I decided to try an audio book and i hate it - Page 5

Teknikal · 04-04-2013, 05:45 AM

Can't stand audio books myself they go so slow compared to the speed I read at, I get very bored very quickly in fact I don't think I've ever got through the first chapter with one.

Gazella · 04-04-2013, 05:49 AM

You should try listening to the Harry Potter books as suggested in one of the earlier posts. I just started the second book, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets narrated by Jim Dale and he really does a fantastic job and I've only listened to the first chapter. I just finished listening to the dramatized version of Watership Down and I immensely enjoyed it. So try listening to more than one audiobook before making a decision and make sure you choose a good narrator.

TCSimpson · 04-04-2013, 07:41 AM

Audio books would simply be too slow for me. However, I'm leaning toward trying one.

amward · 04-04-2013, 11:07 AM

It's really quite different being read to or reading yourself. I'm a very fast reader, but am happy to listen to an audiobook which goes at a much slower pace.

radleyp · 04-04-2013, 12:21 PM

I listen to audiobooks all the time at the gym which I attend regularly or when I am walking in the street. Everything depends on the reader. If you get readers like Jim Dale, Jon Rubenstein or Jim Broadbent (whom I am listening to currently) the experience is that of a fine theatrical performance. Go to Audible.com and find out. If on the other hand, you listen to the audible version provided by the Kindle or the Gutenberg project, you will be disappointed or worse, because these versions are computer generated.

jersysman · 04-04-2013, 01:25 PM

I have been on the fence about trying audiobooks. I've been to audible.com quite a few times, but haven't pulled the trigger as of yet. This thread has been very instructive to me. I do quite a few things that would be conducive to audiobooks. Commuting an hour each way for work. I ride my exercise bike daily, so I could do it then as well. I just need a small push!!!

radleyp · 04-04-2013, 01:52 PM

I think Audible offers a free book or two if you join. Is that a sufficient push?

SJJ · 04-04-2013, 02:43 PM

I read a lot of books, physical and e-books. I didn't like audio books, but since I couldn't read while using the weight machines at the 'Y' I kept trying. As several people have suggested, start with books you know. I started with some books I like to reread occasionally, moved onto the Jim Dale - Harry Potter series (also read in book form). The narrator is very important. Audible has a sample button so you can get an idea of how the narrator sounds. There is some zany current 'radio' drama from ZBS that I like.

I only listen when I am at the "Y" or walking.

LovesMacs · 04-04-2013, 03:30 PM

The only audiobooks I have ever tried were for Shakespeare plays that I was already familiar with. They were fine but not as good as seeing the plays. I don't know if I would have been able to follow an unfamiliar play using sound alone.

Catlady · 04-04-2013, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jersysman

I have been on the fence about trying audiobooks. I've been to audible.com quite a few times, but haven't pulled the trigger as of yet. This thread has been very instructive to me. I do quite a few things that would be conducive to audiobooks. Commuting an hour each way for work. I ride my exercise bike daily, so I could do it then as well. I just need a small push!!!

Try the free Whispersync Kindle/Audible classics listed here. You buy the free book at Amazon and you can download the corresponding free audiobook from Audible. You don't need to be a member. There's also a selection of classics that are 99 cents at Audible after you buy the free Kindle version.

Also, check out tubemonkey's thread.

silverraven · 04-04-2013, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jersysman

I have been on the fence about trying audiobooks. I've been to audible.com quite a few times, but haven't pulled the trigger as of yet. This thread has been very instructive to me. I do quite a few things that would be conducive to audiobooks. Commuting an hour each way for work. I ride my exercise bike daily, so I could do it then as well. I just need a small push!!!

How about the library? They are free, (can't beat the price) and usually have a pretty good selection. Even if mine doesn't have anything I want to download from their online site, they also have a pretty good selection of CDs to borrow.
I do wish people that borrow the CDs would take better care of them though. What do people do, use them for frisbees?
S

BearMountainBooks · 04-04-2013, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silverraven

How about the library? They are free, (can't beat the price) and usually have a pretty good selection. Even if mine doesn't have anything I want to download from their online site, they also have a pretty good selection of CDs to borrow.
I do wish people that borrow the CDs would take better care of them though. What do people do, use them for frisbees?
S

Having worked at a library, it appeared to us that the CDs were not only used as frisbees, they were used to hold coffee, as hockey pucks, to scrape up cheese that was stuck to the counter...

silverraven · 04-05-2013, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

Having worked at a library, it appeared to us that the CDs were not only used as frisbees, they were used to hold coffee, as hockey pucks, to scrape up cheese that was stuck to the counter...

You made me giggle! Thanks for the laugh, I needed one this morning.
S

usuallee · 04-05-2013, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teknikal

Can't stand audio books myself they go so slow compared to the speed I read at, I get very bored very quickly in fact I don't think I've ever got through the first chapter with one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TCSimpson

Audio books would simply be too slow for me. However, I'm leaning toward trying one.

I feel the same way. But there are smartphone apps now, including the Audible app, where you can adjust the speed while keeping the pitch the same to prevent the "helium" effect. Ipods and other mp3 players have this feature as well. The ability to increase playback speed has made audiobooks much more appealing to me.

I usually have the speed at 1.3x to 1.4x, depending on the narrator. If it's a complex book or if I'm too sleepy to process the words as fast, I can turn it down. It's great!

caleb72 · 04-06-2013, 06:19 AM

Soooo - I tried again with the audio books. I have the Audible App on my Android and a bunch of classics I got for free. So when I went to pick up my crochet project, I kicked off Jane Eyre.

I left the speed at 1x because I wanted to hear the natural speed of the speaker. The experience was quite good. In fact, this book would be great to read. Don't know if there are any Jane Eyre fans out there, but my mother told me that although she enjoyed many period works (like Austen for example), Jane Eyre was a book that she could re-read many times. That's why I picked the book. I don't really have time to read it at the moment, but I can listen to it at the times I can't read. I definitely couldn't read and crochet - that would be a disaster.

04-04-2013, 12:21 PM	#65
radleyp Evangelist Posts: 499 Karma: 20623 Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: North Salem & NYC, NY Device: Kindle Global, iphone4, ipad	at the gym I listen to audiobooks all the time at the gym which I attend regularly or when I am walking in the street. Everything depends on the reader. If you get readers like Jim Dale, Jon Rubenstein or Jim Broadbent (whom I am listening to currently) the experience is that of a fine theatrical performance. Go to Audible.com and find out. If on the other hand, you listen to the audible version provided by the Kindle or the Gutenberg project, you will be disappointed or worse, because these versions are computer generated.

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04-04-2013, 05:45 AM	#61
Teknikal Fanatic Posts: 574 Karma: 5264318 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Belfast Device: Sony T1, Note Pro 12.2, Honor 10	Can't stand audio books myself they go so slow compared to the speed I read at, I get very bored very quickly in fact I don't think I've ever got through the first chapter with one.

04-04-2013, 05:49 AM	#62
Gazella Wizard Posts: 1,694 Karma: 4601218 Join Date: Nov 2012 Device: Kindle Oasis	You should try listening to the Harry Potter books as suggested in one of the earlier posts. I just started the second book, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets narrated by Jim Dale and he really does a fantastic job and I've only listened to the first chapter. I just finished listening to the dramatized version of Watership Down and I immensely enjoyed it. So try listening to more than one audiobook before making a decision and make sure you choose a good narrator.

04-04-2013, 07:41 AM	#63
TCSimpson Fantasy Author Posts: 176 Karma: 1356782 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: New York City Device: Nexus Tablet	Audio books would simply be too slow for me. However, I'm leaning toward trying one.

04-04-2013, 11:07 AM	#64
amward Wizard Posts: 1,299 Karma: 2081110 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: SW Australia Device: Eco Eclipse, Sony PRS 350 (pink), Ipod Touch, Kindle Touch	It's really quite different being read to or reading yourself. I'm a very fast reader, but am happy to listen to an audiobook which goes at a much slower pace.

04-04-2013, 01:25 PM	#66
jersysman Wizard Posts: 1,747 Karma: 3761220 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Pennsylvania Device: T1 Red, Kindle Fire, Kindle PW, PW2, Nook HD+, Kobo Mini, Aura HD	I have been on the fence about trying audiobooks. I've been to audible.com quite a few times, but haven't pulled the trigger as of yet. This thread has been very instructive to me. I do quite a few things that would be conducive to audiobooks. Commuting an hour each way for work. I ride my exercise bike daily, so I could do it then as well. I just need a small push!!!

04-04-2013, 01:52 PM	#67
radleyp Evangelist Posts: 499 Karma: 20623 Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: North Salem & NYC, NY Device: Kindle Global, iphone4, ipad	I think Audible offers a free book or two if you join. Is that a sufficient push?

04-04-2013, 02:43 PM	#68
SJJ Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2007 Device: Sony TH-55	I read a lot of books, physical and e-books. I didn't like audio books, but since I couldn't read while using the weight machines at the 'Y' I kept trying. As several people have suggested, start with books you know. I started with some books I like to reread occasionally, moved onto the Jim Dale - Harry Potter series (also read in book form). The narrator is very important. Audible has a sample button so you can get an idea of how the narrator sounds. There is some zany current 'radio' drama from ZBS that I like. I only listen when I am at the "Y" or walking.

04-04-2013, 03:30 PM	#69
LovesMacs Fanatic Posts: 513 Karma: 2644386 Join Date: Apr 2012 Device: iPhone, Kindle Touch	The only audiobooks I have ever tried were for Shakespeare plays that I was already familiar with. They were fine but not as good as seeing the plays. I don't know if I would have been able to follow an unfamiliar play using sound alone.

04-06-2013, 06:19 AM	#75
caleb72 Indie Advocate Posts: 2,863 Karma: 18794463 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: Kindle	Soooo - I tried again with the audio books. I have the Audible App on my Android and a bunch of classics I got for free. So when I went to pick up my crochet project, I kicked off Jane Eyre. I left the speed at 1x because I wanted to hear the natural speed of the speaker. The experience was quite good. In fact, this book would be great to read. Don't know if there are any Jane Eyre fans out there, but my mother told me that although she enjoyed many period works (like Austen for example), Jane Eyre was a book that she could re-read many times. That's why I picked the book. I don't really have time to read it at the moment, but I can listen to it at the times I can't read. I definitely couldn't read and crochet - that would be a disaster.