Finding reviews/recommendations: In the past, I relied heavily on my fellow book bloggers, especially Jen from Devourer of Books, Beth Fish Reads, and Jennifer from Literate Housewife to suggest audiobooks. My start was a bumpy one, and I found quite a few duds. Since then, I feel I know how to find a great audio on my own since it has been a while since I listened to a stinky one.
I have to laugh. Before my commute into NYC for BEA (Book Expo America) I needed a new audiobook. I knew that Sheila from Book Journey and I had similar taste in books, so I called her to find out what I should download. Every - Single - Audiobook she recommended I had already read! I knew we liked the same books, but that was too funny!
Where/how do I download? I used to have an Audible account where, for a monthly fee, I could trade credits to buy audiobooks. They often had sales or bonus credits, so I could download at least two audiobooks a month for the fee, which is around $15/month. (They have specials, so keep your eyes out if you like Audible). I have since let my membership lapse, because I have found iTunes to be even easier to download, and I have received a few audiobooks from publishers for review (these are usually the CDs I load into my car!). There is also an Audible App.
Secrets? I don't think this is a secret, but sometimes, although not often, when I am used to a narrator's voice, and there aren't too many characters to keep track of, I will listen to an audiobook at 1.5 speed. I can't do this with CDs I load in my car, but I can do it on my iPad. I am able to cut down the time it takes me to get through an audio, which already takes me longer to get through than a printed book.
The Re-Read: I realized this week, after reading other reviewers' experiences with audiobooks, that I'm an audio re-reader. I have done this with several books - The Night Circus, Harry Potter, Shiver. Sometimes as a book blogger, I will read a book a VERY long time before the sequel comes out, before the movie comes out, or before my book club can get to it. In order to refresh my memory, I will do a re-read on audio. It makes it a new experience for me!
Happy Listening!!
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