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Thursday, June 27, 2013

Listen, Do you Want to Know a Secret?



by Teresa Burrell
Author of The Advocate Series 

Here’s my secret. I spend so much time on the road that if I didn’t listen to books I would get to read very little. As it is, I manage to complete a novel at least once a week. I do it all from my iPhone through Audible, and it’s affordable. I remember when I use to spend $40 for the CDs for audio books. I couldn’t afford too many at that rate.  I love technology! 

Two weeks ago, I read (listened to) “Defending Jacob” by William Landay. Great book by the way. The ending was predictable, but the book was well written and kept me on the edge. Last week, it was “The Confession” by John Grisham. Again, I thoroughly enjoyed the book.  Now, I’m listening to “Innocent” by Scott Turow.  Love those legal suspense novels. 

I’m thrilled to be able to read as I travel (or when I take my walks) but I have to admit it’s not quite the same as reading it myself.  I’m not even quite sure what it is, but maybe it’s because I can’t put the voice I want with the character. It’s also more difficult to look back at something if I need clarification. The other thing that bothers me is that there are so many authors whose books are not in audio form (including mine.) I still manage to read a few of those, but I have to be very selective just because time doesn’t permit it. 

A while back, I started to read the Stieg Larrson trilogy and then changed to the tapes. That was one set of books that I preferred to have on tape because I didn’t have to concern myself with how to pronounce the names. 

What is your experience? Do you ever listen to books? If so, do you receive the same satisfaction from listening as you do reading?

7 comments:

  1. I love listening to audio books on the road. I've tried to listen to them at home, but they don't hold my attention. I always find myself doing something else and then I lose focus.

    Narrators are obviously key to creating as good of a listening experience as possible. I've received two auditions through ACX and neither one of them is quite right.

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  2. I have yet to listen to an audiobook, including my own. I keep thinking I will, but it just may not be in my DNA. I can't even listen to the radio if someone's talking. I also don't spend much time in my car...or sitting still for that matter. :)

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  3. I've never listened to an audio book and probably won't. I'm much more visual than auditory and kind of HDAD so my mind wanders when I'm listening to stuff. I focus much better when I'm reading.

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  4. I like listening to audiobooks when I drive, too, but it takes me a long time to get through them because I don't drive that much.

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  5. Interesting remarks. I was a little surprised at how few of you read audio books. Thanks for your input.

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  6. When we lived in Florida, I was never more than 5 minutes from anywhere I needed to be. Up here in the mountains, the shortest drive is 15 minutes, but most are longer. I thought I'd try audiobooks for those drives down the mountain, but I haven't yet. I'm very easily distracted when I hear things. I'd be afraid my mind would wander (the way it does when I listen to speakers) and I'd miss chunks of the story. I still may give it a try.

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  7. I'm really getting into audio, T. I've started listening and reviewing audio for the New York Journal Of books along with the regular books, and I'm close to the release of the first audio production on one of my own titles. I love the freedom it gives me to do other things while I listen, and a good narrator brings the story alive in a way paper can't. I'm all for it.

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