Audiobooks or the real thing?

Colette Marie · Post by **Colette Marie** » 10 May 2014, 08:39

I'd go for the hard copy, but out of convenience I sometimes listen to audiobooks

super_howls · Post by **super_howls** » 11 May 2014, 08:50

I've never listened to an audio book. I'm a very visual person, it just sounds like too much hard work. The pleasure of books for me is reading, not listening.

SammieMDV · Post by **SammieMDV** » 11 May 2014, 15:06

Personally I like to have the real thing, but I'm not against audio books as they are more convenient and often times cheaper. But I like to have the book in my hand, be able to read and interpret the words. The smell of new books is probably my favorite smell. So I vote for the real thing

justjill · Post by **justjill** » 12 May 2014, 23:59

I get distracted listening to audio books. I prefer the real thing. I like listening to audio books when I have a project to complete. Listening keeps me focused and on-task, but I usually choose to listen multiple times. I always hear something new with the second and third time through.

a-Prett · Post by **a-Prett** » 13 May 2014, 00:31

I love my audiobooks! It used to be for my work commute but since I'm working closer to home I don't have a commute. I still listen to my books. It is a great stress release and it allows me to multitask. I am a member of two audiobook clubs so I get two audiobooks a month which I do listen to within the month but I'm also reading constantly as well. Depending on my mood or location I choose one or the other.

chiliabowl1998 · Post by **chiliabowl1998** » 13 May 2014, 07:39

Audio books are great whenever I don't have time to read. I can listen to them as I go to sleep.

85Vivian+ · Post by **85Vivian+** » 13 May 2014, 13:59

For me, books, like newspapers, are tactile pleasures. I love holding a book in my hands, marking my place with an attractive bookmark, and switching between several books I'm reading at the same time. It may be my age (65). I grew up in a generation where the book itself was the only medium.

Elizabeth Rogers 47 · Post by **Elizabeth Rogers 47** » 13 May 2014, 14:08

I mostly like to read actual books, but when I have a lot of ironing to do, or some other tedious task that I can do on automatic pilot, I do enjoy an audiobook. Particularly when the book is long, such as Mia Farrow's "What Falls Away". I enjoyed that immensely. It was a huge, long book, and fascinating. But for some reason it lent itself to listening. Also, as I get older, and my eyes sometimes blur, I do like to be read to.

marshkimo · Post by **marshkimo** » 13 May 2014, 22:44

Like many people who have posted here, I prefer real books when I have access to them. However, I've been listening to audiobooks more often recently. They are very convenient to listen to while doing more menial tasks. In the beginning I had a hard time focusing on the audiobooks (I would zone out after a while) but I've been getting better at paying attention!

divinetissuebox · Post by **divinetissuebox** » 14 May 2014, 00:59

I have never really been able to listen to audiobooks. On the one hand, they seem too slow for me. I am so hungry to read, read, read, and the dramatic inflections they use take too much time. I wish I wasn't like this; I think taking the time to really appreciate the nuances of the words is important.

chstress · Post by **chstress** » 14 May 2014, 01:47

I absolutely love the feel of a 'real' book in my hands the smell and feel of the book is part of the ambiance of the whole reading experience and lounging in a chair by the beach or fireside book in hand ,I will always reach for a 'real' book. But I also have become quite addicted to the eBooks on my Kindle which has an audio component making any book audio. I just love how convenient they are; I am a serious reader and that means sometimes two or three books per day. . So what that means if I were to travel to exotic locals with my hubby I would have to pack a ton of books and with the cost of luggage now a days that's not feasible and my Kindle is now essential. Don't get me wrong I still take along my 'real' books but the kindle is beside me in the airport while waiting to board or in the lobby of our hotel and traverling in the car I am always listening to my books, and even lying in bed I love falling asleep while being read too; besides I catch up on my email and facebook through my kindle too. So my answer is BOTH

Headbanginghunny · Post by **Headbanginghunny** » 15 May 2014, 20:10

I have actually never listened to an audiobook! I would think I can't pay attention after a while and won't be able to grasp details like I do reading them on a page. I've been curious about the idea. Maybe I should check some out at the library...

xanadu0324 · Post by **xanadu0324** » 16 May 2014, 01:27

I just cannot get into audiobooks. I have TRIED and I just can't do it. Maybe it's because I'm a speed reader and would rather see the words, maybe I just haven't liked the speakers' voices, I don't know. I just really cannot get into them.

dishaprashant · Post by **dishaprashant** » 16 May 2014, 03:14

The preference has always been towards reading with a book in hand. The feeling of holding the book, smelling its pages and reading at leisure is something one can find only with a hardcover book in hand.

mcisper · Post by **mcisper** » 16 May 2014, 11:27

Myself I prefer the true thing in my hands (and that goes for the whole e-book movement). As for audio, I have one, not really as enjoyable as the book (since its abridged). Here's what an audio book really is if you can imagine it; simply put it is nothing more then a radio play or drama like in times past before the invention of the TV. It would seem I have strayed a bit here and I apologize. Now, here is where I could see the value of an audio book; say you were on a really long road trip and traveling through country that didn't have radio then an audio book would be entertaining if you couldn't stop to read a book.