Thinking about getting Audible. But before taking the plunge, has anyone any thoughts on it? Worth the price? How easy is it to terminate contract at the end of the trial period?
Never heard of it but guess it's for listening to books. You can download from torrent sites and listen via a media player. Use laptop, tablet, mobile phone or put on memory stick and listen through tv.
Tried it recently. I've listened to audiobooks for a while using torrents but while on a trip to Devon with no wifi I decided to do the free trial. It's ok. You get 1 free credit for an audiobook and access to their exclusive podcasts. The podcasts thing is neither here nor there cos you can get others for free anyway. We spent our free credit on Murder on the Orient Express. It was a full cast recording so more like a radio play and it was very good. I cancelled the subscription when I realised I would only get 1 book per month for that price. I do a lot of driving so was looking forward to making the most of it. The truth is, I wouldn't spend 7.99 each month on paperbacks, I take them out of the library for free. I'd sooner do it on a torrent and if enjoy the book, I'll pay for it in paperback to support the author.
I've had it for years. Use it a fair bit for commute and long drives. It's good.. I struggle to get into reading books, but enjoy listening to them. And it's a good use of car travel time (along with podcasts) I recently changed to the annual subscription; more cost effective. I don't devour books but like to buy and listen to the odd book when I come across something. Audio books bought separately (or as cds) can often be pretty expensive, so Audible, working on 'one book per credit' basis works pretty cost effectively for me. I often re-listen to certain books too, so it's good / convenient having them readily accessible in the audible app whenever I need them. If you are on one of the monthly plans, you can also halt your subscription (I think it's still once a year) for 4 months or something, if you have credits building up or just want to save a bit of money.If you cancel, you keep access to what you have bought. I recommend it.
I tried it for a few months, and they do offer you deals when you try to cancel (like Sky), but what you can't account for, or know in advance, is that you could get the audible version of your favourite book, and it's read by the author, who has a voice like the lovechild of Janice Street Porter and Kenneth Williams, which just makes you turn off. Or alternatively, they use a generic Yankee voice over person who is just as annoying. I decided just to stick to books.
Ha ha (as they say). Yes, that can be true. But most I've had (nearly all non-fiction) have been read by the author. Only the odd one that's been a poor choice of reader (and yes, it can put you off). Having said that, you often get chance to hear a sample on Amazon.
I'm just coming to the end of the Keith Richards autobiography - it's read by Keith himself + his mate Johnny Depp, I find them both easy listening. The book btw is absolutely brilliant, it's mostly about music and musicians - bits about groupies and drugs (lotsa drugs); it's the music that stands out though. I always rated Keef as my favourite Stone, after reading (listening to) his book I rate him even more .... top man and a great book.
Has he fallen out of the banana tree yet ? Can't imagine him being able to read the book with a straight face. must be laughing most of the time - between cigs that is Interesting character old Keef.
I have used Audible for a couple of years now....don’t listen to the radio anymore. Like others I travel up and down the country and get through about 4 books a month. The subject range is incredible and I have certainly listened to authors I never thought I buy a book of (Jeffrey Archer) but the narrators in most cases are excellent and bring a different dimension to a story.
It's like all these 'free' subscriptions - easy to forget to cancel and be lured into paying, and then as others have said it's not such great value. Personally, even though I write novels and get money from audiobook advances, I much prefer 'dramatised' books. EG the George Smiley ones, or Jane Austen - so tend to use my credits on things like that, or language lessons. Thirteen hours plus of an unabridged novel read by the author or a singe actor I just find too dull.
If you sign up to that most archaic of institutions, the library, you can download/stream audio books for free. It's surprisingly good. They also have ebooks and a decent range of emagazines.
