Poll: What Do You Not Like About Audio Books (generally)

[nin_ninja]

So I'm listening to the WoT "The Eye of the World" audio book while waiting for the next book to come out and I found that it was odd listening to the reader (Michael Kramer) voicing the characters as I had what I imagined their voices to be like in my mind. This doesn't really make much of a difference to me though as the voices are a minor concern and don't measure up to the writing.

(Also, off topic, but I find it odd listening to the characters at the start of their development. Guess characters change a lot when their in the 6th longest books series ever.)

 

[Kpt._Rob]

I generaly like audio books, although they're one hell of a lot better when the actual author is reading them, as opposed to some random person they hired.

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

The readers voice doesn't coincide with how I imagine they sound... and other times they just completely ignore speech prompts.

For example " 'Blah blah blah' Person A Screeched" would be read in a normal tone... the key word there is screeched.

 

[Colour Scientist]

I've never used one so don't really have an informed opinion.
I don't see the point in them, what's wrong with reading?
Audio books just seem kind of lazy.

 

[Julianking93]

Pretty much everything. I can't stand audio books.

They're overpriced and typically horribly acted.

 

[Betancore]

I don't like them because I always have special voices for the characters in my head - I read with my own expression and the audio book reader never does it the way I want.

On the other hand, it's pretty convenient to have an audio book of a novel you really hate and can't be bothered reading, because you can just take a long walk and listen to it that way. When I don't want to read a book, I skim over it and miss parts - listening to it means that I can't do that.

 

[GrimTuesday]

I have only listened to an audio book once and that was Of Mice and Men and the fellow who read it talked in a monotone and I feel asleep multiple time as I had already read each chapter three days earlier if not more.

 

[Marmooset]

This seems a bit one sided.
Since I'm chained to a desk for six hours in the evening after the rest of the office has gone home, I like audio books.

Pretty much everything. I can't stand audio books.

They're overpriced and typically horribly acted.

Check your local library.
God forbid you ever lose one, though.

And listen to any Will Patton rendition of James Lee Burke's works, and it might improve your opinion on the acting front.

 

[nin_ninja]

I liked the Wheel of Time books and read them all in a period of 3 months, but since I lent them out it's nice just to have the audio books to listen to so I can hear the story when out on a walk or while working.

 

[Wastedtime]

I personaly only enjoyed The Lord Of The Rings audiobook by ze BBC. Worse then the book, better then the movie, nice to listen to when relaxing.

EDIT:Although in all fairness it might be considred more of a dramatization rather than an actually audiobook.

 

[Necator15]

I don't care for them because I feel that books need more attention than I usually give things I'm listening to. For instance, I rarely listen to music by itself (I'm usually reading or driving, or playing games, hell maybe all three), and I never watch TV with all my attention. Again, usually reading or dicking around on my laptop.

 

[Oktanas]

I don't like audio books if the recording is wen the voice actor reads the text while siting in the toilet over the closed door.

 

[Sleekgiant]

I just get bored, I find it hard to listen to music at times :O

 

[Kiokia]

I just enjoy reading. I'd never look into getting an audio book as long as I can still read first hand.

 

[PurplePlatypus]

I like audio books, as long as the reader?s voice is nice of course. It doesn?t bother me if the readers don?t voice the characters how I imagined, in fact I like hearing other people interpretations of them. It also gives you a few multi tasking options, I can?t listen and read at the same time but there are some games I can play while listening and it?s something to fill the silence while I do the more monotonous parts of drawing/painting.

They do take a long time tough, I need to hear the next part of the story and well, there goes my whole day or so.

 

[The Amazing Tea Alligator]

The HGTTG audio books were great yeah?