All About Audiobooks

I hope all is well in your world.  Are you enjoying the Olympics?  Between you and me, I enjoy the Winter Olympics more than the Summer Games. 

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We saw a cute movie over the weekend.  It was the Mister's choice, and I wasn't convinced it was going to be a good one.  Mea Culpa!  Solo Mio is a sweet movie with the picturesque backdrop of Rome and Tuscany.  You know it's a good movie when the audience sits through the credits and exits the theater with smiles.  

This text from my dear buddy, Annie, prompted this post. Annie is a voracious reader, and her masterful needlepoint skills would put most stitchers to shame.  I sent her an audiobook, and I guess she liked it. 

    I have been a member of Audible since 2011. No question about it, audiobooks have enriched my reading life one-hundred-percent.  When I began using Audible, I would only allow myself listening privileges on my walks and in the car.   

That didn't last long.

I soon realized that listening to a good book could make the most menial tasks enjoyable.  Emptying the dishwasher, folding laundry, seasonal closet turnovers?  A cinch when I am listening to a good book.

 Here are some guidelines that have worked for me.

Audiobooks can be mood elevators.

When we lived in Massachusetts, the Mister had an hour commute to Boston.  He would walk in the door with a big ol' scowl on his face.  I suggested listening to a book.  This is the first and only time he has taken my advice. A week later, the big ol' scowl was replaced with a big ol' smile and a recap of the book he listened to.

It's all about the speed  

I listen to the books at a 1.25 speed. If the narrator is a slow reader, I take it up to 1.5. 

My Five-Character Limit

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If a book has more than five characters, I will read it rather than listen to it.  I can't keep track of too many characters.  

That's why I only have two kids and one husband.

A narrator can make or break a book. 

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 I tend to stay away from authors who read their own books.  Just because a person is a wonderful writer does not mean they are a good narrator. Sometimes it helps to increase the speed. 

Ruth must have read her reviews because she hired a professional narrator for her later books.

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This was a very popular book.  I purchased the audible and after ten minutes of listening, I threw in the towel and bought the book. 

An exception to every rule

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  There is an exception to this rule.  If the author is an actor, it generally adds color to the book.

  

Audible ain't the only game in town

Audible costs either $7.95 per month (Audible Plus) for unlimited catalog streaming or $14.95 per month (Audible Premium Plus) for one monthly credit to keep a best-selling title, plus access to the Plus catalog.  

Audible offers 30% off retail and Daily and Monthly Deals.

Chirp offers no Subscription Fee and lots of titles. I have used this several times and have had no problems.

Audiobooks.com is $14.95/month for one Subscription Audiobook plus one VIP book every month.

Libro.fm is a great site to support your local bookstore.  It is $14.95/month for one audio credit plus 30% off all audiobooks.

Libby allows you to borrow ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, and more for free from your local library.  My fellow readers are very happy with this site.

I would love to hear your thoughts on audiobooks.