The art of listening
I learned to love audiobooks when I was a hardcore commuter, driving 132 miles round trip to work each day. Music can go far in such circumstances, but an audiobook can make a 75-minute commute a pleasure. I can even foggily remember times when I was sorry I had arrived at my destination. Audiobook lovers will understand that sentiment.
Audiobooks are growing in popularity, but they still seem to suffer from a stigma in some people's eyes. That's not reading, purists sniff. That's being a child and having a bedtime story read to you.
Balderdash.
Listening to an audiobook is a different experience than reading a book. I suppose you could say that listening to a book is a passive experience. That it minimizes to some extent the mind's imagination, that it curtails the reader's involvement with the story.
But as anyone who has listened to books will tell you, you still need to focus on the words and pay attention to the story. On occasion, I have had an inept reader or been too preoccupied to pay attention to a book. In those circumstances, you might be hearing it, but you're not reading that book. It's the equivalent of that moment when you are reading a book and you keep finding yourself reading the same paragraph over and over. Your mind is not engaged to this task.
But the audiobook also offers advantages. It allows you to squeeze reading into circumstances where having a book is impossible: driving a car, talking a long walk, exercising, cleaning the house or doing yard work. It engages the mind on one level and still allows you to pursue other tasks that might be critical in this multitasking age.
It has another important aspect: An audiobook is linear. Unless there is a technical problem, you are determined to break the sequence or you are just stupid, an audiobook comes at you in the way the author intended. Some of us (and I shall remain nameless in this circumstance) have short attention spans. We, on occasion, have been known to hop around and skip bits here and there. The audiobook makes me behave, and I am usually grateful for it.
What makes good a audiobook? In my opinion, there are two basic requirements: great source material and talented readers. Bad books won't get better on audio, but great books can be injured by dull, listless readers. Great readers, such as the late, great Frank Muller or Jim Dale, can turn books into extraordinary experiences. They can even make routine or mundane books into things worth spending time on.
Likewise, LibriVox, an effort to offer audiobooks free with the help of volunteer readers, is hit or miss. Readers can be quite good or awful. There is a lot to be said for free, however.
In my opinion, audiobooks have to be unabridged. I will leave the abridged books to the folks who love Reader's Digest condensed books. I am affirmatively a snob about this. If I determine that a book is worth reading (or listening to) I want to hear all of what the author created.
I also will say this about audiobooks. When I was in my heavy listening phase, I listened to dozens of books that I had already read. In most of those cases, hearing the book being read offered new and wonderful insights. It was as simple as hearing the words out loud that brought me pleasure. The joy of a great writer is in how they assemble words. Even when I am reading a book, I will read particularly good passages out loud to better appreciate the style and talent of the writer.
So what are some favorites?
—"Angela's Ashes," written and read by Frank McCourt. The wonderful memoir of teacher and writer McCourt recalls his miserable Irish Catholic childhood. I could relate to a lot of it, but some of it left me horrified. When a writer is also a good reader, and the story is a memoir, the audiobook moves in front of the printed book in my opinion.
—The Harry Potter books, read by Jim Dale in the U.S. This is the defining audiobook experience. It's as marvelous for families as it is for old men. Dale is a gifted voice actor. Anyone who has heard these has been impressed.
—"Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance," written by Robert M. Pirsig and read by Michael Kramer. This is an extraordinary book that wraps a father-son road trip around a primer on philosophy. It is moving in many ways. I read it when it was just released in high school but came back to it 25 years later when I could really understand the protagonist's struggle. Marvelous.
—"Cry the Beloved Country," written by Alan Paton and read by Michael York. A book I read in college but did not fully understand until hearing it read and understanding its rhythms. Deeply emotional and resonant.
—Books read by Frank Muller. I will cite two among the hundreds he recorded. Muller read Stephen King's "Wizard and Glass" in the Dark Tower series. Muller was the best man, bar none, to read Stephen King. I still deeply miss his talent. He also recorded "Moby Dick" by Herman Melville. He made Melville's diversions into the minutiae of whaling fascinating.
Do you listen to audiobooks? Do you have a few favorites? Do you have a favorite reader that you look for? Do you search for authors or readers? Share your thoughts with us.
Follow Shawn Sensiba on Twitter @shawnsensiba.
Jun 6, 2012 at 10:13 a.m.
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Actually, I think audio and print are equally valid, each having their advantages. Certain books will demand your full, page-turning attention (my latest was 1Q84), while others you might want to listen to while driving, or painting a room (House of Silk). You've still made the time for the book.
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Also, the annual "audie" awards for the year were just announced.
http://www.audiofilemagazine.com/2012_au....
Jun 5, 2012 at 5:57 p.m.
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I agree, Vector and njohnson. Though audio books are a superior form of listening over some music and brainless radio shows, the best way to enjoy and absorb a book is to read it -read it without concern for time and without over-focusing on the plot.
A well written novel makes me wonder and explore how the author did it.
Jun 5, 2012 at 4:31 p.m.
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I tested it, trying to read along at an average reading speed and found that audiobooks take longer. You also can't skim as you might (even without knowing it) when self-reading - so audiobooks are no shortcut to having used your eyes. I think the activity of listening isn't "reading" but should still result in "having read."
Jun 5, 2012 at 4:14 p.m.
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What a great topic and discussion! I am a passionate reader and listener. With the state of the economy, I returned to a high school favorite with Steinbeck's 'The Grapes of Wrath', read by actor Dylan Baker. He has a mix of Fonda in Joad, and his other characterizations are flawless.
Favorite readers? The late Frank Muller was amazing for fiction; I have great respect for Grover Gardner for any non-fiction, including the Caro's 'Years of Lyndon Johnson' and the entire 'Civil War: A Narrative' series by Shelby Foote. He keeps the facts fluid and interesting, which can be tricky. As said before, any author reading their own work is captivating, (check out Wisconsin writer Michael Perry reading his own work!).
My stepmom raises the question: Is a audiobook listener a reader? She says no, not the same, and I disagree. I feel if the info is learned and pondered, it counts. What do you all think?
Jun 5, 2012 at 3:45 p.m.
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Never listened to an audio book. Here's how I read books: roughly 10 pages a day, and when the book's finished, I start a new one. I go slowly, sometimes rereading the same paragraph three or four times as I pore over unusual turns of phrases and unique uses of language and dialogue. Sometimes, I stop and write down lines or passages that strike me as "important." For me, reading's less a linear experience, and more of an immersion in the individual poetics, politics and creative styles of different writers. I guess I've always assumed audio books would diminish that part of the reading experience for me. I feel like I'd be hitting the reverse button quite often.
Jun 5, 2012 at 2:26 p.m.
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I have to agree with CitizenX (on the Bartimeaus books - wow) and Jim PI (World War Z multiple cast) - both very well produced audiobooks. It's always interesting to hear authors read their own works - Neil Gaiman, David Sedaris and Bill Bryson read exceptionally well.
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Shawn, I think Jim Dale is the gold standard in terms of audiobook narrators, but my highest praise falls to Rob Inglis, who narrated the Tolkien books and some Ursula LeGuin. I wonder if you've heard any of the Terry Pratchett books narrated by Pratchett scholar Stephen Briggs - Wee Free Men is delightful.
Jun 5, 2012 at 8:07 a.m.
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I LOVE Audio Books.
My favorite = Jim Dale, hands down!
For a GREAT listen with AMAZING voice talent listen to the Bartimaeus Triliogy by Jonathan Stroud read by Simon Jones. I loved his Bartimaeus!
I also heard that one of the audio books for To Kill a Mockingbird was amazing, done by a female narrator, I must look into that one.
Jun 4, 2012 at 4:36 p.m.
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I love audio books. I'm pretty sure I've listened to hundreds of them from the library. I prefer to read an actual book, but unfortunately I don't have time read as much as I would like. Like you said, I can listen to an audio book while doing things that it is not possible read a book while doing. I still read, but this has given me more options to get my lit fix.
Jun 3, 2012 at 6:12 p.m.
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I highly recommend Tom Stechschulte's reading of "The Road," by Cormac McCarthy. McCarthy's apocalyptic, dystopian tale is a perfect fit for the gravelly, solemn voice.
Also, I don't know who narrates it, but the audiobook of Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood," is fantastic. I'm sure the regular book is just as great, but the audiobook is a lot of fun. The prose reads/listens so breezily, but the subject matter is so violent and serious. Lots of fun.
Jun 3, 2012 at 12:10 p.m.
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Avid reader when younger. Cannot find most books with large enough type to not get headaches when reading. Listening to audiobooks definately has some drawbacks. I find I do not undertand them as well, but it beats no books at all. Listening while driving is nice but distraction are many. I use Audible.com for books.
Jun 3, 2012 at 9:05 a.m.
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I love audiobooks. I try to rotate a book for fun (Grisham, etc), a motivational book, and a classic. I feel I am expanding my mind a bit with some and its a great way to wind down on the drive home.
Jun 2, 2012 at 6:33 a.m.
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London Burning was good. Don't remember who was the reader. Thanks for all the suggestions. It has been awhile since we have done an audio book but I read about a book a week. We don't travel that much. Great blog!
Jun 2, 2012 at 5:18 a.m.
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I read 4-5 books every week. Audiobooks? Not a chance! There's many people who claim they have no time to read a book but can manage 3-4 hours of TV everday. A society that doesn't read, doesn't live....
Jun 1, 2012 at 8:37 p.m.
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The "A Song of Ice and Fire" series, as read by Roy Dotrice, is excellent. He does a great job of giving the characters life.
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Do yourself a favor and avoid the alternate readers for this series. Dotrice was initially unavailable for "Feast for Crows," so John Lee read it. He was terrible in comparison. But no worries, because Dotrice has gone back and recorded a new version.
Jun 1, 2012 at 8 p.m.
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I spend a lot of time driving. Consequently, I spend a lot of time listening to audiobooks. I'll second the recommendation of Jim Dale reading Harry Potter. Just absolutely outstanding.
Another one I particularly like is World War Z by Max Brooks. It is read by a series of actors, many very well known, such as Alan Alda. Exceptionally well done.
While action/adventure might not be everyone's cup of tea, a company called GraphicAudio.net has done just tremendous work with audiobooks. They aren't merely narrated but are actually full fledged productions, with actors and sound effects. I've listened to many of them and haven't found a dud yet.
Jun 1, 2012 at 8:33 a.m.
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Thank you, Shawn, I really appreciated this, and I thank you as well from reminding me of _Cry the Beloved Country_, a book I haven't read for many, many years. I'll be re-reading it because of you!
It would be great if we had someone give public readings. This year was the 200th Anniversary of Dickens' birth. It would have/would be terrific if we had someone read one of his shorter works -- perhaps A Christmas Carol this Dec. -- at Hedberg.
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