The final question of this saterday the 29th is asked by Tanja. Thank you Tanja for asking us another question 🙂
Tanja:I have a question, well several all about audiobooks. Audiobooks are released after the ebook and printed version. If you review an audiobook have you read the book first? Does the audiobook change your opinion of the book? How much, if at all, does the narratior have an influence on how you experience the book? Do you have a favorite narrator?
Chris:
Most of the time when I have picked up an audiobook to review it is one that I’ve already read in a print format. Audiobooks take a bit longer to listen to than it takes me to read, so it is a bit of a time commitment and I want to know that I’ll enjoy a book before I pick up the audio. That being said, there have been a few audiobooks I’ve reviewed with no foreknowledge and I have enjoyed all of them. Mostly because before I agree to review it I always try to give the sample a listen to make sure that the narrator isn’t gonna be one that bugs the heck out of me. I don’t really listen to enough audiobooks to really have a favorite narrator, but I have loved Scott R. Smith’s work on Avon Gale’s Scoring Chances series. Narrators can either give the story new life, or make you regret ever liking a book, and Smith has made one of my all-time favorite series even better. So major props to him.
Pizzygirl:
Many times I will pick up an audiobook version of an ebook I loved. Other times I will purposely wait until the audiobook is released and then just listen to it as a first pass. I drive over 2 hours everyday for work so audiobooks are my preferred format.
For me, the narrator can make or break a book. Sometimes I loved the ebook and then hated the audiobook because the narrator simply did not bring out the best in the characters or was not right for the emotions. I’ve encountered times where the quality of the recording was so poor, I could not hear or understand the narrator and times the narrator obviously did not prepare and read an Australian or British character with and Irish accent or some such. Just because a narrator was perfect for one book, does not mean he or she is perfect for all books.
Other times I have had a narrator elevate my opinion of a story because that narrator performed that book and highlighted all the best parts.
I do have several favorites but that changes from time to time so I’m not going to name names. I will admit that I have rated my favorites low sometimes if their narration did not suit the story.
Christie:
audio books!
Some audiobooks I have read first, and I want to review the audio because I enjoyed the book so much. Others are new and to me that’s harder to review because I have to listen to the story more intensively. The narrator has a huge influence on how I experience the story. If I have read the book first, I can be more objective about the story and the narration part. If the narrator is bad and I haven’t read the book first, it’s very hard to focus on the good parts of the book.
Roberta:
sometimes, I’ve read the book first and that’s why i wanted the audiobook, but it’s not necessary to have read it first. sometimes, i like the fact that the first time that I have anything to do with a book is the audiobook, it makes me see it for the first time.
I think that the narrator has LOTS to do with the enjoyment of a story. If the story kinda sucks, but the narrator is pretty good…i can at least get some enjoyment from that part. However, it’s the same…if the story is really good and you have a horrible narrator…that takes away from the story and i’m usually thinking about how much i can’t stand the narrator and that pulls me out of a story.
Do you like audio books or prefer just an ebook or a paperback ?
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I have listened to a couple audio books but got bogged down with the narrator so I stick with books I can read instead of listen to. Maybe one day I will find a narrator that I like and will try audio books again.
Thank you for answering. I don’t listen to audiobooks because i like to read and when reading i can hear the voices of the characters in my head. I did try some audio samples of books i really like to see if audiobooks were for me but the voices i heard just weren’t the ones i had in my head and that took away my “reading” enjoyment .
I like both audiobooks and books, whether ebooks or paperbacks. I think there is a very big difference between listening to a story and reading it, but I find both experiences enjoyable
I usually prefer an ebook or paperback, since I like to read at my own pace and the wrong narrator can throw it all off for me. There are exceptions, though–I love Charlie David’s rendition of Damon Suede’s HOT HEAD, for example.
I’ve only recently started listening to audiobooks. I like them for when I’m cooking or cleaning or driving a long distance but I think I’ll always prefer paperbacks and ebooks.
Good Q&A. I prefer book form since it takes me less time to get through. But audio is great to listen since I think it brings the whole story to life compares to when I read it myself. That being said I pick up a whole lot more details via reading.
There are some pretty experienced audio listeners here. When I was travelling more, I would listen to audios, but at home I prefer to settle back with a good ebook or paperback. But I agree about narrators being key. My husband is an actor and I’ve been amazed at how his voice can enliven a story.
I love audios & listen to them while at work, driving, & doing things like cleaning or cooking. I also agree that the narrator is key. I definitely have my favorites as well as some I can’t listen to. If one I can’t stand narrating a book, I won’t even get the audio or if I didn’t check to see who was narrating before I bought & I hate the narrator, I’ll return it.
Thank you for answering my question. I am not a huge fan of audiobooks myself, but maybe that is because I didn’t find the right narrator. I have listened to some audiobooks I already read the printed version of, but I couldn”t keep focused. You are so right that the narrator can break or make a story. I guess I listened to the wrong one. Thank you for listing some of your favorite narrators. I will look for them when looking for audiobooks.
Thanks for sharing your audiobook experience with us. While I prefer to read, since I am faster that way, those audiobooks I listened to were great (with one exception). I also think it helps to listen to an excerpt in advance to figure out whether I will like the narration or not. There are some voices I just can’t stand.
I have only listened to one audio book and found myself enjoying text better than “sound”. So ebook all the way for me.
I really connected with Chris’ answer. Same for me all around. I really do more often read a book in e/print before going to the audiobook, but I love the audiobook experience on a book I already love, even though I’ve given new ones a chance and found some favorites. I don’t always have the time for audiobooks, but I definitely love them as much as any other reading I do (but only if the narrator is quality).