Can We Really Listen To A Book?

[Tealeaf]

Surely the corollary is this...if you are deaf can you watch a film with subtitles?

It's a no brainer...enjoy it while you can.

[Sunflower49]

I prefer to actually read, but, you can't read whilst you're driving.
So, I like audiobooks for that. I remember listening to storytapes a lot as a child but I lost interest because I've always loved to read and preferred reading.
I like librivox. I've thought about volunteering for them, but I am not sure about my voice.

[Restless]

oh my librivox. I listened to one of those. There was one guy kept reading the same line and then stopping. Why they didn't edit it out I dunno. Also different people reading different chapters... No consistency or a bad narrator can make all the difference in an audiobook.

I do like the full cast stuff with effects sometimes. But prefer Graphic Audio releases for that and they do series like Deathlands mostly.

[Sunflower49]

You've just reminded me-I had the Titanic audiobook from there-A male voice for the first chapter then an American woman for the rest. Strange. But, I never complain if it's for free.

[tommiasfc]

I've tried with an audiobook found it quite good just had my eyes closed and used my imagination to picture the story. Which was all well and good until I kept falling asleep and waking up a few chapters later. Only reason I did it was I can't ever seem to get comfortable when reading a book at home. On a sun lounger on a beach i'm fine.

[Ken Moss]

Audiobooks are OK but I much prefer full cast dramatisations.

BBC Radio wipe the floor with everyone out there but a company called Big Finish Productions have been making audio dramas for about 15 years, including new episodes of Doctor Who every month. Their Eighth Doctor adventures on Radio 7 (now Radio 4 Extra) are pretty awesome:

News - Big Finish

[Sunflower49]

Originally Posted by tommiasfc

I've tried with an audiobook found it quite good just had my eyes closed and used my imagination to picture the story. Which was all well and good until I kept falling asleep and waking up a few chapters later. Only reason I did it was I can't ever seem to get comfortable when reading a book at home. On a sun lounger on a beach i'm fine.

I can't either -I think It's because at home, there's always something I could be doing..Work, housework, dog walking...etc.

If it's at night I could, but then other half is home and I would feel rude if I ignored him to read a book...It only half makes sense, as I ignore him when I work or faff about on the 'net!
I suppose because those things can be tertiary.

I read in bed sometimes..But again quite often in bed there are better things to do!
I get very 'into' books and can't do anything else at the same time as reading...It's a primary activity.
When you're on holiday you can't do anything else but relax if you're not meant to be anywhere..
I think I need to get a book for over xmas.
(For when all the 'grown-ups' are talking and I'm stuck for something to do

I am going to order a new one

[Gordon Booth]

Originally Posted by sugarmouse0707

I think I need to get a book for over xmas.
(For when all the 'grown-ups' are talking and I'm stuck for something to do

Come on say it! You meant 'For when all the boring old farts are talking'.

[pompeylass]

I love audiobooks.

First, I used to get them from the Library, in CD and cassette formats. I really liked them but I found they used to make me drowsy and almost fall asleep.

After fighting this for some time, through book after book, I listened to 'The Wasp Factory' by Iain Banks narrated by Peter Kenney; dead weird & dark but very funny in places; the phone conversations with his brother in particular had me in hysterics.

I think that's when got hooked into taking them more seriously; that book and the fact that we had bought an iPad. I discovered that the iPad works just the same as a kindle reader so we can download both audio and kindle to it.

Then I joined 'Audible.co.uk' and signed up for a book-a-month. This is owned by Amazon too. I've been a member for year now so I've had 12 books so far.

But, what about the drowsiness, I hear you say? Well, I've combated that by putting my iPad on a stand next to my desktop PC and then work on an electronic jigsaw while I'm listening.

I use one half of the brain taking in the story while the other half is mechanically working on a really hard jigsaw. No more drowsiness.

This works great for me!

Sheila and Barry

[Sunflower49]

After fighting this for some time, through book after book, I listened to 'The Wasp Factory' by Iain Banks narrated by Peter Kenney; dead weird & dark but very funny in places; the phone conversations with his brother in particular had me in hysterics.
I want to get this, now. LOVED the book, and I don't usually like fiction.

Originally Posted by Gordon Booth

Come on say it! You meant 'For when all the boring old farts are talking'.

Haha I'm not young enough to say that, anymore!
I'm a bit of a black sheep, and quite often my family talk about things and people I'm unfamiliar with so I can either sit there in silence, not daring to say anything or I can go do something else.... If I dare go near a computer I get shouted at so a book is the solution lol

[Margaret Pilkington]

I don't get it Sugarmouse...you tell us that you are now too old to call people B.O.F.....but that you daren't go near a computer for fear of being shouted at.....maybe at home you are still the 'child'.

[Less]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

I don't get it Sugarmouse...you tell us that you are now too old to call people B.O.F.....but that you daren't go near a computer for fear of being shouted at.....maybe at home you are still the 'child'.

Yes, she comes across as a sweet innocent child that wouldn't get her tit's out for anyone.

[Restless]

Originally Posted by sugarmouse0707

After fighting this for some time, through book after book, I listened to 'The Wasp Factory' by Iain Banks narrated by Peter Kenney; dead weird & dark but very funny in places; the phone conversations with his brother in particular had me in hysterics.
I want to get this, now. LOVED the book, and I don't usually like fiction.

was one of the first audibooks that I listened to. Quite good....

[Sunflower49]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

I don't get it Sugarmouse...you tell us that you are now too old to call people B.O.F.....but that you daren't go near a computer for fear of being shouted at.....maybe at home you are still the 'child'.

I think you're right. A lot to do with my moving out very young, and to do with my only just beginning a friendship with my Father, recently. I'm never totally relaxed in family company and I think they do see me as a child still. But then I'm sure a lot of young or young-ish people experience things like that at Christmas when returning to a parental home or atmosphere.
I don't find the conversation boring-I just can't join in on a lot of it :/

Originally Posted by Less

Yes, she comes across as a sweet innocent child that wouldn't get her tit's out for anyone.

Tit's?!

Originally Posted by Restless

was one of the first audibooks that I listened to. Quite good....

I do intend to get it, I loved the book but I've not read it for a long time, think I would still enjoy it on audio.

[Michael1954]

Originally Posted by sugarmouse0707

Tit's?!

Your greengrocer's perhaps?