I just started listening to audiobooks at work and I enjoy the stories but I have to go back quite a lot cause I’m used to hearing my own voice in my head reading 😩
I always say I'll read an audiobook when they come with subtitles so I can hear it properly, but, and hear me out, 50 shades of grey read by Gilbert Gottfried. That's the only exception to the subtitle rule and probably my only shot at enjoying that book, not bookshaming, I just know my preferences
The voice of the narrator. I listen to audiobooks while I doing something that doesn’t require attention, like cleaning. I read a book when I want to sit. I get to enjoy books all day.
I enjoy it alot. I listen in the car, in the kitchen when I'm cleaning up and getting ready to cook. It didn't take that much getting used to and my imagination is the same as if I'm reading a paper book. But it's not for everyone, for sure.
I’m a big fan of audiobooks on long journeys but the biggest problem is when you read the actual book after you’ve got the audiobook voice in your head!
I don’t see that as a problem. Tom Hanks reading The Dutch House or Merck Streep reading Tom Lake were outstanding. It all depends on the quality of the reader. Juliet Stevenson is also a marvellous reader.
I'd tried to read Middlemarch at least twice before I heard Juliet Stevenson read it. She brought out all the subtlety I'd been missing.
You have to be careful though: I can't listen to one favourite US author, because *for me* the (highly-praised) narrator is so over the top it's off-putting.
Also, there's nothing worse for highlighting how bad some writers are at dialogue than an audiobook. You can hide it to yourself a bit when you're reading, but not when the poor narrator has to try to turn someone's clunky dialogue into human.
I know what you mean. I love Geraldine Brooks’ writing and had read Year of Winders years ago, and loved it. During the pandemic I thought it would be good to listen to the audiobook but it was read by Ms Brooks and I just couldn’t bear the sound of her voice.
Yes! The narrator doesn't even have to be bad – the one I'm thinking about is widely praised – but if they don't suit your ear, then it can ruin the whole experience. So I buy that author's books on Kindle instead.
I have trouble actually reading extremely dry text (a lot of astrology/occult books are STUPID DRY) … no way I would be able to pay attention to it being read to me
I loved the silly voices in the audiobook version of Wee Free Men. I also bought the illustrated copy. Nothing tops the way the reader said “Waily waily waily” though. It became part of my family’s vernacular for a while.
Now... i feel weird.
I hate watching series/movies without subs, I get distracted and idk it just doesn't flow... but i LOVE listening to audiobooks.
Never stopped to think the weird dichotomy that was.
Maybe is related how in the audiobook i don't need to *watch* and *listen* at the same time? 🤔
Due to advances in technology, actors frequently mumble their lines to enhance the realism of their performance these days. Audiobook narrators speak slowly and clearly intentionally, so it’s not the same thing. Here’s my favourite video on the subject! ☺️
I love audiobooks while I'm working. My job is pretty monotonous, so it's pretty easy to get lost in a good audiobook when you're doing your job on autopilot.
I’m a person who has to read something to understand it. My hands now cramp up holding a book so I use a reader. It works, but I do miss holding a book, and I haven’t figured out an easy way to go back and check out something from a couple of chapters earlier.
Not everyone has that issue though, I love reading but since I now have chronic migraines I find it difficult to concentrate on a book, audio gives me the freedom to listen to one page or a chapter, it will never replace a book but some of us don’t have that pleasure anymore 😞
I don’t mean to pry, and I know this SOUNDS silly
But have you seen an optometrist and spoken to them about it?
I’ve seen a ton of people with excruciating migraines and we ended up adding prism to their glasses and it helped!
Tell them you’re having migraines more than three times a week, and you’ve done some reading about adding prism to glasses to help, and you’re curious if they offer the test (we use Neurolens) to see if it would benefit you!
that's when you use both, audio and reading at the same time for a good pace - i sometimes struggle processing sentences and take way too long reading what's supposed to take you 5 mins 💀
I've got arthritis in my hands and can't hold book for longer that 20mins without it getting painful. Audiobooks might not be perfect, but they've kept me 'reading' for years now. I'm grateful for them.
You don’t need to put the word reading in quotation marks! Listening to audiobooks is reading. Eyesight is not a superior sense to hearing and it’s ableist for anyone to suggest to you that listening to audiobooks isn’t reading. I’ll fight anyone who says otherwise on your behalf. 😘
Bed time stories never worked for me because my mom was the one falling asleep and I wanted her to keep reading because I just needed to know the rest of the story lol That being said, I do enjoy reading books more than audiobooks but I like both :)
Sorry about that, the newest version of Apple AirPods has advanced hearing aid technology that was just approved by the FDA, if you have some hearing, I don’t know your particular case you might try looking into those.
I like reddit stories read to me on 2x w/ the words scrolling on the screen (not the screenshot of the post, I'll read it all before it's narrated & get mad since I can't advance)...and not with the games in the background, I want the 5 minute crafts videos they never finish because they're monsters
I prefer to read books, but audiobooks are great for doing things around the house, like cleaning or meal prepping. I also listen to audiobooks when I'm driving long distances or in a situation where I need to keep a watchful eye on my kids. It keeps me from getting bored.
Only time I use audiobooks is while I'm working. Listened to the entirety of Orwell's 1984 doing so (that and some books have sound effects which really helps!)
I’m the opposite I don’t used subtitles but I hateeeeee audiobooks like I don’t feel like I’m retaining all the information and I wanna read my smut in peace hell 😭
Fair. I started listening to podcasts / audiobooks while walking the dogs, driving, folding laundry, doing dishes...
Those things are just hard to do with a physical book - but that IS my preferred source of the written word!! But dang, not enough hours in the day sometimes!!
I have bi-lateral Kienbock's Disease with left wrist now shattered. Having to hold a book is not an option. I have 1# weight limits. Audiobooks are a godsend to me. FYI: Kienbock's is Avascular Necrosis of the Lunate. Bones don't get oxygen & die.
I tend to only listen to podcasts and audiobooks when I'm driving. I have too many other distractions otherwise. Maybe try listening while doing something that is distraction free?
I didn’t think audiobooks were for me but I’m doing a reread of Throne of glass on audio and it’s actually really nice while I do projects around the house. Not sure how well i would do with a new book though.
Sandman is the only one I actually enjoyed. It's more of a movie without the picture, but great experience. The few audiobooks I actually tried were nowhere near as immersive as reading and getting lost.
I have ADHD & a library degree. Focusing on reading can be hard (but I LOVE to read). LOVE subtitles on! Audiobooks work great sometimes & sometimes they don’t. IF you want to try audiobooks, I recommend listening while you drive. Try a book you love or the next book in the series you are reading.
I love subtitles. I read the books that require my focus. I listen to the books that keep me entertained while I’m doing laundry, walking, cooking, etc. I think of the the audiobooks as “mental sorbet.”
I find I can do audiobooks for non-fiction, it's like listening to news while I make breakfast. But fiction I like to re-read the lines that catch my attention.
I have been listening for years and mostly enjoy all of the books. But particularly those narrated by Julia Whelan, George Guidall, Grover Gardner, and HIllary Huber. Right now I am listening to "Patriot: A Memoir" by Alexei Navalny and narrated by Matthew Goode. It is absolutely terrific!
I do really like some audiobooks but when I listen to a particular narrator for too long, it takes over my internal monologue!! It's really wild to have the voice inside my head have an accent that I can't accurately reproduce with my mouth.
I listen to them when driving everyday. I've gone through more books on one year than I was able to in the decade prior. I'm alone in the car when I listen. When I try to read a physical book someone is always interrupting since "I'm not really doing anything."
Excuse me?! Do you not see the book in my hands?! I am clearly “doing something”, now shoo! I SAID SHOO! *faces the other way and sticks nose back in book* 😝
We’re all different. I can’t listen either. I get distracted then remember I am supposed to be listening and have completely lost the storyline. But I am glad for those who can.🤷🏼♂️😊
I listen to audiobooks while cleaning or walking on the trail close to my house. I like both but I can accomplish two things instead of just one with an audiobook.
Hear me out. I think we should get a text copy of the book for every audiobook we purchase, and vice versa. That way we can swap back and forth or I can read along, like captions
I think audiobooks are better with a full cast honestly. If you listen to one try Battlefield Earth by L. Ron Hubbard
Movie was god awful but the book is excellent
I started listening to Matthew Perry’s audiobook while reading his book. It’s the only time I’ve listened to an audiobook and it’s comforting hearing him read his words.
I have to be left completely alone with a book - I've to read it myself.
I'm holding a highlighter when I read and you can tell if I've actually read a book bc the whole thing will be yellow or even have notes in the margins.
Ahhh, she would hyper focus like that as well.
Thank you for sharing your story with me.
I get that way with music.
I’ll discover a song I like, and if I like it enough, I’m gonna hyper fixate and look for that artists entire discography!
I’m definitely more prone to follow people I have an interaction with, mostly because my noti feed gets overwhelmed often and I’ll get a bunch of follows at once and it’s super hard to sift through everyone, and I get drained
(For anyone reading, my not-follow isn’t personal!)
not to mention most audiobooks I feel don’t really capture the characters in the book if you get what I mean. Like the I prefer the voices I make up for the characters in my head
I love learning languages. People say you shouldn’t have your target languages subtitles but like man I don’t understand my native language without subtitles!
I love the convenience of listening to audiobooks at work/in the car but the difference in my comprehension of the book when I can actually read it is insane
Honestly the fact that I can buy a little fold-out version of an audiobook, and I don't need speakers or headphones and I can just read all of the subtitles without needing to plug anything in or charge a battery... Like, nonaudiobooks are a great invention for a lot of people, including me!
I'm so glad someone else feels this way. I have to rewind audiobooks constantly as I just stop hearing them sometimes, and why would I want to listen to something for eight hours when I could read it in three??
I don't like audio books purely because I can read so much faster, plus, if I needed a different voice for something I already got that covered, mental and auditory voice alterations came with my free installation of "aspiring VA"
I love both at once! I absorb the material so much better. I discovered this in college and still utilize it depending on if I’m reading for fun or to learn. But when I read for fun, I 100% prefer to read because I can’t focus on just audio, unfortunately. My ADHD does not allow for it. 🙃
For me, it’s the simple fact that I can’t go two sentences without thinking about something else. I want to listen to that 50+ hours of H.P Lovecraft but it aint happenin in this lifetime
My assessment of that clip is that it fell flat, halfway between Yoda and Grover.
That being said, I absolutely endorse audiobooks over reading, because the imagination flows so much easier, without the tedium and process of reading, mucking up the works.
I listen to audiobooks all day, while setting up and running a mail route. My current listen was originally released on cassette tapes, the Badge of Honor series by W.E.B. Griffin. Even with the constant interruptions telling me to turn the tape over, it is still highly enjoyable.
Valid point for some!! For new books I usually listen to an audiobook on 1.5 speed while reading along. Helps my adhd brain focus for more than 30 seconds 😂
I gave audiobooks a good try last year but prose matters too much to me, I don’t like the fact that I’m missing details if I’m focused on driving/chores etc. However the Gone Girl audiobook was superb. I definitely need to re read that in written form
Me too. Also I can more easily reread something, if I miss the meaning, or come across a name I'm not familiar with. Or I can reread something just bc I like how it tastes, lol. I don't retain information well that way anyhow.
i speed up the audio for this reason. also i cant listen unless im doing something else like knitting or crocheting or driving or doing chores or something
I’ve found audiobooks are best for books you’ve already read, esp. when you want something other than music to listen to while doing tedious work (or, uh, building lego)
To each their own. Our brains all work in main, wondrous different ways. I'm honestly a bit jealous of those that can absorb a book through audio; especially when they can do so while doing chores.
I would likely have a much better time folding my laundry if I was enjoying a book at the same time.
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You have to be careful though: I can't listen to one favourite US author, because *for me* the (highly-praised) narrator is so over the top it's off-putting.
I feel too distracted, if that makes sense
I wish I could do audiobooks, it would make learning exponentially easier for me 😭😭😭😭
I hate watching series/movies without subs, I get distracted and idk it just doesn't flow... but i LOVE listening to audiobooks.
Never stopped to think the weird dichotomy that was.
Maybe is related how in the audiobook i don't need to *watch* and *listen* at the same time? 🤔
Little walking contradictions, humans are
https://youtu.be/VYJtb2YXae8?si=fs6QRPP5u_m2zgmM
But have you seen an optometrist and spoken to them about it?
I’ve seen a ton of people with excruciating migraines and we ended up adding prism to their glasses and it helped!
I do like gems though!
Those things are just hard to do with a physical book - but that IS my preferred source of the written word!! But dang, not enough hours in the day sometimes!!
To be fair, the Star Wars audiobooks are top-tier. Especially everything in the The Old Republic series. Sound effects. Music. Voice actors, etc.
#antisocial #reading
Also see Dresden Files audiobooks. James Marsters IS harry dresden and it’s an amazing ride.
Movie was god awful but the book is excellent
I have to be left completely alone with a book - I've to read it myself.
I'm holding a highlighter when I read and you can tell if I've actually read a book bc the whole thing will be yellow or even have notes in the margins.
I can't listen; I zone out.
What a fond memory you just returned to me.
Thank you
I don't read as much as I'd like, my focus is terrible.
But when I do pull it off you know I've turned those pages ahahaha
Yes. I'm autistic; I'm a writer myself.
I suspect reading is likely different for me than many folks.
It takes inane focus. When I read a book I am fully committed to that book & nothing else for the 2 to 4 days it generally takes me to complete it.
I'm very selective about what I read.
Thank you for sharing your story with me.
I get that way with music.
I’ll discover a song I like, and if I like it enough, I’m gonna hyper fixate and look for that artists entire discography!
(For anyone reading, my not-follow isn’t personal!)
I play songs on repeat but I also do this with film/shows.
Sometimes you might see me post I've seen a certain film thousands of times.
This isn't hyperbole.
I will literally play the same film on a loop for months.
It makes me productive or calms anxiety etc.
Music though is extremely chaotic for me
I will play songs on a loop
Or artists
My lovely children know all of AURORAs discography by proxy 🥹
Love hearing their little voices wafting along with her angelic tone.
this is why I could never do podcasts or audiobooks either
It’s great. You can easily listen and/or read. Plus it’s great for when you didn’t quite understand what was said
That being said, I absolutely endorse audiobooks over reading, because the imagination flows so much easier, without the tedium and process of reading, mucking up the works.
Also love reading ebooks, hardbacks, paperbacks... I'm not fussy
Unlike movies, tv series, physical books, and e-books, audiobooks lack an immersive experience for me, even when they're dramatized.
https://youtu.be/VYJtb2YXae8?si=fs6QRPP5u_m2zgmM
I would likely have a much better time folding my laundry if I was enjoying a book at the same time.