The weekly poll is back! I skipped a few weeks because I was slammed with other things, but we’re back. This week, we’re gonna talk about audio books.
Do you listen to audio books? Do you like them? Or not a fan at all? Let me know in the comments and don’t forget to vote below!
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I’ve never really been a big fan of audio books, although I know a lot of people are. I’ve got one book on audio that was a free offer – and it’s one of my favorite books. It’s well done but when I’m reading I put different voices in my head for the characters and hearing it in one voice is a little flat. Even if the narrator is really good. It’s just my own personal preference.
I have yet to listen to an audiobook. Since reading is such a wonderful escape for me, and my brain hears the characters voices, I’ve nor even tried one yet. There have been some wonder reviews, so maybe one day I’ll give it a shot.
Hugs
I only listen to books I have previously read that I really like. My attention tends to wander when listening and if I miss a bit at least I know what happened.
I don’t listen to mm audio, or any fiction. I listen to nonfiction audio and podcasts when driving or doing repetitive work. My mind wanders too much for fiction and I don’t want to miss anything.
I listened to two audio books. One I got free. The other was included in my purchase for the book. I read the characters in different voices in my head, so it’s hard to listen to just one read the whole book. But, the main reason I don’t listen to books, is it’s too expensive! Why? I can’t justify the price when the book to read is so much less.
The main reason they’re so expensive is because they’re quite expensive to produce. On average, authors pay two to four thousand dollars to have a book narrated. That’s a lot of money to recoup. Aside from that, authors can’t set the price of an audio book like we can with an ebook or a hardback. Audible decides the price for us…
I prefer to read books but I like having an audio book I’ve read and enjoyed for long road trips. While audio books are not my first choice, they are for a friend as it’s her only choice. I love that they are available.
I don’t listen much because it’s super exhausting, but audio books are a great way for non-native speakers to train their ears and learn how some words are actually pronounced (in contrast to what the mind has made up).
I LOVE audiobooks!!! I can pop in my earbuds and listen to a book while I do chores around the house or work in the yard. What is my most favorite thing to do is get the kindle version along with the audible and follow along with the story. Lately I won’t even get a book unless it has an audible version as well, so when Audible was taking soooo long finalizing “Daddy” I was frustrated right along with you. I have enough imagination to give your characters voice and depth in my mind, but a narrator usually does a better job. It was with you books that I discovered Kenneth Obi and fell in love with him so much that I wanted to learn more about him. How he came to the M/M genre is a sweet story and he sounds like an amazing guy. I know producing an audible version of your books can be expensive, but please keep them coming because I assure you I will always be buying them!
I listen to audiobooks everyday at work. I average about 30 hrs a week.
I’ve just discovered I love audiobooks; hearing and feeling the emotion the narrator gives the story are great.
I’m one of those people who can’t stand people reading out loud, ( all those nightmare days in school where fellow students droned on, a million miles slower than you could read the same passage of words for yourself…ugh). With this in mind, it took me years to give audio a go. My first try was TJ Klune’s Wolfsong ( I read it a few times and wanted to listen to it) and I have honestly been hooked ever since.
I especially love listening to audio while I go for my morning walk. Some days I walk extra long just to listen to a chapter. As far as narrators go, I love Gary Furlong, wow, that man has amazing talent narrating audio, he did a fabulous job with Hailey Turner’s Ferry of Bones and Gold: Soulbound series.
I hope authors continue to release audio, I just wish it was cheaper to buy, or there was an option like Kindle Unlimited, where there was no limit of audio to listen to, for a small monthly fee, rather than the very limited free access ( 2 books) with a reasonably expensive fee each month, considering you then need to buy the audio book on top of the subscription.
I am new to fiction audiobooks, but have increased my listening time by leaps and bounds recently and now I absolutely love it! I have been concentrating on listening to books in my TBR pile that I can find from the library. It is making my chores and yard work much more enjoyable. I can understand not liking them because they are a completely different way of experiencing a book. I have really enjoyed listening to favorite books that I have already read.
For my M/M I use my kindle books and the ‘speak’ feature on my phone.
For other fiction I’ll listen to audiobooks horrors from the library as I commute.
I don’t at all. Firstly, I read a lot, and fast…audio just takes so long comparatively! Secondly, I can appreciate the narrator’s voice but I just can’t focus on it-I tune it out completely. I tried with both a book I loved and one that was new to me. I do the same with music though, even something I really enjoy I will notice after a couple songs I haven’t heard it at all. In school I learned something a lot better reading it myself than I ever did listening to a teacher lecture. I think some people just don’t process aurally as well as they do visually-and likely vice versa as well.
I’m a huge audio book fan, which is actually how I “discovered” the M/M genre (which is basically all I listen to now – love it!). I’ve only just begun reading M/M e-books but still prefer audio, though I will say narrator choice can really make or break the audio book enjoyment factor regardless of the story itself. That’s probably why my audio book choices are dictated more by narrator than author. I’ve also noticed that many authors tend to stick with the same narrator or two for all of their books. (This is often a great thing, though, seeing as some of the most talented narrators out there are now working in the M/M genre – it’s a golden time to be an audio book listener!)
Absolutely! A hundred times yes to this comment. You need a good story to start with but, no matter how good the story is, a narrator can elevate it to a fantastic story or drive a stake into it.
I love love love audiobooks! I love that I can continue “reading” my fav books (sometimes new ones but mostly books I’ve read) while doing household stuff, sport or driving.
I’m a huge fan of audiobooks. I listened on my journey to and from work every day, about an hour each way Since #StayAtHome and #WorkFromHome I haven’t listened at all.
I just started listening to audiobooks. Trying to get better at doing it.
I should have commented on this post last week. While reading is still my go-to for books, I’ve come to LOVE audio books in the last 18 months and here is why. I detest exercising but I know I have to do it. I’ve found that a good audio book, and a good narrator, keep me working out. (Note that a good narrator is a MUST, along with a good story.) I get so into the story that I forget about how much I dislike what I’m doing and instead I concentrate on the characters. Plus, I will not let myself listen unless I’m exercising, which makes me that much more determined to do it the next day and the next.
Without authors who put in the time and money to turn their books into audio files, I would have a much more difficult time doing this. BIG kudos to you, Nora Phoenix, for doing this for your readers who are also, sometimes, your listeners. ?
Something else I’ve discovered; some books are better as audiobooks. With a talented narrator, using the correct intonations, putting a “chuckle” or a *gasp* into what they’re speaking when the part calls for it, giving different characters different voices …. it’s truly amazing. I’ve read books where I wasn’t sure who was doing the speaking. With a good narrator, you’ll never be in doubt.