I’ve never listened to an audiobook before.
However, a friend of mine gave me one, because she said she abandoned it about 20 minutes in and never loaded it again. (Not a good sign.)
Like me, she was an audiobook virgin.
Yes, I know we shouldn’t share this stuff, but it’s not like she actually listened to the whole thing. Sorry, Ms Author. She just figured I might like it more than she did.
I thought maybe I should give it a shot, and load it up to my walkman to listen while I walk to work. How bad could it be? I obviously had my own ideas about what an audiobook would be like, and quite frankly, I didn’t think it would be something for me.
I just have too much imagination.
Hmmm…
First of all, I’m not into first person, and the book is in first person.
It’s read by a woman, which is okay, until you get to any male dialogue.
I’m sorry, but that just yanked me right out of it. I did keep listening (after all, it’s about a half hour walk), but I’m leery about the rest of this thing. Oddly, this was about 15 mins in. About the same distance my friend got. Makes me wonder if she hit male dialogue and it was all over for her.
Maybe it’s the person reading it. Maybe it’s the fact it’s first person. Maybe it’s the story.
I don’t know, but I do know that I’m not really enjoying this experience at all. I find it offputting to have a woman try to convey a male voice by lowering her voice.
As in, so offputting, I don’t want to carry on listening.
When I read, the voices in my head are obviously different. My mind will compensate.
I can’t do that when I’m listening.
I’ve not heard one of those "Acted" ones, they may be better for me. I do know I would much prefer to have 2 readers. A male and a female one. For obvious reasons.
I’m guessing I’d react the same way to a man reading female dialogue, as I am to a woman reading male dialogue.
Maybe this just isn’t for me.
Annoying, because I want to go walking (hey, some of us need to shed a pound or five) and having someone read a book to me would be a nice distraction and pass the time.

So are you into audio books?
Any recommendations?
Do you prefer one voice, or many?

Tags: Audio books, Audio vs Imagination