I recently switched from reading A Promised Land in the ginormous hardback to listening to it on audiobook. That switch prompted me to think a little bit more about how I approach the books that I listen to/read on audio.
First of all, let me answer the most important question of all when it comes to audiobooks…YES audiobooks count as read books! Research has shown that your brain understands audiobooks just as well as print books. So, I will be using listening and reading interchangeably when it comes to audiobooks.
Under normal circumstances, I listen to an average of one book on audio a month. This year, I’ve read less than that because I’ve been in the car less and that’s when I’ve done the majority of my listening. I’ve also handed over the laundry to my teenage daughters and that’s another time when I listened to a lot of audiobooks.
A couple of years ago, I switched from using Audible to using Libro.fm for purchasing, downloading and listening to my audiobooks. I have a monthly membership that gives me a credit for one audiobook per month and supports my local independent bookstore. When I buy audiobooks through Libro.fm they split the profits with the independent bookstore of my choice. Currently, I am supporting Old Town Books in Alexandria, VA.
I have enjoyed many books on audio, but I’m trying to decide which genre of book I truly benefit from listening to on audio more. There have been several fiction books that I have listened to on audio that I am convinced that I would have enjoyed much more if I had read them in print. This is especially true when I’m listening to an audiobook on and off.
I enjoy novels on audio more if I can listen straight through. For example, when we traveled from El Paso to Virginia on our last move, I listened to The River and The Mother-in-Law on audio and LOVED both experiences.
On the other hand, I have a hard time getting through non-fiction books and find them easier to take in on audio. That was the impetus for me to switch from print to audio for Obama’s memoir that I am currently reading.
So…from here on out, I am saving my audio credits and purchases for nonfiction books that I know may bog me down. I’ll update you on how this goes in the new year.
Here is a list of the books I read on audio this year…
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner
A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende
White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
Are you an audiobook reader? Do you prefer listening to fiction or nonfiction when reading an audiobook?
Allison Page says
Hi, Monica! Thinking of you! Thought I’d jump on here and say hello! The kids are getting SO big! Sending love….