The Eleventh Plague...in Surround Sound

Okay, so today during Jeff's launch week, we're talking audio books. There are so many different ways to get your books these days: Kindle, Nook, iPad, hardcover, paperback, iTunes, and yes, audio book.

My husband swears by them. Has a monthly subscriptions to Audible. Our own Beth Revis has often said she "reads" while she's cleaning her house or doing home improvements. She does this by listening to audio books.

People listen to books while they commute--and I will say that I've done this once. I listened to THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS by C.S. Lewis on my mini-commute of 15 minutes. It took a few weeks. Our family often gets audio books for long drives to Vegas. We've listened to ALCATRAZ VERSUS THE EVIL LIBRARIANS (by Brandon Sanderson), ERAGON (by Christopher Paolini), THE CRY OF THE ICEMARK (by Stuart Hill), and THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA (by C.S. Lewis) on our family road trips.

Audio books are fascinating beasts. There are several things that enhance the reading experience:

1. Music. Audio books often have music! It's a lot like movies, where the scene can be set with scary music, or happy music, or tense music. I find that I like the added drama music can provide.

2. A voice. Obviously, audio books are read out loud. I'll admit that sometimes the voice artist distracts me. They speak in an accent I didn't imagine, or they speak different character's dialog in different voices. I suppose this doesn't really bother me, it's just not the way I "read."

Because audio books are a whole new type of reading experience.

And THE ELEVENTH PLAGUE is also a whole new type of reading experience. You can listen to the first chapter by clicking below. You can buy the audio book here.

The Eleventh Plague - Chapter One by Scholastic Audio

No matter how you experience it, make sure you get your hands on a copy of THE ELEVENTH PLAGUE this week!!

What are your feelings about audio books? Love them? Hate them? What's your favorite book on audio?

4 comments:

Angie Smibert said...

Love them. Love audible, too plus I can now get audiobooks thru the library. I listen at the gym mostly. My favorite is anything by Neil Gaiman. He narrates his own.

Elizabeth Briggs said...

I like listening to audiobooks on my way to work, but I'm a little strange maybe... I can only listen to audiobooks of books I've already read on paper. It's a good way to "reread" your favorite books.

Emily said...

I listen to audio books when I'm running or cleaning. The best was the Hunger Games. I started it on a marathon and for the rest of the week I took my kids to the park, so I could just sit there and listen.

In that same vein, I also like to read books aloud, either to my kids or my husband. I'm not as good as the actors who read--but I think it's a great way to share a literary experience.

Sarah Tokeley said...

I used to love audiobooks, but I haven't listened to one in a long time. Might be time to re-investigate :-)