Book Blogger Hop No. 161: Audio Books vs. Ebooks?

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hosted by Billy @

Ramblings of a Coffee-Addicted Writer!

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to find out the topic of next week's question, click HERE.

This Week's Question

Audio Books vs. Ebooks? If the

world stopped printing books,

which would you prefer

between the two?

(Submitted  by Angelica  @ 

Paperback Princess)

My Answer

Here's the short, paradoxical answer: Both, and neither! That might sound bewildering, so here's the long answer....

The thing is, I have this LOVE for printed books, that NOTHING and NO ONE will EVER, EVER take away from me. So, asking me to choose between audio books and ebooks is like asking me to choose between the lesser of two evils. Lol.

However, if this HORRIBLE situation were to come about -- and I really don't think it will, not in a hundred years, nor a thousand, nor a million, because the love of printed books is being passed down from one generation to the other, even as I write this -- I would have to go with ebooks, much to my dismay.... But I wouldn't do this to the exclusion of audio books. The thing is, I will only listen to an audio book if I've already enjoyed a book through the printed, or, in this case, digital, word. I guess that's because of something I've suddenly become aware of -- I LOVE the visual aspect of words. However, I also LOVE their sound. And this would probably be true for any language. Words and sentences are a special kind of art form. But they do have these two aspects -- vision and sound. 

So I have to reconsider my answer. I would not have a preference between these two formats. I would go from one to the other. I might decide to enjoy a book first in audio book format, and then as an ebook. Or vice versa. I would not want to consume a book in ONLY one of these two formats. I NEED to SEE text, and if I can't get it through print, then I'll get it through a digital format. 

Having stated all of the above, I think I should start to buy audio books for some of my favorite books, books that I've already read (in the printed format). I do own all of the audio books for The Twilight Saga, and have listened to them all. This is in addition to having read all four books three times each, AND the first volume, Twilight, four times -- three in English, and one in Spanish. That's how much I LOVE and treasure this series!

I also have the first volume of the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, as an audio book. Of course, I bought the original hardcover books some time back. I also own the paperback edition that shows a picture of Hogwarts when all the book spines are lined up. It comes in a beautiful box. I have yet to listen to this audio book, though. I REALLY must do so, this year!!

Of course, I also need to get the rest of the HP audio books -- with the exception of Book 6 -- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. That's because a very sad event takes place in that book, and it tore me up when I was reading this book. I have been unable to finish the book. So I definitely would NOT want to listen to the audio version.

Here are some of the books I've already read (in printed format) that I would also love to listen to. If you're interested, click on the titles to access my reviews. They are listed in alphabetical order, by author. 

If you would prefer to check out these books on Goodreads and/or Amazon, they are easily accessible at both sites.

Young Adult Fiction

Shadow and Bone - Leigh Bardugo

Waterfall - Lisa T. Bergren

Cascade - Lisa T. Bergren

Abandon - Meg Cabot

Underworld - Meg Cabot

The Nightshade Series

Andrea Cremer

Tempest Rising - Tracy Deebs

Die For Me - Amy Plum

Until I Die - Amy Plum

The Vampire Academy Series

L.J. Smith

Tryst - Elswyth Thane

(This novel was first published in 1939,

and is a paranormal GEM. It should

not only be available in an audio book

version, but in a film version, as well.)

Adult Fiction

Literary, Contemporary,

and Genre Fiction

A Darker Dream - Amanda Ashley

Spock Must Die! - James Blish

(It would be GREAT if the narrator

were able to imitate the voices

of the original Star Trek actors!)

The Little Shop of Found Things

Paula Brackston

Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury

Jane Eyre - Charlotte Brontë

Angels in the Snow - Melody Carlson

The Angel of Losses - Stephanie Feldman

Magister Ludi - Hermann Hesse

The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow

Rita Leganski

My Name is Asher Lev - Chaim Potok

(I read this book several years ago, and

fell in love with it! This was before I 

had a blog, though, so I would have

to re-read it in order to review it. And then, yes, listen to the audio book!! By clicking

on the title, you will access the GR page.)

The Lord of the Rings - J.R.R. Tolkien

Adult Nonfiction

Everyday Enchantments - Maria De Blassie

What are your thoughts on

this topic?

Please leave a comment! 

If you're participating in this meme,

I'll go comment on your 

own BBH post.

If not, I will then comment on one 

of your blog posts!

Thanks for visiting!!!