This week is Audiobook Week, hosted by Jen at Devourer of Books. Bloggers are encouraged to participate using the discussion topics on Jen’s blog. I hope to encourage more readers to listen to audiobooks — not as a replacement for books, but as a way to enhance your reading, or as a way to show readers how they can read more.
Today’s discussion: Where do you learn about great audiobook titles? Find reviews? Buy your audiobooks? Share your secrets with the rest of us!
I’ve already admitted that I’m so new to the experience of audiobooks. Really, I do a lot of searching online in my local library’s database. They have a huge selection of audiobook titles to choose from! So many, that I ended up going out and buying a discman, just so I could listen to audiobooks at home, instead of just in the car (since they come on discs at the library).
My local library also has audiobooks available online through Overdrive, but I’m quite sad that they’re mostly compatible with PCs and not my beloved Mac. 
I like to look on Goodreads for titles. Sometimes there are great lists featuring favourite audiobook narrators or favourite audiobooks in general. I like to mark them down, see if my library has them, or put them on my wishlist in Audible. I do admit that when I buy audiobooks, it’s usually through Audible because their prices are so reasonable compared to buying from the bookstore. I’d much rather pay around $10 for something I can keep on my iPod, instead of $40+ for one on discs (that are easily scratched!).
I’ve just started seeking out blogs that review audiobooks and am happy to see some of my favourite blogs posting reviews once in a while. I’m glad that word is getting out on how versatile audiobooks actually are. They’re a great way to read MORE books during the week and to get a different reading experience.
Some of my favourite blogs that also feature audiobook reviews once in a while:
Girlxoxo
Christa’s Hooked On Books
Slush Sleuth
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Do you have anywhere you can recommend for finding great audiobooks? Favourite website? Blog?
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I’ll agree that is one of Overdrive’s limitations. They aren’t very Mac friendly. They aren’t terribly Kindle friendly either lately. Bloggers are my best source for new books too!
Can you play audiobooks on your Kindle?? I agree — they’re not Mac friendly. Oh well — at least my library has a good selection when I go there!
The only place I really know of is my library as well, their selection is growing luckily. I have to get into audiobooks, but I still have the recommendation you gave me to start with
My library’s selection is growing, too! I love it. I bought a discman just so I could listen to more audiobooks from the library. Best $30 spent!
Really? The Overdrive audiobooks aren’t compatible with Macs? That surprises me, since they do support iTunes.
They are compatible, but my library carries a tiny selection of them. I’ve been trying to sync the free audiobooks from SYNC onto my iPod using Overdrive and that won’t work either — it keeps saying that it timed out. I wish there was a better way!
Since I have a PC I’ve never noticed which are compatible with which platform. Bummer that you’re having troubles with overdrive.
I love my library for audiobooks as well.
Maybe I should dig out my old Dell PC just for renting audiobooks from my library! Luckily, there’s way more selection actually in-house at my library than online.
I’ve had a lot of trouble with Overdrive on my Mac, too. Plus the titles my library stocks are almost all PC only… maybe 10% Mac compatible.
YES! Mine, too. I was trying to get audiobooks from SYNC because they’re offering free ones, but it just won’t sync with my iPod on my Mac.
Yay – thanks for the shoutouts – I might have to review more audiobooks now
I look forward to reading your reviews!
I haven’t truly tried an audiobook yet, but I would like to. I have a few listed down as great recommendations and I can’t wait to try them out!
You should try one out! They’re great for reading AND doing productive things.
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