It's an interesting discussion. I occasionally listen to audiobooks, usually when walking to work or doing chores, and they can be great, but I agree it's pretty easy to get distracted. When reading fiction, I prefer to read physical books and give them my full concentration. I generally reserve audiobooks for non-fiction, or occasionally to re-read fiction I love and experience it in a new way. Moreover, I particularly appreciate it when authors narrate their own work. Looking forward to your Dark Matter narration! It's a good idea, I think, and will help you reach a wider audience.
Cheers for your take, Robin. Sorry for the late reply, it's been a very busy week and I'm guessing will continue to be for some weeks ahead. I used to love listening to non-fiction on audiobook, too. Great way to impart information that might otherwise be slightly tedious to consume in the traditional manner. I too prefer my fiction to be consumed through the eyeballs! Thank you. Yes, I'm hoping this will get more people engaged with my writing. Cheers mate! ps. I started watching your latest chat with Reynolds, I'll finish it when I have time. Great stuff!
Nice discussion! I think I tend to agree, audiobooks for me are at their best when listening to a book I've already read. I've listened to a lot of the Dragonlance books while working but couldn't tell you any great detail about any of them! My mind can wander while reading, but I'll backtrack if that happens, wouldn't rewind an audiobook! Some audiobooks are pretty naff as well, although the quality of narration has improved in recent years. Steven Pacey is a fantastic voice actor, and narrated the Joe Abercrombie books, they are in a league of their own. Worth checking out. Covers at the end look fantastic! Can't help but read it as AP AR TM EN T
Cheers Billy, sorry for the late reply. This last week has been rogering me left, right and centre. That 30 paintings in a month idea is slowly killing me. I really like the idea of listening to stories you are already familiar with, this seems another great way to engage with audiobooks. They certainly have the power to transport you in an imaginative sense, but like you, i doubt it is quite the same experience due to inevitable distractions. Cheers for the suggestion, I've still yet to start the second book. I'm still wading through the Amtrak Wars, bit tedious at times, but I've got to finish it now! Hahaha! Yeah, that idea for the typography for Apartment doesn't quite work!
So Jimmy is the reason we get lost mail, because they're addressed to '...through the door. I couldn't stop because there would be nothing left after she...'. I started getting into audiobooks to test the waters. Used it on and off off Audible. But do prefer a real book. Some great comments on this too.
Hahahaha! That gave me a chuckle when I read it. Sorry for the late reply, this week has been mental. There were definitely a few incorrectly addressed letters I'm sure :D
Covers look good! I agree regarding audiobooks unless one is really engaged while listening. You have an interesting voice so I look forward to hearing you read some of your short stories.
Thank you! Hope they turn out ok when it comes to the recording. I've been experimenting with making my voice sound robotic for one of the 'characters'. We shall see! Cheers.
I listen to audiobooks (or the AI narrator on my reading apps) while I'm commuting, taking a hike/walk or working out. Sometimes, I follow along on-screen or with a physical copy, which means I maintain greater focus than when I read without the audio component. In a way, audiobooks and AI narrators have made me a more prolific reader than I used to be. I read this way because I'm easily distracted and feel guilty about reading when I could be writing or working out or taking a hike, etc.. I don't feel guilty about this method at all. It helps me read whenever I want. Do I feel less sense of accomplishment because I listened? No, because I don't read to obtain a sense of accomplishment--I read to satisfy my curiosity, to learn something, to stir my sense of wonder.
Now that's a really cool idea, following the physical reading with the narration over the top. I can imagine that is a really focussed way of engaging with a story. It's interesting that you also have the same sense of guilt when reading when you could be doing other constructive activities. I think the accomplishment thing is my own personal thing. I think you have the right idea. I'd get loads more 'read' if I engaged more with audiobooks. Cheers for you wonderful comment, sorry it took me so long to reply. Been a hectic week. Cheers!
I like the achievement too of reading by eye. But audiobooks i find a challenge too. If i’m not gelling with an audiobook i’ll restart whole sections to try and get it to stick better. Good for yes autopilot office work, solo roadtrips, and jobs around the house. I find books larger than 200 pages a slog to get through so often listen to those behemoths instead. I find certain stories i want to force myself to read even though i don’t think i’ll like the content much, i find reading them aloud helps get through them. Books i have most enjoyed reading with the ol’ pupils would prolly be mcbain detective novels and the judge westerns. The most enjoyable audiobooks were phil dragash’s lotr project, with the sound effects and music from the films and his character voices. Most enjoyable read aloud so far was probably the short story about Matthew Flinders cat Trim. I do like Hitchcock .Handyman’s audiobook readings too as something that stands out. His laid back method, that he is reading each chapter where he can, often in different places and sometimes turns the camera to the nice scenery nearby.
Goatman! Hello there! Sorry for the tardy reply, I've had a bugger of a week painting like a bastard with barely time left to play with my wand. Cheers for mentioning Handyman's audiobook readings, what a great idea for a channel. I shall certainly check that out. I'd have to heavily edit my readings because I can barely get through reading a blurb aloud without making mistakes (or belching). My brother recommended phil's lotr project. I still haven't got round to it, but sounds amazing. I've always loved the idea of detective novels, but have read surprisingly few of them. Not heard of Mcbain outside of the Simpson's version of Arnie! Would you recommend these books as a starting point for a noob? Never heard of Matthew Flinders or his cat, I'll look that up. Cheers mate, hope you're doing ok!
I don't mind audio for non-fiction (and given the sorts of authors I listen to, I usually consume their work via YT or podcasts, so audiobooks are sort of an extension of those routes - I'd end up reading their work in some half-impression of their own voices anyway!). For fiction though, I prefer to let my imagination go when it comes to things like what sort of accent and cadence the characters would have to their speech - but that's sorta at the mercy of the person recording when you're in audiobookland.
That's a very interesting take. I'm the same with fiction, I prefer to let my imagination have complete control. That said, I remember listening to a really great reading of The Catcher in the Rye. Must have been lifted from an audio cassette version because it was a little crackly and distorted at times, but it was so good. That actually surpassed my physical reading of the book just because of the characterisations the narrator was able to impart to the text.
It's an interesting discussion. I occasionally listen to audiobooks, usually when walking to work or doing chores, and they can be great, but I agree it's pretty easy to get distracted. When reading fiction, I prefer to read physical books and give them my full concentration. I generally reserve audiobooks for non-fiction, or occasionally to re-read fiction I love and experience it in a new way. Moreover, I particularly appreciate it when authors narrate their own work.
Looking forward to your Dark Matter narration! It's a good idea, I think, and will help you reach a wider audience.
Cheers for your take, Robin. Sorry for the late reply, it's been a very busy week and I'm guessing will continue to be for some weeks ahead. I used to love listening to non-fiction on audiobook, too. Great way to impart information that might otherwise be slightly tedious to consume in the traditional manner. I too prefer my fiction to be consumed through the eyeballs! Thank you. Yes, I'm hoping this will get more people engaged with my writing. Cheers mate! ps. I started watching your latest chat with Reynolds, I'll finish it when I have time. Great stuff!
Nice discussion! I think I tend to agree, audiobooks for me are at their best when listening to a book I've already read. I've listened to a lot of the Dragonlance books while working but couldn't tell you any great detail about any of them!
My mind can wander while reading, but I'll backtrack if that happens, wouldn't rewind an audiobook! Some audiobooks are pretty naff as well, although the quality of narration has improved in recent years.
Steven Pacey is a fantastic voice actor, and narrated the Joe Abercrombie books, they are in a league of their own. Worth checking out.
Covers at the end look fantastic! Can't help but read it as AP AR TM EN T
Cheers Billy, sorry for the late reply. This last week has been rogering me left, right and centre. That 30 paintings in a month idea is slowly killing me. I really like the idea of listening to stories you are already familiar with, this seems another great way to engage with audiobooks. They certainly have the power to transport you in an imaginative sense, but like you, i doubt it is quite the same experience due to inevitable distractions. Cheers for the suggestion, I've still yet to start the second book. I'm still wading through the Amtrak Wars, bit tedious at times, but I've got to finish it now! Hahaha! Yeah, that idea for the typography for Apartment doesn't quite work!
So Jimmy is the reason we get lost mail, because they're addressed to '...through the door. I couldn't stop because there would be nothing left after she...'.
I started getting into audiobooks to test the waters. Used it on and off off Audible. But do prefer a real book. Some great comments on this too.
Hahahaha! That gave me a chuckle when I read it. Sorry for the late reply, this week has been mental. There were definitely a few incorrectly addressed letters I'm sure :D
Covers look great, John! Excited to listen to the audiobooks, as well. Keep up the good work, good sir. 🤘
Cheers mate! I'm really busy with other things at the moment, but hoping to get some of these recorded next month. Very kind of you, thank you!
Those are impressive images, Gelding.
Thanks very much! 🤩
Covers look good! I agree regarding audiobooks unless one is really engaged while listening. You have an interesting voice so I look forward to hearing you read some of your short stories.
Thank you! Hope they turn out ok when it comes to the recording. I've been experimenting with making my voice sound robotic for one of the 'characters'. We shall see! Cheers.
I listen to audiobooks (or the AI narrator on my reading apps) while I'm commuting, taking a hike/walk or working out. Sometimes, I follow along on-screen or with a physical copy, which means I maintain greater focus than when I read without the audio component. In a way, audiobooks and AI narrators have made me a more prolific reader than I used to be. I read this way because I'm easily distracted and feel guilty about reading when I could be writing or working out or taking a hike, etc.. I don't feel guilty about this method at all. It helps me read whenever I want. Do I feel less sense of accomplishment because I listened? No, because I don't read to obtain a sense of accomplishment--I read to satisfy my curiosity, to learn something, to stir my sense of wonder.
Now that's a really cool idea, following the physical reading with the narration over the top. I can imagine that is a really focussed way of engaging with a story. It's interesting that you also have the same sense of guilt when reading when you could be doing other constructive activities. I think the accomplishment thing is my own personal thing. I think you have the right idea. I'd get loads more 'read' if I engaged more with audiobooks. Cheers for you wonderful comment, sorry it took me so long to reply. Been a hectic week. Cheers!
I like the achievement too of reading by eye. But audiobooks i find a challenge too. If i’m not gelling with an audiobook i’ll restart whole sections to try and get it to stick better. Good for yes autopilot office work, solo roadtrips, and jobs around the house. I find books larger than 200 pages a slog to get through so often listen to those behemoths instead. I find certain stories i want to force myself to read even though i don’t think i’ll like the content much, i find reading them aloud helps get through them. Books i have most enjoyed reading with the ol’ pupils would prolly be mcbain detective novels and the judge westerns. The most enjoyable audiobooks were phil dragash’s lotr project, with the sound effects and music from the films and his character voices. Most enjoyable read aloud so far was probably the short story about Matthew Flinders cat Trim. I do like Hitchcock .Handyman’s audiobook readings too as something that stands out. His laid back method, that he is reading each chapter where he can, often in different places and sometimes turns the camera to the nice scenery nearby.
Goatman! Hello there! Sorry for the tardy reply, I've had a bugger of a week painting like a bastard with barely time left to play with my wand. Cheers for mentioning Handyman's audiobook readings, what a great idea for a channel. I shall certainly check that out. I'd have to heavily edit my readings because I can barely get through reading a blurb aloud without making mistakes (or belching). My brother recommended phil's lotr project. I still haven't got round to it, but sounds amazing. I've always loved the idea of detective novels, but have read surprisingly few of them. Not heard of Mcbain outside of the Simpson's version of Arnie! Would you recommend these books as a starting point for a noob? Never heard of Matthew Flinders or his cat, I'll look that up. Cheers mate, hope you're doing ok!
I don't mind audio for non-fiction (and given the sorts of authors I listen to, I usually consume their work via YT or podcasts, so audiobooks are sort of an extension of those routes - I'd end up reading their work in some half-impression of their own voices anyway!). For fiction though, I prefer to let my imagination go when it comes to things like what sort of accent and cadence the characters would have to their speech - but that's sorta at the mercy of the person recording when you're in audiobookland.
That's a very interesting take. I'm the same with fiction, I prefer to let my imagination have complete control. That said, I remember listening to a really great reading of The Catcher in the Rye. Must have been lifted from an audio cassette version because it was a little crackly and distorted at times, but it was so good. That actually surpassed my physical reading of the book just because of the characterisations the narrator was able to impart to the text.