I could never listen to an audiobook. It just feels so cheap, fast, uncomfortable. I like rereading some of the paragraphs or sentences if I really like them, looking up footnotes, maps, diagrams and drawings (if there are any), putting the book back for a moment and starting again because I get lost in though (not always related to the book). Never imagined demand for audiobooks is so great.
The Work of the Audiobook
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Re: The Work of the Audiobook
#52I could never listen to an audiobook. It just feels so cheap, fast, uncomfortable. I like rereading some of the paragraphs or sentences if I really like them, looking up footnotes, maps, diagrams and drawings (if there are any), putting the book back for a moment and starting again because I get lost in though (not always related to the book). Never imagined demand for audiobooks is so great.
Consider podcasts. Most of them are (by contrast to audiobooks) low-effort and depend on a kind of parasocial relationship with the listener. You can listen to Joe Rogan or instead listen to a well-researched audiobook on modern maritime piracy or Byzantine history, for example.
But if we're to listen to something more literary or more technical, I find myself joining company with you.
Re: The Work of the Audiobook
#53I could never listen to an audiobook. It just feels so cheap, fast, uncomfortable. I like rereading some of the paragraphs or sentences if I really like them, looking up footnotes, maps, diagrams and drawings (if there are any), putting the book back for a moment and starting again because I get lost in though (not always related to the book). Never imagined demand for audiobooks is so great.
One interacts differently with audiobooks.
When you read, you set aside time for it. It's all you do during that time. It's meant to be immersive.
Audiobooks are meant to be consumed while you're doing something else: exercising, driving, eating, or something else that gets only partial attention. It's not impossible to sit down and just read an audiobook, but it's not the main use case.
You might even want to read different books in different ways. Some books you want to devote your full attention to. Others might be best as light entertainment during other activities.
Re: The Work of the Audiobook
#54I could never listen to an audiobook. It just feels so cheap, fast, uncomfortable. I like rereading some of the paragraphs or sentences if I really like them, looking up footnotes, maps, diagrams and drawings (if there are any), putting the book back for a moment and starting again because I get lost in though (not always related to the book). Never imagined demand for audiobooks is so great.
I rarely listen to audiobooks for similar reasons, I like to go back and reread lines that are worth rereading. Or I'll flip back and double check something, either a story point that might become relevant, or a fact I didn't grasp.
But there are some advantage to audiobooks for example on road trips where several of us can get the same material and discuss it. I got a recording of 'Basin and Range' for a drive through Nevada to Salt Lake and back. Listening was interesting as we drove, but I'm glad I read the book first.
Early on in 2020 I came across Kelly Cordes reading his book during the covid shutdowns. He's clearly not a voice actor, but his book is a story and history of climbing and I thought he did a good job with it. If not for that recording I probably wouldn't have tried listening to other books.
https://kellycordes.com/book/audio-book-sort-of/
"Professional audiobook narrators need not worry. I’m no threat. But during this coronavirus pandemic, when many climbers seem challenged by the social distancing directive (surprisingly enough to me—hell, I damn near invented social distancing), I figured this bizarre time makes a good time for storytime: I’m reading my book, The Tower, cover to cover, and releasing the readings for free, daily, no ads and no bullshit. "
Re: The Work of the Audiobook
#55Audiobooks' recent history surprises me. I expected that if they continued to grow, audiobooks' and written books would undergo speciation. Books are a medium. Audiobooks are a different medium. Film may have dabbled in being recorded theatre... but it didn't remain there for long. No one watches recorded plays. Audiobooks have, mostly, stayed just audio versions of the book. It's just surprising that audiobook liste…
> No one watches recorded plays.
Re: The Work of the Audiobook
#56Audiobooks' recent history surprises me. I expected that if they continued to grow, audiobooks' and written books would undergo speciation. Books are a medium. Audiobooks are a different medium. Film may have dabbled in being recorded theatre... but it didn't remain there for long. No one watches recorded plays. Audiobooks have, mostly, stayed just audio versions of the book. It's just surprising that audiobook liste…
There are a few companies doing audio dramas. The largest company I know of is Big Finish, which does completely new stories in existing settings in co-ordination with rights holders. They have a large number of Doctor Who stories, and at least a few Pathfinder RPG stories. The production quality is very high, including sound effects and hiring some of the Doctor Who actors to voice their characters in the audio drama, but the prices are also quite high for the length of content. Podcasts like Welcome to Night Vale (which has book adaptations) also come to mind.
There are also a few audio books where the audio book is clearly superior to the book. The audiobook version of Brandi Carlile's memoir contains almost 2 hours of music in addition to the entire text of the printed book.
That said, there's also value in making texts accessible to an audience that has difficulty reading. I love watching recorded plays that I'll never get the chance to see in person. Granted, the reasons plays are inaccessible (limited venues and times) are quite different from the reasons books are inaccessible (dyslexia and sight issues, for example), but it's still great to be able to share cultural works with people who have different accessibility requirements.
Re: The Work of the Audiobook
#57Earlier quoted context omitted.
I don't think that's true. Many popular series end up getting a full-cast recordings, and places like GraphicAudio even include sound-effects. But this is nothing new, Radio Dramas were around decades ago. Drama CDs are really popular in Japan as well. These usually include a full-cast recording with special effects. I do think it'll continue to grow more popular as the market continues to expand.
Hitchikers Guide was a radio-drama, originally. The book was not just a written version of the original. It's a distinct work, like a film adaptation of a novel. As you said, audio productions if all kinds are nothing new. That said, audiobooks are still mostly just an audio version of the book. They're not longer or shorter. They don't change the jokes.
David Goggins book , SEAL super tough dude that runs marathons on broken legs, has a narrator with breaks between chapters where narrator interviews him about what they just read or about the next section. Actually worked out pretty well. Thought it was smart.
Peter Attia, internet famous doctor, changed some things in his audiobook and included special things.
I only have 200-250 audiobooks unlike some here and those are the only two where something special is done for the format.
For a brief period I got into listening to classic radio dramas. Surprisingly hard to find. For as much screen time as I get, I do like to be able to just listen. Plus, I think it helps with my concentration.
Re: The Work of the Audiobook
#58Earlier quoted context omitted.
I don't know - I struggle to remember what I've read half the time. I listen to audio books while walking, and even now I can recall learning about King John (and there reason there has not been a king names John since him in the UK) while walking along the beach. As I do the walk again, similar parts of that book and others return to me. But might just be me!
Sometimes I pass a place I've passed before while listening to an audiobook and have an immediate recall of what I was listening to at the time. It's like the place is associated with what I heard at the time.
Opposite for me, I’ll rewind the book and remember where I was and what I was doing when I previously heard that section.
I’m always backwards I guess.
Re: The Work of the Audiobook
#59What I can't stand about a lot of audiobooks is that a lot of narrators have this weird way of speaking. You know how news anchors and reporters have a special news voice they go into? A lot of narrators do the same thing and it is so unnatural. It's awful!
Re: The Work of the Audiobook
#60Audiobooks' recent history surprises me. I expected that if they continued to grow, audiobooks' and written books would undergo speciation. Books are a medium. Audiobooks are a different medium. Film may have dabbled in being recorded theatre... but it didn't remain there for long. No one watches recorded plays. Audiobooks have, mostly, stayed just audio versions of the book. It's just surprising that audiobook liste…
> No one watches recorded plays. Well, almost no one. Let's do the time warp again!
Even that is pretty significantly adapted.