My husband and I recently listened to an audiobook while traveling. I chose one I thought he’d like - Kristen Hannah, The Great Alone - and I think we both enjoyed it. She’s a writer read primarily by women, I think, but this one is set in remote Alaska in the 70’s, and I thought (correctly) that he would like that.
I did it on a cross-country trip with my kids, too. I had two books going because we were switching out kids and cars. One of the books was Angela’s Ashes, which was a DELIGHT as an audio, because Frank McCourt, the author, read it, and he’s Irish, so very easy on the ears. Same thing here - I chose something I thought a 12yo boy could attach to, but that wouldn’t drive me crazy. I think I’d already read it at that point.
I can say that if my husband put on headphones to listen to a book while driving a long distance, I’d probably be pissed. Unless we had some sort of agreement that I would read my book as a passenger while he listened to his as the driver for a set amount of time. Otherwise I’d feel bored and trapped and bitter.
I have no problem listening and doing other things. If you miss something just rewind a bit and listen again. I have listened 100s maybe even 1,000s at this point. I started when they were on cassette tapes
Just remember a narrator will make or break a book. Like @punnyguy said about Eyes of Prey. All apps have a sample feature so you can have a 3-5 min preview. There are some I love, and some I just can’t.
My number one problem with audiobooks is bad narrators. My second biggest problem is falling asleep while listening, then trying to figure out where the hell I was when I fell asleep.
I had to cancel my audible and hate myself everyday. I miss it and want it back. As soon as I get my shit sorted out, that’s the first thing I am getting back!
I don’t think hoopla has a sample feature. If it does, I can’t find it. I usually just look the book up on audible and sample it there, then decide if I want to borrow it.
Yeah, but I usually fall asleep when I’m not expecting it. Lol. I have my sleeping books (mostly Emily Henry. The narrator is very soothing) but I fall asleep when I’m listening to a book I want to hear and then I have to just restart chapters. This just happened about 5 minutes ago. Lol. So now I’m going to put on the book I sleep to and drift into oblivion with my 45 minute timer on.
I use Libby and Cloud Library. No, hoopla at my local library.
I go to and check the ratings/ reviews. It doesn’t have at least 3.5 stars there’s usually a reason.
I have found the the ratings are usually helpful. I really have to step up my game on my current book. I still have like 18 hours left and only 4 days. Although I will have some time while I’m in Kenosha waiting for my boy to finish his interview. I don’t think I can sit through another 4 hour presentation on admissions. That should make the time more bearable.
Thanks! Audible sends me that deal at least once a week, but I am the only human in America that doesn’t have a credit card. Years ago I paid off all that stuff and said never again.
Google says you can purchase through Amazon with a gift card but you cannot. I have already tried. Even tried a prepaid card and that won’t work either. You can’t even buy the audible book out right through Amazon with a gift card. It is locked out.
Mom’s death and Jed’s broken leg put me in a bind. It will take a little time but I’ll get it back.
Predictable is a valid criticism. But I like “fun” reads, so it’s the process not the outcome -as long as the author invents good characters, keeps the action moving, and is entertaining, that’s entertainment for me.
Heck, I like Hallmark movies, and nothing is more predictable than those LOL! But as long as the fair lady is attractive/hot, and her suitor (who we all know is going to win her hand) is not a douchebag, I still enjoy watching heh.
I actually like predictable sometimes for the same reason. I like knowing it will be a happy ending. Then I just enjoy the story as long as the characters are well written.
@BethB Ok, knocked off Wheel of Darkness & Cemetery Dance, then I was kicking myself yesterday/Sun because I was too lazy to literally drive across the street to get the next book in the series at the library(on Saturday, closed Sun). So when I finished Cemetery Dance Saturday night, I didn’t have the next book in the series. Luckily, I still technically have the first 2 books from Preston & Child, which I had initially cast aside due to them being paperbacks with extremely small print. I wear readers when I read normally, but with those 2 books, AND readers, the print is still tiny but I said screw it and dug into the very first book yesterday. I’m about 250 pages in so I’ll finish it, but in the meantime I’ll run by the library today to get the next in the series, “Fever Dream”. I’ve already requested holds for the next 3 books at the library as well. Whew…
Did you make any headway in your Prey books over the weekend? I hope you managed to carve out SOME time to read aka decompress.
I got very little reading done this weekend. A tiny bit Friday while I was hanging out waiting for my son to finish his interview stuff. Beyond that, my whole weekend was family stuff. Visiting with my in-laws, taking my son shopping for shoes (oh my lord was that an ordeal!). Yesterday my family and I played Rummy for a few hours. So that was my decompression time. If I accomplish all of my goals for the day, my reward will be reading for a few hours. It’s actually been nice to be restricted with time. It’s forcing me to slow down and actually look forward to getting to read.
Well, if you’re spending time with family that is definitely better than reading I agree. It doesn’t sound like your son shops for clothes like I do, which sounds like it was a battle for you. Me? I can clothes shop in Usain Bolt world record time. I walk in, see a pair of shoes, a shirt, I like, I see if they have my size, if they do, BOOM, I grab it and head for the register. If I have to try it on, if it’s a button up, I try it on right next to the rack, over my shirt. If I MUST try something on, I turn into a 5 year old and pitch a fit, then my wife talks me down, reminding me that most things are not made to fit a guy with bodybuilder dimensions, which dammit she’s right, as always, so I try it on. But I hate it. If it fits, then my tactic is to grab 2 or 3 others just like it but in different colors, and by then I’m squirming to get out of there! The only thing I have any luck with buying on Amazon, clothes-wise, is shorts, like workout shorts. But shirts, jeans? HA, yeah, right. I learned long ago that all that leads to is me going to the UPS store to return it.
Hey, I just ran over to the library and picked up the next book in my series, Fever Dream! I was stoked. But in my haste and since it’s literally across the street from my house, I didn’t bring my wallet OR cell phone. So I had to actually go old school and check it out at the front desk. When she asked for my library key chain card, or cell phone app, I told her i forgot it. I told her my name, then she asked me for an ID?? I laughed out loud and said “look, I’m just checking out a library book, I didn’t know the library had such strict security protocols. I forgot my wallet/cell phone at home as I just jumped in the truck to come grab this” I was amazed….then she was like “ok, i’ll let you do it” like she was doing me a big favor. Lesson learned, bring my cell phone so i can do it myself next time, how dumb is that?
