How I Changed My Views About Auidobooks

Hey Everyone 👋

If you read my book reviews often, you will notice if I’ve read the actual book, or if I’ve listened to the audiobook version of that book, because I will always say. With this, I will often include a review of the audiobook I listened to and whether that increased or simply just messed up my view of the book completely. More and more I’ve been listening to more audiobooks, via audible, but this wasn’t also the case…

Not too long ago, a year or two ago, I wouldn’t even give audiobooks a chance. No way in hell! How could you get into the book if you weren’t fully emerged in it right? At least that was my opinion. If you’re doing something else then you’re going to miss something, or your going just not going to care for the people, the storyline, as much as you would if you were reading the physical book, or the ebook. That all changed for me with one book.

My mum, for some reason, signed up for audible and went six month before realising and before finally shutting it down, gifted me her six credits. My mum doesn’t read, or listen to books, which is why this is still a mystery to us all 🤔 I selected six books that were on my Amazon wish list at the time, the main one being Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. Me and my partner, both big readers, were going on holiday and were going to be stuck in the car for about four and half hours so I thought perfect! OMG! This was the one time we hoped we got stuck in traffic! We had no problem getting into the book, I think, personally, this might just be one of those books that play better as an audiobook, but I could definitely be biased and I have listened to it again! This has been a first of many!

I listen to audiobooks quite often now. I listen to them when:

• I’m cleaning
• Getting reading
• On the bus
• In the bath
• Cooking
• Exercising
• Just want to!!
• Going to sleep
• Travel
• Beach

My biggest reason why I enjoy listening to audiobooks is because I suffer with migraines. I have Chronic Migraines, which is infuriating when I love reading. So, sometimes when I read too much I can feel when a migraine is going to come along, especially if I use my Kindle or my phone to read. The most convenient ways to read, trust. So I can stop for I while. Do what I need to do and let the audiobook take over. Even if it’s for the next couple of days. I still get to do what I love and it’s less painful for myself. I do find myself switching from physical books, to audiobooks often and now do own multiple copies of books in different formats, but who doesn’t want to own a book they love in several formats? Plus I’ll always have it with me. So health wise, audiobooks are great, but I know nothing replaces a real book 100%.

I do now find myself purchasing extra credits some months because Ive spent my monthly credit, listened to the book I’m currently listening to, or like now, making my way through a series and I’m listening to quickly for my monthly credits. But the 3 credit for £18 is a lot cheaper than the one listen would’ve been and I’ve got two credits left.

This has now become me and my partners new thing, where we will pick a book and listen to it when driving or going on Holiday. It is also what we listen to before bed, a chapter each night. After many arguments and rows, we have now decided to take it in turn to decide what we listen to. So I decided on the Harry Potter Series 😁🥰 Got to get another Re-read in and this a different way of doing it! Honestly, I think it’s made me grow as a reader because it’s made me realise how I change my opinions about something I was so certain I hated and because of this I have started reading genre I was certain I felt the same about. Slowly I will admit. I’ve grown in more than I can read and where I was taking breaks from reading, I know I no longer have to. I have already beat my Goodreads Reading Challenge of 52 books and plan on smashing my new goal of 100 books!

What are some of your opinions and views on audiobooks? Like them? Can’t stand them? Let me know…