My first introduction to audiobooks was back when cassettes were still a thing and Enid Blyton was everything. If you don’t remember Malory Towers then I don’t hesitate to tell you that you sincerely missed out because those days were an absolute joy, my friends.
The thing is, unless you’re really dedicated to allocating time to sit down with a physical book, are happy to lug it around with you all day and also have the will to leave your phone firmly out of reach for a couple of hours, reading has become incredibly difficult to do. Admittedly, more difficult than it should be, but if we’re all really honest with ourselves, I’m sure the last time most of us truly lost ourselves in a good novel was probably on a sun lounger somewhere near the Mediterranean.
Which is probably why audiobooks became the fastest growing format in publishing last year. So, if you’re reaching a podcast plateau, have exhausted every variation of Spotify’s Genre & Mood playlists, it might be time to switch up your audio game and reintroduce yourself to the pleasure of a good book. Engage your brain without lifting a finger, so to speak. Here’s how to do it well.
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Get your headphones right
There’s nothing more annoying than putting your headphones on while out and about in public and still being able to hear everyone else’s rubbish conversations going on around you. You don’t stand a chance in hell of losing yourself in the drama of that Stephen King novel you’re finally trying on for size. If you’re committed to the cause, make sure you’ve got some fully functioning headphones (that means equal volume in both ears, people) or even some noise cancelling ones. A particularly good investment if you’re looking to liven up your lengthy commute.
Audible is a good place to start
Knowing that most people are more likely to order a book from Amazon rather than pop into a Waterstones these days, it’s no surprise that Audible, their spoken entertainment strand, is quickly becoming the go-to for audio versions. In terms of price, you get a 30 free trial to test the waters, with one free download to go with it. After that, the membership is £7.99 per month with one free credit a month towards a new book. While you can cancel at any point you can’t afford to part with the cash, you’ll probably be more inclined to use the service regularly if you’re paying for it.
There are free audiobook services
If you’re really into the classics like Dickens and Austen, Librivox is the one. It’s a service purely built up of audiobooks that are in the public domain and have been recorded by volunteers. If you’re an iTunes kind of person then they have a selection of free books too, but fair warning – they probably won’t be any of the super trendy new releases. It might be worth checking out the Open Culture website too if you’re after something cost-free – it’ll take a bit of scrolling to find what you want but there’s a shit load of free entertainment at your fingertips.
Start with what you know
It’s no coincidence that many of the top 20 best sellers on Amazon are super familiar old trusty faithfuls. You know when you read a book, get really excited when you find out that it’s being adapted for the cinema, go to the cinema and are then really disappointed when it’s nothing like you imagined it in your head? Audiobooks completely eradicate that risk. It’s more like having a friendly voice with the ability to put on accents for different characters, to the hard work for you. Painting a picture with words, if you will. So don't underestimate how much you might enjoy listening to a book you've already read before.
Hunt out a good voice
Speaking of friendly voices, the narration is pretty important. I think part of the reason why so many people are drawn back to Audible is that they've got a really impressive roster of celebrities and IRL actors to narrate for an even more pleasurable experience which is nice. My personal favourite has to be Stephen Fry, who narrates the Harry Potter and Sherlock Holmes audiobooks with the most soothing voice of all the celebrity voices (after Morgan Freeman) and helps me chill TF out on the way home from work each day. But there are also instances with books such as Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them, that the actor from the film adaptation narrates the book too. If you're a fan of Eddy Redmayne's voice, you know where to go.
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.