I was hoping a librarian would pitch in. I did come across some data that suggests that audiobooks are growing faster in lending than print books. My own hometown library is a bit behind the curve on this, but I believe we will have audio downloads early in 09.

I think lending would be the perfect solution to the cost problem for us customers.

As for the ick factor… I guess it’s like everything else in the narration: it can be done well or badly.

And there are other things besides sex that would be hard for me to hear, like torture or other violence. I remember once listening to Alice Walker’s Possessing the Secret of Joy years and years ago and I about ran my car off the road on my way to school. Nothing like female genital cutting to wake you up in the morning!

As for authors, like Mojo and Victoria, I can see the issue of cost. I would love to know whether publishers now put aside money for audio for more books than before. I can tell you that I would never have begun reading Harlequin Spice if they were not on audio. But a 12 year old who swallowed a dictionary? I think Mojo may have a career in narration if this writer thing doesn’t work out!

Peggy,

I agree completely about being forced to take your time. You cannot gulp an audiobook, and this is actually excruciating when it’s a thriller or suspense. You want to turn those pages faster and you can’t!

I do wonder how I managed to do housework, laundry, yard work, etc. before audiobooks – I (almost)look forward to long stretches of some tedious tasks so I can finish my current book!

I do also re-listen to some audiobooks…sometimes there is a certain comfort in a familiar voice telling a story I’ve already enjoyed, late at night when I’m trying to get back to sleep – not so different from a comfort re-read.

I’ve found that a good book is a good book and that a talented writer’s words have the same meaning and impact no matter how I have them delivered to me. I don’t think I concentrate less on an audiobook than an actual read. Of course, the fastest way to devour a book is to read it but sometimes it seems I listen harder because I can’t control the pace, I can’t skip a too descriptive paragraph or flip through a long rehash of some plot point and so I pay attention to all of the words – which is what the author wanted me to do along anyway.

That said, we ( B10 Mediaworx ) looked into doing an audiobook version of my book because we know that a lot of people like and buy them–but wow, the cost! We might in the future, but right now, no. We simply can’t afford to.

And I sound like a 12-year-old redneck who ate a dictionary, so I am certainly not going to voice it myself.

Audiobooks are my savior to a certain extent. I listen to books I know I’ll never get around to reading (prime example: White Oleander by Janet Fitch, the Recorded Books unabridged edition is spectacular!), and it’s how I keep up with a lot of my mystery series reading. Can’t remember the last time I actually “read” a Sue Grafton novel and I’ve never “read” Janet Evanovich…only listened.

And for the record….I don’t see it as cheating. Your brain is actively engaged in the story, just as it would be if you were reading it. It’s just a different experience, that’s all.

Audiobooks are expensive, especially if you’re not the type of person who “re-listens.” So people should scope out your local library! Honestly, as a librarian? I would say 95% of what I check out from work are audiobooks. I love ‘em, but dang – I’m too cheap to buy ‘em for myself.