Holiday Audio Blog Tour and Giveaway

Congratulations to Joyce Hostetter who won Mothers of Massive Resistance from last week's blog.


As I've done previously, this week I'm joining the blog tour sponsored by the Audio Publishers Association. Details for this HUGE audio book giveaway are below. 

Since you've have heard my reasons for listening to audio books, I decided to ask my Facebook friends for their reasons. Out of the twenty-one people who answered, only two hesitated to give audio books a full thumbs up. The three most common positive reasons were that audio books helped pass the time on car trips, while exercising or walking, or doing household chores. I'm giving the less than totally positive responses first, since other responders kindly answered these concerns. I'm also sharing some of the more novel reasons why my Facebook friends like audio books. 

CON'S

Teresa F: "Once when we were deep in traffic on Hwy 13 in Delaware, my husband turned on the tape Congo. He liked the movie and wanted to see if the book tracked. Well, the car was quiet, the girls were interested and the narrator started. We were about ten minutes in when something big happens. I forgot what it was, but it was a shocker and I almost drove off the road and into another car! My husband turned it off and that was it. We listen to old Time Radio now. Maybe it was too intense of a story…But I may find out that I’m better than that now!"

Melody S: "I’m on the fence about audio books. It’s great to catch up on the latest while you’re stuck in traffic, waiting for an appointment, etc. But my mind often wanders without a focal point which means I have to retrace my steps (so to speak) more often than not."

PRO'S

Elena C. "I listen while I paint."

Mare B: "I love audio books because I get to listen to someone express the text with emotion. I love listening to them as I fall asleep."

Debbie A: "It helps me shape my craft by listening to published authors and hear what editors decided to publish."

Sarah A: "If I’m sitting and relaxing, I need the actual book, as long as my hands are active, I can listen and focus on the audiobook. The moment I sit still, my brain starts to wander. My 7-year-old son likes to listen to audio books and read along in the actual book."

Sandra W: "Audio books help me, a writer, to HEAR the difference between a well-crafted novel and one that is not so well done. It’s a great way to hear repeat words that work those that are annoying and the subtle ways an author draws you into setting or leaves you wondering. It helps to hear better ways to do attributions and catch the rhythm of the words in sentences and paragraphs…Listening to books on CD or on your phone is the next best thing to reading your own work out loud!"

Carrie S: "My kids and I enjoy listening to books in the car. It equals the playing field with the book level for my 3 and 11-year-old and we are all a captive audience." 

Janet B: "My husband is a non-reader. I soon found, however, that he loves audio books as much as I do! We usually choose mysteries and thrillers, with an occasional historical thrown in. After our daughter moved seven hours away, we found we could just about finish a book on a round trip visit to her. We also have to drive over half an hour from our home in the country to the town where we do everything--doctors, groceries, eating out, etc. So for us, those trips provide a serial listening experience like I suppose the old time radio programs did. We have been known to pull into our garage and sit there listening for fifteen minutes or more when we happen to be at the end of an intense story."

Faith K: "We listen to novels, biographies, histories, theology, poetry, essays, lectures and short stories as part of our homeschooling and for pleasure. We have used Librivox, ITunes, Audible, and CDs from the library. My husband I listen and discuss books as we listen. A good narrator makes all the difference for listening without the mind wandering, but if the book is really good, then even a poor narrator can’t ruin it. The best narrator I’ve listened to recently is Sissy Spacek’s reading of To Kill a Mockingbird. The worst reader was Ray Bradbury reading his own Fahrenheit 451. But I still finished listening to it!"

Kathleen B: When I’m in pain and can’t focus to read a book, I find audio books to be very comforting. Especially on nights when pain wakes me up.

Susan R: My mom used to be an avid reader but has severe macular degeneration now. She doesn’t use CD's but gets books on tape from the Association for the Blind. So not quite the same as what you were asking but it has definitely brought her a lot of happiness and helps fill her time.   

Myra D: "I’ve been diagnosed with Graves disease and my vision is off. Audio books are necessary if I wish to read. But we’ve had them for trips about 20 or more years. Helped lots when girls were squabbling in backseat. LOL."

Jo Lynn W. "When I went back to school I listened to audio books when I was commuting to Northern Illinois University (2 hours round trip). It was a great time to unwind. I remember Anne of Green Gables fondly."

Melinda L. "It’s entertaining, and the actors who read the books bring life to the characters to enhance the author’s work. So much fun! Try the Amelia Peabody books by Elizabeth Peters for a real treat." 

Judy M. "We like to listen to audio books when doing long repetitive jobs like working in our greenhouses. It frees our hands and eyes to multitask. When I read to myself, I tend to skim and hurry. Listening to a book read aloud slows me down and allows me to savor a story. A skilled reader turns a book into theater for your ears. Pet peeve is when they cut a six-hour book down to 1.5 in an abridged version-- especially if it's one I read myself and really enjoyed.

My Last Five Audio Book Reviews

Like Faith K, I listen to novels, poetry, and nonfiction. In case you missed my recent audio book reviews, here they are:

Mothers of Massive Resistance: White Women and the Politics of White Supremacy  

Eyes on the Prize

Puritan Girl, Mohawk Girl

The Hero Two Doors Down

Between The Lines

GIVEAWAY

Why do you listen to audio books? Leave me a comment and I'll enter your name for this contest and use your name for my next audio blog tour and enter you for that too!

Here are the eight titles that will be available to you if random.org picks your name on November 22. If you are chosen, you will be provided with a promo code from Libro.fm to download the books. Please leave me your email address if you are new to my blog.

1. BRIDGE OF CLAY by Markus Zusak (Penguin Random House Audio)
2. SPILL by Leigh Fondakowski (LA Theatre Works)
3. HOW TO BE LESS STUPID ABOUT RACE by Crystal Fleming (Beacon Press)
4. AN AMERICAN MARRIAGE by Tayari Jones (HighBridge Audio)
5. SALVATION by Peter F. Hamilton (Tantor Audio)
6. THE HUNGER GAMES: Special Edition by Suzanne Collins (Scholastic)
7. HEARTLAND by Sarah Smarsh (Simon Audio) 
8. NINE PERFECT STRANGERS by Liane Moriarty (Macmillan Audio)

Limited to US addresses only. Giveaway ends November 22. 

Do you want more chances to win these audio books? Then check out this list of bloggers and enter through their blogs. 

If you are a writer, check out this post on Writer Unboxed on Writing for Audiobook.

#loveaudiobooks