Advantages of Audio Books

[wilsonroy324]

Everybody loves to read book in some or the other form, but because of shortage of time most of us are unable to do so. This is where audio books help us; basically audio books can be called as a modern version of our literature. These audio books are a boon for all those who love to read and want to know more about our culture and literature, but because of their hectic schedule they are unable to do so.

At the age of multi tasking these audio books provides you with a facility of the same, as you can do many other things while ‘reading’ (listening) to your favorite book. Now you can carry them anywhere anytime without carrying an extra load of all those paper books, and to do this, all you need to do is select your favorite books and store them in your iPods and other device and then you are ready to go.

[Artistic]

I hate audio books or maybe it's the way some people narrate. Not everyone can read a story in such a way as to evoke the emotions that could be evoked whilst you were reading the book. It needs a voice artist or an actor. Or bunch of actors and actresses to really pull of something that could impress the listener. Otherwise if it's just one narrator voicing all the dialogue lines then you get pretty disappointed fast.

I tried listening to an audiobook once. Five minutes of listening cured me of the desire to go techie.

[Fran]

I have listened to some books on audio, mostly while walking, but I still much prefer to read the book myself. That said audio books are obviously a lifesaver for anyone with impared vision.

[robert eggleton]

I just submitted a story to an audio book company. It seems to me that a novel might be too longer. However, I used a lot of dialogue and very little narrative in Rarity from the Hollow. It may be a better fit for audio than some, but I'm not sure I would pick up where it left off. I've never listened to an audio book. How do you stop and start at the correct place if it is a CD? Anybody know anything about these books. I was in the Library for the Blind in the city where I live several years back and all the books were on cassette tape. ???????

[mhjames]

I listen to A LOT of audio books. For my job, I drive for hours most days. I listen to books on CD to keep me entertained and make good use of the time. I love them (though I agree some narrators aren't the best - others are great). The CD has tracks every 3-5 minutes usually, so you can always start pretty close to where you left off without difficulty. In the car, my CD player starts back exactly where I was when I stopped, so there was no problem there.

[Maud Fitch]

Nobody mentioned the children's audio books, the classics or the non-fiction audio books - the selection is vast.
Also, audio books are great for the aged, visually impaired (sadly electronics have wiped out Braille books), literacy challenged and while doing boring household chores. If you get a good reader, or a pair of readers, audio books can be very entertaining. They can be downloaded to almost any device and can be borrowed free from public libraries.

[robert eggleton]

If I can still find my old Library card, I'll borrow one today.

[mhjames]

That's where I usually get them. If you are wanting to get a book published on audio CD, I would definitely recommend being familiar with them.

[topazeagle]

Hi All, I work in a very little library in MA. Check out the Perkins Talking Book Library online, they are part of a nationwide program to get audio books and readers into the hands of people who need them, not nessasarily the blind.
Books on cassette are still available, but books on CD are prevalant now. I listen to books when doing my housework and driving. So the CD's in my car start where they left off, the ones in my DVD system I need to make note of where I stop it. I guess it depends on the system. I have to say it depends on the book too. I have listened to many authors and resently tried to listen to a very long book, The Twelve, a sequel to The Passage by Justin Cronin. The story has many details and time/place switches that I feel I would have better followed( for me) in book form. Give the audio books a try. For those of you who love to read and have a commute, you may love them. Stand by for the Play Away! These are little players like an MPV with earphones and a single book. Great for kids on a trip!

[mhjames]

Hi All, I work in a very little library in MA. Check out the Perkins Talking Book Library online, they are part of a nationwide program to get audio books and readers into the hands of people who need them, not nessasarily the blind.

Good tip! Thanks

[rachel5]

I'm listening to The Mistmantle Chronicles: Urchin of the Riding Stars, rented from audible. I have to listen to it fast because I can only keep it for a few days.

[MandiKenendy]

I also think that they they're brilliant for those who have trouble reading. My Grandad, who has been an avid reader all his life, has diabetes and his eyesight is beginning to be effected. He can't read for more than ten minutes any more so audio books are a real life-saver for him.

[Uklol2012]

It definitely helps if you read a vast amount. I only listen to audio books when im walking and travelling, there are advantages but overall i would always choose paper back as opposed to audio.

[robert eggleton]

Have you read Rarity from the Hollow? It an unusual speculative fiction.

[mama2cj]

I enjoy audio books. I liked to listen to them at work when I had boring repetitive work to do that I could also listen to the book.

I've also listened to audio books while running. Normally I'll listen to music, but when I was doing longer runs, I liked listening to audio books too as I could really get lost in the book and be so focused on how far I was going.