Audio Adventures: Perks of Being a Listener, Part 2



Welcome to another edition of Audio Adventures! Back in October I came up with a list of perks of listening to audiobooks. Five months later, I've thought of a couple more audiobook bonuses so I give you

Perks of Being a Listener: Part 2

8. Memorize books.
So I have listened to the Beautiful Player audiobook in full about seven times and parts of it at least on three separate occasions, and man, I KNOW that book. It's just like memorizing lines from your favorite movies or tv shows or Hamilton. There may or may not be a practical use for having these lines memorized, but knowing the story so well you can quote along with it (but if it's a book like Beautiful Player, maybe don't quote it places like work and the grocery store ;D) will help you connect to it and the characters better.  

9. Listening is inclusive for those with visual impairments.
I can't BELIEVE I left this one off the first list! OBVIOUSLY listening to books is a great way for those with visual disabilities to read. The truly sucky thing is that not all books are available via actual audiobook but via text-to-speech apps so I wish there were a way for even more books to be adapted via audio.

10. Road tripping? Say farewell to reading-caused motion sickness!
I HATE that I feel sick when I read in a car. Normally it's not a problem because I road trip so much solo that I'm doing the driving and am already listening to an audio (or Taylor Swift or Hamilton or Frozen). But I hate that when I'm doing a long trip with my family, my parents listen to their own audiobooks that I don't want to listen to, and I can't read my own books or I'll throw up (which would serve them right for bogarting the radio). But with audiobooks, I can put in my headphones, turn up the volume over whatever-the-fuck they're listening to, and entertain myself.

11. Listen when you're not in the mood to read.
Every time my library hosts our book festival, I have a really hard time reading for about the 3 weeks before and a few days after. I spend more time at work so by the time I get home, I don't feel like reading. I usually veg out on my couch for exactly one episode of a mind-numbing sitcom and then drag myself to bed. And after the festival, I feel like death because of how much physical, mental, and emotion energy the day of takes. So audiobooks are a good way to keep my mind engaged without having to hold a book, use overtired eyes, or be in a position that's anything other than horizontal and/or fetal. This is also highly applicable when I'm sick.

So now we're up to 11 perks of listening to audiobooks. Have I converted you yet? Do you have any pros I can add to the list? Let me know in the comments!

14 comments:

  1. They are a must on road trips. I let my daughters pick and it was nice to be able to share something with them. At the time it was a lot of Dessen and Colasanti.

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    1. LOVE Dessen! I've read Susane Colasanti's books but not the audiobooks. Did you like them? My parents listen to a lot of adult mystery, which is fine; it's just not my preference.

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  2. Yes to these! Excellent points--I definitely get car sick reading and we are without power since yesterday (maybe get it back this weekend they're hoping) and if I could have an audio book and hook it to a rechargeable battery we have, I'd be set for an evening of no TV.

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    1. Ohhh, that's a good one too! I usually don't listen when the power goes out because I don't want to drain my phone's battery in case I need it, but if you have a rechargeable battery, you'd be all set!

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  3. I've never been one to really ever listen to audiobooks because I always find myself distracted by things if I don't have a book in my hand forcing me to hold it. I think what sold me on it though is the time I spend in my car being car sick because of my reading habits! Great point. :)

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    1. I definitely need to be in a "listening to audiobooks" frame of mind for it to work. I definitely can't be thinking about something intensely or reading because I won't absorb the story at all!

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  4. I still need to try audiobooks!! I like the idea of listening when I don't feel like reading haha. Maybe I'll start with some rereads to ease myself into it!

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    1. Yes! It's so easy to slide into audiobooks if you're rereading books you already like. Low risk!

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  5. I completely am 100% on board with these! ROADTRIPS -- I can't read without wanting to puke if I'm in the car so seriously audio is amazing for long car trips. And I totally think it has me memorizing lines as well. I can think of lines from the Scorpio Races in my head and hear it in the narrator's voices. I love it! <3

    -Wendy @ Book Scents

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    1. I LOVE when the narrator does such a good job I can hear them even when I'm reading a book. And Steve West (STEVE WEST!) is soooo good at taking it to that place.

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  6. I am such an advocate for audiobooks, but I occasionally have a hard time with narrators. I'm that one percent that doesn't like Steve West (I know, I'm sorry), and they're so great for long walks!

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    1. Amber, I don't know what to say to that. I'm super curious why you don't like Steve West's voice!

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  7. I like to listen to audiobooks while going on long car drives.

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  8. I can’t read in a car because of sickness too. What would we do without audiobooks? Lol.

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