A pretty vague question I know, but I’m not looking for any specific answer. I’m just curious what peoples thoughts are on audiobooks. Perhaps how you think they compare to paper books or how listening compares to reading. Any thoughts you have on the subject is welcome.
I always wonder what exactly people like on them. (And I can’t empathize with the experiences they describe.)
For me they are annoying, in that I need an empty room or headphones; way too slow; non-responsive in that I need to follow their rithym. They need as much concentration as reading (maybe more, depends on the narrator), specialized equipment (the headphones), and a lot more time.
I get that you feel this way, very occasionally I still feel that with some narrators or authors.
I had to put in conscious effort with my first audiobooks too though. All that I need now is to clearly understand the narrator and have nothing I need to actively focus on. So it’s so easy to do while cleaning, cooking, driving, working in the garden etc.
I can also just put them on when going to bed and set the timer to 15 minutes. I accept that I might have to rewind a couple of minutes. I heavily prefer it over holding a real book in my hands and ruining it in my bed.
The biggest downside for me is that I dislike some narrators, which is annoying when you know you like the author’s work.
Hum… I get the idea, but if I did that, I would just sleep 15 minutes later than otherwise. The “sleep doing some activity” is also something I’m unable to relate :)
But then, a lot of people do it.
Did you like being read to as a kid? I loved it and it’s a bit like that for me. With a good narrator at least.
When I listen to audiobooks it’s usually while driving or doing chores. I have my car stereo and my earbuds anyway so there’s no additional investment on that end.
I do thing some books and some narrators are more suitable than others but for me it’s a great way to enjoy books where I normally wouldn’t.
For as long as I can remember, not a lot. Usually because of the rithym. Maybe I’m just weird.
Everybody’s a little weird.
If this is your particular brand of weirdness its a hell of a lot better than what some people have.
Keep on trucking you magnificent weirdo!