Audiobooks as an alternative

[dropcap]A[/dropcap]udiobooks have the potential to be both highly engaging and enjoyable and I think they can add greatly to our understanding and interaction with a novel. During my childhood I listened to countless cassettes, enchanted by the stories narrated to me. During long, mind-numbingly boring car trips where motion sickness was rife, listening to a story or two was always something I looked forward to.

The quality of the narration is incredibly important.

Whilst I do have a positive opinion of audiobooks, the quality of narration is incredibly important and can elevate a story to brilliance or alternatively ensure you switch it off soon after starting it.

The Harry Potter audiobooks, narrated by Stephen Fry, are first-class as Fry truly manages to bring the magical world of Hogwarts alive.  After reading all of the books, I still listened to every single audiobook and, even though I had not thought it possible, my enjoyment of Harry Potter grew even more.

On the other hand some narrations have left me very disappointed because of their monotonous, dull tones, with no real change in voice between characters. These audiobooks should have never been made and will do nothing but frustrate the listener rather than stimulating the imagination.

Audiobooks can motivate people to read the original book…therefore instilling a love for the written word.

Vitally, audiobooks can motivate people to read the original book, particularly in cases of abridged narrations, therefore instilling a love for the written word.  Also, it has to be recognised that some people find it difficult to engage with a book or lack the time to do so. In these cases, audiobooks present them with an alternative.

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