Anyone else use Audible/ listen to books?

[Mouldyfoodhelp]

I've had audible on and off a bit and never really used it and this year I'm reading 50 books and audiobookas are allowed, last year i got to 39 books without audible.

Anyway my query is more do other people use Audible and what speed do you listen to audibooks at? Normal speed seems far too slow and I can listen at 2-2.5 speed.

It just feels like cheating for example little women is meant to be a 700+ page book but I can listen to an audible version in about 5hrs and other books are like 3hrs instead of 7. I've " read"19 books already this year and whilst it's in the rules and I generally feel like I'm taking most in considering people don't remember or take in all the details when reading, it feels wrong?

AIBU to count audible books? I'm not being accused of cheating ( bar one person) but similarly if I were blind it's the method I'd use?

I think it counts.

Although, I also don’t think it’s like reading a book. I don’t retain as much. Although I listened to the secret garden and really could imagine it like actual reading.

I think this may be a decision only you can make. Why not try it and see how you get on.

I find I can take in fiction quite easy as long as it's not heavy hitting, but if it is or a non fiction topical book I do find myself wandering Off and having to rewind every now and again. I also feel there's a sweet spot where normal speed is too slow and ultra fast where I feel my attention holds the most.

Beforehand I wouldn't have really counted it but I thought I'd try it as I had a series of books that I'd read in print many times and I'd used audible credits to buy the series again and I found being able to listen whilst doing other things ideal.

I feel it should count but I'm rampaging ahead of everyone else in the group so it feels a bit off.

I always have an Audible book on the go in the car. I speed them up depending on the narrator. I had to speed up The Goldfinch. It was that or kill myself.

I never include audio books in my tally of books read. I don’t know why, I just don’t consider them ‘read’ in the same way.

I’m dyslexic and spend my days reading or writing academic journal articles. I prefer to consume fiction from audiobooks over any other format. I’m not sure why you’re bothered about the idea you might be cheating. Why do you think a physical book is superior. It’s not if you are dyslexic, blind, or just prefer to listen while you do other stuff. I do think you listen at quite a high speed 😁I usually manage 1.5.

I think it's because I'm consuming each book quickly, like I'm generally at the top of the group the last few years anyway but to be storming so far ahead just feels off.

I usually have 3 books on the go at once - one physical, one electronic and one audio. They all suit different situations and they all count as far as I'm concerned.

I have a had a health condition now that comes with brain fog and unfortunately I can not read any more. I used to read books, but now I struggle to read letters or even texts that are too long. The words become meaningless and I can't comprehend what I read. Too much writing is overwhelming to me, and just looks like a mess that I can't unravel.

I can't concentrate or follow what goes on with films or TV either, with the brain fog.

I now listen to podcasts and audio books. Podcasts tend to be enjoyable waffle, and I can enjoy audio books. I may not always take every thing in, but I find it easier to deal with.

I wouldn't worry about it not 'counting' OP. Reading/listening is not a competition with other people - unless you want it to be. You're presumably just doing it for you, and you don't have to tell others how much you've done, unless you want to. If you have to have a tally in the group you're in, you could clarify to others that you're including audio books, if you want.

I read an audio bible but with that I definitely do drift out of concentrating and then now and again a bit will jump out at me.

You could ask the group you're on what they think of whether it 'counts' if you like.

^ This.
It's up to you, surely?
And if you enjoy / can take in listening at 2.5x then go ahead! I only did that when short of time before book group meeting, otherwise I listen at normal speed.
I use Audible and BorrowBox and they count to me as much as reading a physical book.

Re your comment about length, don't forget some audio books are abridged and some aren't. If it matters to you, you need to check if they say "complete" or not- if not, then they're cut down.

On the 50 books thread on here most people count audiobooks. I do and like you I listen to them sped up. I read physical books quickly so having to listen to audiobooks on normal speed is far too slow for me. I don’t see an issue with it, after all of you read physical books very quickly you would be ahead of others in the group so why should it be different with audiobooks? I know others don’t agree with this though and do t see it as proper reading!

Normal speed. I can't bear anyone speeded up, it completely distorts their delivery!

Someone reading to you just is slower. I often read the book on Kindle at the same time so I can have audio while walking the dog but read it myself on the train.

I can't just sit and listen, but have to be doing something eg hobby or cleaning. So I don't speed up the book or I'd miss bits. Audiobooks can have a good or not so good narrator - I find that can make it better than reading it yourself if the narrator has eg the local accent.
Am listening to The Trees, set in Mississippi, at the moment and narrator has a southern drawl.

I also listen to lots of BBC dramatisations, which are obviously a different pace and style to a straightforward book. This might suit you too. There are lots free on Sounds but then I often buy the full series/more of the same on Audible.

People who say it doesn’t count are ableist - would you say that to a blind person?! Does braille not “count” either? Really annoys me.

I read lots of audio books as well as kindle and paper books. Makes no difference to the tally, a book is a book is a book. The only rule I have about audio is that the narrator has to be right.

Also stop focusing on numbers. It doesn't matter whether you read 20 or 50 books in a year, or what format they are in.

I think Audible books count, but I don't hold with this 2 to 2.5x speed thing 😄. I'm a fast reader, and I do always think Audible books take ages though.

I do have a problem with aiming to read 50 books in a year though - surely 52 would be a nicer number 🤓?

I listen to a lot of audiobooks; it’s part of my before-sleep evening wind-down. I probably get through 100 a year.

2.5x speed seems high though, doesn’t it make the narrators sound like Alvin and the Chipmunks? 🤣

I sometimes speed up to 1.2 or 1.3 if I’m impatient to finish a book and get started on the next one.

I do this too. I notice that I’m easily distracted when listening to audiobooks though (normally when I’m doing housework or out on a walk). I can easily miss whole paragraphs that are integral to the book just because I see something or something else comes into my head. That might be just me though! For non fiction books where I actually want to learn something I know I’m better off reading than listening.

I LOVE audiobooks. I initially started using it for books where the story interested me, but I felt I would struggle to read it. I then fell in love and now have series/authors that I exclusively listen to.

I count audiobooks and always have. I could not listen at 2.5 speed as I'd lose my marbles, but if you can go for it.

I listen to a lot of audiobooks on Borrowbox and drama on BBC Sounds. Always at normal speed, it never occurred to me to speed them up.

Listen on the drive to and from work, pottering about at home and in the garden. I don't think audiobooks are less worthy than reading the actual book. Fenella Woolgar reading 'Life After Life' was a joy (I do think the quality of the narrator is of paramount importance).

Aren’t books supposed to be more than a chalk mark tally - however you enjoy them? Why is everything seemingly more quantity than quality nowadays?

The counting is more just a record of how everyone is going for the year there's no real incentive it's just to track your progress for example some only want to read 48,24,12,6 books for the year. It is tabulated in a fun little table but it's not really serious apart from a bit of camaraderie. I guess its of no meaning but this little group challenge/ club got me back reading a few years ago after not really reading for recreational purposes for over a decade and I don't really want to cheat, although as I said if I were blind it would be of consequence.

@Mouldyfoodhelp I think maybe just be honest with the group if there's any sort of group chat/forum/page or anything, or anything where you have a profile you can write on. Just put 'my total might seem quite high already, but that's because I'm also including audio books' or something.