What are we listening to? (audiobooks) - Page 220

issybird · 08-16-2022, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I've been trying different activities to determine which allow me to focus better on audiobooks, and have had a bit of success.

So? Inquiring minds want to know.

For me, my focus is best when I’m walking, swimming or driving. The last might not work for some, but driving around here isn’t especially fraught. On the rare occasion when there’s a lot of traffic or conditions are poor, I don’t. I also listen in bed, but if that puts me to sleep, that’s the point.

When I can’t focus? Sitting doing nothing or puttering around the house doing chores.

ApK · 08-16-2022, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by issybird

So? Inquiring minds want to know.

For me, my focus is best when I’m walking, swimming or driving. The last might not work for some, but driving around here isn’t especially fraught. On the rare occasion when there’s a lot of traffic or conditions are poor, I don’t. I also listen in bed, but if that puts me to sleep, that’s the point.

When I can’t focus? Sitting doing nothing or puttering around the house doing chores.

Exactly same for me. Driving (and when I used to commute by train) is my prime audiobook time. I always listen in bed, but that is usually for the express purpose of putting me to sleep. Thank goodness for sleep timers.

DiapDealer · 08-16-2022, 10:22 AM

Driving doesn't seem to work for me. The book just disappears in the background for some reason. Some of the activities I've discovered were obvious to me in hindsight: walking, mowing the lawn, gardening (though walking involved some safety-related retraining where Active Noise Cancelling is concerned!).

One activity that surprised me was jigsaw puzzling. I assumed my concentration on the puzzle would prevent me from being able to concentrate on the book, but apparently, that's not an issue for me. *shrug*

The reason for my complementary activity search is that sitting down and reading the printed word just doesn't seem to be working for me any more. This distresses me greatly, but NOT consuming books is not an option. So until I figure out how to remedy that problem, I simply need to find more ways to make audiobooks work for me.

Tarana · 08-16-2022, 11:06 AM

I no longer listen while driving unless it's a long drive to my sister's (2 hours). People are driving faster, going through red lights, etc. so need to be more alert. I don't even play music now when driving. I primarily listen when doing sewing or needlework, but also doing laundry, washing dishes, brushing kitties (I have 4). Most other things require my attention on that thing.

CRussel · 08-16-2022, 12:03 PM

I still read while driving, though not for quick trips (it's only 5 minutes from here to 90% of what I go out of the house for.) Knitting, gardening, and the mindless parts of cooking are my principle listening activities.

Apache · 08-16-2022, 01:10 PM

I listen on long trips also. Short drives just don't allow a flow to develop. I wish I could listen when working, but my concentration on work makes it impossible.
Apache

Paperbackstash · 08-16-2022, 10:34 PM

Swan Song by Robert McCammon in audio format is very, very good. Enjoying it immensely.

Catlady · 08-25-2022, 01:05 PM

Listening to Katherine J. Chen's novel Joan, narrated by Hannah Morrish, has set me off an a bit of a Joan of Arc kick. Chen's take is quite interesting--Joan isn't especially religious and doesn't hear voices--but

Spoiler:

I followed that up with Helen Castor's Joan of Arc: A History, narrated by Anne Flosnik. This book spends a lot of time on the historical events and political climate leading up to Joan's arrival on the scene and basically nothing about her early life (which is a major aspect of Chen's novel).

Now I'm about to start another Joan novel, Kimberly Cutter's The Maid, narrated by Rosalyn Landor. After that, possibly Mark Twain's book on Joan, if I can decide between the three audiobooks with three different narrators (Michael Anthony, Robin Field, Jim Hodges).

issybird · 08-25-2022, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catlady

Listening to Katherine J. Chen's novel Joan, narrated by Hannah Morrish, has set me off an a bit of a Joan of Arc kick. Chen's take is quite interesting--Joan isn't especially religious and doesn't hear voices--but

Spoiler:

I’ve been on the waitlist at the library for this for a while; I’m still weeks away. Ordinarily I love Mark Twain, but I couldn’t get into his Joan.

Reading, not listening to, Who Killed Jane Stanford? which seems up your alley.

Catlady · 08-25-2022, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by issybird

I’ve been on the waitlist at the library for this for a while; I’m still weeks away. Ordinarily I love Mark Twain, but I couldn’t get into his Joan.

Reading, not listening to, Who Killed Jane Stanford? which seems up your alley.

Joan of Arc and Twain seem like a mismatch. But maybe.

Thanks for the recommendation; Jane Stanford wasn't on my radar but I've now put it on hold.

DiapDealer · 08-25-2022, 06:36 PM

Using an Audible credit to finally get around to Monsarrat's "The Cruel Sea".

issybird · 08-25-2022, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Using an Audible credit to finally get around to Monsarrat's "The Cruel Sea".

I picked that up a (long) while back. I’ll be curious to hear what you think.

DiapDealer · 08-28-2022, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by issybird

I picked that up a (long) while back. I’ll be curious to hear what you think.

Not that far in yet, but the narration is excellent. He does very subtle changes to his voice for quite a few characters. Too often I hear narrators overdoing distinct character voices. It often can result in what sounds quite cartoonish to me. Not so here.

astrangerhere · 08-30-2022, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by issybird

So? Inquiring minds want to know.

For me, my focus is best when I’m walking, swimming or driving. The last might not work for some, but driving around here isn’t especially fraught. On the rare occasion when there’s a lot of traffic or conditions are poor, I don’t. I also listen in bed, but if that puts me to sleep, that’s the point.

When I can’t focus? Sitting doing nothing or puttering around the house doing chores.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ApK

Exactly same for me. Driving (and when I used to commute by train) is my prime audiobook time. I always listen in bed, but that is usually for the express purpose of putting me to sleep. Thank goodness for sleep timers.

That is the advantage of being a public interest lawyer in a firm that covers seven counties - lots of time for listening in the car.

Right now, I am listening to the four-narrator performance of William Faulkner's As I Lay Dying.

issybird · 08-31-2022, 08:11 AM

I’m listening to The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Charon, read by David Colacci. All what looks like to be 26 interminable hours of it.

I’m torn. So far, at two-plus hours in, I’m finding this incredibly tedious. I loved Chabon’s The Mysteries of Pittsburgh, so I had high hopes and haven’t quite given up, now that the overlong and dull prologue is done. I also have a penchant for books set in New York during this period. And it’s serving its purpose; I listen to it in bed and it’s definitely not interesting enough to keep me awake.

Still, 26 hours (!) of what so far seems like a lot of self-indulgent twaddle. How much longer to give it?

08-16-2022, 10:22 AM	#3288
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 28,656 Karma: 205039118 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	Driving doesn't seem to work for me. The book just disappears in the background for some reason. Some of the activities I've discovered were obvious to me in hindsight: walking, mowing the lawn, gardening (though walking involved some safety-related retraining where Active Noise Cancelling is concerned!). One activity that surprised me was jigsaw puzzling. I assumed my concentration on the puzzle would prevent me from being able to concentrate on the book, but apparently, that's not an issue for me. shrug The reason for my complementary activity search is that sitting down and reading the printed word just doesn't seem to be working for me any more. This distresses me greatly, but NOT consuming books is not an option. So until I figure out how to remedy that problem, I simply need to find more ways to make audiobooks work for me. Last edited by DiapDealer; 08-16-2022 at 10:26 AM.

08-25-2022, 01:05 PM	#3293
Catlady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,419 Karma: 52613881 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, AGPTek Bluetooth Clip	Listening to Katherine J. Chen's novel Joan, narrated by Hannah Morrish, has set me off an a bit of a Joan of Arc kick. Chen's take is quite interesting--Joan isn't especially religious and doesn't hear voices--but Spoiler: the story ends with Joan's capture, leaving out the trial and execution; I am guessing that the author would not have been able to reconcile the absence of voices with any fact-based account of Joan's trial I followed that up with Helen Castor's *Joan of Arc: A History, narrated by Anne Flosnik. This book spends a lot of time on the historical events and political climate leading up to Joan's arrival on the scene and basically nothing about her early life (which is a major aspect of Chen's novel). Now I'm about to start another Joan novel, Kimberly Cutter's The Maid*, narrated by Rosalyn Landor. After that, possibly Mark Twain's book on Joan, if I can decide between the three audiobooks with three different narrators (Michael Anthony, Robin Field, Jim Hodges).

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
What Are You Listening to Right Now?	RWood	Lounge	10507	Today 02:12 PM
Publishers are listening...	davidhburton	General Discussions	34	07-27-2010 09:47 AM
PRS-900 Sony, if you're listening	chiefwili	Sony Reader	22	01-02-2010 11:17 AM
Reading or listening? I need both!	jetreader	Ectaco jetBook	9	09-02-2009 10:27 AM
Listening to Music ???	Stu Segal	Sony Reader	7	10-14-2007 12:19 AM

08-16-2022, 11:06 AM	#3289
Tarana Wizard Posts: 4,040 Karma: 38840460 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Minneapolis Device: PWSE, Voyage, K3, HDX, KBasic 7 & 8, Nook Glo3, Echos, Nanos	I no longer listen while driving unless it's a long drive to my sister's (2 hours). People are driving faster, going through red lights, etc. so need to be more alert. I don't even play music now when driving. I primarily listen when doing sewing or needlework, but also doing laundry, washing dishes, brushing kitties (I have 4). Most other things require my attention on that thing.

08-16-2022, 12:03 PM	#3290
CRussel (he/him/his) Posts: 12,296 Karma: 80074820 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sunshine Coast, BC Device: Oasis (Gen3),Paperwhite (Gen10), Voyage, Paperwhite(orig), iPad Air M3	I still read while driving, though not for quick trips (it's only 5 minutes from here to 90% of what I go out of the house for.) Knitting, gardening, and the mindless parts of cooking are my principle listening activities.

08-16-2022, 01:10 PM	#3291
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,281 Karma: 90000484 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	I listen on long trips also. Short drives just don't allow a flow to develop. I wish I could listen when working, but my concentration on work makes it impossible. Apache

08-16-2022, 10:34 PM	#3292
Paperbackstash Wizard Posts: 1,656 Karma: 20102554 Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Central Florida Device: Oasis 3, PW 3 & 5, Fire HD 8 & 10	Swan Song by Robert McCammon in audio format is very, very good. Enjoying it immensely.

08-25-2022, 06:36 PM	#3296
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 28,656 Karma: 205039118 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	Using an Audible credit to finally get around to Monsarrat's "The Cruel Sea".

08-31-2022, 08:11 AM	#3300
issybird o saeclum infacetum Posts: 21,341 Karma: 234636059 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New England Device: Mini, H2O, Glo HD, Aura One, PW4, PW5	I’m listening to *The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay* by Michael Charon, read by David Colacci. All what looks like to be 26 interminable hours of it. I’m torn. So far, at two-plus hours in, I’m finding this incredibly tedious. I loved Chabon’s *The Mysteries of Pittsburgh*, so I had high hopes and haven’t quite given up, now that the overlong and dull prologue is done. I also have a penchant for books set in New York during this period. And it’s serving its purpose; I listen to it in bed and it’s definitely not interesting enough to keep me awake. Still, 26 hours (!) of what so far seems like a lot of self-indulgent twaddle. How much longer to give it?