should we press play??? | discussion

I listened to my first audiobook this year.

Yeah, that’s right! It took me 25 years to listen to an audiobook (not counting weird recordings you listen to in grade school).

For some reason, audiobooks just never called to me for the longest time. Even when I had long commutes for work last year, I opted for music or the occasional podcast. Audiobooks didn’t even come to mind.

But this year, jumping back into the reading community, I became intrigued by these audiobook things everyone kept talking about. So I gave them a try. Now, I  have at least one audiobook I’m working my way through at any given time.

However, I’m still not convinced audiobooks are the way to go. As ever, there are two sides to this story. Let’s break it down, shall we?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

• You can indulge your inner lazy by having a great book read to you.
• You can maximize your time by “reading” a book while using your eyes for something else.
• On a similar note, you can multitask.
  • Me? I like to drive or crochet while listening.
• Dramatic readings, particularly with full casts, can bring a book alive.
  • It’s almost like watching a TV show or movie.
    • But better, because the book is always better.
• You can accomplish more reading by making the most of every minute.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

• Some audiobooks are SUPER FREAKING L O N G.
  • Like who has 30+ hours to read A Game of Thrones???
• Visual people (like me) can get super lost and confused without reading to process the events in the book.
• Technology, like phones and apps and headphones, can be problematic and frustrating, and usually are when you’re eager to keep listening.
  • (Yes, I’ve had problems with all of these when trying to audiobook.)
• You may get distracted while listening and miss an important detail or scene in the book.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

It seems as though the pros outweigh the cons in this case!

I do admit that the whole keeping-track-of-details thing is a big problem for me. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been listening to a book and thought, “I have no idea what’s going on right now.” Thankfully, I usually work it out soon enough, but it does happen to me frequently!

But, the pros certainly win the case here. I love being able to switch off the INSUFFERABLE  radio and listen to a great book on my commute, as well as “read” multiple books at once to beat my TBR. Full cast audiobooks are my favorites, though I do have to say most narrators are excellent. To a decent extent, I’ve enjoyed every audiobook I’ve listened to thus far in my 25 years of life.

(Which haven’t been many, but still.)

Yea to audiobooks for me.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

What do you think? Do you vote yea or nay to audiobooks?

Discuss with me below! 

Until next time,
Brianne