Regular readers of the blog will know how much
I love listening to podcasts so I found it interesting when the Audio Publishers
Association reported a 23% increase in audiobook revenue during 2018. Booklovers
are apparently being wooed to the dark side, preferring to listen rather than
read. But listening isn’t actually reading, is it? I still wasn’t tempted to
give audiobooks a try.
Perhaps my
reluctance to embrace audiobooks was caused by memories of stressfully long car
journeys, wonky cassettes tapes and scratched CDs when my sons were small,
when we listened to the Adventures of Winnie the Pooh on a loop. Or perhaps I
treasured the time I spent reading as me-time. Whatever the reason, I held off
joining the audiobook-loving masses until listening to an audiobook became the
most sensible option.
WHY I TURNED TO THE DARK SIDE
My book group chose to read Joanna
Cannon’s bestselling debut, The Trouble with Goats and Sheep. An excellent
choice and a book I’d already enjoyed but didn’t wish to read again. I did, however,
want to brush on the story, so I downloaded the audiobook courtesy of my local
library - and loved it. The novel is so beautifully narrated, the changes in
tone and depth for each character bringing Grace, the ten year-old protagonist, alive in a way
that was magical and different to the experience I had when reading.
SO THE LOVE AFFAIR BEGAN …
I was hooked. Once I finished The
Trouble with Goats and Sheep, I immediately began searching for my next
audiobook read - My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante, Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty, The Doll Factory by Elizabeth Macneal...
WHAT MAKES AUDIOBOOKS SO SEDUCTIVE?
So what changed my mind? Well listening
to a story is comforting. Perhaps it taps into memories of being cuddled on mum’s knee, or harks back to times when families swapped stories around the
fire. But audiobooks have been around in various guises for a long time. What
has caused their popularity to soar NOW?
WHY THE RECENT BOOM IN AUDIOBOOKS?
Using quick and easy to install
apps on mobile phones, bookworms are listening in the gym, on the train, whilst
driving or powering through boring chores. But there’s a catch,
audiobooks can be pricey. So where to begin?
4 WAYS TO LISTEN FOR FREE...
1. Check out the audiobooks
available to download for FREE via your local library.
2. Amazon’s excellent Audible
service offers an introductory three-month trial, allowing readers to
download one book per month absolutely FREE.
3. Amazon also offers FREE trials
of its Kindle Unlimited service, during which time booklovers may listen to as
many audiobooks as they wish.
4. Finally, for UK readers, Good Housekeeping
magazine has partnered with publisher, Harper Collins to create the GH Audiobook Club and over the coming months will be
offering every Good Housekeeping reader FREE audiobooks via Kobo. This month’s FREE to download book just happens to be The Trouble with Goats and Sheep which I
highly recommend! To find out how to claim those free books click here.
I will always love learning via
podcasts but now I enjoy mixing things up by listening to audiobooks too.
So, if you are already a lover of
audiobooks, which do you recommend? And if you have yet to join the audiobook
revolution, are you tempted?
Happy listening!
Rae x
For me, books need to go in through the eyes and not the ears. I tend to switch off when listening to something. So no, not tempted. Having said that, a couple of my novels are available as audio books and I'm keen for everyone else to buy and enjoy them! I have listened to samples of them and love the narrators.
ReplyDeleteInteresting, Kath. I believe short stories sell well in audio format, possibly because the listener doesn't have to listen for too long! I'll look out for your audiobooks. : )
DeleteThank you, Rae. I agree with you, audio books are on the rise and may take a leap of faith the first time, it is not so very different to being read a story as a child or listening to a series on the radio. If it makes fiction more accessible, it can only be a good thing. :)
ReplyDeleteDefinitely, Victoria. The professionalism of the narrators in the books I've downloaded has been excellent, which has encouraged me to keep listening.
DeleteGreat post, Rae! I've been listening to audiobooks in a variety of my favourite genres for several years, via Audible and the local library. I love the fact that I can have two books on the go at the same time (one audio, one visual). I don't find this confusing, as for me they are different experiences. My favourite times for listening are when I'm doing chores, cooking & at bedtime. I'm glad to hear that so many others are also rediscovering the joys of listening to great stories 😀
ReplyDeleteHello Judy and thanks so much for dropping by. I agree that the library is a fantastic place to source audiobooks and I hope that as their popularity grows so the selection available widens too. Glad to hear audiobooks help with chores! Happy listening!
DeleteI love the idea of audio books (latest one of mine published in August will be available in that format if anyone is interested!! vbg) but personally I just don't get on with them. Can't bear anything in my ears - many moons ago I had a job where I had to do some audio typing and it was a nightmare. It all seems to amplify in my head much too loudly! Must be the echoing in the empty space! Interesting blog Rae.xx
ReplyDeleteThat's one of my problems too - cannot bear wearing headphones or earbuds. I never listen to music that way either.
DeleteAn interesting point, Jennie, although I rarely use headphones as I tend to listen to audiobooks when I'm alone - driving, ironing, making dinner etc. I plan using ear-buds on holiday, so I'll report back on whether or not they work for me too!
DeleteI've newly become interested in podcasts and wonder if I'd find audiobooks just as enticing. Maybe I'd get more chores done if I were listening to books rather than reading hard copies. I'll give it a try.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading, Susan. I agree that anything that makes chores easier is worth a shot! Happy listening. : )
DeleteI find it very interesting, and heartening, that audios are gaining in popularity, as all of my Choc Lit novels are in that format. My daughter-in-law - a sculptor - listens to audios all the time, and loves them. And I have friends who stock up for car journeys. Now if only my very damaged hearing (I have no residual hearing left but have a cochlear implant) could cope with audio, which it can't, alas, I might find doing the ironing less of a chore!
ReplyDeleteI sometimes watch TV whilst ironing, Linda but if the programme is too engrossing then my speed of ironing decreases!
DeleteI love reading, mainly on my Kindle, but since all three of the books in my Trilogy are now available as audio books I've discovered a new liking for audio books too. I find it's rather nice to listen to a good book while doing the ironing or some other household chore too.
ReplyDeleteThanks for a very interesting post, Rae.
Hello Hywela, thanks for dropping by. Nice that the production of your trilogy of audiobooks has led to a new-found interest for you too. Happy listening!
ReplyDelete