Tag Archives: audiobooks

Introducing Member Deals

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Want to make your credits go further? We’ve got you covered. Introducing our brand new Member Deals section!

With the click of a button, you can now take advantage of special promotions in which one credit can be redeemed for two titles (or more!). To take a look at what deals are available, tap on the new Member Deals icon in the app’s main menu, or visit the website and click Deals after logging in. These deals are in two camps: pre-set bundles and build-your-own bundles.

For the pre-set bundles, we’ve worked with publishers to pair two titles together that we think are a perfect pairing. Sometimes it’ll be two books by the same author, or on the same subject, or even read by the same narrator! Whatever unites them, you can rest assured that these curated sets are great value for your credit.

For the build-you-own bundles, the power is with the people! We’ve pulled together a limited selection of titles that link thematically, usually by genre, but then it’s up to you to choose which two of those titles you want to redeem your credit on.

It’s also worth noting that if you’re out of credits, InstaCredit can be used to access Member Deals if you’re browsing via the app. InstaCredit is an easy and hassle-free way to instantly purchase an extra credit and apply it to an audiobook (or in this case, several!) without leaving the app. The InstaCredit feature can only be used if you have no remaining credits in your account. To use InstaCredits, make sure the feature is enabled under the Settings menu. Then, choose the book you want and follow the popups. A credit will be instantly purchased and redeemed for that book.

Don’t miss your chance to win!

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Want to win big this Audiobook Month? Enter our contest!

Prizes include a Sonos PLAY:5, the new iPad 32GB, a pair of Beats Solo3 Wireless Headphones, or 1 of 30 year-long gift subscriptions to Audiobooks.com. We know our lucky winners will love listening with these great prizes, all of which were selected because they make listening experiences better. Contest closes June 30 at 11:59 p.m. EST so don’t delay! Enter every day for more chances to win.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE CONTEST

Please note, the contest is open to residents of Canada (excluding Quebec) and the United States of America over the age of 18. For full terms & conditions, please click here.

Have your cake – and listen, too! Why I love multitasking with audiobooks

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This is for all the busy bookworms out there whose reading lists are growing intimidating. You have a job. You have events. You need to eat, and work out, and do chores. Books may understandably fall down the list of priorities. But, your reading list doesn’t need its own time slot.

Cue audiobooks. Ever since I started my audiction (heh), my reading rate has soared, and with it my productivity. I am delighted to do hours of meal prep, engage in a full session of mopping or juggle multiple loads of laundry, because all the while I’m immersed in a story. I used to do chores with a show on in the background, but there is a relief in having entertainment that doesn’t involve my eyes. I don’t need to glance at the show to keep up with the audio, so my eyes can stay focused on the sharp knife moving dangerously near my fingers. Sound is all you need to absorb the information.

The multitasking perk is of course not limited to chores. It applies to any task that sucks away joy – think long, traffic-ridden drives, or getting ready in the morning. I hit play on my latest listen to wake me up and it keeps me captivated until I get to work. It also applies to tasks that do not suck away joy, like showering or eating alone. On my nerdiest days I’ve even been known to listen and knit. Audiobooks turn all solo activities up a notch. If you haven’t yet used audiobooks to multitask, I highly recommend it.

Do you multitask with audiobooks? When is your ideal time to listen?  Share your listening tips!

Abridged vs. Unabridged

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Have you ever been browsing our library and wondered, “Why is the exact same book – same author, same narrator, same publisher, and same cover art – available twice?” Usually if you look a little closer, you’ll notice that they actually have different lengths. One will be the full-length version, while the other will be shortened, or “abridged”.

For all the benefits audiobooks provide, there is one trade-off: we read with our eyes faster than anyone can read to us with their voice. Some may feel like a novel is taking a while when it otherwise wouldn’t. To abate this, many publishers will offer an abridged version of the audiobook, where the story line remains intact but certain sections are cut to shave a few hours off the recording. The majority of our listeners opt for the full version but others feel that an abridged audiobook is easier to handle. This is especially the case with lengthy classics, which were written back when our patience and attention span were a little longer.

There are certainly pros and cons, and I’m often guilty of finding myself in the middle of a classic waiting for the plot to progress. However, I still prefer the unabridged version; if I’m going to enjoy an author’s work, I want to listen to the whole production!

Plus, with Audiobooks.com’s variable speed narration tool, it’s easy to change your listening from 1.0 to 1.25, 1.5 or even 1.75 times normal speed. To access this feature, tap the “1x” text at the bottom left corner of the audio player screen in the app.

Are you an abridged or unabridged listener? Tell us your thoughts!

Philippa Gregory Makes History Come Alive – A Review of The Red Queen

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audio book, downloads, digital download gift subscriptionPhilippa Gregory Makes History Come Alive – A Review of The Red Queen

I’m a big fan of Philippa Gregory’s work but I had never listened to one of her audio books before. I decided to start with The Red Queen narrated by Bianca Amato. Like many of Gregory’s books, this historical fiction audio book is told from the perspective of an important woman and this time it’s Margaret Beaufort, heiress to Lancaster House.

Margaret has always felt that she was special and that she had a calling. She felt that God spoke to her, that her will was God’s will and that she was destined to be an abbess. Unfortunately for her, women in England in the 1400s really did not get a choice of what they wanted to do with their life. Especially since she is cousin to the King, she doesn’t have the option of becoming a nun; she must marry and produce an heir.

The story follows Margaret through her multiple marriages and her journey to see her son become King of England, which she is determined to see happen. Margaret is a very proud and selfish woman and of course does not see these qualities in herself. She is not the most likeable protagonist which could make this audio book frustrating for some listeners. I found the story to be quite good even though I didn’t particularly like Margaret. At points I was laughing because she is so completely determined and self-absorbed she doesn’t really comprehend what is going on around her.

Philippa Gregory does not disappoint with this sequel to The White Queen. I found it very interesting to see the second perspective on the Cousin’s War. This is a great book for Philippa Gregory fans and for Tudor fans who want to know more about Henry VIII’s father and grandmother.

Have you listened to The Red Queen? Share your thoughts in the comments section!

Banned Books Week

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audio book, downloads, digital download gift subscription

Banned Books Week

We love stories. That’s why we are in the business of storytelling. But what happens when certain stories are withheld from the public, access is denied in schools and libraries? This is no new concept, certain books still get banned. Censorship is still alive and well and continues to be implemented in school boards all over the world today.

This week, Sept 24th-Oct 1st has been declared Banned Books Week, a time when libraries, schools, and bookstores celebrate our First Amendment freedom to read. Whether it’s print or in the form of an audio book, stories are a precious resource that provide us not only with entertainment, but information, ideas, opinions that may otherwise not be heard.

Recently, there have been various books banned, books I recall reading way back in my high school English classes. Below are some commonly challenged books that you might be interested in. But as you review the list, ask yourself, where do you stand with the content questioned? Sure, there are various reasons why these books are banned, some due to sexual perversity or overall obscenity like Lolita, or because of political, religious, or racial grounds, but does that make it right to remove it from bookshelves?

Commonly Challenged Books:

To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee –A classic work of literature that was banned two years ago from a high school in Brampton, Ontario due to the prejudice in the novel. A parent objected to the language used, like the vulgar “N” word used in reference to African-Americans.

Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut – Although this book came out 42 years ago, this summer a high school in Missouri banned Kurt Vonnegut’s counter-culture classic from its library and curriculum alleging the book promoted “values contrary to those found in the bible”.

Others include:
Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
1984 by George Orwell