The Negative Side of Audiobooks

Posted by Melissa Howard Aug 15, 2007

My last two blog posts have argued that audiobooks are a wonderful and legitimate reading option. However, there are certain undeniable cons when one considers audiobooks and I would agree that audiobooks are not for everyone. I want to address the pitfalls in audiobooks.

Limited Quantities: Audio books can be hard to find especially when you are looking for something specific. Let’s face it, there are not as many audiobooks created as there are books written and books are cheaper to buy. Some libraries have a reasonable selection of audiobooks but if you are looking for a specific for book club or school, Murphy can guarantee for you that the library won’t have it.

They are Expensive: Audiobooks are expensive. You went to the library seeking a particular book and they didn’t have it, so you thought you would just buy it. You go on-line and after going through several audiobook retailers’ websites, you finally find the book. You see the price. Gasp. The book that costs $26.00 hardcover is going to cost you over $60.00 as an audiobook.

Missing or Damaged Discs: You find a book you want to listen to and you borrow it from the library, buy it, or rent it from a retailer that has a rental program. You listen to the book and just when it gets interesting, you discover that you are missing a disc or worse yet you have the disc but you can’t listen to it because it skips, jumps, and pops as if a DJ were using it for a rap performance. Like Paul Harvey, you are left waiting for the rest of the story.

Abridgements: It is very frustrating not to be able to get the whole story. It is even more frustrating to think (after checking out every possible angle) that the book you are listening to is unabridged and then suddenly discover that it is abridged. You listen to the editor’s version of the story not the story the writer intended for you to read.

Bad Narrators: The biggest drawback of audiobooks is a reader whose voice makes you want to bang your head against a wall. Even the best book is ruined if the reader’s voice grates on your nerves. I hate to say this but there are bad readers. Narrators can be even more problematic when listening to the book with a group. While a narrator may not bother one listener, another listener may find the narrator nasal or bland.

Tune Out the Book: Some people just aren’t good listeners. They are people who absorb information through their eyes or hands or some other sensory medium so it is easy for them to tune out the book and not listen.

While there are many advantages to audiobooks, they are not always the best choice. When listening to audiobooks, it is important to know what you want from the book and what you can expect from the book. If you’ve never listened to a book try it, you might enjoy it.