When I first considered getting an audio book to listen to in the car on the way to work, I shied away from the idea. I am a book lover. I love books: the smell, the feel, and the idea of them. Audio books do not hold the same thrill as a big chunk of printed words.
What are Audio Books?
Audio books are digital recordings of books, both fiction and non-fiction. Some are abridged, but others are the complete text written by the author. Still others are dramatic types that are acted out by multiple narrators and include sound effects and music.
Why Choose an Audio Book?
Audio books are convenient. You can listen to them anywhere you go as long as you have a portable CD player or mp3 player. They can even be downloaded or rented on the internet.
Why Avoid Audio Books?
Audio books are expensive. A paperback copy of a five-year old novel may cost you less than ten dollars. The audio book equivalent could be more than thirty.
Another argument against audio books is that you cannot choose what voice is used to read the book. When reading a paper book, you lend your own voice and flections to it. The narrator may read too fast or too slow for your tastes.
