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Original poster

Audio books - are they as good as the real thing...

17 replies

Raggydoll · 16/06/2008 21:30

I've just listened to Tess of the D'Urbervilles on CD. It took just 2 hours.

Are audio books as good as the real thing, I feel as if I have cheated a little!

OP posts:
crabby · 16/06/2008 21:53

Really depends on the audiobook. To get Tess into 2 hours suggests to me that it was abridged which IMO is cheating. In that you cheat yourself as you miss the beautiful writing by hearing someone's chopped down version of it.

Look for complete and unabridged titles. Also, things that work well too are things like Alan Bennett as his short stories lend themselves to outloud reading.

GooseyLoosey · 16/06/2008 21:55

I love them, they are one of my greatest indulgences. Hot bath, glass of wine and an audio book - bliss!

girlandboy · 16/06/2008 21:57

I work in a library and talking books are really popular. At least you can get the ironing done whilst still "reading".
Having said that, I can't do it. My mind wanders too much and then I miss bits. Ah well!
Some of the talking books at work have 16 cd's so it sounds as though your Tess was a condensed version like crabby said.
Go to your library and have a look.

wannaBe · 16/06/2008 22:00

I love them. especially for taking on holiday, as braille takes up so much space that taking several books (or even one for that matter) on holiday just isn't an option. but I can download several books on to my slightly bigger than a credit card sized mp3 player and they're fab.

I buy mine from

\link[http://www.audible.co.uk/aduk/store/welcome.jsp\audible}

bythepowerofgreyskull · 16/06/2008 22:01

My SiL gets talking books for my brother, he is very dyslexic.. all his other girlfriends have accepted it and pandered to his ignorance of literature.
His wife however, says I love this book I want to share it with you, listen to this.
A whole new world has opened up to him, it has been fabulous.

I LOVE reading books though I personally wouldn't switch.

wannaBe · 16/06/2008 22:02

audible

Original poster
Raggydoll · 16/06/2008 22:09

thanks, i knew it was too good to be true

like Goosey, I think they may become a secret indulgence. It was just lovely to sit back and listen to someone reading to me. Also, I have been finding it really difficult lately to get past 2 pages without falling asleep.

I will definately look out for the unabridged versions. I have 'Dubliners' next and it is 9.25 hours??

Thanks for the link, how much do they usually cost - I got 3 from the library today for 80p each but unfortunately there wasn't much choice.

OP posts:
bigfatuglybitch · 16/06/2008 22:11

You have to get COMPLETE AND UNABRIDGED books to get the real experience, imo anything else is cheating!!
DS can't read and he is 9, (not for the want of trying he has probs due to his prem birth) I buy him or hire from the library loads of books. We have done all the Narnia series, we have just been listening to Stig of the Dump (which is absoloutely brill, but Tony Robinsons voice grates) Lots more.
We all enjoy them, DH who is very dyslexic, has got him self a dyslexia tutor, to help him to read,(finally after 20 yrs of trying to get him to) because he has enjoyed listening to the books. At the moment we are listening to the Borrowers.

Original poster
Raggydoll · 16/06/2008 22:13

greyskull... I know what you mean but I can't quite put my finger on why listening to them being read should be any less of an experience than reading them yourself.

Good for your sil in suggesting audio to your db... I have a couple of people I may suggest it too actually.

OP posts:
Original poster
Raggydoll · 16/06/2008 22:14

wannabe, yes another plus is that \i will be able to carry a whole library of books about my person - heaven

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musttryharder · 17/06/2008 09:38

I really love reading, but since having the kids... I find precious little time to sit and read, however, my colleagues at work bought me a heap of audio books when I went on maternity leave (with DS1) I used to plug in my i-pod when I was doing the night feeds and it made it a bit easier (and kept me awake!) My DH has to travel a lot for work so he listens to audio books when driving! I've got a 'subscription' with audible, and to be honest £10 monthly is probably a fraction of what I used to spend on books - without the storage issues and un-abridged is the only way to go......

Original poster
Raggydoll · 17/06/2008 20:26

must try harder... thanks for the post, I've just started the da vinci code, its on cd - would be great if i could get it on my mp3 though.

OP posts:
Audiobooks · 17/06/2010 16:22

Glad to see an international interest in audiobooks.. Have you seen digitalaudiobooks.co.uk ?

KurriKurri · 17/06/2010 16:32

I love them - used them an awful lot when I was ill and too tried to read. Adult son also loves them - he has dyslexia and also insomnia, and it helps him relax even if he can't sleep.

Agree the unabridged ones are better, - but can sometimes be expensive. You can often get unabridged versions from the library though.

KurriKurri · 17/06/2010 16:35

tired not tried

Takver · 20/06/2010 16:27

Librivox has out of copyright books read by volunteer readers to download for free - quality is variable, but some are very good.

Its a US site, so I tend to stick to American books, as otherwise I find the accent mismatch a little disconcerting.

bran · 20/06/2010 16:32

Yes Takver. I downloaded Pride and Prejudice from Librivox and it was just wrong with a Canadian accent. It's a great resource though. I used to listen to books on my commute or when I was walking to collect DS from nursery.

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