Many feel that listening to audio books instead of reading the text is cheating. You don't have to do as much work and don't get as much out of the story. I am here to say that they are wrong! I listened to my first audio book this week,
The Fault in our Stars by John Green. It is an amazing, emotional story that I cannot stop thinking about. Furthermore, listening to the actress, I was able to hear the character's fear, sadness and even crying, allowing me to connect with them in way I wouldn't have simply reading the text. Listeners still use their imagination to picture the characters, the setting, etc. while listening, just as they would reading the text.
What are the downsides of audio books?
- I sometimes like to go back and read certain sections over again. While you can go back and re -listen to previous sections in an audio book, it is slightly harder finding the spot you want.
- You can't tell how many chapters there are and how long the chapters are.
- Listening in my car, I found myself arriving at my destination at an important part of the story and not wanting to stop the cd. Reading the text, you are able to stop at an appropriate spot. You don't always have that luxury with an audio book.
Overall, audio books are perfect for long commutes and can enhance the story.
