Are Audiobooks of general interest in the DU Lounge?

[Audio_Al]

It has seemed to me that almost everybody I know today is using some form of an MP3 player, even to the extent that the capability is being built into cell phones. So, my assumption has been that there is probably broad interest in audiobooks that would be available to be listened to via a person’s player.

I have posted information on quite a few audiobooks in the last 24 hours. This was a catch-up kind of thing. In general, my intention would be to provide information on only a few audiobooks per month, because that’s about as much as I can handle.

The main question I have is whether audiobooks information is too specialized a subject area for the DU Lounge. If it is, I’ll post this information elsewhere. That will, of course, deprive many people of easily viewing what I am posting. So, your kind opinion on this will be welcomed. No hostile responses are called for… only a brief reply, please.

Thank you.

Audio Al

[SPKrazy]

1. not really to me

but i'm sure that people that have commutes or just like to listen to audio books might

I'd rather read

[Audio_Al]

4. Thank you for your thoughts. Keep in mind that while the focus of the information is on audiobooks,

I always include information regarding availability in hardbound or paperback books -- and most of the information presented would be applicable to print copies as well.

What do you think?

Al

[terrya]

2. I can see if you're taking a long trip in a car.

You're driving a long distance and you want to be entertained along the way...audio books are the way to go.

And, of course, if you're seeing impaired. Of course, then, audio books are perfect.

But speaking for myself, other than those two situations, I'll always pick up a book. Books, to me, are something you hold in your hands. Paper.

[Audio_Al]

6. OK. Thanks. As I just responded to someone else...

Keep in mind that while the focus of the information is on audiobooks, I always include information regarding availability in hardbound or paperback books -- and most of the information presented would be applicable to print copies as well.

Any further thoughts?

Al

[LSK]

3. I only have listened to 1 audiobook

An Al Franken book while I was sick and stuck in bed. I am usually listening to AAR or NPR too much to listen to them.

[Audio_Al]

8. Thank you, LSK.

[Fire Walk With Me]

5. Hi Al.

I used to read a -lot-, but have never indulged in an audio book, even now when I'm not reading much anymore. I don't know why. You listed that great actor Rene A. (no chance of my spelling his name correctly) as having read at least one of the books in your reviews; I'd be interested in hearing this. I myself just don't feel interested enough to spend that long listening to a book. I don't know why. It's an intersecting question I'd never been aware about in myself.

If you were to review audiophile recording and playback equipment, I'd likely be more involved in such threads...

I don't have a problem with people posting audio book reviews. I just don't read (posts that) I don't have an interest in.

You weren't acting like a republican in your threads so I didn't respond when some questioned your intent. You didn't lie, didn't make phony promises to get people interested in what you are doing, didn't pretend to experience you don't have, and then didn't get republican-level defensive upon being questioned for republican behavior. =That= is what gets =my= hackles up. You didn't do any of that. Or then gather a gang to attack anyone who differs with you and your supposed right to do all those negative things. Know them by their fruits. I do. I'll call it in government, I'll call it on the internet. There are plenty of people looking to cause trouble, and you don't seem to be one of them.

You're doing okay. No problems there. Stick with it.

Edit for spelling and context. Cheers, Al.

[Audio_Al]

9. Thanks so much for your thoughtful response.

[supernova]

7. Al, consider posting

the audio book info in the DU Market place or either of the Book Forums (Ficition and Non), that way people who are genuinely looking for book info will see it.

The Lounge is strictly for socializing and a sell free zone, and that might be where the problem came in last night. Just FYI.

edit: At this stage, I prefer to read. But if I ever became sight impaired enough, I'd certainly use audio books regularly. At this stage, the only audio books I'm interested in are ones done by a particular actor because I love to listen to his voice and diction.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=213

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=208

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=209

[Audio_Al]

11. Appreciate your input.

Al

[SecularMotion]

10. Maybe one of the Book groups or another DU group

would be a more appropriate place to post regular reviews of audio books. I don't think the lounge is the right place for posts of this type

see the post above :)

[Audio_Al]

12. OK. Thank you.

[sniffa]

13. nope

unLess you're bLind, or on a Long road trip, audio books are for the Lazy.

[Book Lover]

14. Said the man who has clearly never sat in a storyteller's audience

Listening to a story instead of reading it can be a deep and touching experience. You ought to give it a shot if a professional comes your way.

[sniffa]

15. weLL

that doesn't change what i said. non-Lazy peopLe read their own books. they aLso write their own reviews.

[Book Lover]

24. Why does reading a book have to be laborious? (nm)

[NV Whino]

59. That's assuming they can read and write.

[datasuspect]

22. we wouldn't have the illiad or the odyssey

if it weren't for those "lazy" people who don't read their own books.

oral tradition of literary transmission anyone?

[auntAgonist]

16. I work full time 10 hours a day, sometimes 6 days a week

I listen to audio books at work. I don't have time to sit and enjoy a book (read)when I'm home.

Lazy? NO.

[Ariana Celeste]

23. some people absorb information better auditorily

it doesn't make them lazy.

[Zookeeper]

17. Probably not. I would say that the book forums might....

be a better fit.

And I'm sorry that you were challenged in such an unkind way. I believe that you meant well.

:hi:

[Audio_Al]

19. Thanks.

[cobalt1999]

18. I listen to about 2 a month, but...

The book forums are probably the best place to post reviews. They won't disappear so quickly and it's easier to search when it's time to find a new book (audio or otherwise)

[Audio_Al]

20. OK. Thank you so much.

[datasuspect]

21. al, post what you like

if it is within the TOS of this site, don't sweat it.

please be very aware there are plenty of dicks here just like in real life.

so expect snotty responses, rudeness, and very childish behavior.

understand that there are some very young people here who lack subtlety and are very much products of television.

just a few caveats.

enjoy your time here!

[Audio_Al]

29. Good. Thank you for the advice.

[Ariana Celeste]

25. to be perfectly honest,

personally I would be more inclined to reply if it was about an author I'm familiar with- but that's just me. I imagine you and I probably have wildly different taste in reading material :P

there's so much posted in the lounge that a lot of threads sink really fast, so you may have a better shot in the book forum (you'll have to donate I think to post in it)

don't let the snarkers get you down, Al. the lounge is for everyone to post whatever non-political stuff they want.

[CC]

26. I don't listen to

audio books but love to read books. My DH that drives a truck does listen to them every week. Specially when he can't take getting any angrier after listening to the screw over of the hour. He decided it was a bit dangerous to be so angry while in the tractor trailer. Distracting and then add in right wing cb'ers and idiot drivers and it is just asking for trouble so he has learned to turn off the cb and the radio and listen to a book. I relate some of the reviews to him though the most important info to him is if it is unabridged. He would rather take along 10 or more cds and get the whole book than a shortened version. Course I just skimmed a few last night and gave up after some of the comments.

[Audio_Al]

66. CC, your husband is a smart cookie; you're great for helping him out.

The main goal here is to have my own web journal that has stored on it the audiobook updates -- with new and improved formats -- so interested people can go there if they wish.

See the initial information here: http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Audio_Al

This was essentially a couple of months worth of updates. I put them in all at once last Thursday, which seemed to cause some consternation! But they will be spaced out better in the future.

Again, these audiobook updates are used primarily for volunteer audio programs at Oregon Public Broadcasting's Accessible Information Network. This sub-channel service here in Oregon and southern Washington was expanded to include the Internet in April 2004. We have dozens of volunteers on this 24/7 audio service which you can easily hear.

You can read more about that project at this link:

www.opb.org/accessinfonet

Adding it to the Democratic Underground just widens the audience to DUers and others who are interested.

If no interest exists for certain people here, that's fine.

Al

[LynzM]

27. I would be interested in that info, possibly

I listen to them on my commute on my mp3 player, it keeps me sane :) I can get some books for free via my library download when I have functioning Windows computer, which I don't, at the moment.

What kind of information are you looking to provide?

[Audio_Al]

30. Yesterday I decided to start a DU journal for audiobooks that are previewed and discussed

on a Monday program on OPB's Accessible Information Network. This is basically to acquaint an audience of 80,000 to 100,000 Oregon and Washington listeners as to what is now available for purchase or download.

It's part of a 24/7 service on the Internet also. I used a self-designed information format page which was supposed to spark ad-lib discussion on these selected books. You can see some samples at my journal.

The journal is at: http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Audio_Al

[Blue-Jay]

28. Post whatever you want to post.

It's a free world, right?

Let me caution you, however. If you kick your own posts because nobody was interested, you will look sad and crazy.

[Audio_Al]

43. Kicking? What is that? No one has to read these post if they don't want to.

Al

[Greyskye]

31. not personally

I enjoy the act of reading too much. And the way my brain works, I tend to 'tune out' when listening to an audio book for an extended time. Too many ADD tendencies I think. If my eyesight ever goes, I'm sure I'll manage to make the adjustment somehow though.

Besides, I think that I can do a better job of reading aloud then most of the (admittedly few) books I've heard on tape. I really enjoy making the stories come alive when I read. The voice in my head rocks, and the voice that comes out of my mouth usually does a pretty decent job as well.

Maybe I'll try an audio book again at some point when I have hours of work to do outside. I kind of doubt it though, as it's not something I ever think of in advance. :silly:

[Audio_Al]

44. OK -- good. Everyone has a choice how to read these days.

Al

[pokerfan]

58. I have the 46 CD version of LOTR

expressly for long road trips (often canoe trips into central British Columbia). I would prefer to read but that's not really an option while driving and even music tends to get monotonous after a while.

This unabridged version is read by Rob Inglis, who has performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company. His voice is perfect for Tolkien. He has obviously studied the appendices and can read Tolkien's invented languages flawlessly not to mention pronouncing the archaic English perfectly. He even created plausible melodies for the many songs that I usually just read as poetry.

While I would much rather read a book than hae one read to me, it's a great way to pass the time on a long drive.

[Audio_Al]

62. My children and I used to read Lord of the Rings at night.

46 CDs! With a Shakespearean actor as narrator. Sounds wonderful!

Thanks for your post.

[pokerfan]

67. It's out of print but Amazon shows some sellers

http://www.amazon.com/Lord-Rings-Trilogy-Gift-Set/dp/1402516274

I just listened to the scene with Éowyn and the Witch King, one of my favorite passages: Éowyn and Merry fulfilling Glorfindel's prophecy that "not by the hand of any living man" could the Witch King be destroyed.

And Inglis does a great Gollum, BTW. Livens up some parts of the book that remain a bit of a slog for me to this day.

Anyway, it's well worth the price. Forty-six discs, fifty-five hours.

[alarimer]

32. I have just started listening to audiobooks

I listened to The Omnivore's Dilemma recently. I have to say the experience is quite different than reading. Usually I would only listen for 30 minutes or so before sleep. So it took me much longer than it would have to read it.

Now I am listening to Special Topics in Calamity Physics, a novel. I find that narrator a little annoying, to be frank. I find it a little jarring when she reads the father's dialog. Maybe I expected to be more like a play, with different people voicing different roles. But I am sure I will adjust.

This all started when I subscribed to Emusic's new audiobook service. It costs me 9.99 for one audiobook per month. Since it takes me more than a month to finish one, I should have a backlog of stuff to listen to. With an 80 gb Ipod, I should have lots of room for them.

Also, on edit, perhaps audiobooks work better in certain genres. Like detective or mystery stories. I'll have to see what I like.

I do appreciate the info, though.

Also, listening to audiobooks reminds me of being read to as a child. That's kind of cool, actually.

[Audio_Al]

45. Very interesting message, alarimer. Do you go to the book forums at all?

Al

[alarimer]

53. Sometimes

I was interested in seeing what others had to say about the Omnivore's Dilemma. And other books that I have read, especially the political ones.

[RetroLounge]

33. I have no interest in them at all...

But you asked me a question in the other thread and I didn't answer. My apologies...

"Do you view the internet as competition for your store?"

No, not at all. In fact, the internet is what keeps my store in business while the Brick & Mortor store builds up a clientele. The Bricks and Clicks business model is what I follow. I have about 12,000 books in the store so far and every single one is for sale online. These sales keep me going. Some days I sell 40 or 50 books online and nothing in the store. Other days the opposite.

As far as audio books, I only deal with used items, and I did get a box of audio book tapes in the store and have sold most of them. They are great for people who commute, but for me, I need to hold a book in my hand and read it myself. No problems with people who don't...

:hi:

RL

[Audio_Al]

38. Thanks, Retro. Good clarification. My wife told me you are a kind person.

Worked in marketing and sales for a good part of my life, before audiobooks were very popular. The travel I did left me with time in airports, as well as on planes, trains and in automobiles. Usually, I would carry paperback or hardbound books in my briefcase (this was even before CDs were invented). Never did anything with cassette tapes.

My wife listened to audio tapes in her car during sales travel (we were on the road for a couple of companies both locally and nationally for years in the 1970s and 80s). But she doesn't like books on tape or CDs... she prefers music. She says it's her escape from words!

Everyone is different, and the technology is changing so much -- but when inexpensive mp3 players came out a few years ago, I bought a couple Sansas and we both have them now to listen to during frequent travel during our retirement.

Anyway, thanks for your message. I kind of hope people don't think I'm posting spam when I give out this information about the various publishing companies and their efforts to enter this new age with both audiobooks on CDs and now downloadable books. Am revising the look of these this weekend. Suggestions are that I put them up in the book forums. If I still get hassled there, will have to rethink it.

Do you have a journal here?



Al

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Audio_Al

[LaurenG]

34. My mother has macular degeneration and was always an avid

reader so it's always nice to hear an audio book review and then order something for her. I love to read books but I would listen to audio books while doing things that kept me moving, like housework.

[Audio_Al]

40. Might mention too that our original audio show is for the sight-impaired people in OR and WA.

Information about Oregon Public Broadcasting's Accessible Information Network shows their decades-long commitment to this sort of audio programming. Link on the Internet is at:

http://www.opb.org/accessinfonet/

Al

[cuke]

68. That sounds veryinteresting to me

My mom has Alzheimer's and the TV is starting to get too confusing and scary for her with all the commercials and what not. I've been looking at something where I could control the content so I could limit it to stuff my mom can handle without getting agitated. She needs pleasant, happy stories with uncomplicated plots. She can handle a storyline if it doesn't have too much going on and there's little if any conflict and disturbing ideas. She does like cartoons (but now even the interruptions from commercials upsets her) so I'm thinking she may like to hear some children's stories. She loves children and babies.

I gave the site a real quick look through. I'll have to do a more thorough job and go through the program descriptions, but if you know of anything that might be appropriate, I'd appreciate any advice you could give.

Thanks for the info.

[crispini]

35. I have medium interest in audiobooks.

I won't get an abridged audiobook. I feel that it's cheating to leave stuff out. So that limits my selection somewhat. Also, I only tend to listen to them on plane rides. When I'm at home, I'd rather read. Which limits my interest further. ;)

I think the book forum would be better for posting this kind of thing-- the Lounge is rather fast moving, and it would be easier to find reviews there. :hi:

[Audio_Al]

46. Re: Book forums -- we're going to try those out, too in a revised format.

My wife has no experience with those book forums. She's been posting her stuff here -- movie and theater information -- in the Lounge -- and if local, in the two state forums -- OR and WA.

As we get closer to the election, maybe some stuff will be in the political forum.

Thanks to you.

:hi: Al

[Momgonepostal]

36. I used to listen to them often...

I worked for 6 years at a place that let us use headphones while we worked. I read literally hundreds in that time. I was just laid off last week, so won't be needing them for myself as often, but I do get them from the library for my mom.

I've also enjoyed them for long car trips. My family drove from CA to Utah and back last summer, and listened to three during the trip. It sure made the time go by faster!

Anyway, sure, post them here, but you may also want to try the books forums, fiction and non-fiction. At least there you know 100 percent of the posters are interested in some sort of book. :-)

[Audio_Al]

39. Momgonepostal, thanks for your discussion of this topic.

Really don't have to worry about discussion so much, but have to put them somewhere on some forum so they go to my journal. Nobody is forced to read them, but some people are pretty critical and negative -- at least that was my first experience in the DU Lounge on Thursday.



Al

[tjwmason]

37. Not personally - I take in information visually

I don't follow the subject matter half as well in an audio-book as in print.

But I agree that there is immense potential for audio-books in emerging digital technologies.

As for the Lounge - my view is that there's plenty of space in here, so even if I'm not interesting that certainly doesn't mean it shouldn't be here...for example I have no interest in seeing pictures of pets, yet that is a very common topic here and I've got no objection to that.

[bicentennial_baby]

41. hey now....he heard that....and he's coming for you!

[Audio_Al]

47. is that an attack cat???

AL

[bicentennial_baby]

48. He's my evil kitten

:)

[tjwmason]

49. I knew I should have stayed in the closet

Now I'm truly screwn.

[Audio_Al]

42. tjwmason... seems like an OK position to me.

We received several good suggestions in this thread as well as other communication from the moderators.

Want to thank everyone for posting.

Off to other personal projects for most of the rest of today.

Al

[Fire Walk With Me]

50. Odd how a discussion about audio books in general prompts more responses than

discussions about the single items and their content. :shrug:

I love books. Just love them. Few things are as important as books, in any form.

[Audio_Al]

64. Generalized topics usually get a bigger response than specific topics?

Probably so.

I share your love of many books, but now that I have a choice of physically carrying them around while we travel -- or putting them on an mp3 player or a cell phone -- I'm going with the electronic way.

The further you travel, the more cumbersome the stuff becomes. In retirement, we are doing a great deal of world travel via airplane, so this is just another way to keep things simple!

Thanks for your comments.

Al

[MonkeyFunk]

51. Not to me

I've tried listening to books on tape, and just can't keep the focus. I have to keep rewinding.

I need to read a book to really concentrate on it.

[sundog]

57. squirm MonkeyFunk

squirm

[Tuesday Afternoon]

52. From what I have seen --

The Lounge is a free for all...Post what you want, when you want. Why not? Everyone else does!

[Ivan Sputnik]

54. I'm interested in your reviews

But then, I work in the audiobook industry. It's always interesting to me to read or hear what listeners to these books are thinking. I don't think posting your reviews here is a problem, if it's "a few...per month." You might think about combining them into one long post, rather than many short ones, though.

[NC_Nurse]

55. I'm interested. I like to listen to them on car trips.

:hi:

[CreekDog]

56. Not generally. Only specifically.

[madinmaryland]

60. Hi Al. Just a question of curiosity.

When you review an audiobook is it for the content of the book or for the presentation of the book?

I have only listened to part of an audiobook (the first two tapes of Apollo 13, which was a set given to me by James Lovell, when I met him at Simon & Schuster a few years back). At this time I would prefer to read the book!

:hi:

[Audio_Al]

61. Hi madinmaryland.. I'm not sure that I understand your question.

My objective is to provide useful information on as many audiobooks as possible.

Of course, I cannot possibly listen to all of the many audiobooks that are being published each month. I try to put available information into a useful context. That is independent of whether or not I have personally been able to experience the book.

Sometimes this requires some research that goes beyond what the publisher provides. For example, I may feel that it will be of interest to know more about the author than what the publisher has provided with the particular audiobook. Also, I may feel that I want to give more information on the background of the narrator. Where the audiobook is in a continuing series, I will usually want to offer a summary of all of the books in the series, and so it goes...

I am delighted when the update is for an audiobook that I have listened to. That permits me to provide some further insight into the quality of the work and to share a more personal viewpoint.

Let me know if you have futher questions.

Al

[sakabatou]

63. I have several books on my iPod

[Audio_Al]

65. Have you read them, sakabatou?

Al

[sakabatou]

69. Most of them

[sasquatch]

70. Are they books on tape (books read on tape) or just audio lectures

I generally like books read on tape but the other I don't know if that's any good.