
Are audiobooks the future of book sales? Do you have your stories on audio?
I am an audiobook fan. I buy at least 4 audiobooks a month and always have one on the go. I as buy audiobooks for Michael and encourage him to listen to them every day. He is my slower reader and audiobooks allow him to read more books than he would manage on his own. It takes Michael about one month to read one of his Rick Riordan books.
Greg, on the other hand, is a fast reader and will read several books during his holidays, galloping through them in a few hours or days, depending on their length and complexity.
So far this year, I’ve listened to Collected Stories and Poems by Edgar Allan Poe, The Invisible Man, To the Last Man, A Farewell to Arms, A Gentleman in Moscow, All Quiet on the Western Front, and Sunwielder. I am currently 85% of the way through Gone with the Wind and already have The Divine Comedy lined up as my next read, followed by Why by Daniel Kemp.
I love being read to almost as much as I love reading. I like to listen to classic books, in case you hadn’t noticed, as I listen slower than I read so I enjoy them more. Some more complex modern books are also better appreciated, in my opinion, as audiobooks and if they are available on Audible I buy them.
My own books are not available as audiobooks. This is purely because my publisher does not offer audiobooks and I like her very much so I am prepared to accept her view on this matter. Maybe one day I will have audiobooks as well as ebooks and paperback books.
Now to the question, are audiobooks the future of book sales? I don’t think so. I think audiobooks have their place in the literary world and I know people who also listen to audiobooks while they exercise, do housework, and other mundane tasks including driving. These people are not, however, the majority of the readers I know. Most readers seem to prefer paperbacks and ebooks. This may be a cost thing as audiobooks are a lot more expensive.
Luckily for me, my husband gifts me three Audible credits a month. Sometimes I run out and then I buy three more credits at approximately US$11 each. Most audio books are well over US$20 so it works out quite reasonably.
I gift my mom a lot of audiobooks too. She rests every afternoon and she likes to listen to audiobooks. Sometimes we share books but usually I buy her different books to the ones I like. She likes books like the Wheel of Time series and Game of Thrones, which I will never listen too. They are lovely and long and keep her entertained for a good few weeks.
As for the youth [meaning teenagers], well, they don’t really like any kind of traditional book. They like computer game stories. The games my sons play are very sophisticated and are scripted with complex plots, music, and lots of reading. They are almost like interactive books. I think these sorts of gaming stories will be a large part of the future of books.
There will, however, always be traditional books and readers in my opinion. The readers of the world have always been the minority of the population as reading doesn’t appeal to everyone. Like research, writing, playing a musical instrument, dancing, singing, sports, and acting, reading is not everyone’s cup of tea and that’s okay. It takes all kinds of people to make a world.
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My son loved audiobooks too, Kerfe, and they are why his vocabulary is so advanced despite his learning barrier. I had some records when I was a child and I wore them out with listening.
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Hi Norah, I know exactly how it is. I do love reading blogs and blogging and also spend a lot of time doing it. I have to be very disciplined with my time to fit everything in.
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HI Chris, I also looked into ACX but my publisher was against it and pointed out all the pitfalls. I have also been reading there are issues with authors not getting their royalties from ACX. I look forward to hearing about your experience. I take it you didn’t use the royalty option for a narrator. I don’t think that option works for everyone.
We are fine. There is no food in the shops because of panic buying but we received our monthly grocery delivery on Friday last week so we are okay for now. I am worried about the economic impact of all of this and the seeming inability of police to protect people’s property is shocking. Anyhow, South Africans are a tough bunch and are used to endless issues so onwards and upwards.
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Thank you, I also can’t listen to robotic voices or poor narrators. Thanks for visiting.
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HI Carol, dad is doing better and it seems the worst is over. Thanks you for asking. I love audiobooks and listen while I bake and do fondant art.
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HI Jacqui, we are safe at the moment and have community defense plans if necessary. Most of the trouble is in the townships, CBD and in Durban and Pietermartizburg which are at the coast. They are near Zululand and the issue is all about the imprisonment of the Zulu leader and ex-President Jacob Zuma.
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Hi Jim, I like them but I only listen to fantasy and classic books. In other words, books that take more focus and concentration. I read very quickly and some books need to be enjoyed slowly.
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Thank you, Staci. I only listen to books that require greater focus as audiobooks. Mainly classics and fantasy or espionage books. I also read very fast but some books are better enjoyed at a slower pace. Also, I listen during dead time like housework, when I would be able to read a physical book but an audio book works well.
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It is my pleasure, Stevie. I like books in any shape or form and the more I can squeeze into my day the better. Audio books work for me when I am doing mundane tasks like housework or washing.
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Yes, that is exactly why I buy all my favourite books as paperbacks.
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Hi Denise, it is definitely different for everyone and depends a lot on your lifestyle and habits.
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So pleased to hear your father is past the worst that must be a great relief all round. Good idea about listening when you are baking I hadn’t thought of that …Thank you, Robbie 🙂 x
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😊
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So glad you’re okay. As you say, onwards and upwards.
I’ll be posting my ‘story of the audiobook’ when it’s out. I’m not sure how long the set up will take, but it’s just a one off payment for the finished audio file. Then it’s a DIY job for me! Interesting what you say about ACX.
Take care.
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I do too. Work comes first. After dinner, as long as I can last (usually not long) comes blogging.
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seems like you found a strategy that works for you to get themost out of your audiobooks…
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Thank you for sharing that. I do feel a bit better. I like the sound of a community defense.
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Marilyn, I agree – I am totally addicted to audiobooks — great post, Robbie 🙂
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Thank you, da-AL.
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