I’m starting a new feature called, “Love Them or Hate Them?” Weekly or monthly, I haven’t decided yet, I’ll start a discussion about something in the book/movie world and whether you love or hate it.
I thought I’d talk about audio books for my first “Love Them or Hate Them?” post. I don’t think I can decide one way or the other if I love or hate audio books. I have kind of a love/hate relationship with them.
I love them because:
- I can listen to books I’ve already read and get ready for new releases in a series without taking the time to physically reread the series
- I can listen to them during times I can’t read (e.g. cleaning, at the gym, in the car, crocheting, cooking, at work)
But, I hate them because:
- My mind wanders a lot and unless I’ve read the book before, I can’t follow the story well enough to know what’s going on
- I don’t like to count listening to an audio book as “reading” since I don’t actually “read” the book
- I don’t always like the narrator and how they pronounce names or words, how they do the characters’ voices, or how they inflect their voice
- It takes a lot longer to get through an audio book than it does to just read it
Based on my reasons, it looks like I hate them more than I love them. But, I know they have their place and I know my second reason for hating them is because of my own issues. Do you count audio books as part of your number of books read?
What do you think? Do you love them or hate them?
About Jenni Elyse
Blogger. Reader. Movie watcher. Social media addict. Crocheter. Time waster. Animal lover. 
Oh, love them for sure. Mostly because they have provided me with some sanity and peace on my long commute. Really, I would lose it without them. I always count them as books I’ve read, though I like to note it was on audio. And sometimes my mind will wander, but I can usually tell what happened without going back. Plus, it is nice to visit old favorites on audio to catch up on series.
If I had a long commute, I’d definitely listen to more audio books. My commute is only 20 minutes, though, and I do it with my husband so we usually talk on our drive.
I don’t hate them, but let’s just say I don’t love them either… yet anyway.
I’m glad I know the only one who feels that way.
It is so hit and miss for me. Some audio books are really well done and some. . . not so much. I especially like an audiobook when it is a memoir and the author is reading it because I feel like I pick up on some things better that way. I too find my mind wandering which is something I don’t particularly like, but there is a good amount of effort put into listening to the book so I count it as a book read for sure. Ultimately for me it just kind of depends.
I’ve never listened to a memoir, but I think it would be fun to listen to the actual author read it so you get his/her inflections. I’m interested in listening to Beauty Queens because Libba Bray narrates her own book. I think that would be fun.
I really like audiobooks for long drives because I can’t read in the car. But any other time, I can’t focus on audio at all! I’m trying to finish one that I started over Christmas, but it’s just not happening. And I totally agree that I read faster than the audio can tell me the story.
Do you and your husband listen to them? Or, it just long drives when you’re the only one in the car (other than your kids)? My husband would never listen to books I like to read and he’s rather talk, so it’s usually not feasible to listen to audio books when we’re in the car together.
I can concentrate on audio books but they’re so slow! I can’t stand how long they take to “read”.
I agree! I enjoyed listening to Harry Potter and Twilight because I could listen to them while I worked. But, it’s amazing how long it took to get through them when I could’ve been done a lot sooner.
I love them because I can get through more stories and “read” while I sew/cook/clean haha like I clean but you know… But books that I’m really looking forward to I want to read them with my eyes unless I know the performance is amazing like say the Graceling books or the Ender’s Game/Shadow books. Also I love audiobooks for rereading. Sometimes I think I read so fast when i use my eyes because I want to see what happens that I miss things and I love that audiobooks slow me down. I think I only have the mind wandering problem in places that I normally would with real reading and in that case I just take a break or reevaluate if I want to keep listening. Fun topic!
I haven’t listened to Graceling yet. I should since I love that book. Right now, I’m listening to Clockwork Angel while I’m at the gym so I can get read for Clockwork Princess’s release date.
My mind wanders even in areas it wouldn’t normally wander when I’m reading it. But, honestly, my mind wanders a lot when I’m reading too, but I don’t miss anything because I just start reading where I left off.
I feel exactly the same the way! I love some but hate others.
It seems like most of my blog readers feel the same way. Only a couple absolutely love them.