Can We Really Listen To A Book?

[Less]

Umpteen thousand titles listen, on the go.
But, does it beat a good read?
Turning the pages, re-reading a paragraph just to make sure you understood the author?
Nah, if I want to listen radio 4's afternoon theatre.
If I want to read give me old fashioned pages.

[MargaretR]

An audio book is akin to 'storytelling' which was in regular use in the days before populations became literate, and was the way that history was related to later generations.

I spend most of my waking time reading - webpages and (paper) books.
This can result in eyestrain sometimes, so I find it convenient to give my eyes a rest by listening to an audio book or radio dramas.

All three - paper, audio, and ebooks - are equally useful.

[Margaret Pilkington]

I can see the value of audiobooks, but I prefer to read myself...whether this be on a conventional book or on my very well used and much loved Kindle...and if Santa is listening...I could do with a new one...please!

[Wynonie Harris]

I couldn't listen to a book - I read a book and listen to music.

Thread wander alert:
Margaret, why do you want a new kindle? Not worn the other one out already, have you?

[cashman]

Well it does save kids learning to read.

[Margaret Pilkington]

No, but it had a dickie fit a couple of months ago......I was rescued by the amazon technical department, sometimes it will switch on and sometimes it won't.(I put the charger on it and leave it for a while and cross my fingers when switching it on)
I bought it second hand and I have had every single penny of my money out of it.
If it died I would really really miss it.
I almost bought myself a Kobo reader the other week when I visited Manchester, but decided I would wait until after Christmas.......it maybe that somebody will get a kindle for a present and not get on with it, and put it up for sale on E-bay...and I'll be in like Flynn.

[Wynonie Harris]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

No, but it had a dickie fit a couple of months ago......I was rescued by the amazon technical department, sometimes it will switch on and sometimes it won't.(I put the charger on it and leave it for a while and cross my fingers when switching it on)
I bought it second hand and I have had every single penny of my money out of it.
If it died I would really really miss it.
I almost bought myself a Kobo reader the other week when I visited Manchester, but decided I would wait until after Christmas.......it maybe that somebody will get a kindle for a present and not get on with it, and put it up for sale on E-bay...and I'll be in like Flynn.

This is something that has bothered me, being a technophobe. What happens to all the books you've bought and stored on your kindle if it dies? Do you just lose them?

[cashman]

Originally Posted by Wynonie Harris

This is something that has bothered me, being a technophobe.

Glad yer in Peru.

[MargaretR]

I have ebooks stored on my PC as well as my ebook reader.

Mine are all freebies so arrive as a download to my PC.

I also download audio books free.

[Wynonie Harris]

Originally Posted by cashman

Glad yer in Peru.

So am I. 74oF today!

[cashman]

Thing that concerns me wi this book listening, i remember not being oer the moon,when kids were told to use calculators at school, people laughed when i said many kids would not be able to add up, I reckon me point was proved a few years later by some of the intellects working in shops. This could easily end up the same.

[Margaret Pilkington]

No Steve, the books I bought from amazon are archived and although I lost them when the machine crashed, I was able to download them from the archive........the other stuff was lost(but I have most of the books on an external hard drive separate from my computer).
If I do by some chance get a new one from Santa, then all the books I have bought from amazon can be transferred....and anyone who buy s Kindle Fire from amazon will find it already registered and their current books(bought from Amazon) on it.
I only know this because my best friend has had one bought for her...and she told me that the set up was fast and trouble free(she had asked me to help her set it up if she was struggling).

[Wynonie Harris]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

No Steve, the books I bought from amazon are archived and although I lost them when the machine crashed, I was able to download them from the archive........the other stuff was lost(but I have most of the books on an external hard drive separate from my computer).
If I do by some chance get a new one from Santa, then all the books I have bought from amazon can be transferred....and anyone who buy s Kindle Fire from amazon will find it already registered and their current books(bought from Amazon) on it.
I only know this because my best friend has had one bought for her...and she told me that the set up was fast and trouble free(she had asked me to help her set it up if she was struggling).

Right, thanks, Margaret, that's good to know if my kindle ever goes West!

[Margaret Pilkington]

Ooh, for your sake, I do hope it doesn't.
But if it does, you know that all is not lost...but just to be on the safe side I would open a file on your computer and put your favourite books in there.......you can then reload them without any problems at all.
it is only when things go wrong you think 'Damn, I should have done that'.
We really do rely on our gadgets...and when they go wrong the likes of you and me, are sunk.

[Restless]

Originally Posted by Less

Nah, if I want to listen radio 4's afternoon theatre.

Stephen King used to have his children reading novels that he never had time to read himself(listened to them in the car)back in the day. He (if you have the time to seek it out) has a really good point/opinion about audio books

Please Less. Do not compare Audiobooks to BBC Radio Drama again. *








* In this case. BBC Radio drama is usually a recording of a full cast performance, that is usually an abridged piece of mediocre fiction