Comments on: A Primer for Audiobook Enjoyment (Part 2)

By: 15 Things This Week – GIRLXOXO

15 Things This Week – GIRLXOXO — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 02:25:00 +0000

[…] I really enjoyed reading A Primer for Audiobook Enjoyment Part 1 and Part 2 because I want everyone to get on the audiobook reading train! It’s really saved my reading […]

By: Madeline

Madeline — Thu, 17 Oct 2019 22:25:33 +0000

Two great posts on audio books! Which I never thought I’d get into. I’ve listened to 9 — almost 10 — this year. I love to listen when I’m driving but my commute is so short that it’s hard to get much in. But my walk to/from the library is 30-40 minutes and that’s a great time to listen in.

I couldn’t agree more that the narration is critical! Two of my favorites were Christoper Moore’s “Noir” (which is a funny book anyway) narrated by Johnny Heller. He did so many different parts so well, even the females! Alan Cumming’s “Not My Father’s Son,” which he narrated, was spectacular.

I usually preview the narration via Audible. But I check out the audio books from the library via Overdrive or Axis360. Because all the Kindle folk use Overdrive, I can often get Axis360 books or audio books immediately even when there is a long wait for the Overdrive version (and why I have a Kobo ereader). The Axis app is fine for audio books.

Of the 148 books I’ve attempted this year, ONE was purchased. I love my library!

By: Susie

Susie — Thu, 17 Oct 2019 00:00:10 +0000

In reply to susan. Libby is from OverDrive, which I never used. From what I understand Libby is easier and more user friendly. I also enjoy savoring an audiobook, so rarely speed them up. Daisy Jones on audio was the BEST. I loved it! I also agree with you about Helen Ellis. I thoroughly enjoyed her in Southern Lady Code.I wanted to be one of her friends.

By: Susie

Susie — Wed, 16 Oct 2019 23:57:26 +0000

In reply to Allison | Mind Joggle. Wow! I guess I need to experiment with listening at a faster speed more often. I sort of feel like with audiobooks (since they're never ARC's) I have the time to really savor them and so only have sped up if the narration feels like it's dragging. Sometimes I wish I could just speed them up a tiny bit, like to 1.1x. I really wish the listener could control that. Libby is great if you have time to be patient, but I often am not good at that!

By: Susie

Susie — Wed, 16 Oct 2019 23:54:38 +0000

In reply to Angela. I may have to try speeding books up more often. I just finished Know My Name and listened at 1.25x, but might have been able to go to 1.5X. I really wish you could set the increase amount yourself.

By: Susie

Susie — Wed, 16 Oct 2019 23:53:15 +0000

In reply to Tina. I've never read The Nix, so will keep it in mind for reading sometime soon. My 2019 books are nearly finished.

By: susan

susan — Wed, 16 Oct 2019 19:10:14 +0000

Thanks for this post! Is Libby better than OverDrive? Is there that much difference? I wonder if I should try Scribd if it’s that cheap. I will check it out. I agree about good narration …. I have liked Xe Sands reads. And I’m getting a lot of Julia Whelan at the moment … 2 books of hers together which sort of messes me up b/c you equate her voice with Evvie Drake! I don’t think I’d ever listen to books faster. I actually like them slow or regular pace. I often listen to chapters twice if I am interrupted or have stopped in the middle of a chapter. And I often repeat passages if I miss something. Daisy Jones was terrific on audio. I liked Helen Ellis reading her own Southern Lady Code … but not many authors can do such a good job.

By: Allison | Mind Joggle

Allison | Mind Joggle — Wed, 16 Oct 2019 14:52:50 +0000

Another great post on this topic! I have actually never signed up for an audiobook service–I just use Libby. But the selection is feeling pretty limited, so I’m thinking it’s probably time to try one of them.

Interesting that you rarely speed it up. I almost always listen at 1.5x (unless, as you said, it sounds like Minnie Mouse). I think I listened to Becoming at 2x, or at least 1.75x–she spoke really slowly.

Julia Whelan is my favorite!

By: Angela

Angela — Wed, 16 Oct 2019 00:18:04 +0000

I used to listen to audiobooks at regular speed, and then one day I tried speeding it up. It sounded odd at first and almost too fast, but I got used to it really quickly. I listen to most books at 1.5x speed now, and it hardly ever sounds too fast, more like a normal conversation.

I agree that the narrator is a huge deal. I was listening to The Hunger Games, and the narrator was obviously way older than the teenage Katniss – it was very distracting!

By: Tina

Tina — Tue, 15 Oct 2019 16:49:35 +0000

I love audiobooks! Sometimes I even switch between 2 formats. Have you ever listened to/ read The Nix? Ari Filakos narrates and is outstanding.