Anyone bought audio books lately?

[Audiobookq]

I’m trying to buy an audio book for my mum in a CD format. It’s suddenly got difficult because everything seems to have been sewn up by the Audible subscription service and available through this or purchasable as a download. Just curious to know if anyone is buying CD audio books and where from? A download is not what my mum wants. Tx

go on amazon and search for 'audio books on cd' not a huge choice but there are some

Waterstones has a fair collection online, put 'cd audio book' in the search

Thanks. A lot of the Waterstones ones come up unavailable!

Might be worth looking at secondhand, charity shops, marketplace, ebay etc.

Is it a newish book? That will make it less likely you’ll get it on cd, I think.
I buy CDs for my DS but have only had luck with older storybooks or certain big name ones like HP or things that BBC Radio has done. I get them secondhand (eBay, vinted, charity shops) or at Waterstones instore.

If it’s a particular book she’s after, you might well struggle - it wasn’t always easy to get lots of books on tape / cd years ago, but since the growth of Audible a much higher percentage of books are available as audio book but only on download format. I used to buy a lot of audio cds but gave it up as the range on Audible was so much better and easier. I can understand how that might not be easier for your mum though.

Is it as a one off? Is she likely to want more audio books? I’d be inclined to get an old iPhone, install Audible on it and remove everything else, and set up with a shared Audible account where you can buy things for her and share with family (eg I can share a selection of my audio books with my children through Amazon family).
https://www.wikihow.com/Share-a-Book-on-Audible#:~:text=Can%20you%20share%20Audible%20books,book%20in%20their%20Audible%20libraries.

I know this isn’t what you asked - but it’s not that easy to get audio cds now, for specific books (I’m sure it’s easy enough to find a “Sherlock Holmes compilation” or some classics etc, check eBay too.).

You can loan them from most libraries.

Also, I know she doesn’t want downloads but for anyone who does, you can download them for free from your library too. Don’t pay audiable subscriptions!

My library uses BorrowBox and the catalogue is dismal. Amazon (owner of Audible) has been very successful in its attempt at a market monopoly.

Agree. I searched ours for Terry Pratchett, v popular with lots of audiobook versions, loads of physical books available in all libraries and bookshops etc, and the whole of Surrey libraries had three audiobooks, two of which were currently out on loan. If you want something to listen to, they’ve got a good selection, but if you want something specific it’s v hard to find what you want.