Questions about Audiobooks

[jdobbins88]

So, I've been an avid King reader since I was 12, and I am now 20, going on 21 very soon. I've always been a slow reader, so it takes me awhlie to get through books at times. I always wondered what it would be like with an Audiobook, whether it would go faster, or if it would be nice hearing someone else tell the story? Also, I do a lot of driving, so it would let me continue "reading" while on the road. What would be ideal, is if I could read the book itself, and then when I get in my car, pick up where I stopped reading. I don't know exactly how Audiobooks work though, so I'm not sure if thats much of a possibility.

Also, I'm just curious what everyone thinks about audiobooks, whether you like or dislike them.

Thanks for all your help :)

[Kim L.]

Welcome to the MB! I think this question has been asked recently elsewhere but can't recall where. I enjoy audiobooks because they make me slow down & not miss detail I would otherwise race by & not pick up until the reread. SK himself reads Bag of Bones & also a collection of smoking-related stories called "Blood And Smoke"--both are fantastic. Have also listened to the 1st 3 books of the DT, also fantastic.
I really don't listen to audiobooks much other than the above because I prefer to listen to music.

[barbiespoodle]

Audio books are about the only way I have the time to get a book in anymore, so I swear by them. I listen while doing housework, hiking with the dogs, gardening in the summer, or during the rare times I'm able to work on my needlework or a jigsaw puzzle. I hate not having time to just sit down and get lost in a book, something I have enjoyed since I was a child, but at least with audiobooks, I can get an average of one book a week in.

[Todash]

They're great for commutes. However, it might be tricky to switch reading and listening. You'd have to forward through what you read every time you got in your car. It might be easier, if you can read two books simultaneously, to read one at home and listen to another while traveling.

[dsurrett]

I agree with Todash. Audiobooks are great, but I wouldn't try going from reading to listening to reading the same book. I like to read one and listen to another. And I never get abridged audiobooks.

[jdobbins88]

Thanks for all the replies, I really do appreciate them. I think I'll buy an audiobook off itunes for my ipod, and see how it goes listening in my car to and from school and work. Any suggestions for SK works that made good audiobooks? I know King himself reads some. Bag of Bones was mentioned as one of these, though I have already read that.

Thanks :)

[bopropadop]

I'm a huge fan of audiobooks for my commute. One thing I've never tried, but have been thinking about, is following along in the book as I listen to the audio. Obviously, I can't do that in the car but I've thought about trying it on a re-read. I can't imagine a better way to stimulate various senses for retention.

[tillyn]

I've only bought 2 audio books, and it was hard at first for me to get use to listening to the story being told. I actually like it now, and in the car on a long drive would be grate to pass the time. There not cheap , and if you buy on itunes, etc. don't forget to back it up on disk.

[Todash]

Thanks for all the replies, I really do appreciate them. I think I'll buy an audiobook off itunes for my ipod, and see how it goes listening in my car to and from school and work. Any suggestions for SK works that made good audiobooks? I know King himself reads some. Bag of Bones was mentioned as one of these, though I have already read that.

Thanks :)
Mare Winningham does a lovely job of reading Gingerbread Girl, and it's not too long so it's not like you're committing yourself to 20 hours.

[Antony butterworth]

So, I've been an avid King reader since I was 12, and I am now 20, going on 21 very soon. I've always been a slow reader, so it takes me awhlie to get through books at times. I always wondered what it would be like with an Audiobook, whether it would go faster, or if it would be nice hearing someone else tell the story? Also, I do a lot of driving, so it would let me continue "reading" while on the road. What would be ideal, is if I could read the book itself, and then when I get in my car, pick up where I stopped reading. I don't know exactly how Audiobooks work though, so I'm not sure if thats much of a possibility.

Also, I'm just curious what everyone thinks about audiobooks, whether you like or dislike them.

Thanks for all your help :)

i think there awsome and i get a lot of pleasure listening to them when i am busy around the house doing diy and just generaly relaxing but i wouldnt recomend trying to listen to and read at the same time

[ginapenn]

I really enjoy the audiobooks. I used to be a total book snob and would never dream of listening to an audio but then I got ahold of a King audio book and well, that was that.

What audios does King himself narrate? I know about On Writing, Bag of Bones, and Blood and Smoke but are there others?

[Mr. Palmer]

I've only ever listened to BLOOD AND SMOKE and L.T.'S THEORY OF PETS, but both were really good.

I also have a recording of King speaking at an awards ceremony. I haven't listened to that, yet, though...

[dpmklm]

Thanks for all the replies, I really do appreciate them. I think I'll buy an audiobook off itunes for my ipod, and see how it goes listening in my car to and from school and work. Any suggestions for SK works that made good audiobooks? I know King himself reads some. Bag of Bones was mentioned as one of these, though I have already read that.

Thanks :)

I enjoyed Black House read by Frank Muller. But then again, I enjoy almost any story read by Frank Muller.

[Jaedpact]

I would say that if you are going to get into an audio book, that the first one should be the Tailisman, and then black house, Frank Muller Was a true talent in audiobook narration. Unfortunatly I compare everyone else i heard to him! John Cullum is also very good he reads a substancial section of Hearts In Atlantis as well as From a Buick 8 and a few others that i cannot recall at the moment. The woman who Narrated Lisey's Story and Dumma Key was allso very good. If you get into it like I did then your best bet would be a subscription to Audible .com They have membership options that make it affordable to grab two books a month, this is how i was able to enjoy the Dark Tower series on the cheap! Man, I seriously hope you get into the DT series as read by Frank Muller and George Guidall!!!
Mr. King has always understood the value of a talented Narrator!!!

[ChaseTx]

I have a short attention span, so I'm sure if I try an audiobook, I'll have to keep rewinding it because I got wrapped up thinking about something that was said earlier. For the same reason, I couldn't listen while doing anything else. I read at speaking speed anyway, so I wouldn't catch anything more than with reading.

Plus, I love music.

[foyst]

Audio books are brilliant, especialy if you are employed in a job that allows you to listen while working.
Im a screenprinter and all the work i do is by hand, the old school way, no machinery is involved, its pretty solitary once you have a job on the go and ive been doing the job many years so i can print anything without even having to concentrate a great deal. This means for an 8 hour working day, i will probably be able to cram in about 6-7 hours of listening and after trying an audio book one day on the off chance it would be ok (after many many years of tedious local radio) ive never looked back.

As somebody said, Frank Muller is out of this world when it comes to narration, check his website for a list of his recorded works,(not enough posts to supply a link. :sad:)



Oh, and ive never heard a narrator i didnt like, but Mullers work is a good place to start with audiobooks, ill betcha he can wrench a tear from ya.:wink2:

[Lina]

When I just started to listen to audiobooks I didn't like them. But the more I listened to them the more I enjoyed them. Audiobooks help to save time. You can do almost anything and to continue "reading" at the same time. It's very convenient when you don't have spare time. :)
Besides, as for me, listening to audiobooks helps me improve my English. So, when I'm listening to some book I'm studying and taking pleasure at the same time!
For example, recently I've been listening to Carrie, read by Sissi Speisek. And, actually, I like it. I like Carrie very much: both the movie and the book. And it's a pleasure to listen to this story once again!
Well, I also think that we should not forget about usual reading. Reading is the greatest pleasure and it's good to hold a book in your hands. But if there is such a thing as audiobooks, we should use them. It is very convenient when we don't have much time to take a book. But we shouldn't replace reading with listening. I guess, we can do both, read and listen! :)

[Jaedpact]

your lucky to have never heard one you didn't like!

[ChaseTx]

I looked into them. Are they always pricey? I thought about getting one of the short story collections on cd to give it a try...

[Jaedpact]

I was able to get TONS of SK audio books through a subscription to Audible.com. I paid $25 a month to recieve two Credits. Credits may be redeemed for books or sets of books in some cases. I got all of the DT books and about 6 other SK books this way. You can place them on your mp3 player or your smart phone and you can even burn CD's that will work in your car. It was the cheapest Highest Quality audiobook venture i have ever undertaken.