When I first started listening to audiobooks I borrowed my friend's discs that she checked out from the library. I didn't have a library card of my own (I know, sinful and a long story) and just hadn't taken the time to check out what my library had available. When I became a more serious listener I finally checked out my library and realized that they had a large online database to download audiobooks.
My library was the main source of all of my audiobooks until I signed up for Audible per my coworker's suggestion a few months ago. For $15 a month I receive one credit which will allow me one audiobook. Audible also has occasional sales (like the BOGO sale happening right now) which are often too tempting to resist. I always try to use my library first but if my library doesn't have the book I'm looking for (or I forget to check) then Audible it is. I would love to learn about other audiobook services you use!
In terms of where I find audiobook titles and reviews, my answer is YOU. I don't follow new releases with a lot of zeal, but all of my bookish buzz comes mainly from twitter chat. It's funny because five years ago hardly anyone talked about listening to audiobooks but now it seems to be the main mode of reading. I don't read a lot of audiobook blogs, but JoAnn of Lakeside Musing seems to be my number one recommender of audiobooks. I've loved everything that she's recommended on her blog, so I keep a careful ear out for what she's loving. This includes The Elegance of the Hedgehog, The Homecoming of Samuel Lake, State of Wonder, and many others that I have put on my wishlist.
Audiobooks is still a relatively new world for me but I'm loving the journey!
Where do you get your audiobooks? How do you learn about must-listen-to titles?
OH! And I drew a winner for the Literary Giveaway Bloghop. Thank you to the 90 folks to entered. Eeep!
Congrats to Laura of Devouring Texts who said:
"Hello! There are just too many amazing books to choose from, but I think I'd pick Ready Player One cause I've been hearing loads of good things about it recently!
I can't even tell you how many of the books on your list I've loved, but let's jus say that The Complete Maus is one of my favourite things out of all the things that have ever been. So moving and yet not sentimental or horrid in any way.
Thanks for the giveaway, and I'm so glad I stumbled upon your blog! New follower fo sho!"
Fo sho, huh? Holla!!
I wish my library had a larger selection of books available online but it's a pretty small library system so I rely on Audible most of the time. Like you, I often forget to check the library first.
ReplyDeleteI think you've sold me on Audible for when the school year begins. (I'll be listening to more audios to drown out the bickering of politics this year!)
ReplyDeleteI really should sign up for Audible but I hate recurring bills like that.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, I'm seeing WAY more audiobook chatter recently.
ReplyDeleteIf I listened to a book on audio a few years ago, I used to just write up a regular book review and didn't even mention that I listened instead of reading a print copy. Audiobook readers are out of the closet now!
ReplyDelete*Oddiophile - I hope that more libraries begin to stock more and more downloadable books! It definitely makes reading more accessible to the busy masses.
ReplyDelete*christina - Yay!! I hope you love audible and it gets you listening more. :)
*Bermuda - I figure $15 a month isn't bad. Though you can do upfront!
*Jen/Devourer - I'm loving all the audiobook chatter--wondering what prompted it!
*Laurie C- I wish that more people would mention audiobooks--I know in the past there's been blogger discussions about whether audiobook listening is real reading (pshaw!), but I'm grateful for the audio movement!
Thank you, Trish! We do seem to have very similar taste in audiobooks... now I can't wait to listen to Ready Player One. Have been trying to figure out how to use Overdrive so I can borrow digital audiobooks from the library, but that seems to be more difficult with a Mac. I have a friend from book club who offered to walk me through the process... I should take her up on it.
ReplyDeleteMy library is absolutely my go to spot for audiobooks. They have a huge selection and Audible is awesome, but $15 per book to too much for me right now. Maybe one day!
ReplyDeleteMy library has an awesome selection so they are my main source.
ReplyDeleteI'm lucky that my library has such a great selection. I don't use audible right now, but I might look into it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog today!
Luckily my library has some great selections. My sister and I loved the reader for Bloody Jack by LA Meyer. But I'm a sucker for an accent. The reader for The Book Thief was excellent too. I could go on and on....
ReplyDeleteOur library doesn't have much of a selection either :( So like you, I depend on word of mouth more than anything. Sandy at You Gotta Read This also does a really good job of reviewing audiobooks/narrators so that I know which audiobooks to choose for me :)
ReplyDeleteSO, totally off topic of this post, but, I love that you are doing The Stand Readalong. If I hadn't just done the audiobook a few months back (My sixth time "reading" the book from start to finish, I would have totally joined in. I follow a few people participating in this on twitter, and am enjoying their tweets about it.
ReplyDeleteI like Audible, even though the website itself drives me crazy. It's a great place to buy audiobooks, but not often the best place to find audiobooks, particularly ones that are yet to be released. For that, I tend to scour publisher sites, and check out audiofile, which has a handy new release section that comes out ever two months or so.
I really wish more libraries had larger downloadable audiobook databases. I know mine in Ohio sucked. If it did have one, I never found it. I started with Audible's one-credit per month subscription and quickly switched to the two-credit subscription. I haven't regretted it yet, as I can easily get through both audiobooks in the month without waiting too long for my new credits. Their sales are deadly though!
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