Susan Reimer on audiobooks
I once confessed in my column for The Sun that if I didn’t listen to books, I wouldn’t read at all.
I have a daily commute that is almost an hour in each direction and during the too-many years I have been making that commute to The Sun, I bet I have listened to 500 books. I actually kept a list of titles for a while and it numbered more than 200 when I misplaced it.
In the comfort of my car, I have "read" mysteries, histories, romance novels, classics, science, and self-help books — titles I would never have considered trying to "read" in what passed for leisure time in the life of a working mother with two kids.
And libraries, especially mine in Annapolis, are doing an excellent job of stocking new recorded books. (And I have figured out a way to be among the first to check out the newest titles. More on this later.)
So, that’s what we will be talking about on Tuesdays here on Read Street. Recorded books. The authors we like and the readers we like. What’s new and what’s worth the eight or 10 hours it might take you to finishing listening to an unabridged book.
The trouble is, you will have to "read" the entries here on Read Street.
Until I figure out a way to record them.
p.s. Some bibliophiles frown on listening to books instead of reading them. They think that, somehow, this is cheating. Tell us your thoughts.
Comments
A friend mentioned your blog to me. I look forward to reading you on Tuesdays. I don't listen to audiobooks myself (tend to get too caught up while driving) but in my job people ask for recommendations. This will be a help. Thank you...
Posted by: Lynne | June 3, 2008 3:35 PM
My only experience with an audiobook was when I was a wee child. And guess which one it was? My Teacher is an Alien by Bruce Coville. Classic. I already read the book, but was bored on a long road trip to the midwest. Anyways, the reader was exceptionally bland and forever turned me off. The reader "performing" an audiobook is just as important as the content itself...any recommendations?
Posted by: Chet | June 3, 2008 10:22 PM
It isn't just the technology that has improved recorded books over the last two decades, the quality of the performances is hugely improved, with some book being performed by an entire cast of characters. Let me know what kinds of books you like and I will post some suggestions. Newly released? The BBC performances of Agatha Christie short stories. They are just wonderful.
Posted by: Susan | June 4, 2008 10:54 AM
I have a whole list of favorites, as well. However, until now, the technology to use audiobooks has been in the stone-age. A couple of months ago, I discovered Audio Pod (www.audiopod.ca). Using that system, the entire experience is managed for me. It is great never having to jump from CD to CD or file to file, and I always have my positioned bookmarked for me. I can start listening to a book at home, pick up where I left off at the office and then again at home, and the experience is seamless. I love listening to specific narrators, regardless of what they read. I think they make the story come alive, and probably have some 'say' in what they read. And to hear it, totally seamless, is amazing.
Posted by: john | December 2, 2008 6:25 PM
Thanks John. Audio pod is just AMAZING! Thanks for the tip. My family and I have been using it for about 3 weeks, even my 4 year old (on her own). I love it all, especially the automated bookmarks and library cards. Each member of my family has their own open books and we all use the same computer. This is what audiobooks are supposed to be. SIMPLE and EASY. A very BIG thank-you for the tip.
Posted by: Ben | January 1, 2009 4:50 PM
http://www.audiobooktomp3.com/
Posted by: audiobook | April 30, 2010 3:24 AM