I had always imagined that it would be much easier to listen to a book being read, rather than read it yourself. I’ve wanted to listen to an audio book for a long time now. Just for the experience of it. Last week I finally got down to it: I downloaded Leo Tolstoy’s Childhood from Librivox onto my iPod & started the book with a lot of eagerness. But after the third chapter or so I just couldn’t keep up. I’m not sure whether it was the book & its style, or the reader & his tone; but the audio book simply couldn’t keep me hooked on.
I love books. So I wondered why I shouldn’t love listening to a book vs. reading it. I recall a scene from Ray Bradbury’s Farhenheit 451 where a character (I think it was the professor) says that the advantage of books over other mass media was that you can read something in a book, mull over it at your own pace & ask the book to shut up till you’re ready to go to the next line.
Maybe that’s what it is. Or maybe it’s just me.
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17 comments:
Radha, i love to read, I tried listening to audio books once when i was driving from chicago to florida. I didnt like them at all, just holding the book and reading at leasure, the smell of paper can not be matched. Sometimes I can judge the age of the book just by how its paper feels and smells, lol, is that mad or what.
I so agree !
And welcome back !! :) Where have you been?
My computer wasnt working so i decided to do some reading lol.
I couldn't have said it better optimistic guard. Reading a book is about more than looking at the words.
Have you tried listening to poetry on audio? For some strange reason that worked for me:)
i have never tried audio books and wonder if i ever will...unless i can flip thro' the pages and underline all that i like and wud like to read again once am done with the book, i dont enjoy it.......:)
I like doing things the oldfashioned way, a good book in the hand (whenever I actually sit down to read which these days gets more seldom than ever).
Although a friend of mine does Agatha Christie on audio and she enjoys it while driving. I suppose it depends on the book, the person reading and listening.
Meghna,
Where do i get audio poetry?
Moi,
I know what you mean! :)
SS,
I know a few friends too who listen to audio books while travelling. Well, people have their own ways of absorbing a book. So are you going to be in Dubai this week?
Wow.. intellectual use of the iPod?? :P
Thanks for hopping by. Dubai...translates to just two places for me - Sofitel & Gold Souq.
Cheers!!
I heard it in England, but haven't looked for any here. The collection I heard was a killer: the romantics- Byron, EBB recited with a Brit accent:)
Prometheus is more digital than most. But nothing.. but NOTHING beats papyrus. Curling up with a book is sexy, curling up with an iPod is desperate ;-)
First time visit.
Found you through Opitmistic Guard. I so agree, a book in the hand is better than 2 casettes in the player. I 've done both, and always go back to reading a book that I can feel!
Enjoyed some of your previous posts!
Mr.J,
hi! yup, apparently you can make intellectual use of the iPod :)
Meghna,
Exciting !! :))
Prometheus,
Hey, are you still in Dubai? When does the flight for Mumbai leave??
Wanda,
Welome to 'petty-change' :) & thanks for the kind words
hey now that u say it, i did come acroos audio books in the library too but havent listened to one yet.. will try one soon..thanks to u.. :)
Radha, as you know, I'm an avid reader, too, but I don't relish audiobooks unless I'm cooking or involved in some mundane chore that prevents me holding a book. Having said that however, I will admit to also having resorted to them when I need to get through a chunkster, eg. Rohinton Mistry's "A Fine Balance" or "Shantaram" (900 + pages).
Diya,
Well as they say everything is worth trying once!
Lotus,
You listened to Shantaram on audio? Wow, that such a long book, on audio it would have put me to sleep! Or as I said, maybe I just picked the wrong book/narrator for my first audio-book-experience!
In audio books a lot depends on the person doing the reading. If they are good they can make you feel like a part of the story, sort of like the really good storytellers used to do and a bad narrator spoils a book completely.
But after saying all that at the end of the day I would still prefer to read a written copy of a book (Either electronic or hardcopy) where I can choose the speed I want to read it.
- Suramya
Suramya, hi,
Good to see you here. Maybe I'll try another book, another style, another narrator someday. But I'm more inclined to go for the good ol' paper-backs :)
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