I never thought audiobooks were inferior to print books -- so many of my childhood memories of reading are connected with someone who read aloud to me. I’ve not really met anyone who feels this way either but I do know several people, including my stepdaughter, with eye problems that make reading for long periods impossible. They love audiobooks. I really thing my first novel could have done better with an audiobook option and will be pushing for it with this next one.
I belong to several "bookish" Facebook groups and hardly a week goes by when someones posts something stupid like "are listening to audiobooks considered reading?" That comment lights up the FB group on both sides and the vitriol takes off. One would think that it was a hot topic political discussion going on instead of a discussion about bookish things.
Who the heck cares what the masses think about this subject. Our reading life is our own and if we want to consider listening to an audiobook as "reading" a book, then consider it and move on to the next audiobook that you can enjoy. I've never weighed in on this on the FB group as it would be like beating my head against a wall. Rant over. lol
Ikr! For a set of people so obsessed with reading, they're very interested in how and what others are reading! I can never understand why they care so much. I only want more people to realize that just because they don't read something a certain way, doesn't mean that others are benefitting from it. It would be nice for them to get out of their selfish bookish bubble.
Had forgotten how i had heard to some of the popular US fiction via torrent :)) and it used to be such a chore but still so good for commutes. Have always loved Audiobooks and forever glad someone made them so accessible
When I was researching for this article, I found the history of audiobooks so fascinating! Another one of those inventions that started out super inaccessible to the lay person but is now common.
I never thought audiobooks were inferior to print books -- so many of my childhood memories of reading are connected with someone who read aloud to me. I’ve not really met anyone who feels this way either but I do know several people, including my stepdaughter, with eye problems that make reading for long periods impossible. They love audiobooks. I really thing my first novel could have done better with an audiobook option and will be pushing for it with this next one.
I've come across a few (especially on Twitter) who often say that audiobooks aren't legit ways to read and that sort of got me thinking about this.
I hope your second book gets the boost it needs with an audiobook — the people choosing to listen to stories are rising every day!!
Thanks for reading, Elizabeth! x
I belong to several "bookish" Facebook groups and hardly a week goes by when someones posts something stupid like "are listening to audiobooks considered reading?" That comment lights up the FB group on both sides and the vitriol takes off. One would think that it was a hot topic political discussion going on instead of a discussion about bookish things.
Who the heck cares what the masses think about this subject. Our reading life is our own and if we want to consider listening to an audiobook as "reading" a book, then consider it and move on to the next audiobook that you can enjoy. I've never weighed in on this on the FB group as it would be like beating my head against a wall. Rant over. lol
Ikr! For a set of people so obsessed with reading, they're very interested in how and what others are reading! I can never understand why they care so much. I only want more people to realize that just because they don't read something a certain way, doesn't mean that others are benefitting from it. It would be nice for them to get out of their selfish bookish bubble.
Had forgotten how i had heard to some of the popular US fiction via torrent :)) and it used to be such a chore but still so good for commutes. Have always loved Audiobooks and forever glad someone made them so accessible
When I was researching for this article, I found the history of audiobooks so fascinating! Another one of those inventions that started out super inaccessible to the lay person but is now common.
Thank you for reading! :)