my issue with audio books is i feel like i can’t listen! i will suddenly be 10 minutes into listening and i haven’t taken any information or storyline in. i feel like i need to be taught to listen to audiobooks in the same way i was taught to read lmao
Same for me as well. I’ve been wondering whether it‘s just to do with failing at multitasking, or perhaps needing to exercise patience and to trust in the audio’s speed when you‘re so used to reading at your own pace. No idea but I am sure the skill can be acquired :)
try listening to podcasts! you can find short ones that are 10-20 minutes and used them to train yourself to pay attention. finding ones on topics that already interest you will help too. playing around with the speeds at which you listen also helps a ton, i listen to audiobooks and podcasts at twice the speed now. hope this helps!
trying listening and reading along with the physical book at the same time, it keeps you focused and gets you into the swing of the story so its easier to just listen once you are invested.
I find sitting under a weighted blanket helps my body relax and mind stay focused. Also learn what things you can do whilst taking in an audiobook (washing up, walk), and which you can't.
It's also nice to sometimes actually hear the author read the book how they want you to hear it ! Great video ❤️, I love listening to stories when I'm too tired to read
Honestly, just 10mins ago I was one of those people who didn't really count audio books as reading but now I think differently. I hadn't consired how ableist that viewpoint is. So thank you for that! I personally never really got into audio books but will definitely give the ones you recommended a go.
That is so lovely - thank you for your honesty, it didn’t occur to me at first either, I guess it’s the product of living in a society that teaches you not to think about those things 🧡
This may be slightly obvious and is only relevant to people who commute but LISTENING TO AUDIO BOOKS DURING YOUR COMMUTE 👏👏 not only does it break up the mind numbing monotony of having to go to the same place every day in order to begrudgingly serve The Man it also drowns out the noise of traffic/screaming children/the rest of humanity. As for audiobooks, I'd recommend listening to His Dark Materials which has Pullman narrating and the characters played by a FULL CAST which is glorious
I completely agree. I've had a few days where I'd literally have no time other than to eat dinner after work before I had to sleep and restart the cycle again. I usually listened to podcasts or watched yt videos or read during my commute so it felt like I've actually enjoyed any of the day 😅😅
I normally listen to podcasts/audiobooks when I'm working. Doing lab work can be very frustrating because you spend hours and hours working on your experiments and then they have the nerve to not work out. So listening to audiobooks during those moments makes it a better way of not feeling like I'm wasting my time.
I have dyslexia and audio books got me through my English degree! I love the audio book of Max Porter's Grief is the Thing with Feathers. Such a different experience from reading the book
I LOVE audiobooks!! I usually listen to them while cleaning my apartment. Also, I live alone so simply hearing someone speak in my space is great for my mental health. One of the first audiobooks I listened to was The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern and I am convinced that I wouldn't have gotten through the physical book but the story has now become one of my favourites. Huzza for audiobooks!
The app Libby changed my LIFE! i was a massive reader up until my senior year of highschool where i got very burned out and since then hadn't really been able to finish a new book ( i did re read a few) in 3 YEARS!! It brought me so much saddness that i couldn't bring myself to read anymore, something i felt was so close to my heart and such a big part of my identity and person, but i recently discovered the app Libby and i've read (listened) 2 completely new books in a week! It's completley free and you sign in with you local library card and you can see all the audiobooks the library offers, as well as ebooks. I am a foreign student in Denmark and without it, there would have been no way I would have known my local library offers 1500 audiobooks in English as everytime I go to the library, everything is in Danish. I geniunely reccommend LIbby with my entire heart i now am so much happier and excited to read so many books i have been meaning to for years and could never really bring myself to. Also! It helps support local libraries and god knows they deserve it.
I really tried audio books, but got a few paragraphs in and was wishing there was some way I could have subtitles, as that's how I watch TV and films, I just process it much easier. Within the same second I wanted the subtitles, I ralised audio books just weren't the right type of reading for me 😂😂😂
Amazon does a thing called whispersync which is pretty cool if you want to listen and read along at the same time. It follows along on the ebook as the narrator speaks - basically giving you subtitles! It can be good if a part of a book is particularly complicated or if you are having trouble concentrating too.
9 months later, and I totally agree!! This is video is awesome, and I love your humor. The video with you dressing up through the pandemic for a week was a total game (or even life?!) Changer and such an inspiration for me! THANK YOU ❤️
I was so excited when I found out I could get audiobooks from my library in Germany, but then it turned out there's a waiting list for each book (a waiting list? for digital media?) and when you reach the end they email you and you only have access for two days 😫 Thankful that podcasts exist for free! But buying audiobooks is one of the things I'm super looking forward to ✨
I have found that my favorite way to listen to audio media is while I'm knitting/crocheting I have such a hard time focusing on movies and videos unless I have something in my hands but with movies and videos I end up missing things so podcasts and audio books are what I do while I make things.
I am someone who never comments, but Lena thank you for being so genuine. Your videos are always a breath of fresh air; your quirky and lovable personality shines! Love from the states.
I have fallen in love with audiobooks since falling ill. I have chronic migraine and sometimes my eyes won’t focus, but sounds aren’t too bothersome. I’ve also learned to pronounce so many words I’ve been mispronouncing for 30+ years!
Best audiobooks I've listened to so far include... - Normal People by Sally Rooney, read by Aoife McMahon. She also reads Conversations with Friends and both are so beautifully done, I'm always dipping back into them. - The Testaments by Margaret Atwood, read by Ann Dowd, Bryce Dallas Howard, Mae Whitman, Derek Jackobi, Tantoo Cardinal and Margaret Atwood. Enough said I think. - Oranges are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson, read by Jeanette Winterson. Audiobooks read by their authors are a special thing, this one in particular has stayed with me. - Nobody Told Me by Holly McNish, read by Holly McNish. Again so good to hear her read her own work - particularly adored the poetry parts. After listening to this one I'm making an effort to listen to more poetry read by its author.
Yes!! I'm a HUGE audiobook listener- I get motion-sick on busses, so an audible subscription totally changed my commute. I've definitely found that not all audiobooks are created equal and I've had to switch to physical copies of certain books to check if it's the book I hate, or just the audio version. SO here are some favourites that are good books, and also well produced audiobooks: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is my favourite fiction audiobook of all time- it's read by Lin Manuel Miranda, and it's just everything. It's always my first audiobook recommendation, closely followed by The Art of Asking. The Binding by Bridget Collins is wonderfully produced and a beautiful story. All of Dervla McTiernan's books are very well read if you like crime fiction and want to listen to Irish accents for a few hours. The Alice Network by Kate Quinn is great, and so is its sequel, Huntress. And finally, the audio version of Circe by Madeline Miller is so wonderful, I don't know if I ever want to physically read it myself.
As PER you’re preaching to my choir. I have been spreading the gospel of audiobooks to any and all who will listen, and have even succeeded in shepherding some converts. The whole “is audiobooks even reading” question is DULL, it’s TIRED, it’s OUT OF SEASON, and does you no good here on the S. S. Foolish Oats. I utilize audiobooks in pretty much the exact same way - feeding pets in the morning? Audiobook. Wiping down the counters at night? Audiobook! Running down country roads while training for a half-marathon? The most enjoyable exercise to date, apart from horseback riding. We also have a Bluetooth shower speaker and I love listening to my current audiobooks during long, hot showers. I also love just sitting in an armchair on a sunny afternoon and listening to an audiobook; I’ve often compared it to radio plays, where I can sit back and let a story wash over me, rather than work to keep my mind focused on my own progress through a written story. Thank you for coming to my TED talk.
I recently got back into audiobooks and, like you, I've been using them to decrease the tediousness of exercise. It takes 30 minutes to walk home from my university, so now instead of taking a smelly taxi I can walk home and listen to Persuasion while doing so. I also listen to audiobooks if I have a long commute, while doing housework, while drawing, etc.
The Hate U Give is my absolute favorite audiobook. i generally listen to audiobooks while on longer car trips as i get too distracted from the book doing most other things
I'm a big fan of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil narrated by Jeff Woodman, The Graveyard Book: Full Cast edition with Julian Rhind-Tutt, Girls and Boys narrated by Carey Mulligan, and Tim Curry's recordings of the A Series of Unfortunate Events books! I used to be able to listen to them at work (I went through a LOT then), but now I find time while putting laundry away, showering/bathing, walking my dog, driving (especially if I'll be in the car more than 20 minutes at time), doing yardwork, and as a way to wind down before bed.
Loooved this Leena!! I really want to get those Roald Dahl ones now 😄 I listen to them most when I'm trying to fall asleep because it doesn't involve the distraction of light but helps me drift away. I've been listening to the Poirot short stories read by David Suchet and his co-star, and I love them because they're half an hour long each properly transport! And always Stephen Fry's Harry Potters.
TEAM AUDIOBOOK!!! I *love* audiobooks so much, I think they're so great. I listen while I'm driving and doing chores around the house. I use Libby for all my Audiobook needs, which means it's all free! My favorite Audiobook so far has been "The Lies of Locke Lamora" but I also LOVED "A Monster Calls" read by Jason Isaacs!
@@emmah6009 omg I sampled that on audible and said NOOPEE. So sad since I think that could be such a good audiobook and a helpful way to read such a long book :(
Yeah. I generally avoid all author narration except Mary Robinette Kowal (because she’s a professional voice artist who also writes) and Neil Gaiman (because, well, he’s Neil Gaiman.) I don’t listen to many, but I think I’d also forego my no-author/reader policy for memoirs. Otherwise, I stay away.
Just got back from 4 weeks campervanning solo around NZ and audiobooks are definitely the way forward! Would recommend The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue, anything read by Stephen Fry. Totally agree with you in that its a great excuse to reread something
me and my partner listen to 15-30 mins of audiobook everynight before bed as our bedtime story. We have a little book club going with each other and take turns picking our books. It's lovely because it sets us up in a relaxing pre bed routine and because we are listening together we always have someone to share our thoughts and ideas with about the book :D
For people that don't want to use Audible (and pay moneyyyy), there's Libby! I've been using it for about a year now & it's connected to your local library, so you would borrow books as you typically do but they're on the app instead. it's really lovely also, Educated by Tara Westover is an amazing audiobook!
Great video! Completely agree that audiobooks are a form of reading. I listen to them while driving rather than listen to the radio, I listen to them while I cook, do laundry, walk my dog and walk on the treadmill. Yay for audiobooks! Harry Potter books on audio are just so charming. Stephen Fry should have a monument. Also, just finished Circe read by Perdita Weeks and omg that woman has the creamiest voice. Loved the book but her voice made it so much better. Big fan of your channel and greetings from Miami!
I used to say that I couldn't listen to audiobooks and concentrate without drifting off, but in the past few months I started trying again, and I've been proud of how many books I've read (14 so far this year! Two more than I read in my entire pathetic reading year last year.) I've spent so much time listening to podcasts in the last few years that I think I've trained myself to listen better. I am pretty choosy about what books I listen to though. I try to pick books that are from one point of view, and books that are more plot-driven and not quite so "literary." I've tried to listen to more complicated books, but I find myself losing concentration and not being able to figure out what's going on. Daisy Jones and the Six was particularly confusing for me, but I did get through it because I loved all the different narrator's voices.
Similar to listening while swimming I love listening to audiobooks while at the gym. I find that, especially with cardio workouts, I can keep going for longer because I get so wrapped up in the book and don’t notice feeling tired or out of breath. I much prefer audiobooks over music when working out!
It may sound silly, but I generally only listen to audio books read with specific accents or by the author. I usually dip into books with characters who are refugees, African or Arab decent, or other people of color, and audio books that include background sounds. It sets the scene and creates a fuller experience for me. *Warning* listen to the full sample! Sometimes the narrator is not great about the pronunciation and it can get real distracting! Some of my favorites to listen to are, The Beekeeper of Aleppo, Infidel, Children of Blood and Bone, and Smoke Gets In Your Eyes- read by the author and I love her intonations. --Leena, I think you would really enjoy Caitlin Doughty!
"secrets for the mad" read by the author dodie clark (she's also a singer and youtuber) is my absolute favorite audiobook, her voice and narration makes it so much more enjoyable than simple reading it yourself
Omg YES!!!!!!!!!! I’m dyslexic and have ocd so concentrating on physical books (especially after a day teaching!) can be hard so I listen to audiobooks ALL THE TIME! best places: - in the bath with candles on - in bed before sleep/to get to sleep - on the bus
I have dyslexia and can find reading physical copies overwhelming sometimes but one way I'm trying to practice is listening to an audiobook and following it along on the paper! I'm very fussy about narrators though haha. One of my favourite audiobooks has to be rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch x
The bluetooth headphones are genius, thanks for linking them! I recently loved listening to Tegan and Sara's memoir High School. They did an awesome job and I loved how they incorporated their music as well. Highly recommended! Also enjoyed listening to Carrie Brownstein's, Tan France's and Jonathan Van Ness' memoirs. X
As my Chronic Fatigue has got worse and worse I have come to listen to a lot of podcasts/audiobooks; particularly books that I am familiar with. As I know the stories and can listen to them (as opposed to read) it takes less energy than reading a new book. Plus, Stephen Fry is great at Harry Potter and some books written in the first person (Ready Player One, Hunger Games) work especially well in audiobook form as it really fits the narration and makes the protagonist feel more 'real'.
I love listening to audio books while at the gym or doing household tasks or while knitting! And of course on the tube. Also, not quite an audio book but my partner and I are in a long distance relationship with a 5 hour time difference, so usually when I'm going to bed it's only late afternoon/early evening for him, and sometimes he'll read me to sleep. He's currently reading 'Wicked' to me and honestly, hearing a story being read by someone you love is such a wonderful experience! One year for his birthday I recorded me reading out my favourite book of all time (Dreamsnake by Vonda McIntyre) as an audio because it's out of print so really hard to find. and it just brought home how much stories are brought to life by speaking them aloud. It did take me about 13 hours to record it all but it was an incredible way to experience one of my favourite books in a new way!!
Audiobooks transformed my reading experience! I get a lot of audio-reading in while cleaning and doing laundry and such, which has also made me feel less angsty about doing so much of that shit...so win-win! Also, I adore your videos!
I love audiobooks! I have dyslexia, so they really help. Also if you can’t afford Audible, then try BorrowBox. It’s free and you just link it up with your local library card.
I've recently started listening to audiobooks again! I love them for non-fiction, which I find hard to focus on and take in. I'd never get through much non-fiction if I had to physically read them. My favourites are: any and all of Caitlin Moran's books and Lowborn by Kerry Hudson x
You can probably borrow audiobooks on an app on your phone through your local library so you don’t have to give Amazon your money ✨ here in Edinburgh I use the apps overdrive and borrowbox, they have very decent selections!
i love audio books but only if i'v already read a book in physical form first cause otherwise i'll feel stressed about not being able to follow along/ won't pay attention properly and then won't remember anything i think i'm just not a auditory learner, i mainly love listening to audio books i loved as a kid/ teenager i find it so comforting, also i once went through all the harry potter books when i was painting a giant underwater murally thing which was a lovely way to spend a week
most books that are out of copyright are in librivox for free!! read by people who are training i think so the reading quality is a bit hit or miss but .. it’s free!! there’s an app as well and i think you can download!
Omg how had I not considered that audiobooks are the original stories?!?! I actually used to listen to books on tape as a kid in th car (reading in the car made me very sick) and I adored them. I am inspired to audiobook it up. Thank you so much
I listen in the car when on long drives. Also when doing any chores at all, and when doing crafting, like nalbinding or spinning. And when running, either outside or on a treadmill. Audiobook recommendation: Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari. To me, it is more important that the narrator is good than that it's the author.
I drive a lot for work and I love listening to audiobooks in the car! Makes me feel that the time isn't wasted and 100% less frustrated. Same for traveling on the bus, train, or plane!
If you haven't listened to Eddie Izzard's autobiography, you are *seriously* missing out. On top of the general greatness of read by the author, Izzard adds commentary and anecdotes that occurred to him during recording, so aren't in the printed book. Also, anything read by Richard Armitage. He's one of the all too few male narrators who is really good at women's voices. I particularly like the Jackman & Evans novels but not everyone is into police procedurals, so I'll recommend the Romeo and Juliet retelling by David Hewson. BTW, he also did The Tattooist of Auschwitz.
I don't listen to audiobooks that much, as they are rather expensive to get individually, and living in Greece I don't have an access to them in libraries. I love the ones that are narrated by actors I like though. I listened to The End of the Affair narrated by Colin Firth a few years ago, and even though I did not like the book that much, listening to it was a completely mesmerising experience! I will also say that audiobooks are a great way to improve your foreign language skills.
Yes yes yessss to this video. I listen to my audiobooks in parts of my commute: I walk to my train listening to my book, switch to my physical book for the train, then back to my audiobook when walking to work at the other end. May be a bit confusing for some but I love it! Also omg audiobooks whilst swimming sounds like a game changer
I love listening to Audiobooks on long journeys because I can look out of the window while enjoying the story (also helps me to avoid feeling ill from reading in a car/coach). When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi is amazing as an audiobook because it becomes that much more personal and hard hitting. ALSO! Libraries are such a great way to access so many audiobooks for free!!
One of the best thing an older pal with a bit of extra income did for me is give me access to her audible account which means I can listen to the books she listens to and she can listen to mind. Technically there's nothing to stop people doing that & also it's not much different to loaning out a book from your collection and it has made a world of difference to me.
I love musician audiobooks. Tegan and Sara’s memoir was great. It’s about their teenage years so they intersperse their teenage recordings which are so cute. The teen angst is just so real. Right now I listening to Tanya Tagaq’s Split Tooth she is a Inuit throat singer so she has bits of throat singing throughout which is so cool!
Recently listened to Matt Haig's 'Reasons to Stay Alive' on Audible and it was SO wonderful! Something very magic and therapeutic in listening to an author read out their own book to you!
Ilove listening to audiobooks while doing anything that would otherwise be tedious so chores, errands, mindless tasks at work, commuting, laying on my floor because life is hard, etc. But I also just listen to them while doing anything and everything. I personally love all of Bill Bryson and David Sedaris audiobooks as they both have such a unique voice that really comes through in audio form! Also pro tip if there is ever a book that is really tough to get through but you want to finish you can speed up audiobooks so it goes by faster ☺️
I got into audiobooks this year after you mentioned them in a vid that I saw in Jan, find it really comforting whilst waiting for/being on public transport to have a voice tell a story. I also listen whilst playing Stardew Valley or changing the sheets. My fave so far is Rosamund Pike's reading of Pride and Prejudice, I find some classics just look like too much on the page but she's great bcos she does all the voices!
The art of Asking by Amanda f*cking Palmer is brilliant! I read it just as a phyical book and it's one of my favourite reads of the year! Since reading it I have listened to a lot of her music and watched Neil Gaiman talk both of which were great!!
Yes, I listen to audiobooks as my main way of reading! The past few years I've read between 50-60 books, mostly just from listening to them while I'm driving places. That's not happening as much during quarantine but I still definitely listen when I'm cooking or washing dishes. My favorites are probably Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan (music features heavily in the story so it's nice to hear and music at the same time) and Mindy Kalings books (her delivery makes them that much funnier!). Oh and Ta-Nehisi Coates reads the audiobook of Between the World and Me, which makes is all the more powerful.
In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado! Narrated by her and amazing. Also Radical Dharma: Talking Race, Love, and Liberation, and How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy
mmmm so interesting about it being the original way of reading! if my english degree has taught me anything, it's that all book and all forms of reading are valid! also what the actual heck about those earphones...shocked and impressed.
After training my ears to listen through podcasts, I’ve recently started listening to audiobooks and write it. I love to read but it often makes me tired. Which means it often takes me forever to finish a book, or I give up halfway through. This is a great way to knock out some books I never thought I’d get around to! I tend to prefer nonfiction over fiction for audiobooks, though - keeping up with different characters in audio form is tough for me, but memoirs and informative pieces are perfect.
Wonderful video, as always! I love people talking about audiobooks and including them in their reading! I've recently listen to 'The Night Tiger' by Yangsze Choo (read by the author) which was fantastic! She includes a few different languages which is lovely to hear from someone that can pronounce everything really well. Another one I am loving is 'David Copperfield' by Charles Dickens read/preformed by Richard Armitage. He is phenomenal! He does all the voices and you can tell he is trying to act like each of the characters as he reads. I also really loved Richard Ayoade's 'Ayoade On Top' and 'Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing' by Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse. Both read by the authors and are both very fun listens!
I have dyspraxia, so although I love to physically read I'm a bit slow. Audio books allow me to consume more books, quicker. Also, Tom Baker reads his own Doctor Who novel and I'm not sure I've ever had a better audio book experience.
Jane Austen: the bbc radio collection is great and love the doctor who stories... especially if David tenant is narrating it! I really struggle with audiobooks and lose track when listening... my mind is too strong to be distracted! 😂 but enjoyed these ones :)
Some libraries have an app where you can borrow and download their audiobooks for freeeee! 'Overdrive' and 'Libby' are a couple of apps, where catalogues from libraries all over the world are accessible on them (as long as you have a library card anyway) :)
My grandparents live a 45 minute bus journey away from me and I love to listen to audiobooks on those journeys - I find reading a physical book or looking at my phone makes me feel travel sick so it's a nice chunk of time to just concentrate on a story!
I am having a quite a difficult spell of anxiety recently and, I can't really explain why, but your videos are really soothing for me! So thank you for being a little bit of a balm to my restless mind ☺ Also, I am currently listening to the Harry Potter books read by Stephen fry, just the ultimate comfort for me ♥
I just tried to write a comment with some of my suggestions but it got so long and unwieldy that I think I'm going to have to make a response video instead!
My favourite audio book is Neil Gaiman's Stardust! I love his voice and listening to him read it and he talks at the end about the process of creating an audio book and how stardust has changed through its multiple formats (it was originally created as an illustrated book for adults - who knew!). I also loved ready player one by Ernest cline on audiobook - I think it's the best edition for capturing the characterisation of the main character, especially as there are so many lists in the text that I know my eyes would have skimmed. I am currently trying to detox from audio books to force myself to have more time to get bored and let my brain go on little space journeys, which I hear is important for creativity, but honestly it's just meant that now I sometimes sit in a chair reading when I should be doing something that I could have audiobooked along to... It's a journey!
Audiobooks have also made me a lot more healthy--I walk at least 40 min a day on a treadmill or outside and listen to audiobooks. Neil Gaimen is a favorite. I went through all 15 of Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache novels, all of the Steig Larsson Girl with a Spider Tatoo books, all of the Jane Austen novels (multiple times, multiple readers--not a fan of Rosamond Pike's reading, BTW) and many, many more.I'm listening to The Goldfinch right now. I find I can read books on Audiobook that I put down in hardback. But I need more recommendations!
Got started on audiobooks in order to survive my driving commute (literally got tired of podcasts and music for a while there) but now I live closer to work I listen while actually at work a LOT. I’m a graphic designer so as long as I’m not writing paragraphs etc it’s all good. I do also listen on walks. I just finished “Gathering Moss” which was lovely and would recommend. It’s also really calming so nice to listen to while out in nature or getting ready to sleep. ❤️
I've felt awful as a grown up for how little I read because I was that kid that ALWAYS had a book on the go so discovering audiobooks has been life changing, especially being able to get them from my local library via an app! I like to spend most of my spare time cooking or crocheting, both things that make reading a bit tricky so that tends to be when I listen to audiobooks
Yass, audiobooks haved saved me from many a slump. I loved the audiobooks of The Dutch House (Tom Hanks- need I say more) and Sara Pascoe's books are so bloody warm and insightful and funny when she reads them to you as you tootle along to work. David Sedaris's are great in a similar way. Ooh and Megan Phelps-Roper's Unfollow. Wowzah, it was a ride.
Your personality is so amazing, you are witty and funny and smart and warm-hearted, and it shines through! You look very inspired all the time! Is it because you are doing something you are genuinely passionate about in your life + reading books?
I do basically all of that! Plus when I'm on the bus/commuting, on my walks between classes, if I have to fly somewhere, while I'm planning out my to-do list for the day, at the grocery store, when I take a shower or bath (you can get great waterproof speakers for $20), when I'm lifting weights, and even when I'm at work when I don't have clients in and I'm just cleaning or doing paper work or watching security footage (I work at a shelter). Basically, any time I can I pop in my headphones and listen to an audiobook, I do. If I didn't, I'd probably only read a 4th of the books I do a year! Sometimes if I'm making a road trip with someone else or just sitting home with my partner and we are doing a puzzle or cleaning or eating dinner or even sitting by the pool, we will listen to a book we both want to read and it is really fun to have that collective experience! Plus, if you need to get through something really fast, like for a class, book club, or because the film is coming out soon, it is the best way to zoom through a book in a couple days without interfering with the other stuff you need to get done. Great video!
Also, Libby is an app that you can use if you have library card in the US (not sure if it is a universal thing but I've lived in multiple states and have been using it for years). It had audiobooks and ebooks that you can borrow and lots of libraries have pretty good selections, even brand new books. I would definitely search it up if you want to save a TON of money!
On my way to and from work-a 20ish minute jaunt where I almost forget that I'm going there. I know my sister used to/maybe still does listen to them on the bus on the commute to work. This also works for podcasts. That, on my lunch break walk and sometimes washing up is one of the times of day where I am not actually doing something where my ears could be enjoying themselves. I lamented recently not being able to read books because after a stressful day of work I'm a bit too spent and just want passive entertainment. It's great because it is giving me the opportunity to read in a way I haven't been able to for years.
Shout out to my college professor who wrote ON AN ACADEMIC PAPER that children who listen to their teacher read to them are not really reading. I'm still fuming.
David Copperfield is one of the best audiobooks ever and pretty much anything with an Irish narrator. Really appreciated your defence of how audiobooks really count as reading.
I would listen to audiobooks in all those places and would include my commute, when I am in the shower and when I get in from work and just sorting myself out. I need to read the Amanda Palmer book! looks amazing x
I love Stephen Fry's reading of the Harry Potter series. He does a different voice for every character and keeps it up consistently for the whole series! I listen to audio books while I knit or do other artsy things that don't take up a tonne of my mental energy 😊
I often struggle to listen to audiobooks because my brain will just tune out and be doing the thinky thing until I suddenly remember that I was meant to be paying attention and I've missed out on a chunk of the story. That being said I did listen to the Book of Dust audiobook while stripping wallpaper last October and hoo boy was Michael Sheen a damn good narrator. For most of my "chore listening" I'll have podcasts playing or music because I'm too cheap to get audible
Back when working was actually a thing we did, I used to love listening to an audiobook whilst I was at work (night retail worker) and I got through so many books that way as I had up to 22.5 hours a week to just listen to great audiobooks. I can't remember all of the great audiobooks that I have listened to but The Arrival of Someday by Jen Malone really, really left its mark on me... Although maybe not the best for listening to in public!
your take on how audiobooks are the original way to listen to books seriously blew me away. It makes so much sense!
my issue with audio books is i feel like i can’t listen! i will suddenly be 10 minutes into listening and i haven’t taken any information or storyline in. i feel like i need to be taught to listen to audiobooks in the same way i was taught to read lmao
Same here. I cannot concentrate and start thinking and daydreaming, and have to repeat what i have listened to.
Same for me as well. I’ve been wondering whether it‘s just to do with failing at multitasking, or perhaps needing to exercise patience and to trust in the audio’s speed when you‘re so used to reading at your own pace. No idea but I am sure the skill can be acquired :)
try listening to podcasts! you can find short ones that are 10-20 minutes and used them to train yourself to pay attention. finding ones on topics that already interest you will help too. playing around with the speeds at which you listen also helps a ton, i listen to audiobooks and podcasts at twice the speed now. hope this helps!
trying listening and reading along with the physical book at the same time, it keeps you focused and gets you into the swing of the story so its easier to just listen once you are invested.
I find sitting under a weighted blanket helps my body relax and mind stay focused. Also learn what things you can do whilst taking in an audiobook (washing up, walk), and which you can't.
It's also nice to sometimes actually hear the author read the book how they want you to hear it ! Great video ❤️, I love listening to stories when I'm too tired to read
Honestly, just 10mins ago I was one of those people who didn't really count audio books as reading but now I think differently. I hadn't consired how ableist that viewpoint is. So thank you for that! I personally never really got into audio books but will definitely give the ones you recommended a go.
That is so lovely - thank you for your honesty, it didn’t occur to me at first either, I guess it’s the product of living in a society that teaches you not to think about those things 🧡
This may be slightly obvious and is only relevant to people who commute but LISTENING TO AUDIO BOOKS DURING YOUR COMMUTE 👏👏 not only does it break up the mind numbing monotony of having to go to the same place every day in order to begrudgingly serve The Man it also drowns out the noise of traffic/screaming children/the rest of humanity.
As for audiobooks, I'd recommend listening to His Dark Materials which has Pullman narrating and the characters played by a FULL CAST which is glorious
I completely agree. I've had a few days where I'd literally have no time other than to eat dinner after work before I had to sleep and restart the cycle again. I usually listened to podcasts or watched yt videos or read during my commute so it felt like I've actually enjoyed any of the day 😅😅
WHY HAS NO ONE TOLD ME WATERPROOF EARBUDS EXIST????? Thank you, Leena, you are majestic.
I normally listen to podcasts/audiobooks when I'm working. Doing lab work can be very frustrating because you spend hours and hours working on your experiments and then they have the nerve to not work out. So listening to audiobooks during those moments makes it a better way of not feeling like I'm wasting my time.
Wow - I can imagine. My cousin works in a lab and it sounds gruelling!
I have dyslexia and audio books got me through my English degree! I love the audio book of Max Porter's Grief is the Thing with Feathers. Such a different experience from reading the book
OMG me too! :D
I LOVE audiobooks!! I usually listen to them while cleaning my apartment. Also, I live alone so simply hearing someone speak in my space is great for my mental health. One of the first audiobooks I listened to was The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern and I am convinced that I wouldn't have gotten through the physical book but the story has now become one of my favourites. Huzza for audiobooks!
Harry Potter read by Stephen Fry saved my life. How many times are too many?
Me tooo!!! I was in my final year bachelors and through my final exams, that whole series in audio was suuuuch a stress reliever for me
The app Libby changed my LIFE! i was a massive reader up until my senior year of highschool where i got very burned out and since then hadn't really been able to finish a new book ( i did re read a few) in 3 YEARS!! It brought me so much saddness that i couldn't bring myself to read anymore, something i felt was so close to my heart and such a big part of my identity and person, but i recently discovered the app Libby and i've read (listened) 2 completely new books in a week!
It's completley free and you sign in with you local library card and you can see all the audiobooks the library offers, as well as ebooks. I am a foreign student in Denmark and without it, there would have been no way I would have known my local library offers 1500 audiobooks in English as everytime I go to the library, everything is in Danish.
I geniunely reccommend LIbby with my entire heart i now am so much happier and excited to read so many books i have been meaning to for years and could never really bring myself to. Also! It helps support local libraries and god knows they deserve it.
I really tried audio books, but got a few paragraphs in and was wishing there was some way I could have subtitles, as that's how I watch TV and films, I just process it much easier. Within the same second I wanted the subtitles, I ralised audio books just weren't the right type of reading for me 😂😂😂
Totally fair enough! :) Thanks for watching!
Amazon does a thing called whispersync which is pretty cool if you want to listen and read along at the same time. It follows along on the ebook as the narrator speaks - basically giving you subtitles!
It can be good if a part of a book is particularly complicated or if you are having trouble concentrating too.
Omg, I've just found your channel and you're the most hilarious person I've ever seen/heard. Love you already!
Hahah aw thank you!
9 months later, and I totally agree!! This is video is awesome, and I love your humor. The video with you dressing up through the pandemic for a week was a total game (or even life?!) Changer and such an inspiration for me! THANK YOU ❤️
I was so excited when I found out I could get audiobooks from my library in Germany, but then it turned out there's a waiting list for each book (a waiting list? for digital media?) and when you reach the end they email you and you only have access for two days 😫
Thankful that podcasts exist for free! But buying audiobooks is one of the things I'm super looking forward to ✨
There’s Libravox where you can get audiobooks for free if they’re out of copyright - you can also get a lot of audiobooks on Spotify :)
I have found that my favorite way to listen to audio media is while I'm knitting/crocheting I have such a hard time focusing on movies and videos unless I have something in my hands but with movies and videos I end up missing things so podcasts and audio books are what I do while I make things.
I have resisted audiobooks for so long because my mind tends to wander but your enthusiasm makes me want to try again!
Stephen Fry's audiobooks are the gold! Especially enjoyed "Mythos" and his autobiographies.
he is the superior harry potter narrator!
I am someone who never comments, but Lena thank you for being so genuine. Your videos are always a breath of fresh air; your quirky and lovable personality shines! Love from the states.
Aw thank you that means a lot xxxx
Love your ghosts! It was a game changer when I discovered that my local library had many audiobooks available.
I have fallen in love with audiobooks since falling ill. I have chronic migraine and sometimes my eyes won’t focus, but sounds aren’t too bothersome.
I’ve also learned to pronounce so many words I’ve been mispronouncing for 30+ years!
Best audiobooks I've listened to so far include...
- Normal People by Sally Rooney, read by Aoife McMahon. She also reads Conversations with Friends and both are so beautifully done, I'm always dipping back into them.
- The Testaments by Margaret Atwood, read by Ann Dowd, Bryce Dallas Howard, Mae Whitman, Derek Jackobi, Tantoo Cardinal and Margaret Atwood. Enough said I think.
- Oranges are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson, read by Jeanette Winterson. Audiobooks read by their authors are a special thing, this one in particular has stayed with me.
- Nobody Told Me by Holly McNish, read by Holly McNish. Again so good to hear her read her own work - particularly adored the poetry parts. After listening to this one I'm making an effort to listen to more poetry read by its author.
Yes!! I'm a HUGE audiobook listener- I get motion-sick on busses, so an audible subscription totally changed my commute. I've definitely found that not all audiobooks are created equal and I've had to switch to physical copies of certain books to check if it's the book I hate, or just the audio version. SO here are some favourites that are good books, and also well produced audiobooks:
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is my favourite fiction audiobook of all time- it's read by Lin Manuel Miranda, and it's just everything. It's always my first audiobook recommendation, closely followed by The Art of Asking. The Binding by Bridget Collins is wonderfully produced and a beautiful story. All of Dervla McTiernan's books are very well read if you like crime fiction and want to listen to Irish accents for a few hours. The Alice Network by Kate Quinn is great, and so is its sequel, Huntress. And finally, the audio version of Circe by Madeline Miller is so wonderful, I don't know if I ever want to physically read it myself.
Sacha Slip seconding Aristotle and Dante! Such a good audiobook!
As PER you’re preaching to my choir. I have been spreading the gospel of audiobooks to any and all who will listen, and have even succeeded in shepherding some converts. The whole “is audiobooks even reading” question is DULL, it’s TIRED, it’s OUT OF SEASON, and does you no good here on the S. S. Foolish Oats. I utilize audiobooks in pretty much the exact same way - feeding pets in the morning? Audiobook. Wiping down the counters at night? Audiobook! Running down country roads while training for a half-marathon? The most enjoyable exercise to date, apart from horseback riding. We also have a Bluetooth shower speaker and I love listening to my current audiobooks during long, hot showers. I also love just sitting in an armchair on a sunny afternoon and listening to an audiobook; I’ve often compared it to radio plays, where I can sit back and let a story wash over me, rather than work to keep my mind focused on my own progress through a written story. Thank you for coming to my TED talk.
I recently got back into audiobooks and, like you, I've been using them to decrease the tediousness of exercise. It takes 30 minutes to walk home from my university, so now instead of taking a smelly taxi I can walk home and listen to Persuasion while doing so. I also listen to audiobooks if I have a long commute, while doing housework, while drawing, etc.
Those waterproof earbuds are the best thing ever. I need those 😍
The Hate U Give is my absolute favorite audiobook. i generally listen to audiobooks while on longer car trips as i get too distracted from the book doing most other things
Oh that's a good one! I've only seen the film so I should try the audiobook.
it's beautiful. sounds like a spoken word poem the whole way through
I'm a big fan of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil narrated by Jeff Woodman, The Graveyard Book: Full Cast edition with Julian Rhind-Tutt, Girls and Boys narrated by Carey Mulligan, and Tim Curry's recordings of the A Series of Unfortunate Events books!
I used to be able to listen to them at work (I went through a LOT then), but now I find time while putting laundry away, showering/bathing, walking my dog, driving (especially if I'll be in the car more than 20 minutes at time), doing yardwork, and as a way to wind down before bed.
Loooved this Leena!! I really want to get those Roald Dahl ones now 😄 I listen to them most when I'm trying to fall asleep because it doesn't involve the distraction of light but helps me drift away. I've been listening to the Poirot short stories read by David Suchet and his co-star, and I love them because they're half an hour long each properly transport! And always Stephen Fry's Harry Potters.
TEAM AUDIOBOOK!!! I *love* audiobooks so much, I think they're so great. I listen while I'm driving and doing chores around the house. I use Libby for all my Audiobook needs, which means it's all free!
My favorite Audiobook so far has been "The Lies of Locke Lamora" but I also LOVED "A Monster Calls" read by Jason Isaacs!
Completely agree with your comment on the typeset of some books. That’s why I love my kindle I can set it to something I can read!
4:21 the words of someone who's never heard Donna Tartt's narration of The Secret History
hahah oh no, is it bad?
@@leenanorms So bad it is honestly baffling, but they didn't let her near the later novels tg 😹
@@emmah6009 omg I sampled that on audible and said NOOPEE. So sad since I think that could be such a good audiobook and a helpful way to read such a long book :(
Yeah. I generally avoid all author narration except Mary Robinette Kowal (because she’s a professional voice artist who also writes) and Neil Gaiman (because, well, he’s Neil Gaiman.) I don’t listen to many, but I think I’d also forego my no-author/reader policy for memoirs. Otherwise, I stay away.
@@cheryllovestoread ooh yes I want to listen to a Neil Gaiman book eventually!
Just got back from 4 weeks campervanning solo around NZ and audiobooks are definitely the way forward! Would recommend The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue, anything read by Stephen Fry. Totally agree with you in that its a great excuse to reread something
I got a bluetooth knitted hat for christmas and immediately started taking my dog on longer walks to listen to more audiobook :D
me and my partner listen to 15-30 mins of audiobook everynight before bed as our bedtime story. We have a little book club going with each other and take turns picking our books. It's lovely because it sets us up in a relaxing pre bed routine and because we are listening together we always have someone to share our thoughts and ideas with about the book :D
For people that don't want to use Audible (and pay moneyyyy), there's Libby! I've been using it for about a year now & it's connected to your local library, so you would borrow books as you typically do but they're on the app instead. it's really lovely
also, Educated by Tara Westover is an amazing audiobook!
Great video! Completely agree that audiobooks are a form of reading. I listen to them while driving rather than listen to the radio, I listen to them while I cook, do laundry, walk my dog and walk on the treadmill. Yay for audiobooks! Harry Potter books on audio are just so charming. Stephen Fry should have a monument. Also, just finished Circe read by Perdita Weeks and omg that woman has the creamiest voice. Loved the book but her voice made it so much better. Big fan of your channel and greetings from Miami!
I used to say that I couldn't listen to audiobooks and concentrate without drifting off, but in the past few months I started trying again, and I've been proud of how many books I've read (14 so far this year! Two more than I read in my entire pathetic reading year last year.) I've spent so much time listening to podcasts in the last few years that I think I've trained myself to listen better. I am pretty choosy about what books I listen to though. I try to pick books that are from one point of view, and books that are more plot-driven and not quite so "literary." I've tried to listen to more complicated books, but I find myself losing concentration and not being able to figure out what's going on. Daisy Jones and the Six was particularly confusing for me, but I did get through it because I loved all the different narrator's voices.
This is the first video of your's I'm watching. Not disappointed, this is awesome!
Similar to listening while swimming I love listening to audiobooks while at the gym. I find that, especially with cardio workouts, I can keep going for longer because I get so wrapped up in the book and don’t notice feeling tired or out of breath. I much prefer audiobooks over music when working out!
It may sound silly, but I generally only listen to audio books read with specific accents or by the author. I usually dip into books with characters who are refugees, African or Arab decent, or other people of color, and audio books that include background sounds. It sets the scene and creates a fuller experience for me. *Warning* listen to the full sample! Sometimes the narrator is not great about the pronunciation and it can get real distracting! Some of my favorites to listen to are, The Beekeeper of Aleppo, Infidel, Children of Blood and Bone, and Smoke Gets In Your Eyes- read by the author and I love her intonations. --Leena, I think you would really enjoy Caitlin Doughty!
I finally read Motherhood and it totally lived up to your hype. Made me feel very human.
"secrets for the mad" read by the author dodie clark (she's also a singer and youtuber) is my absolute favorite audiobook, her voice and narration makes it so much more enjoyable than simple reading it yourself
Omg YES!!!!!!!!!!
I’m dyslexic and have ocd so concentrating on physical books (especially after a day teaching!) can be hard so I listen to audiobooks ALL THE TIME!
best places:
- in the bath with candles on
- in bed before sleep/to get to sleep
- on the bus
I have dyslexia and can find reading physical copies overwhelming sometimes but one way I'm trying to practice is listening to an audiobook and following it along on the paper! I'm very fussy about narrators though haha. One of my favourite audiobooks has to be rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch x
YES to your audio book rant
The bluetooth headphones are genius, thanks for linking them! I recently loved listening to Tegan and Sara's memoir High School. They did an awesome job and I loved how they incorporated their music as well. Highly recommended! Also enjoyed listening to Carrie Brownstein's, Tan France's and Jonathan Van Ness' memoirs. X
As my Chronic Fatigue has got worse and worse I have come to listen to a lot of podcasts/audiobooks; particularly books that I am familiar with. As I know the stories and can listen to them (as opposed to read) it takes less energy than reading a new book. Plus, Stephen Fry is great at Harry Potter and some books written in the first person (Ready Player One, Hunger Games) work especially well in audiobook form as it really fits the narration and makes the protagonist feel more 'real'.
I love listening to audio books while at the gym or doing household tasks or while knitting! And of course on the tube. Also, not quite an audio book but my partner and I are in a long distance relationship with a 5 hour time difference, so usually when I'm going to bed it's only late afternoon/early evening for him, and sometimes he'll read me to sleep. He's currently reading 'Wicked' to me and honestly, hearing a story being read by someone you love is such a wonderful experience! One year for his birthday I recorded me reading out my favourite book of all time (Dreamsnake by Vonda McIntyre) as an audio because it's out of print so really hard to find. and it just brought home how much stories are brought to life by speaking them aloud. It did take me about 13 hours to record it all but it was an incredible way to experience one of my favourite books in a new way!!
Audiobooks transformed my reading experience! I get a lot of audio-reading in while cleaning and doing laundry and such, which has also made me feel less angsty about doing so much of that shit...so win-win! Also, I adore your videos!
I love audiobooks! I have dyslexia, so they really help. Also if you can’t afford Audible, then try BorrowBox. It’s free and you just link it up with your local library card.
I've recently started listening to audiobooks again! I love them for non-fiction, which I find hard to focus on and take in. I'd never get through much non-fiction if I had to physically read them. My favourites are: any and all of Caitlin Moran's books and Lowborn by Kerry Hudson x
You can probably borrow audiobooks on an app on your phone through your local library so you don’t have to give Amazon your money ✨ here in Edinburgh I use the apps overdrive and borrowbox, they have very decent selections!
i love audio books but only if i'v already read a book in physical form first cause otherwise i'll feel stressed about not being able to follow along/ won't pay attention properly and then won't remember anything i think i'm just not a auditory learner, i mainly love listening to audio books i loved as a kid/ teenager i find it so comforting, also i once went through all the harry potter books when i was painting a giant underwater murally thing which was a lovely way to spend a week
most books that are out of copyright are in librivox for free!! read by people who are training i think so the reading quality is a bit hit or miss but .. it’s free!! there’s an app as well and i think you can download!
Omg how had I not considered that audiobooks are the original stories?!?!
I actually used to listen to books on tape as a kid in th car (reading in the car made me very sick) and I adored them.
I am inspired to audiobook it up. Thank you so much
I listen in the car when on long drives. Also when doing any chores at all, and when doing crafting, like nalbinding or spinning. And when running, either outside or on a treadmill.
Audiobook recommendation: Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari.
To me, it is more important that the narrator is good than that it's the author.
I drive a lot for work and I love listening to audiobooks in the car! Makes me feel that the time isn't wasted and 100% less frustrated. Same for traveling on the bus, train, or plane!
you 👏 are 👏 amazing 👏👏👏 and very uplifting and inspiring 🥰 sending good vibes your way
Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy!Read by the author.. the whole series always makes me laugh
If you haven't listened to Eddie Izzard's autobiography, you are *seriously* missing out. On top of the general greatness of read by the author, Izzard adds commentary and anecdotes that occurred to him during recording, so aren't in the printed book.
Also, anything read by Richard Armitage. He's one of the all too few male narrators who is really good at women's voices. I particularly like the Jackman & Evans novels but not everyone is into police procedurals, so I'll recommend the Romeo and Juliet retelling by David Hewson. BTW, he also did The Tattooist of Auschwitz.
Loving the surround sound in the weighing scales Leena!
I don't listen to audiobooks that much, as they are rather expensive to get individually, and living in Greece I don't have an access to them in libraries. I love the ones that are narrated by actors I like though. I listened to The End of the Affair narrated by Colin Firth a few years ago, and even though I did not like the book that much, listening to it was a completely mesmerising experience! I will also say that audiobooks are a great way to improve your foreign language skills.
Yes yes yessss to this video.
I listen to my audiobooks in parts of my commute: I walk to my train listening to my book, switch to my physical book for the train, then back to my audiobook when walking to work at the other end. May be a bit confusing for some but I love it!
Also omg audiobooks whilst swimming sounds like a game changer
I love listening to Audiobooks on long journeys because I can look out of the window while enjoying the story (also helps me to avoid feeling ill from reading in a car/coach). When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi is amazing as an audiobook because it becomes that much more personal and hard hitting.
ALSO! Libraries are such a great way to access so many audiobooks for free!!
One of the best thing an older pal with a bit of extra income did for me is give me access to her audible account which means I can listen to the books she listens to and she can listen to mind. Technically there's nothing to stop people doing that & also it's not much different to loaning out a book from your collection and it has made a world of difference to me.
I use my mum's audible account all the time! It's so useful!
I love musician audiobooks. Tegan and Sara’s memoir was great. It’s about their teenage years so they intersperse their teenage recordings which are so cute. The teen angst is just so real. Right now I listening to Tanya Tagaq’s Split Tooth she is a Inuit throat singer so she has bits of throat singing throughout which is so cool!
Bless the hell up, Leena. The reading warrior we all freakin need.
Recently listened to Matt Haig's 'Reasons to Stay Alive' on Audible and it was SO wonderful! Something very magic and therapeutic in listening to an author read out their own book to you!
Ilove listening to audiobooks while doing anything that would otherwise be tedious so chores, errands, mindless tasks at work, commuting, laying on my floor because life is hard, etc. But I also just listen to them while doing anything and everything. I personally love all of Bill Bryson and David Sedaris audiobooks as they both have such a unique voice that really comes through in audio form! Also pro tip if there is ever a book that is really tough to get through but you want to finish you can speed up audiobooks so it goes by faster ☺️
I got into audiobooks this year after you mentioned them in a vid that I saw in Jan, find it really comforting whilst waiting for/being on public transport to have a voice tell a story. I also listen whilst playing Stardew Valley or changing the sheets. My fave so far is Rosamund Pike's reading of Pride and Prejudice, I find some classics just look like too much on the page but she's great bcos she does all the voices!
Omg waterproof earphones that’s genius thank you!!
The art of Asking by Amanda f*cking Palmer is brilliant! I read it just as a phyical book and it's one of my favourite reads of the year! Since reading it I have listened to a lot of her music and watched Neil Gaiman talk both of which were great!!
Yes, I listen to audiobooks as my main way of reading! The past few years I've read between 50-60 books, mostly just from listening to them while I'm driving places. That's not happening as much during quarantine but I still definitely listen when I'm cooking or washing dishes. My favorites are probably Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan (music features heavily in the story so it's nice to hear and music at the same time) and Mindy Kalings books (her delivery makes them that much funnier!). Oh and Ta-Nehisi Coates reads the audiobook of Between the World and Me, which makes is all the more powerful.
In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado! Narrated by her and amazing. Also Radical Dharma: Talking Race, Love, and Liberation, and How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy
mmmm so interesting about it being the original way of reading! if my english degree has taught me anything, it's that all book and all forms of reading are valid! also what the actual heck about those earphones...shocked and impressed.
After training my ears to listen through podcasts, I’ve recently started listening to audiobooks and write it. I love to read but it often makes me tired. Which means it often takes me forever to finish a book, or I give up halfway through. This is a great way to knock out some books I never thought I’d get around to!
I tend to prefer nonfiction over fiction for audiobooks, though - keeping up with different characters in audio form is tough for me, but memoirs and informative pieces are perfect.
Wonderful video, as always! I love people talking about audiobooks and including them in their reading! I've recently listen to 'The Night Tiger' by Yangsze Choo (read by the author) which was fantastic! She includes a few different languages which is lovely to hear from someone that can pronounce everything really well. Another one I am loving is 'David Copperfield' by Charles Dickens read/preformed by Richard Armitage. He is phenomenal! He does all the voices and you can tell he is trying to act like each of the characters as he reads. I also really loved Richard Ayoade's 'Ayoade On Top' and 'Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing' by Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse. Both read by the authors and are both very fun listens!
I have dyspraxia, so although I love to physically read I'm a bit slow. Audio books allow me to consume more books, quicker. Also, Tom Baker reads his own Doctor Who novel and I'm not sure I've ever had a better audio book experience.
Jane Austen: the bbc radio collection is great and love the doctor who stories... especially if David tenant is narrating it! I really struggle with audiobooks and lose track when listening... my mind is too strong to be distracted! 😂 but enjoyed these ones :)
Some libraries have an app where you can borrow and download their audiobooks for freeeee! 'Overdrive' and 'Libby' are a couple of apps, where catalogues from libraries all over the world are accessible on them (as long as you have a library card anyway) :)
Yes I’ve been meaning to try that out! Thank you for reminding me!
Loved this! Really want to get into reading audio books especially in the current circumstances! Also, your top is amazing 😍
My grandparents live a 45 minute bus journey away from me and I love to listen to audiobooks on those journeys - I find reading a physical book or looking at my phone makes me feel travel sick so it's a nice chunk of time to just concentrate on a story!
I am having a quite a difficult spell of anxiety recently and, I can't really explain why, but your videos are really soothing for me! So thank you for being a little bit of a balm to my restless mind ☺ Also, I am currently listening to the Harry Potter books read by Stephen fry, just the ultimate comfort for me ♥
I just tried to write a comment with some of my suggestions but it got so long and unwieldy that I think I'm going to have to make a response video instead!
My favourite audio book is Neil Gaiman's Stardust! I love his voice and listening to him read it and he talks at the end about the process of creating an audio book and how stardust has changed through its multiple formats (it was originally created as an illustrated book for adults - who knew!). I also loved ready player one by Ernest cline on audiobook - I think it's the best edition for capturing the characterisation of the main character, especially as there are so many lists in the text that I know my eyes would have skimmed. I am currently trying to detox from audio books to force myself to have more time to get bored and let my brain go on little space journeys, which I hear is important for creativity, but honestly it's just meant that now I sometimes sit in a chair reading when I should be doing something that I could have audiobooked along to... It's a journey!
Audiobooks have also made me a lot more healthy--I walk at least 40 min a day on a treadmill or outside and listen to audiobooks. Neil Gaimen is a favorite. I went through all 15 of Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache novels, all of the Steig Larsson Girl with a Spider Tatoo books, all of the Jane Austen novels (multiple times, multiple readers--not a fan of Rosamond Pike's reading, BTW) and many, many more.I'm listening to The Goldfinch right now. I find I can read books on Audiobook that I put down in hardback. But I need more recommendations!
Got started on audiobooks in order to survive my driving commute (literally got tired of podcasts and music for a while there) but now I live closer to work I listen while actually at work a LOT. I’m a graphic designer so as long as I’m not writing paragraphs etc it’s all good. I do also listen on walks. I just finished “Gathering Moss” which was lovely and would recommend. It’s also really calming so nice to listen to while out in nature or getting ready to sleep. ❤️
I've felt awful as a grown up for how little I read because I was that kid that ALWAYS had a book on the go so discovering audiobooks has been life changing, especially being able to get them from my local library via an app! I like to spend most of my spare time cooking or crocheting, both things that make reading a bit tricky so that tends to be when I listen to audiobooks
Yass, audiobooks haved saved me from many a slump. I loved the audiobooks of The Dutch House (Tom Hanks- need I say more) and Sara Pascoe's books are so bloody warm and insightful and funny when she reads them to you as you tootle along to work. David Sedaris's are great in a similar way. Ooh and Megan Phelps-Roper's Unfollow. Wowzah, it was a ride.
Your personality is so amazing, you are witty and funny and smart and warm-hearted, and it shines through! You look very inspired all the time! Is it because you are doing something you are genuinely passionate about in your life + reading books?
I do basically all of that! Plus when I'm on the bus/commuting, on my walks between classes, if I have to fly somewhere, while I'm planning out my to-do list for the day, at the grocery store, when I take a shower or bath (you can get great waterproof speakers for $20), when I'm lifting weights, and even when I'm at work when I don't have clients in and I'm just cleaning or doing paper work or watching security footage (I work at a shelter). Basically, any time I can I pop in my headphones and listen to an audiobook, I do. If I didn't, I'd probably only read a 4th of the books I do a year! Sometimes if I'm making a road trip with someone else or just sitting home with my partner and we are doing a puzzle or cleaning or eating dinner or even sitting by the pool, we will listen to a book we both want to read and it is really fun to have that collective experience! Plus, if you need to get through something really fast, like for a class, book club, or because the film is coming out soon, it is the best way to zoom through a book in a couple days without interfering with the other stuff you need to get done. Great video!
Also, Libby is an app that you can use if you have library card in the US (not sure if it is a universal thing but I've lived in multiple states and have been using it for years). It had audiobooks and ebooks that you can borrow and lots of libraries have pretty good selections, even brand new books. I would definitely search it up if you want to save a TON of money!
On my way to and from work-a 20ish minute jaunt where I almost forget that I'm going there. I know my sister used to/maybe still does listen to them on the bus on the commute to work. This also works for podcasts. That, on my lunch break walk and sometimes washing up is one of the times of day where I am not actually doing something where my ears could be enjoying themselves. I lamented recently not being able to read books because after a stressful day of work I'm a bit too spent and just want passive entertainment. It's great because it is giving me the opportunity to read in a way I haven't been able to for years.
Shout out to my college professor who wrote ON AN ACADEMIC PAPER that children who listen to their teacher read to them are not really reading. I'm still fuming.
Not technically reading but definitely still consuming stories!
David Copperfield is one of the best audiobooks ever and pretty much anything with an Irish narrator. Really appreciated your defence of how audiobooks really count as reading.
The Art of Asking was my favourite book that I read last year! I read it physically, but now I want to listen to the audiobook too.
I would listen to audiobooks in all those places and would include my commute, when I am in the shower and when I get in from work and just sorting myself out.
I need to read the Amanda Palmer book! looks amazing x
I love Stephen Fry's reading of the Harry Potter series. He does a different voice for every character and keeps it up consistently for the whole series!
I listen to audio books while I knit or do other artsy things that don't take up a tonne of my mental energy 😊
I often struggle to listen to audiobooks because my brain will just tune out and be doing the thinky thing until I suddenly remember that I was meant to be paying attention and I've missed out on a chunk of the story. That being said I did listen to the Book of Dust audiobook while stripping wallpaper last October and hoo boy was Michael Sheen a damn good narrator. For most of my "chore listening" I'll have podcasts playing or music because I'm too cheap to get audible
I looooove the first book u indicate! ❤️ Amanda Palmer ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Back when working was actually a thing we did, I used to love listening to an audiobook whilst I was at work (night retail worker) and I got through so many books that way as I had up to 22.5 hours a week to just listen to great audiobooks.
I can't remember all of the great audiobooks that I have listened to but The Arrival of Someday by Jen Malone really, really left its mark on me... Although maybe not the best for listening to in public!