I mostly "read" books by listening to the audiobook. When I get ready in the morning, I listen; when I drive to and from work, I listen. When I cook or clean, I listen. There are just too many books that I want to read and I'm just trying to get them all in. Since starting my new job as well, I have around 4-7 hours a day to listen as I catalog.
Sometimes, the audiobooks are better. The audiobook version of Cressida Cowell's The Wizards of Once, as performed by David Tennant, is amazingly well done. I've flipped through the physical book to get a glimpse of the illustrations, but Tennant really heightens Cowell's characterization through his difference voices and singing. But sometimes the audiobook version is awful, like in the case of Victoria Schawb's A Darker Shade of Magic, which is known for it's "casually gay characters." Why Steven Crossley chose to give this "casually gay" character the "gay lisp" is unknown to me, but I'm really bitter about it.
For my patrons, I've noticed that it's mostly middle aged women who prefer to read on ebooks. The genres vary, but romances typically reign as king. I like to encourage ebooks for people who want to read paperback romances; the physical copies are cheaply made and fall apart within a few hands--but they're cheap to buy en masse and it's economical at the rate they are read.
Sometimes, the audiobooks are better. The audiobook version of Cressida Cowell's The Wizards of Once, as performed by David Tennant, is amazingly well done. I've flipped through the physical book to get a glimpse of the illustrations, but Tennant really heightens Cowell's characterization through his difference voices and singing. But sometimes the audiobook version is awful, like in the case of Victoria Schawb's A Darker Shade of Magic, which is known for it's "casually gay characters." Why Steven Crossley chose to give this "casually gay" character the "gay lisp" is unknown to me, but I'm really bitter about it.
For my patrons, I've noticed that it's mostly middle aged women who prefer to read on ebooks. The genres vary, but romances typically reign as king. I like to encourage ebooks for people who want to read paperback romances; the physical copies are cheaply made and fall apart within a few hands--but they're cheap to buy en masse and it's economical at the rate they are read.
Good job tying it in to your personal experience and observations with the formats and appeals. I'm jealous you can listen for that many hours a day! I would have liked if you expounded a little more on the appeals of ebooks (adjustable font, available on demand, etc.) so minor deduction for that.
ReplyDelete