’t use it anymore.
Great questions! 🙂
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1. I definitely count it as a read too.
2. Although I can read books a lot faster, even if I speed it up, so I don’t listen to many.
3. I don’t like to rewind things, but I think I’d miss too much if I didn’t
4. Which is why I’m not that invested.
5. Possibly- maybe if my enjoyment is lower because of all the aforementioned things. Although, I will say now that a lot of the books I’ve listened to have been non-fiction, which meant I wouldn’t have read them otherwise, so I counted it as a win.
6. Nope!
Awesome questions!
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1. Yes!!!
2. Probably, but I listen to audiobooks when I can’t read (aka, my commute).
3. Sometimes, but I’ve gotten good at pausing when I need to focus my thoughts on something else.
4. Not at all. I’m definitely invested in my audiobooks.
5. They’re pretty consistent!
6. I check them out from my library, but audible is a great option!
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1. Definitely!
2. I can read them faster for the most part, but they are entertaining when doing chores or commuting.
3. If I lose my place I tend to trudge on, but sometimes I rewind 🙂 I do prefer listening to books that don’t require all of my attention.
4. My investment level usually depends on the narrator. If they can grip me, sometimes I might just sit down and listen –not multi-task.
5. I haven’t noticed a difference… although how I feel about a book might change depending on the format.
6. I do want to get audible eventually when I have some more play money every month, so I guess yes. Considering that audio CDs are SO EXPENSIVE, audible is a great alternative. Plus, who wants to use CDs anymore!?
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I’ve never been able to finish one, I have hearing issues so it is not a relaxing experience that actual reading is for me.
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Obviously not “like” that you have hearing issues! Just thanking you for contributing to my post.
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1) it totally counts as a “read” book! LOL
2) I think I can read faster than an audio … But I’m not a big audio person and I am a slow reader. But the hour count on them is so long! I’m sure I can read it faster.
3) YES! they few times I’ve listened I’ve had to go back I don’t think my focus is that great with audio.
4) I don’t think so.
5) *whispers I never reviewed an audio (please don’t judge me lol)
6) for me no, But that’s because I’m not a big audio person…
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1. I definitely mark the book as read.
2. I do typically read faster than listening to an audiobook.
3. I only listen to audio books at work and I do have to replay parts occasionally.
4. I don’t think so, but I do prefer reading.
5. I haven’t noticed a difference.
6. I don’t pay for audible… I’ll just one click a whispersynced book if I want to listen. I’ve considered an audible membership before.
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I’ve never actually tried the audio book thing. I have a tendency to tune things out so I imagine I would spend a lot of time confused or rewinding.
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I absolutely love audio books but they need the right narrator.
I do count them as read in my challenges because I have still absorbed the same book, word for word.
I don’t know if I could read a book faster. I am a fast reader so probably.
I rarely have to rewind a piece to listen to it again but not often. I do often listen to books repeatedly because I enjoy the books so much. I also reread my eBooks regularly
I am every bit as invested in an audio book and sometimes more absorbed. I enjoy them as much as a traditional book, sometimes more.
I rate audio books differently to a standard book because there is more to rate. I rate the story and the work by the author and I rate the narrator on their ability to bring the book to life. Finally I give an overall rating on how the author and narrator bring the book to life as a team.
Audible in America is more expensive than GB I pay £7.99 for my monthly credit (or £14.99 for 2 monthly credits.)
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Of course, an audio is a book. I absolutely read faster listen. I tend to get more invested in an audio because I think it’s like like a book and a movie had a baby. I don’t pay attention to reviews anymore. With Scribd having unlimited audios now, 14.95 is too much. I think that is going to be a game changer. I don’t rewind too often, but I will admit to missing my exit more than once because I was too involved in the book.
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I actually haven’t tried listening to AudioBooks.
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if you want to try one let me know. I think I can gift one via audible if you have an account (doesn’t have to be a paid account)
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I don’t listen to audiobooks. I have tried but my mind wanders and I realise that I’m halfway through a book but not listened to 99% of it.
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I don’t have much experience with audiobooks. I’ve found them hard to get into. I guess that depends on the narrator though. Maybe I just need to find books with better narrators. I much prefer actually reading the book as opposed to listening to it though. I do count them towards books read.
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Oh my gosh, this is a topic that appeals to my obsession!! I love audiobooks so much. Yes, I believe they count. You are still absorbing the story. As for reading faster/slower than normal – I think this all depends on the narrator. Some sound good when you speed up the narration, others … well, not so much. The price. I have paid for an Audible membership a couple times and suspended it a couple times. Lately, I have been purchasing Kindle copies that have Whispersync with them. Basically, you buy the Kindle copy and then get the audio download for a fraction of the normal cost. I have gotten some audio books for a couple dollars. Then I can either read it in the Kindle app and go back and forth with the narration or I can read in the Audible app and just do audio.
I could go on and on about audiobooks but hopefully that answered most of your questions 🙂 I would love to chat narrators if you have some favorites!
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