Audio Books on CD
What Are Audio Books on CD?
Audio Books, sometimes called Books on CD, are - quite simply - a wonderful way to experience literature. A professional reader, many times a voice actor whose sole specialty is reading audio books on CD, narrates the book, and the listener is then free to play it wherever they wish.
In addition to the obvious benefit of being able to listen to books while doing physical tasks which would otherwise preclude reading, audio books can add a whole new element of life and vibrancy to books because of the talents of the reader. Characters are often given their own voices, and scenes and bits of dialogue come across that much more real.
It's like the perfect cross between a book and a movie!
What Can You Do While Listening to Audio Books on CD?
One of the absolute BEST things about audiobooks is how flexible they are - you can listen to them in a cd player, on a stereo, in your car, on your mp3 player - it's awesome! Moreover, there are an unlimited number of activities which you can now do while reading which you could never do before! Here are some favorites of mine -
Working Out - This is a no-brainer. While music is still my go-to, get-pumped audio of choice for fast and demanding workouts, I love listening to books while I do more leisurely physical activities like taking a long walk through the neighborhood with my dog, or hiking up Runyon Canyon, for instance.
Cleaning the House - Any domestic chore, whether it be cleaning the bathroom, vacuuming, doing laundry, or cooking dinner can be made more intriguing and exotic by listening to an exciting book while you're doing it!
Shopping - Ever since I discovered the joys of audiobooks on my mp3 player, I haven't entered any store - be it a grocery store, Wal-Mart, or the mall - without my headphones firmly in place.
Driving - If you have a long commute or you are taking a roadtrip, listening to books on CD while your drive can be the boredom antidote you're looking for - just the right thing to break up the monotony of the highway.
What Are the Best Ways to Get Audio Books on CD?
Since books on CD are nowhere near as common as regular paper books, where can you get a constant supply of audio books to satisfy all your hours of listening needs? Well, there are a few different ways of getting your hands on awesome audio books, and they all have their particular advantages.
Buy from a Physical Bookstore - Any major book outlet, like Barnes and Noble or Borders, will have a section where you can purchase books on CD. Keep in mind, though, that since their shelf space is limited, these are going to be primarily new releases and best-sellers. You will most likely have to turn to the internet for more obscure titles.
Rent from the Library - Libraries have an increasing inventory of audiobooks to choose from, and many will even let you reserve online. Because of high demand, however, and the fact that audiobook rentals from the library are either free or very low cost, there can be quite a long wait to get new titles into your hands.
Download Books on CD - If you don't require the physical CDs, and can instead listen to your books on an mp3 player or burn the CDs yourself, then downloading books can be the answer for you. Audiobook downloads are generally offered at a steep discount compared to their physical CD counterparts because of the disparity in cost for production, warehousing, and shipping - and you can obtain new release titles on the same day they are released!
Audio Book Rentals - The final option is to subscribe to an audiobook rental service - such as Netflix for audiobooks. This option has the advantage of being low in cost, while still maintaining a high availability ratio of in-demand authors and new releases. When deciding on a service, I would recommend searching their inventory for works by some of your favorite authors, or in your genre of choice, to determine which rental house has the widest selection.
Barbara Rosenblat - The Meryl Streep of Audio Books
Arguably the most recognizable voice in audiobook narration is that of the fabulous Barbara Rosenblat. I know that I, personally, will rent a book on CD to listen to when I see that she is the narrator, whether I am familiar with the author or not. In fact, many times, I don't even read the blurb to get an idea what it's about! I simply know that 5 to 10 hours listening to Ms. Rosenblat's signature dry delivery and masterful regional accents will be 5 to 10 hours well-spent.
Some popular authors whose work is often read by Barbara Rosenblat include Diane Mott Davidson, Lisa Scottoline, Katie McAllister, Nevada Barr, Elizabeth Peters, Barbara Michaels, Erma Bombeck, Linda Fairstein, and Lori Wick.
Dick Hill - A Golden Voice
Dick Hill is a fantastic narrator, who has an uncanny grasp of dialect and tempo. His work really allows you to lose yourself in the story, and to feel completely encapsulated in the world that the book takes place in. Author Lee Child says about Dick Hill, "While few audiobook fans become authors, plenty of authors become audiobook fans - especially if they're lucky enough to get Dick Hill as their voice."
In addition to Lee Child, other popular authors who have been fortunate enough to be the recipient of Mr. Hill's efforts include Greg Iles, Pat Conroy, Terry Brooks, Stephen White, Michael Connelly, John Case, Noel Hynd, Chris Kuzneski, William J. Coughlin, and W.E.B. Griffin.
What Are You Waiting For? Go Grab an Audio Book!
I hope this piece has inspired you to start making the effort of incorporating audio books on CD into your life. Mine has certainly been incomparably richer since doing so!
Yes
No
Flag
Comments
Audio books were first designed for blind people to listen to. Extention of radio stories really. Now one can download these audio books from hundreds of sources on the internet.
You must be logged in and verified to post a comment. Please log in or sign up to comment.