Saturday, February 2, 2019

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



Welcome to the Book Blogger Hop,
hosted by Billy @


For more information, and 
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  @ 



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!)

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

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!!! 





8 comments:

  1. These are always such tough questions to answer... lol. Print is definitely something special, and my preferred method of reading. But ebooks are so... useful. They take up zero physical space beyond whatever device you're reading them on, so you can have tons more, and you don't need a flashlight if you're like me and read in the dark a lot. (*cough* When I actually get to a new book, that is...)

    Audiobooks I've only just started getting into. But I'm of a similar mind -- print/digital text first, and audio if it's one that I really loved and want more of!

    You expressed your feelings on this well, Maria! I totally relate lol. Best wishes to you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Eve!

      Yeah, for me, there's NOTHING like printed books!!! But, if they should EVER disappear.... (crossing my fingers that they won't, though!!) well, I think I'd do what I described in this post. And, of course, I'd be missing the printed books...BOO-HOO!!

      I'm so glad to find someone who can relate!! <3 <3

      Thanks for youir compliment, your thoughts on my post, and your visit!! <3 <3 :) :)

      Delete
  2. Fascinating and insightful post Maria. I really like your idea of listening to audiobooks after you have already read the work in conventional form. As I mentioned before, I will only listen to an audiobook if I have a digital or traditional copy of the book around.

    It would be a calamity if printed books went away. But I would choose ebooks over audiobooks as they at least preserve the entire content of the book as it was written.

    Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Brian!

      Thanks so much for the compliment!! <3 <3

      I'm glad you like my idea of only reading an audio book after enjoying the same book in the printed form. And I agree that, if printed books disappeared, then this would apply to ebooks. The visual form of a book is, I think, the best way to get to know a book for the first time.

      However, in a world without printed books (how HORRIBLE!), I might switch things around from time to time. I still don't like ebooks as much as printed books. Thankfully, it looks like most readers -- or at least a LOT of them -- feel the same way. That's why we STILL have printed books!

      I totally agree -- it would indeed be a calamity if printed books were to disappear. When ebooks first came on the scene, there was a lot of speculation on that respect. By now, however, I think we're safe in thinking that this will never happen.

      A Goodreads friend of mine commented that the situation with the different book formats is analogous to that between theater and film. The advent of movies did not make live theater disappear; there are still theater productions on Broadway, as well as in cities all over the entire world. People still enjoy live theater. However.....it does seem that movies are far more common. But I don't think that printed books will EVER become less common than ebooks. Not by a long shot!

      Thanks for the interesting comment!! Another weekend is coming up, so I hope you enjoy it!! <3 :)

      Delete
  3. FAB answer as always!!

    I don’t know the books you listed as ones you would like to listen to, but I hope you get to do that.

    I do like audio books so I might go with audio

    Thanks or sharing, Maria.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Elizabeth!

      Thanks for the compliment!! <3 <3

      Most of these books are in my favorite genres, with a couple of exceptions. They have an element of the fantastic, futuristic, or supernatural. I know you read other genres. Still, I would like to recommend "My Name Is Asher Lev" to you, as this book deals with "the real world". It also deals with the art world. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book!! It's SO beautiful!!! So see if you'd like to give it a try.

      I only listen to audio books after I've already read the book in printed or (as a LAST resort) in ebook format. Lol. However....in a world without printed books (UGH!!), I might go with audio first. (Yeah, just to SPITE ebooks, lol.)

      I don't think printed books will EVER disappear, though. If that were going to happen, then I think it would have happened already.

      I've noticed, in recent visits to my local Barnes & Noble, that the entire section they had for Nooks is GONE!! YAAAAAAY!!!! Then again, that could be because people prefer the Kindle.... Still, I LOVE walking into that B&N and NOT seeing that section anymore!! Now all I see is shelves and shelves of BEAUTIFUL, WONDERFUL printed books!!!! (Well, and the toy section, too, of course.)

      You're very welcome for the sharing!! Thanks for always leaving such sweet, lovely comments!! HUGS!!! <3 <3 <3 :) :) :)

      Delete
  4. Well said, Maria, I am also one of those who mostly listen to audiobooks of books I have already read. (Only exception: Sylvester by Georgette Heyer, because it was read by the beautiful Richard Armitage who could make a phone book sound great!). I take it your Harry Potter book is read by Jim Dale? I have heard his Order Of The Phoenix, which was in my local library, and read an interview in which he said he created 143 character voices for that! But my own collection is read by Stephen Fry, who does them for this part of the world, and he is wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Sue!

      Thank you!! <3 <3

      Oh, yes, I MUCH prefer to listen to an audiobook of a book I've already read in printed format! ESPECIALLY if I LOVED the book!! I did this with The Twilight Saga, and want to do it with the Harry Potter series, as well!

      I checked the audiobook of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone", and yes, the narrator is Jim Dale. I need to listen to it some time soon!! And this guy is capable of creating 143 character voices?! WOW!!

      I have never read a Georgette Heyer novel, would you believe? And I ADORE Regency romance!! Gotta do something about that....lol.

      As for Richard Armitage and Stephen Fry, I've never heard of them, but I'll be sure to check them out! Thanks for mentioning them!!

      Thanks for the lovely comment!! HUGS!!! <3 <3 <3 :) :) :)

      Delete

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