Twice I've used audio books to read class assignments. It's just such a refreshing and invigorating option... because I can get other things done while still "reading."
The first time I did this was about two years ago. I needed to re-read The Odyssey. I just didn't have the time for that, so, while accomplishing other house chores, getting ready for the day, or going to bed at night, I'd pop in the audio book version read by Ian McKellen... who was perfect. His voice held your attention in any section of the story even when the words did not... and that voice followed me everywhere on my cd player; it was like he was in the room with me. He might as well have been a good friend or relative staying over and telling me stories.
While you need the text in front of you to do real "in depth" reading, I felt I still retained information pretty well with the audio. The performance is key. It's a bit like the songs they teach us in elementary school so we can memorize the colors of the rainbow or all 50 of the states in America. The way something sounds will stick in your brain... especially if you're me. My chances of remembering things in the long term almost depend on the song quality of the experience. I still remember songs from 15-20 years ago, but I can't tell you the names of all my teachers or even some of my relatives that I see with my own two eyes once every year. I can memorize quote upon quote from movies or plays when the lines are delivered with character and enthusiasm, but I can't tell you what most people look like or relay a recent conversation verbatim. I need repetition and memorable sounds to retain information for any extended period of time.
The most recent audio book I needed to read was Barack Obama's DREAMS FROM MY FATHER. He narrates the book himself, which works. Not every writer should read his or her own writing. I know it sounds like the writer would have the proper inflections and whatnot for the feelings he or she wants to evoke, but not all writers have talent for performance. For President Obama, this is not a problem.
If anything, it makes the book that much more enjoyable. He's not a ham, but he changes his accent and his voice for a lot of great characters... I bet his little girls beg him to tell all the bedtime stories, because he has a real knack for active storytelling. He can make the husky man voices with accents from distant countries as well as the haughtiness of an opinionated female or the stereotypical African American male call-it-like-it-is speak. It's amusing... not only because this person is now President of the United States, but because he's really engaging and funny.
It's an interesting autobiography... one that needed to be written. While it is arguably a political tool, a text designed for creating a public personality, the author is also in the unique position of being both black and white, standing on an old dividing line, and able to relate to both sides. He is in an excellent position to bridge the gap between races as he tries to discover himself and affirm his confusing identity.
I was able to listen to the final chapters today as I cleaned out my mail, showered, organized my papers and bag for class, drank tea, ate, etc. It made for a really pleasant day. I think I'd like to order audio books more often to help with the noise factor. I tend to play reruns on the TV so that it's not completely quiet in the apartment during the day. I don't focus on the TV at all because I already know what's going to happen, who says what, and where all the punch lines pop up. I just like hearing another voice, other sounds, as I move about the place and do other things. With an audio book, I could actually listen to something new while not feeling the need to focus on a screen.
I know a lot of people use audio books for long drives. I like long drives, and I like using the excuse of being stuck in a car to just talk, to just be. I don't really get bored in the car. However, this apartment looks the same after a while... it's nice to invite another personality into the day-to-day tasks.
So, any recommendations for future distractions? Any other ways people like audio books? Anyone dislike them or feel differently than I do?
3 comments:
I've been listening to Terry Pratchett Novels on cd and have really enjoyed them. I tried reading them in middle school and it didn't captivate me, but the readers he chose has such a knack for characters that I find it hard not to listen to the book outside my car! I use it to break up my commute to work - it is a little difficult for me to listen to the story while in the house because I zone out the voices and tend to just listen to inflection and not the words (which is why music works better for me while doing work) If looking for something even funnier than Pratchett, I suggest P.G. Wodehouse's Jeeves and Wooster series. You can get lectures too, I listened to a wonderful one called Big History, all about the origins of the universe and evolution.
Yes, I recall you mentioning that you were stepping into Terry Pratchett's world... though I didn't realize you were listening to it on audio. I wouldn't listen to an audio book if I were doing homework... I mean mundane, non-thinking tasks like eating, showering, knitting, organizing, etc. I also just listen to music if I need to think. Thanks for the suggestions... particularly the lectures... I can think of several topics it might be fun to learn about while doing laundry or cleaning up.
TvT left me a thought on this subject involving one of my favorite authors:
Interesting you should mention this. Just yesterday on NPR Neil Gaiman was talking about how it is odd that people don't consider listening to audio books to "count" as having read the book. I always wondered about that, too. As long as you are actually paying attention, I don't see that there's any significant difference.
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