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Audio books - 7/3/2014 10:42:06 AM   
AAkasha


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I used to love to read when I was a teenager. Somewhere along the way I got burnt out on it and have always tried to reignite my interest in a good novel. Now and then I can get into one but usually only if I am on vacation and at a pool or a beach.

I've never listened to audio books. Do people who love novels find that audio books are enjoyable? How is the experience different from reading? What are the pros and cons?

What's the best audio book (novel) you've ever listened to? I'm thinking of a genre like mystery, crime, thriller (not too scary though), or humor. How many hours is a typical audio novel if you were to take a NY Times Bestseller for example (I know it can vary greatly, but a general idea).

Thanks!

Akasha

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RE: Audio books - 7/3/2014 1:38:38 PM   
InHisHeart


Posts: 630
Joined: 3/22/2014
Status: offline 		I tried getting into them to pass time. I travel between NC and PA often and that 10 hour drive alone gets tedious but I just couldn't get into audio books. A friend of mine that lost her vision listens to audio books all the time and loves them but she said how enjoyable it is depends on the narrator(s) too. The time varies depending on the length of the book. The Da Vinci Code was 17 hours.

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RE: Audio books - 7/3/2014 1:44:17 PM   
kdsub


Posts: 12180
Joined: 8/16/2007
Status: offline 		HERE are the very best in audio books...if you Like science fiction.

Most audio books are a single reader raising or lowering his or her voice for different characters... It really sucks when a guy tries to sound like a girl. With the Alien Voices books it is a production of actual different readers and sound effects...Far superior to the average audio book.

Butch

< Message edited by kdsub -- 7/3/2014 1:47:23 PM >

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RE: Audio books - 7/3/2014 5:14:21 PM   
MercTech


Posts: 3706
Joined: 7/4/2006
Status: offline 		I've been a subscriber to www.audible.com for over a decade. The best buy if you want audiobooks.
I tend to have long drives for work. Nothing keeps me awake better than a book I can get into. But, occasionally, I need to stop because of the book... Terry Pratchett's "Night Watch" had one passage that got me laughing so hard I had to pull over on the interstate until I got the tears of laughter out of my eyes.

Now, if you want a shot at some audiobooks for free; have a look at www.podiobooks.com

Also, you can find audiobook versions public domain books (most of the classics) at www.archive.org

I hope that helps.

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RE: Audio books - 7/3/2014 10:13:03 PM   
MistressDarkArt


Posts: 5178
Status: offline 		Audiobooks ROCK!!

Our library system has literally thousands of audiobooks to borrow/download for free.

While it's true that the narrator can make or break a book, there has only been two among hundreds that I absolutely couldn't stand and had to give up.

Typical audiobooks last anywhere from ~8-15 hours. You can download them right onto your smartphone via wifi or data (I did this on the trail during a long hike when I finished the last book before the hike was over) The app (Overdrive for our public library) also includes a timer so you can take the story to bed with you. Everywhere your phone goes, your book goes so while you're multitasking doing errands, chores, exercising, driving or simply relaxing with your feet up you can keep up with your booK.

Between my aging eyes and not being able to maintain a comfortable sitting position while holding a book, audiobooks are the only way to go for me. I can't recommend them highly enough!

Enjoy. They're awesome!

PS: I rather enjoy the Jack Reacher series by Lee Child. I also recommend Albert Brook's (yes, the actor, also a talented author) '2030' which is so close to home I bet it comes true.



< Message edited by MistressDarkArt -- 7/3/2014 10:17:34 PM >

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RE: Audio books - 7/3/2014 10:33:02 PM   
AlliaPotestas


Posts: 1
Joined: 9/27/2013
Status: offline 		I don't understand why they are still so expensive when every other form of digital media has come down in price. I know part of the reason is that audible.com basically has a monopoly on content but still.

One of my recent favorites is the Pendergast series by Douglas Preston and Lee Child, specifically the Cabinet of Curiosities.

Also, you might enjoy old time radio shows, like Sherlock Holmes as performed by Basil Rathbone.

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RE: Audio books - 7/3/2014 10:53:18 PM   
MistressDarkArt


Posts: 5178
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: AlliaPotestas

I don't understand why they are still so expensive when every other form of digital media has come down in price. I know part of the reason is that audible.com basically has a monopoly on content but still.

One of my recent favorites is the Pendergast series by Douglas Preston and Lee Child, specifically the Cabinet of Curiosities.

Also, you might enjoy old time radio shows, like Sherlock Holmes as performed by Basil Rathbone.


Yes! I love the Pendergast series!

Re: expense: with so many available free via the library, I've done 2-3 books a week for the last several years and haven't had to buy one yet! I may not be able to get just-published best sellers right away, but eventually they show up on the list. Also, it's free to put a hold on audiobooks that are currently checked out. The library sends an email as soon as they are available for download.

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RE: Audio books - 7/4/2014 5:51:00 AM   
Musicmystery


Posts: 30259
Joined: 3/14/2005
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: AAkasha


I used to love to read when I was a teenager. Somewhere along the way I got burnt out on it and have always tried to reignite my interest in a good novel. Now and then I can get into one but usually only if I am on vacation and at a pool or a beach.

I've never listened to audio books. Do people who love novels find that audio books are enjoyable? How is the experience different from reading? What are the pros and cons?

What's the best audio book (novel) you've ever listened to? I'm thinking of a genre like mystery, crime, thriller (not too scary though), or humor. How many hours is a typical audio novel if you were to take a NY Times Bestseller for example (I know it can vary greatly, but a general idea).

Thanks!

Akasha

audio books rock for longer trips (I commute an hour twice a week) -- I've found that fiction doesn't really work well while driving, but an interesting non-fiction topic works well, especially self-help or lecture/talks, things you'd be interested in hearing more than once.

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RE: Audio books - 7/4/2014 1:11:37 PM   
smileforme50


Posts: 1623
Joined: 1/24/2013
From: DelaWHERE(?)
Status: offline 		I think audio books are an interesting idea.....but I just can't get into them. I have a friend who takes long road trips pretty often so he uses them on his road trips too.

But they don't do anything for me....they never keep my attention, ESPECIALLY if I'm driving. Depending on how stressful the driving is at that moment sometimes I shut out the sound of my radio for a few moments. So if I was listening to an audio book, I would start listening again and then wonder how the story got to where it is and what did I miss? Then I would need to "rewind".

Something really funny....and completely baffling for me is that even though I've always enjoyed reading, I really never read much because it always took me forever to get through a book. I used to only read at night in bed. I would read 2 or 3 pages and then fall asleep, and a 300-page book would take me 3 months to get through. So it was very difficult to keep my interest in a story. But last year I finally bought a kindle e-reader....I don't know why this is different now, but now I'm reading a lot more than I ever did and I'm going through books faster than I ever imagined. I don't know why this thing made such a difference, but it did for me. <shrug>

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RE: Audio books - 7/4/2014 4:37:40 PM   
LookieNoNookie


Posts: 12216
Joined: 8/9/2008
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quote:

ORIGINAL: AAkasha


I used to love to read when I was a teenager. Somewhere along the way I got burnt out on it and have always tried to reignite my interest in a good novel. Now and then I can get into one but usually only if I am on vacation and at a pool or a beach.

I've never listened to audio books. Do people who love novels find that audio books are enjoyable? How is the experience different from reading? What are the pros and cons?

What's the best audio book (novel) you've ever listened to? I'm thinking of a genre like mystery, crime, thriller (not too scary though), or humor. How many hours is a typical audio novel if you were to take a NY Times Bestseller for example (I know it can vary greatly, but a general idea).

Thanks!

Akasha


Ain't no sech ting as a bad book:

http://www.booksshouldbefree.com/

Free audio books.

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RE: Audio books - 7/5/2014 8:14:59 AM   
MercTech


Posts: 3706
Joined: 7/4/2006
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: AlliaPotestas

I don't understand why they are still so expensive when every other form of digital media has come down in price. I know part of the reason is that audible.com basically has a monopoly on content but still.

One of my recent favorites is the Pendergast series by Douglas Preston and Lee Child, specifically the Cabinet of Curiosities.

Also, you might enjoy old time radio shows, like Sherlock Holmes as performed by Basil Rathbone.


If you actually buy media in a store, with all the markups and shipping costs, it will be $20-$50 for an audiobook. If you get downloadable audiobooks, you are looking at $5 to $30.

Audible subscription runs 22.95 a month for two books a month plus discounts on further purchases. It makes audiobooks affordable

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RE: Audio books - 7/6/2014 12:12:15 AM   
CynthiaWVirginia


Posts: 1915
Joined: 2/28/2010
From: West Virginia, USA
Status: offline
quote:



Do people who love novels find that audio books are enjoyable? How is the experience different from reading? What are the pros and cons?



I love the look and smell of real books. Turning the pages. Finding something to be a bookmark. There are many floor to ceiling book cases in my home.

Um, I tried an audio book once. It was lovely. I could never keep my attention on what the story was about though...because the VOICE...oh gawd... (Alan Rickman was reading it, that's all I'm saying.)


Edited to add that I never made it past the first cassette.

< Message edited by CynthiaWVirginia -- 7/6/2014 12:14:23 AM >

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RE: Audio books - 7/6/2014 12:54:43 AM   
OldW0lf


Posts: 2
Joined: 6/29/2014
Status: offline 		I find them Useful when driving

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RE: Audio books - 7/6/2014 10:43:13 AM   
The16thMartini


Posts: 9
Joined: 7/3/2014
Status: offline 		The best audio books for me are sort of disposable, garbage literature (Stephen King, Michael Crichton, Jonathan Kellerman, Scott Turrow, etc). Like the kind of stuff you might read at an airport or on a train.

Mystery and light horror are great, so are some procedural legal titles, although I'd never stoop far enough to read Grisham. Look for books that don't have much "literary merit" but that are well paced and plot driven.

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RE: Audio books - 7/6/2014 11:12:31 AM   
AAkasha


Posts: 4429
Joined: 11/27/2004
Status: offline 		Thanks everyone for your input. Especially regarding checking the local library. I am reluctant to sign up for something like Audible because I am nto sure I will like it. I don't commute enough to make it worthwhile on that front, I am wondering if it's engaging enough to listen while relaxing or listen at the gym (I usually listen to a few favorite podcasts). I will check out a few from the library to give it a go. Thanks again!
Akasha

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RE: Audio books - 7/6/2014 4:41:35 PM   
Crouchingtiger77


Posts: 174
Joined: 10/21/2012
Status: offline 		Have any of you heard of 'Lit2go'? I would suggest you take a look at this web page, If especially you want to take in older novels such as Dickens or Twain.

But, I would still prefer the old hold the book and turn the pages form of reading.

Perhaps one good thing about listening to books is like taking you back to the day when people would sit in the
living room and 'watch the radio' as they listened to 'The Lone Ranger' or 'The Shadow' or any number of other
old radio programs.

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RE: Audio books - 7/10/2014 12:06:59 PM   
Exidor


Posts: 135
Joined: 12/31/2011
Status: offline 		I never liked to have people read to me, but I finally gave in when I was doing regular two or three day road trips. Now I have a job where I can listen to audiobooks while I work, so I spend a lot of time with the earbuds plugged in.

Anything more than, say, 10 years old is usually of lower audio quality, and much older than that, was probably recorded on cassettes before being digitized. Even though it's professionally digitized and packaged, a lot of those sound like someone mumbling in a bucket. New stuff *usually* sounds better.

There are a handful of readers who seem to work for several of the publishers. Unfortunately, one of the most common is the guy I call "Snot Man", who sounds like a heavy smoker with tuberculosis. I never can remember his name, but I should, as he's ruined a lot of stuff.

My normal paper-reading speed is quite fast, and one of the things it toook... aa... looottt... oofff... geetttingg... uuussedd... tooooo... was how slowly audiobooks move by comparison. I guess you could turn the speed up until they sound like chipmunks on meth, but my player doesn't have a setting for that. On the other hand, the slower pace gives you time to think about what you're hearing, and a lot of books I'd enjoyed on paper turned out to be eaten up with stupid.

For me, audiobooks are definitely not as good as paper (or even my tablet reader), but they beat listening to the same old music, blithering idiot DJs, or talk radio when I'm spending hours doing things that don't require a lot of attention, but where I can't read a book.

> best

I'll give you three "best of" SF/fantasy examples:

SM Stirling's "In the Courts of the Crimson Kings"
Charles Stross' "The Atrocity Archives"
Terry Pratchett's "Small Gods"

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RE: Audio books - 7/10/2014 2:46:03 PM   
Crouchingtiger77


Posts: 174
Joined: 10/21/2012
Status: offline 		LIT2GO is very very good quality. And it can be downloaded as well.

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RE: Audio books - 7/10/2014 4:52:59 PM   
MistressDarkArt


Posts: 5178
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Exidor

<snip>

There are a handful of readers who seem to work for several of the publishers. Unfortunately, one of the most common is the guy I call "Snot Man", who sounds like a heavy smoker with tuberculosis. I never can remember his name, but I should, as he's ruined a lot of stuff.

<snip>




Oh, DO TELL, please! I would like to avoid that particular narrator, so please divulge.

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