This celebration post brings us to audio books.
What is it that you like about them or for that matter don’t like?
What is your favorite book in audio you listened to ?
Let us know in the comments and have a chance to win a couple of awesome prizes
We are giving away several audio codes in this post so several chances to win!
An audio code by Mary Calmes
An DSP audio code by Avon Gale
An audio book of Tasty Notes by Cate Ashwood
An audio book of Alpha Bar Man by Sue Brown
An audible code for Into Deep Waters by Kaje Harper
An audio book of Faking It by Devon MacCormack
Good Luck!
I haven’t listened to audiobooks a lot. I have trouble concentrating on the text. Maybe it has to do with the fact that English is not my first language. But recently I listened to a live feed of Sean Kerr reading chapters from his new book and it found it fascinating. So maybe I will get used to it when I start listening more.
I love the fact that listening to an audiobook is a completely different experience from reading. Usually, the narrator can bring out nuances in the characters you hadn’t found before. I’m really shortsighted, so reading at night is tiresome for me, so I normally listen to an audiobook for a while. I also use them to keep me company when I go for a trek, or when I’m with the house chores. They make a boring task much more bearable. The last one I listened to was The Necromancer’s Dilema by SJ Himes, narrated by Joel Leslie, and I loved it to bits.
I loved ‘Bulletproof’ by Mary Calmes!
Usually I prefer reading myself because I can visualize the characters, and their voices, the way I imagine they would be. I’m always bothered by covers that don’t reflect the descriptions of the characters in the books, so I guess this (control freak that I am) sort of falls into the same category!
I’m rather new to audiobooks. Those I have listened to differed widely in narration. The first one felt pretty boring to me and I wasn’t sure whether I should give another one a try. I did and it got better. The last one (The Imperfection of Swans) was really awesome, since I got the feeling that the narrator interpreted the characters pretty well and did a good job in voicing them. So, I guess, no matter the book, if I like a particular narrator, I will probably like other books by them.
I usually prefer reading at my own pace (plus the wrong voice can throw it all off for me), but Charlie David’s rendition of HOT HEAD is pretty amazing!
I love audiobooks because I can multitask while listening , a good narrator can make a book even better. My favorite audiobook is Glitterland narrated by Nicholas Boulton, his accents for the main characters was spot on and elevated the book to excellent! Another favorite is Sidecar narrated by Chris Patton.
I am addicted to audio books. I listen to them while walking my dog, on my commute, while at work, and sometimes even while I’m just hanging at home. I have tons of favourites, but Kaje Harper’s In Deep Waters is a must for everyone. I also loved Absolution by Sloane Kennedy and Violated by Jamie Fessenden.
I love audio books. I’d say 3/4 of the time the reason I’m listening to an audiobook is because I want to experience a book I love in a new way. it’s like a theater production, but I can only see it in my mind. If it’s done well, the characters come to life even more. It’s also great to be able to read and do things at the same time. Some of my favorites are Glitterland by Alexis Hall, Sunset Park by Santino Hassell, Scrap Metal by Harper Fox, and The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller.
I don’t generally listen to audio books because I find them to be too slow and listening to people talk at me frequently makes me sleepy (yes, I slept through quite a few classes, lol) but I loved Oprah Winfrey’s “What I Know”. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!
I like how narrators will give different voices and accents to different characters which brings the story to life, especially humorous scenes. I laugh more at audiobooks than when I just read it to myself. I also like that I can listen to an audiobook for my long drive to the office or when I am doing mindless chores. Some of my favs have been Blame It on the Mistletoe by Eli Easton/Jason Frazier, Golden Boy by Abigail Tarttelin (this one had multiple people narrating), Loving Jay by Renae Kaye/Dave Gillies, Glitterland
by Alexis Hall/Nicholas Boulton and Widdershins by Jordan L. Hawk/Julian G. Simmons.
I don’t listen to many audiobooks – just because I prefer reading and I always worry about missing bits as I can get distracted when ‘read’ to 😂 but I have listened to them just before bed with no distractions and I have to say I absolutely LOVED TJ Klune’s’ Into This River I Drown. Matt Baca was peferction narrating it and he completely drew me in – I really looked forward to carrying on with the story and I found I was more on edge listening and drawn in by the different characters than when reading. Which was fascinating and thrilling as reading draws me in normally anyway – such a different experience. I don’t pace myself when I read so I think sometimes I miss out on a slow build so mixing it up with an audio is great, when the narrarating is done well. I just need to make sure I have the time to listen and concentrate which is why I’ll normally pick reading over listening. 🙂
I love books where the narrator really gets into it and makes the different characters actually sound different. My favorite so far is The Queen and The Homo Jock King by TJ Klune narrated by Michael Lesley.
My original kindle gave me text to speech which was really handy, but when I upgraded (currently a gen7) audible was making its mark as a separate and viable entity.
In the first instance, I am delighted with the ease of access to audiobooks. All those years of supplying cumbersome equipment, or exorbitant royalties for those who were sight impaired. As I head towards that eventuality, I have decided to leave audiobooks until absolutely necessary.
The last couple of years I’ve picked up more audiobooks. I still prefer to read since I do that faster than listening to an audiobook. Also reading I pick up every detail while listening not so well. My favorite is The Lightning Struck Heart by TJ Klune narrated by Michael Lesley.
I am not a fan of audiobooks, and have yet to listen to an entire book be read to me. Judging by the various samples of audiobooks I have tried, with different narrators, the narration itself is usually too slow, the “acting” laughable, and the accents inappropriate for how I personally imagine the characters. For me, audiobooks are like bedtime stories-fine to doze off to, but not for actually following the story. I prefer to “hear” the characters in my head. There was only one sample I’d heard that I thought might be a remote possibility as an audiobook to listen to, and I wish I could remember the narrator’s name. Unfortunately I would have to wear ear buds even while at home in order to listen to the types of books I read (as I have an 11 year-old son), and while my hands are busy is when I listen to music; while driving, cooking, or cleaning. So I’m old-fashioned and much prefer reading my stories, unless I want to be lulled to sleep.
I’ve just started listening to audiobooks in the last couple of years. I love to listen while I’m cooking or cleaning and I often listen to books I already read in ebook or print and loved. Jordan L Hawk’s Whyborne and Griffin series is one of my favorites to listen to.
I love audiobooks as long as the narrator is good! It can make or break a story but when it’s the right one, fantastic! I’ve really enjoyed Tell Me it’s Read by TJ Klune, love that one so much!
The best thing about listening to audiobooks is that it allows me to read during situations when I wouldn’t be able to otherwise; like driving or when I’m working, or cutting the grass, or other household chores. What I don’t like about them is that sometimes I feel the narrators are all wrong for the characters.
It’s too difficult to choose just one favorite, there are too many great authors & some spectacular narrators bringing those stories to life.
I’m a huge audio book junkie – I listen all the time as I have a terribly long commute. About 50/50 new books/ones I’ve read before. Love hearing new things but at the same time, hearing new interpretations of the characters voices, if done well, can bring a previously read book to life in a new way. My favourite narrators have saved books I thought I didn’t like all that well, and I have certainly followed narrators from book to book just as frequently as I have authors, and I have definitely found new favourite authors this way. I’d listen to anything read by Greg Tremblay/Greg Boudreau, Tristan James, Charlie David or Sean Crisden – and sometimes the author and narrator just work perfectly together – like Heidi Cullinan and Iggy Toma, or Greg Tremblay/Rhys Ford – definitely bring out the best in all their stories.