Thursday, October 22, 2015

Audio Obsession #4. To read or to listen?

Audio
Obsession
Audio Obsession is a feature where I spread my love for audiobooks around blogosphere. Here you’ll see all things audio related.

To read or to listen?


I love reading and I love listening to audiobooks. So I often have to choose between the book and the audio. It looks like I have a pattern. Books I prefer in audio:


Beautiful prose

In my opinion audio format helps to appreciate author’s writing style. While listening I pay more attention to the beauty of the words. So authors with gorgeous writing is on my “to listen” list.

One of the authors I prefer in audio is Maggie Stiefvater. I’ve listened to The Scorpio Races and The Wolves of Mercy Falls series, and I highly recommend the audiobooks, narration was really good. I plan to listen The Raven Cycle series too.

The other “audio-author” for me is Gayle Forman. This year I’ve listened to three audiobooks: If I Stay, Where She Went and I Was Here. If I Stay and Where She Went ended on my “true-book-love” shelf, both for the stories and for the narration. While I Was Here wasn’t a total winner for me, the narrator Jorjeana Marie was amazing. I definitely plan to check out her backlist, because I was very impressed with her performance.

Earlier this year I’ve read Once Upon a Rose by Laura Florand. Her writing is gorgeous, I have a feeling I would love her stories in audio. I want to listen to her Amour et Chocolat series.

The author I’m eyeing audio-wise is Laini Taylor. I haven’t read anything by her yet, but I’ve heard a lot about her beautiful flourish writing. I think I would try her Daughter of Smoke & Bone series in audio format.


Romantic Suspense

I think it all started with Sandra Brown. Long time ago I’ve listened to several audiobooks and became a fan of her thrillers. Since then I’ve “read” her books only in audio. I don’t have a good explanation for this. I guess it’s partly a habit, partly my love for Victor Slezak (he is one of my favorite male narrators, and he performed in many Sandra Brown’s audiobooks). So I prefer Sandra Brown in audio.

Since then my audio preferences spread to whole Romantic Suspense genre. I’ve listened Linda Howard’s books in audio. I plan to listen to I-Team series by Pamela Clare and Killer Instincts series by Elle Kennedy.


Audiobooks narrated by my favorite narrators

When I find a narrator whom I love, I check out his or her backlist and listen to practically everything. For example, Dan Bittner. I fell in love with his narration in The Wolves of Mercy Falls series by Maggie Stiefvater. Then I went through his backlist and listened to Where She Went by Gayle Forman (which I absolutely loved).


Friends recs

When my friend gushes about an amazing audiobook, I can’t pass it. This happened with After the Night by Linda Howard. Rachel from Readers Den said that Natalie Ross’ narration was excellent and I went for the audiobook.

What about you? What books do you prefer in audio?

8 comments:

  1. I prefer my fantasy in graphic audio! OKAY, OKAY, I'VE BEEN PROMOTING GRAPHIC AUDIOS FOR A WHILE NOW, BUT THEY ARE JUST SO GOOD OKAY! But seriously, if ever you want to try Brandon Sanderson someday, I really recommend listening to them on Graphic Audio - amazing voice actors, amazing prose, amazing production value, what else could you ask for? XP

    Faye at The Social Potato

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  2. I don't know why but I have never got into audio books, everytime i try i just find my mind wandering and skip stuff /shrug i keep trying hoping ill find one that works for me

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  3. I've actually never listened to an audiobook. I think the hours that they tend to run make them more daunting for me, but my husband loves them and prefers them over paperbacks or even eBooks. He gets to listen to them in the car to and from work and seems to prefer dual narration when book are told in two points of view. He's read a few where the female narrator tried to do the male voice herself and laughs his head off. I'd love to start listening to a few on a weekend, perhaps while colouring to relax, so will check a few of these ones out. Thanks for sharing poppet and great post! <3

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  4. Oh I love listening to audiobooks! Back in my old job, I'm able to listen to my book while I work. I think I can still do that to my new job, but since I've just started training, I'm not sure that's wise. Lol. Being a mutual fan of Sandra Brown's books, i enjoy listening to romantic suspense and books that are usually hefty. Great post, Ksenia!

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  5. Great post dear! Have a wonderful weekend:)

    irenethayer.com

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  6. Ahh I LOVE audios!! I've read The Scoprio Races before but I just got the audio because I seem to appreciate things even more on audio. (I'm a really fast reader, so the audios help me absorb more.) I listened to If I Stay on audio and there was sad cello music and BASICALLY I CRIED. Best book ever. :')
    Thanks for stopping by @ Paper Fury!

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  7. I dearly wish that I had the brain for audiobook. Though I am an ace at multitasking in everything else, I simply can't pay attention to audiobooks, they become white noise very quickly for me. In saying that, I am very tempted to start The Northern Light as an audiobook, as the narration sounds beautiful!

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  8. I'm hoping to get obsessed with listening to audiobooks just as much as you are Ksenia, I finally got my first audiobook the other day and whilst it is taking me a while to adjust to the narrators voice, I can't wait to try out more soon! :)

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