Beginner’s Guide To Listening To Audiobooks

Audiobooks can be a great addition to your reading life! Whether you have a long commute to work, need free hands but still want to read, or are just in the mood to have someone else tell you a story! However, the task of finding that perfect first audiobook can be daunting. Here are some general tips that might help you if you’re planning on picking up one soon!

Tip #1: Start With Something Familiar

Getting used to audiobooks can take time, especially if you’re not accustomed to auditory learning. Starting with something you already know may help you with this new format of reading. This does not necessarily have to mean that you need to listen to a book you’ve already read. You can just stay in your favourite genre, or even venture into middle grade for your first audiobook.

I also recommend listening to a favourite—Harry Potter is always a popular choice and the perfect way to enter audiobooks. Stephen Fry as narrator will pull you into the magical world. Further, if you don’t feel ready for an entire book yet, a pro tip is to listen to podcasts first! It can help to get used to someone ‘telling’ you a story rather than you reading it yourself.

Tip #2: Don’t Be Afraid To Try New Genres

Someone once told me that Goethe’s (a famous German writer) works weren’t meant to be listened to because you wouldn’t be able to grasp the complexity of his sentences. Similarly, many people have issues with listening to fantasy stories because they can’t picture the fantastical elements of a fictional world. However, others feel that listening to the descriptions gives their imagination the push they need—experiences vary, as you can see! So, while fantasy, contemporary, etc. might not be one of your favourite genres to actively read, they could be the exact one you would enjoy that much more when you’re listening to it. Don’t be afraid to branch out!

Tip #3: Don’t Overwhelm Yourself

This goes for both what you are doing while reading as well as how many audiobooks you’re juggling at a time. Seven hours might sound doable in a twenty day span (if you’re borrowing it from a library) but you’ll see that, sometimes, it’s hard to keep track of how far along in the story you are!

Concerning what you’re doing while listening to your audiobook, well—start with something easy! I am one of those people who are known for their multitasking skills—until it comes to audiobooks. If I even attempt to do something that has to do with words, my concentration flies out the window and promises to never return—well, at least not until I’ve turned the audiobook off. It seems the only thing I’m capable of doing while listening is knitting or rearranging my bookshelves. Nevertheless, there is a multitude of activities that readers swear by while listening to their books.

Some activities to try while listening to audiobooks include, but are not limited to the following: rearranging your bookshelves (staying on brand, you know?), taking bookstagram photos, doodling in colouring books (which are socially acceptable for any age group), cleaning your room, baking, going for a run, or simply make your commute more special. Some people can even do some office work while listening like answering emails or coding!

Tip #4: The Narrator’s Curse

A narrator can make or break your audiobook experience—that’s why it’s good to listen to a sample before buying or borrowing your pick. Again, tastes vary, so it’s more than possible that a (fe)male narrator might throw you off if they don’t fit the story. Then again, there are also a ton of actors like Ed Westwick (whose smooth voice you might remember from Gossip Girl) or Eddie Redmayne (who portrays Newt Scamander) who voice audiobooks and make listening to them that much more appealing!

Tip #5: Where To Listen

There are manifold places to listen to audiobooks—Audible is by far the most common option that you need to pay for. Scribd has been mentioned in a lot of booktubers’ videos lately as a more affordable alternative that allows you to listen to more than one audiobook a month, but with a smaller selection. Alternatively for those with a smaller budget, libraries often offer audiobooks as part of their membership—overdrive is a handy app that connects you to your local library and its vast collection of audiobooks!

Most Importantly…

Don’t get discouraged! It can take a few audiobooks until you find your groove, or a narrator that works for you! And if you just don’t like listening to audiobooks, that’s completely okay, too! Some people best retain information when they’re physically reading a book while others are auditory learners. Everyone is different. As long as you’re having fun, it’s all good!

Do you like listening to audiobooks? Do you have any recommendations? Leave them in the comments below!