There’s a debate raging among bibliophiles. If you listen to an audiobook, is it the same as reading a book?
Purists say no. I say yes. Although listening to narration isn’t the same as reading the words, the end result is the same. You have still consumed and (hopefully) learned or enjoyed the material. It doesn’t really matter how it gets into your brain. If a scratch-and-sniff novel was a thing, I think a smellio-book would count as reading, too.
Creators and Consumers
Derek and I both narrate audiobooks as part of the voice-over work we do. The most recent one I voiced is called, The Psychology of Evil: Profiles of Serial Killers, by Florence McLean. It’s a fascinating hindsight look at some notorious cases from around the world and how evidence was sometimes missed or ignored.
I do love a well-narrated audiobook. Years ago, when they were “books on tape”, I used to rent audiobooks from the library. They made the commute into downtown Toronto and back much more enjoyable.
The Antidote to Amazon
I recently signed up for an audiobook service called Libro.fm. It’s the anti-Audible, which is Amazon’s audiobook arm. Instead of adding more profit to a giant conglomerate, a Libro.fm account is tied to an independent bookstore. In Port Stanley, that’s our wonderful Lake House Books. When I purchase an audiobook, Lake House gets the profit. It’s just another way to support an indie bookseller and keep your money out of a billionaire’s pocket.
It’s brilliant. Not only can you download the book, you actually own it. That’s not the case with some of the other services. I’m currently enjoying Christina Applegate’s, You With the Sad Eyes when I drive or cook or do chores around the house. Libro.fm has loads of sales, too, where audiobooks you’ve actually heard of are only $5-10 or so.
If you want to check it out – full disclosure – this is my referral link: LIBRO If you sign up via that link, I’ll get a free audiobook credit! And once you’re signed up, you’ll get a link of your own to share, too. Everybody wins.
There are so many wonderful independent bookstores. In London, Ontario alone there’s at least a dozen of them. All you do is choose the store you want, anywhere you want, and they’ll get the credit when you purchase an audiobook. Libro.fm also highlights Canadian authors. I’m just so glad to have found them and to be listening to great stories and storytellers again.
Change takes time. I’m currently trying to get audiobook versions of my own books onto Libro.fm. But for now, Pieces of Us: Felicity and Mitzi Book One is still on Amazon. It’s narrated by the wonderful Molly Botten and I’d love it if you’d check it out.