Tag: Buy or rent

Listening to Stories: Why I Love Audiobooks

By Jackie Houchin

The first audiobook I ever listened to was Robinson Crusoe, from Books On Tape, way back in the 1970s. I was cleaning multiple horse stalls twice a day back then, and I needed an escape!  An adventure on a deserted island with a guy named Friday had me hooked. I rented hundreds more.

Then I found Audible and began cautiously buying digitally recorded books. Currently, I have an account that allows me to buy 25 books per year for a nicely discounted price. Others are available through Amazon/Audible.

Later, I discovered Chirp, a deeply discounted audiobook seller. Sometimes I can get a book for as little as $0.99!

Libby is a library app that allows you to rent books and audiobooks at no cost. But friends tell me they usually have to WAIT for books to become available.

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  • For this post, I decided to try Libby.  The app is free, but you need a library card.  I put in my Mission Viejo Library card number & pin. Thousands of book titles appeared. 
  • I narrowed my choices to “audiobooks,” “available,” and “juvenile” to get a list of 4th-6th grade books. (Quick to read for this blog post.)  I selected “The Sherlock Files: The 100 Year Old Secret” and pressed “Borrow.”  And there it was, with cover, synopsis, reading time, volume, and speed controls.  I could keep it for 21 days.  FREE.  Okay, not bad. 
  • I finished the 3-hour book. It was fun, and the narration was good.  When it was over, I simply pressed “Send Back,” and the book was gone.  Easy-peasy.
  • I did search for other books, and of the three that I wanted, none were stocked at my library.  So that’s a bummer.  But I will definitely go back to Libby.

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Yes, I am addicted to listening to books.  Here’s why.

  • AVAILABILITY.  I can listen to books anytime and anywhere. I have Bluetooth, so I do not wear clunky headphones. No one can tell if I am on a spaceship to Mars, helping Lane Winslow solve a murder in 1941 British Columbia, or learning about Extra Virgin Olive Oil. While I walk, drive, wait for appointments, wash clothes (or floors), and cook, I can be entertained or educated. 
  • NARRATORS.  Good narrators transport you to times and places far away. (It is the next best thing to travelling.) In a series, a repeat narrator immediately puts you into the familiar setting with people whose voices you already know.
  • NO EYE STRAIN. Audiobooks don’t stress your eyes. These days, my eyes become blurry and sting when I read print too long.

Okay, there are downsides too, and you have probably guessed the first big one.

  • COST.  A newly published audio bestseller can cost $25.00 or more. Yes, you own it, but you cannot share it with a friend, give it away, or sell it.
  •  The annual fee at Audible averages $9.15 per book, so I usually save these credits for new, popular (expensive)  books throughout the year.  
  • Chirp is far more reasonable, but their books are not as new, and often are a genre I do not want to read.  
  • But now, of course, I’ve found the Libby lending library.  I suspect the choices are limited.  But I’ll give it a try.  After all — FREE!
  • NARRATORS.  Some are horrible. Sorry, but it has to be said.  I will not buy or rent a book narrated by Scott Brick.  And there is a woman too…  Audible is good about that and will refund the cost if you return the book quickly.
  • BOOK REVIEWING.  If you are a book reviewer like me, audiobooks make it harder to pick out quotable lines or memorable details. With print books, you can bookmark, highlight, or pencil in notes. But, unless you want to immediately jot down a note, it is difficult to find details you missed (or forgot) in an audiobook. 
  • When reviewing one, I usually write out a rough draft immediately after finishing the book. Then, to ensure I am spelling characters and place names correctly, I will often check them on the website. 
  • Unfortunately, “hearing” something doesn’t stick in your mind the way “seeing” it does. 

Yes, I still read print books.  I have to; not all books are recorded!  But I try to avoid fine print and extra-long tomes. Hence, the middle-grade books. (HEY! Some of them are fantastic!!)

I also read digital Kindle or Book Funnel books, where I can adjust the font size. However, on my phone, that means flipping pages quite often. (I don’t have an e-reader.)

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So, do you prefer audio, print, or digital books for your reading? What are your reasons?  Do you have a favorite audiobook you can recommend?  How about a favorite narrator?

***By the way, CHIRP now has THREE audiobooks by our own Linda O. Johnston on sale for just $3.99!    “3 Pet Rescue Mysteries”

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PS: I know it’s difficult to comment on this website, so if you like, you can respond to me via my email at Photojaq@aol.com, and I’ll post your comment here.