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Book Nook provides readers with insights into the world of books. Vick Mickunas takes you into the center of the publishing world with the latest book buzz, book reviews, and exclusive chats with authors..Home > Blogs > Book Nook > Archives > 2007 > February > 23 > Entry
would you rather read or listen?
Audiobooks are one of the bright spots in publishing these days. Sales are up. Books on tape and on CD can be enjoyed in situations where reading a traditional book might be impossible. In the car. At work. On vacation.
I’m fortunate to be married to a woman who is an audiobook fan. I resisted for a long time. I would rather read my books. Eventually, I realized that audiobooks are a sonic experience that is rather different from reading.
An audiobook that is performed by the right reader can be a delightful literary experience. So, I’m listening to a few. At the moment I’m enjoying the new book by Tim Willocks. It’s called “The Religion” (Audio Renaissance). It’s his first book in ten years.
Willocks is a man for all seasons. Doctor, psychiatrist, karate expert, screenwriter, and novelist, he has written a compelling piece of historical fiction here. “The Religion” is set on the island of Malta in the year 1565 during a siege by the Turks.
This is the first book in a trilogy featuring Mattias Tannhauser. It will be released in May. Simon Vance does a splendid job narrating “The Religion” for the audiobook version. Learn more at thetannhausertrilogy.com
Do you listen to audiobooks? Where do you listen? In the car? The bathtub? What is the best audiobook that you have heard recently?
Permalink | Comments (4) | Categories: clearing the cobwebs
Comments
By Mr. Duke
March 3, 2007 10:35 PM | Link to this
Hey Vick: I am a big audiobooks kind of guy, for a couple of reasons. One, I have an approx. 1.3 commute to and from work each day for which audiobooks provide an escape from radio and CD’s. And two, a well read audiobook provides a kind of 3rd dimension to a good story by the reader being able to change voices and provide personality and character to the story line. While audiobooks still allow your mind to visualize and wander just like in printed books, the added personality to the characters is a plus. The best example of audiobooks that I have ever read/heard is the Harry Potter series. While the story line is terrific, hearing the various characters speak is 100% better. The reader (Jim Dale) has been consistent throughout all six books, and provides great versatility to the characters and their personalities. I’d highly recommend listening to the Harry Potter series vs. just reading the books, if you like that kind of stuff. I can’t wait until the 7th book comes out this July.By Matt
March 1, 2007 8:40 AM | Link to this
I can’t stand the boring audiobooks with just a narrator reading. I’m into the full production dramatization style audiobooks with sound effects, music and actors. Check out the best productions at GraphicAudio.netBy Scott Elliott
February 25, 2007 4:19 PM | Link to this
Audio books have been great for me, mostly because I am a slow reader and have a very busy life with three young children. I listen to them in the car. I still read books the old fashioned way, but I reserve the ink-and-paper experience for books I really want to read and take my time with. One great thing about audio books is you breeze through them. So for me, I listen to a lot more audio books than I read on paper and I can be less picky. Since audio books are expensive, I look for bargains — online auctions, in clearance racks, etc. I grab all sorts of cheap audio books I’d have never picked to read — business books, unfamiliar novels, self help, personal finance, etc. Most recently two audio books I enjoyed were Abundance, a novelized biography of Marie Antionette by Sena Jeter Naslund (best known for her novel Ahab’s Wife) and Mavericks at Work, a fasicnating book about companies using new century techinques and ideas to get ahead in business (written by two editors from Fast Company magazine). One other thought about audio books — once you read them, you can trade them. I just made a deal with an out-of-town friend to swap back and forth our used audio books. I am mailing her three audio books tomorrow. Again, this is a great way to keep the costs down and read something you wouldn’t normally choose. We each agreed just to send three random books we enjoyed. Sort of a new century book club!By jafabrit
February 23, 2007 3:41 PM | Link to this
I have never listened to an audio book, but the one you mention sounds interesting. I might just have to give it a try.