Comments on: Should Writers Read or Listen to Books?

By: sandrar

sandrar — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 21:26:32 +0000

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By: V

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 04:39:44 +0000

Reading vs. listening: why not do both at the same time? You will be able to grasp the author’s intended flow while salvaging the comfort and focus of sitting down with your book.

By: Jonel

Jonel — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 04:41:19 +0000

Perhaps the utmost experience of “reading” a book or hearing a story is listening to the author him/herself read it. Like Neil Gaiman reading Coraline.
As a writer myself, knowing that he was able to put in his own little pauses, stops, accents to the character’s voices, and spin upon the narrative of Coraline….it just made it all the more special.
For a university project, that’s what I’m doing for one of the books I’m submitting . I’m recording myself reading it, and thus relating the story in the exact manner that I picture it in my head.
On the other hand, I don’t think it’s possible to get a full range of the experience without a hard copy of a book in your hands…there’s just something lack for me, at least. So the preferred method is a book, and then the CD to go along with it.
And one of these days they will make an e-reader that doesn’t cost a firstborn and I can give my opinions on that as well….

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Sat, 13 Sep 2008 15:58:01 +0000

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By: Nikolaos

Nikolaos — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 14:17:47 +0000

I don’t think something can replace reading a book but also listening to an audio book can be done at an in-depth level. I have done so numerous times, but i find myself being able to concentrate listening to a book only when i am driving. I do drive a lot daily to get to work and caught myself slowing down and really enjoying a good book. At times i even get to the parking lot and stay in the car a few minutes longer to finish a chapter or so. With the right book and once the listener is willing and can concentrate it can be a very rewarding experience

By: Bill

Bill — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 21:21:50 +0000

Generally, I prefer to read the actual book rather than listen to one, but I gave up any negative feelings I had about audio books long ago. Oral storytelling is a grand tradition; an audio book is merely the modern equivalent.

I have “read” audio books mostly while driving; I find I have too many distractions at home to listen there. (So now that I no longer have a commute, I haven’t read a good audio book in a long time.) Listening to a book is not that much different from listening to a CD or the radio, but if you want to really concentrate on the book, then it’s not a good idea to listen while driving, and probably a better idea to read it in print.

I have listened to many books I might not have otherwise ever read: classics or genres I had never explored. Sometimes, the act of being in the car adds to the vividness of the book: When I think of listening to “Cold Sassy Tree” or “Canticle for Leibowitz,” I recall sitting in my refrigerated car on a hot summer day as I made my way to visit out-of-state family, or the particularly dark night as I listened to a Dean Koontz novel.

I find an audio book immerses me in the richness of the language, the ebb and flow of the words, and requires different skills to follow the story. The printed words let me savor the construct of a sentence, to re-read it when I want, and requires no additional equipment (other than my reading glasses).

One thing I do not like is reading electronic books. I’m no Luddite, but the printed word for me is best enjoyed without the flicker of the screen, where I need to turn the page, not scroll the mouse to move forward. (Yet, except for my journal, I prefer to do all my writing on computer. Go figure.)

By: rummuser

rummuser — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 06:55:54 +0000

I prefer to read rather than listen.

Most listeners of audio books that I know listen while driving or doing something else. I do not think that the level of concentration needed is given when doing so. Moreover, listening while driving is also quite dangerous as at times one needs to pay attention to passages being read and can take the concentration off from the road.