Audio books
 

I've never been much of a reader. I tend to like movies, because they are shorter and deal with more senses, but I have listened to a few audio books.

I bought Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets on audio cassette for $.50 at a garage sale and loved it. Jim Dale's ability to give each of the many, many characters a distinct voice totally impressed me.

Later, I gave a pal of mine a Pat "Krang" Fraley voice acting instructional tape, and he and Pat struck up a conversation. For some reason, Pat sent me an autographed note and a copy of his reading of Huck Finn. I never listened to the whole thing...I really need to. Pat does an awesome job with all the characters, as you'd expect.

As I type I'm listening to the audio book of Flowers of Algernon. I watched the movie Charly recently in my DVD collection viewing and it made me wanna read the novel (I think we read the short story in the 8th grade...not the novel) Again I'm impressed by Jeff Woodman's reading on this. He gives everyone so much character.

Does it make me lazy that I think I might "read" more if I could just listen to the books? There's just something about hearing the book aloud, I guess, that I enjoy.

I used to read a lot, but not anymore. Audio books have been REALLY helpful when I've found a book I want to read, but can't be bothered to.

Right now, I'm plowing through The Dresden Files-series. Awesome books and James Marsters reads them like he was born to do just that (well, that and play Spike).

Yes.

But, don't worry. I'm in the same boat. I just can't steady my eyes enough for small print and have too much pride to get the oversized variety. Plus, I've never read a book I was thoroughly satisfied with... except Ghostbusters: The Supernatural Spook Spectacular (next best thing to seeing all those deleted scenes not included on the DVD/Blu).

ITT: People who watch too much TV.

But seriously, I listened to the first 4 HP books in audio form while I would play games in high school, for what reason I don't know. I've read all the HP books so many times I pretty much know them by heart, but I guess that's why I could deal with it. They were pretty neat novelties, but they in no way replace the act of reading a book for me.

To me, listening to an audio book is painful because of the speed. I'm not trying to toot my own horn or say I'm some kind of crazy speed reader, but I can blow through a 800+ page small print book in less than a week, so listening to an audio book is an exercise in patience that I just can't deal with.

I've collected a few free audio books through promotions with Audible, but I've never actually listened to them. I'm all about reading the actual book. The audio books that I find I actually listen to are the ones of books I've already read and that I consider to be favorites, such as Harry Potter.

I prefer reading, without a doubt...But some few exceptions to this exist.

The most recent of which is a book I got for free from Audible, Nerd Do Well, written by Simon Pegg. The book is also read by Pegg, and I think I prefer listening to it to reading it. His unique mannerisms and vocal cues are substantially better when he actually does them, as opposed to how I hear him in my head.

But yeah, listen to Levar Burton, pick up a book.

Maybe it's my admiration of voice acting that make me enjoy audio books. Heck, some times when I read an actual paper and ink book, I read it aloud in character...just something about hearing it aloud.

Maybe. Also, to add to that list...Micheal J Fox's book "Always Looking Up" was amazing when read by him. Almost gut wrenching when you hear the struggle, or quiver in his voice. Really great though.

My wife has one of his books, Lucky Man: A Memoir, and has highly recommended it to me. Might have to both read it and see if I can track down the audio book.

My mom won't shutup about that book.

I don't think enjoying audiobooks has anything to do with lazy, or lack of effort. It's just a different medium. But then I grew up listening to radio dramas on tape, so I'm pretty biased.

While I prefer reading the book myself, there're times when the audiobook is a great distraction. Did a long drive this weekend and listened to one during the trek. And I find them great for when I'm knitting.

I noticed Peanut mentioned that audiobooks are too slow for his taste. My Ipod has a setting that speeds up the reading so you can get through it a bit faster. Of course, the downside here is you have buy they from itunes or upload them to itunes to get them on the pod.

It makes it a bit easier for fast readers

I have some Tolkien adapted to audio - it has its high points, but I'd much rather read the text.

BBC Radio One did some great adaptations of Pratchett's Discworld series.

You can hardly go wrong with BBC productions. Class at its finest.

What? No. That...doesn't make any sense. At all.

Go the F**k to Sleep is pretty much the only book ever worthy of an audio book.

Well, this will sound douchey as ****, but hey, whatever! :P

I prefer audio books because I live a very busy life at the moment, so it's a big relief to be able to say "Hey, this next chapter is 10 minuter long, great!" rather than "Okay, so this next chapter is 20 pages and that's, um... I dunno how long that would take to read."

Also, a little of "watching too much TV"... But mostly the other one.

Exactly, speeding up the audio would make it quicker sure, but the distortion created by doing it would make it almost un-understandable.

Ah, the Samuel L. Jackson read. As much as I love SLJ, I hate that book.

Were you dropped on your head as a kid?