Fantasy Book Club discussion

is this blasphemy?

Relocated this discussion to an actual folder.

Thanks,

Jon

Hoche wrote: "is this blasphemy?"

I listen to audiobooks 1-2 hours per day (because my daily commute is at least that long). Sometimes it's more, if I walk the dog in the evening.

I also read ebooks and print books.

Blasphemy implies elevating reading to ritualistic religion, so I'm not sure I'd go that far. I absorb creative materials in the most efficient manner the circumstances allow.

i was just fooling around :) nothing serious...i was actually thinking what are your thoughts are on listening to an audiobook as opposed to reading an actual book. for me, listening to an audiobook means you can do other things while you're at it. but also it means you'd have reduced concentration on the story. reading a book, on the other hand, demands you do nothing else to properly absorb it.

Hoche wrote: "i was just fooling around :) nothing serious...i was actually thinking what are your thoughts are on listening to an audiobook as opposed to reading an actual book. for me, listening to an audioboo..."

Oh, I don't know. If my mind wanders listening to an audiobook, I just rewind. I can't tell you how many times I've had to reread paragraphs and sometimes pages to correct something I've missed. It would seem that reading a page demands concentration, but I at least am a genius in letting my mind wander while my eyes are tracking lines of print!

I find that a lot of people do that now days. Physical books are now being read a lot and a lot less. More people read ebooks because of the convenience, but I love the feel and the interaction of a physical book that I can never give it up.

A few years ago I went several months exclusively reading books via audio (have off and on had subscriptions to Audible), sometimes I'd even be at home in my living room listening, but I got sort of bored just looking at the wall or television screen while listening. Now I mostly read eBooks and fill in with audiobooks when I'm in the kitchen cooking, sitting playing mindlessly at the computer or out and about (especially when travelling on public transport) because the audiobooks are just so easy to read when you're otherwise occupied. Isn't it great that there are so many more options than we used to have?!

you also get to hear how weird names and places are properly pronounced as intended by the author.

Th only problem i have with audio books is if i dont like the voice of the narrator that can be really off putting.

I am on the road 45 weeks a year. Audiobooks help pass the time and keep me out of trouble. Still, nothing beats a good book in your hands, unless you are driving.

I have only just started using my ereader's audio setting. Working out ok so far.

I am almost always working on two books at once. One audiobook for my daily commute, shopping, stuff like that. And one (e)Book I read in the evening before sleeping. So, I totally understand you.

And I agree with the point about weird names being pronounced correctly. I would have never figured out how to spell Glokta from The Blade Itself (Now, I cannot figure out how to write the name properly, but that is a different problem).

I can't listen to audiobooks. I've tried before and I just get too distracted. I've always been better with visual aids than audio ones, so I think that's why.

I listen to some audiobooks while I'm driving, but more often I listen to language CDs (Czech, at the moment).

Elise wrote: "I can't listen to audiobooks. I've tried before and I just get too distracted. I've always been better with visual aids than audio ones, so I think that's why."

A lot of people find the concept weird (I definitely used to), though most of the people I know have never even *tried* to listen to an audiobook; regardless, my response is always the same - "you used to enjoy audiobooks."

I don't say this to be contentious but rather to remind everyone that when we were children the only way we enjoyed books was by having someone read them to us. It's not like listening to an audiobook is having to learn a new way to enjoy a book, we already know how, in fact, it's the first way we ever enjoyed/absorbed/read a book.

For me with audiobooks there are distractions (such as paying too much attention to the computer while listening to an audiobook), but as long as I'm doing something requiring no major intellect or deep thought, audiobooks are wonderful - it's like being a kid again and having someone read a book to me, in fact it's one of the easiest ways to read a book, it takes almost no effort.

I've always been reading alot and I find that listening to audio lets me absorb even more books, because I now can listen to them pretty much everywhere. And it almost makes housework fun..

I'm with Elise, I get too distracted with audiobooks. Once tried listening whilst driving into work and realised that by the time I'd got to work, I'm missed big chunks as I'd gotten distracted (probably a bit of road rage or something) and forgotten to pay attention!

Where can one acquire fantasy audiobooks for either legal or illegal avenues??

audiobookbay is one such site

Vaelin wrote: "Where can one acquire fantasy audiobooks for either legal or illegal avenues??

audiobookbay is one such site"

Well, we don't do illegal stuff here! Audible.com is my main supplier. Also the library.

An Audible subscription is probably the cheapest way to purchase audiobooks if you already know that you will be listening to at least one audiobook per month (or at least have a long list of audiobooks you want to listen to at some point). At least in germany, the savings are obscene, and there is absolutely no downside to using a subscription as opposed to purchasing the books individually.

Sywert wrote: "Th only problem i have with audio books is if i dont like the voice of the narrator that can be really off putting."

oh yes! i've heard some really incredibly boring narrators. the best ones though, like jim dale and george guidell aren't just narrators. they're like storytellers from the old days. you can almost hear the fireplace crackling beside them.

Sywert wrote: "Th only problem i have with audio books is if i dont like the voice of the narrator that can be really off putting."

Yup. Luckily, I have been very lucky with picking audiobooks with good narrators (First Law Series is absolutely gorgeous, and the first book of the Wheel of Time is pretty good as well).

Hoche wrote: "Sywert wrote: "Th only problem i have with audio books is if i dont like the voice of the narrator that can be really off putting."

oh yes! i've heard some really incredibly boring narrators. the ..."

If you get books from Audible.com there's a sample that lets you listen to the narrator for a while before deciding. I always listen.

Max wrote: "An Audible subscription is probably the cheapest way to purchase audiobooks if you already know that you will be listening to at least one audiobook per month (or at least have a long list of audio..."

And often times they have an introductory offer that is really excellent - sign up, then quit after the introductory period and you can get books at quite a discount, plus I've found their 1/2 off sales to be another way to build my audio library cheaply.

I've used the Whispersync feature between Audible books and Kindle for a few books, and it is great! It can be a little weird if you have a different voice "in your head" for the narration vs the audio book (GRR Martin books for example) but otherwise works well to allow you to power through books in limited time...

Rob wrote: "I've used the Whispersync feature between Audible books and Kindle for a few books, and it is great! It can be a little weird if you have a different voice "in your head" for the narration vs the ..."

My Problem with that is that I would have to purchase the book thrice in that case: 1 eBook, 1 Audiobook, 1 Paperback for the shelf. That is getting a bit too expensive for my taste, although I love the idea of continuing with an audiobook where I left off in an eBook.

I listen to audiobooks at my work for about 6 hours a day. I have always wondered if the way in which the book is read affects what I get out of the book. It's kind of similar to making a movie out of a book because the inflections that a reader makes could be totally different than what you would imagine. Just a thought.

Blake, I think that might be true. A number of years ago I listened to "The Handmaid's Tale" (The Handmaid's Tale), hated the narrator's voice and inflections, and couldn't stand the book. Since I've heard such great things about it, I wonder if I would have liked it more if I'd read it myself?

On the other hand, Krakauer's narration of his own book Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith was great, in my opinion, and I ended up really liking the book.

K.A. wrote: "Blake, I think that might be true. A number of years ago I listened to "The Handmaid's Tale" (The Handmaid's Tale), hated the narrator's voice and inflections, and couldn't stand the book. Since I'..."
You must listen to the new version read by Claire Danes(Homeland). It's really really good!

listening now to the mistborn trilogy and LOVE it! It really helps motivate me to go on long walks!

Barring the His Dark Materials trilogy, I could never really finished an audiobook, my mind would always wander than digest the narrators voice. I prefer to read at my own pace.

Oh my, I just listened to The Ocean at the End of the Lane and loved it. It's narrated by the author. I've also listened to many, many other audiobooks, including The Lord of the Rings, Janny Wurts Stormwarden trilogy, River of Stars, The Blue Sword, to name only a few of the most recent ones.

I wouldn't get nearly as much reading done if I didn't listen to audiobooks. I listen while I'm driving, walking the dogs, playing solitaire on the computer, doing laundry, vacuuming, etc., etc.

I've only listened to a few audio books. Some were really fun; some were, well....not...so good. But my mind tends to wander too much without something in front of me. I prefer hardcopy books because it keeps me concentrated on the story at hand, & not thinking about everything else and having to rewind every 3 minutes. Plus I love the feel of paper in my hands. :)

Maybe because I come from a poor country and never owned any books as a child, I don't have the attachment that lots of people have to print books. For me the most important part is the story, the feeling for the book in my hands doesn't do anything for me, specially these days when books are so flimsy - most paper used today will never stand the test of time like old books.

I listen to audiobooks and read ebooks around 50-50. In general, audios come first for me (if they are available) but I'm really picky with narrators. If I don't like them, I never try them again and just switch to print.

I have started listening to audiobooks on a regular basis, and I enjoy it. I am starting to build a library of the Classics and some of the great works of Fantasy. I also love real books and ebooks.

I am spoiled by whispersync now. I won't buy an audible book unless it is whispersync. I listen when I am home, but eread on my travels to and from work. I find the whispersync version is very cheap when you buy the Kindle book.

Marilyn wrote: "I am spoiled by whispersync now. I won't buy an audible book unless it is whispersync. I listen when I am home, but eread on my travels to and from work. I find the whispersync version is very c..."

very true

I am mostly a kobo reader, but some of those kindle/audible bundles are just too good to pass up

I think I may have "tipped the balance" into listening more than print reading of late. You can often do other things as you listen to books. I do leather work for example and can often do things that don't require a lot of thought as I listen. This also goes for doing dishes...and holding the cat.

Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "I think I may have "tipped the balance" into listening more than print reading of late. You can often do other things as you listen to books. I do leather work for example and can often do things t..."

Have you seen they have Paks in audio? I've thought of listening to parts 2 and 3 since I never got back to reading them. They have tons of great fantasy, including Janny Wurts Stormwarden series. It's great!

I know....believe me. I can't keep Audible credits, LOL. My daughter got me all 3 Paks on disc for Christmas a couple of years ago. I've found some great epic fantasies in audio and the Dresden books are also out in audio.

I've become a huge audible book fan, though I avoided it for years because I didn't think I could pay attention. A couple of things I've found that help.

1. Definitely be doing something else that doesn't require a lot of conscious effort, like driving/commuting, cooking, housecleaning, knitting. Trying to read articles on the computer or just staring at the walls will take away your ability to actually listen to the words.

2. Try headphones. If the sounds are going straight into your ears, it's harder to be distracted, and you can still hear important sounds, not like having music blaring away. I have wireless bluetooth headphones that make my life so much better.

3. Listen to the sample before you buy. A bad narrator, or just a voice that annoys you for whatever reason, will ruin it. So try before you buy. But Audible is very good about letting you return books you don't like.

Whispersync for kindle is a great thing, letting you change seamlessly between the audio and ebook. Also if you buy the ebook first from kindle you usually get an amazing deal on adding the audio version, like only $3 or $4 sometimes, so you can use the subscription credit for other books.

Great points.

I travel 45 weeks a year and audiobooks are a big part of my entertainment while driving.

I listen to lots of audio books
But I think because you are giving the reader complete control of the voices, you have to make sure they are good at their job.
Roy detrice does g.o.t and on the last book he decided that daenerys should sound like a Irish barmaid from days of old.
So any time I came to part of her story, I would skip her and read it later.
Unfortunately we don't seem to get wispersync for voice in the uk.
I drive a lot and so listen then, and while cooking.