June is Audiobook Month — Celebrate and Win!
Anyone who has visited here before knows I love audiobooks.
However, I wasn’t always the world’s greatest audio fan. Listening rather than reading was a gradual process for me. I first tried audio many years ago—and failed miserably with the format and avoided audiobooks for many years. Yes, me!
What happened?
Well, my first attempt at listening to a book was a Sue Grafton mystery, one of the alphabet murders, on cassette tape while driving to a business seminar from Chicago to Indianapolis. I was concentrating so hard on listening that I missed an exit ramp and ended up on the wrong expressway. I had to figure out where I was and how to turn around, all in the days before GPS. I thought, ugh, no more books in the car, this is dangerous. And that was that.
What changed?
I got an iPod, and I would listen to music while gardening. If I could do that, then why not a book? I could read a few more books a year that way. It was a start, but a little more complicated than that!
Audiobooks are an acquired skill.
The solution for me was to start with a few non-fiction books and some short stories. With a full length book my mind would wander and I’d lose the plot. Non-fiction is much easier to listen to at first. Memoirs are also great to listen to when new to the format. If I can “learn to listen,” anyone can!
And now…
Years later, not only do I listen to books on CD in the car (yeah, I’m OK with that now), I also download and stream audio from my smartphone using bluetooth headphones . . . and listen to about 60 books a year.
Win a Year of Free Audiobooks
Recorded books is sponsoring a fantastic audiobook giveaway.
There will be two lucky winners. Each winner will each receive an audio download code good for 25 books. Titles can be downloaded all at once, or spread out over the year. There will be one winner for Highbridge Audiobooks and one for Tantor Audiobooks.
The winners will have a huge assortment of books to choose from. There is something for everyone, from seasoned listener to newbie and everyone in between.
For a chance to win . . .
Fill out the form below on or before midnight, Tuesday, June 30th. I will draw two random winners and they will be notified by email. That’s it. Easy!
For a bonus entry . . .
In the comments, share which Tantor or Highbridge audiobook you are looking forward to listening to.
[Giveaway has ended]
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Under My Apple Tree 
I’m looking forward to listening Inside the O’Briens and Summer Secrets.
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I became an audiobook convert about four years ago. Like you, I had a false start a few years earlier that made me put the brakes on where audiobooks were concerned. Then I realized it wasn’t me, it was the first narrator I tried. Not good at all, imho. Now I have several favorites and love to listen to books. They keep me walking farther and cleaning the house isn’t nearly as awful as it used to be 😀
I’m tempted by Lady of the Eternal City (Tantor).
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Narrators make a huge difference in how much I enjoy the book. I have abandoned audio a few times because of the narration. And I agree, an audiobook is now essential when doing household tasks. And… I just recently discovered bluetooth earbuds! These things are awesome. No more cables to get stuck in things when I work. (I think I’ll do a post on them soon since this is audiobook month 🙂 )
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Hmm I am thinking The Fold, or 14. Not quite sure yet, so many great books out there!
Thank you for letting us know about this giveaway, by the way.
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I totally forgot to mention I loved your post. It gives me hope because right now I am just not much of a fan of audiobooks. I think that, like you, I have not been very fond of the narrators, though everyone else seems to love them. Also, I never read non-fiction, so don’t plan to go up that avenue anytime soon. Maybe I will keep going with short stories. I have resigned myself to the fact that I will miss a lot of things if I listen to a full novel.
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If a novel is too complex, too long, has too many characters, or jumps about in time, it is difficult to avoid missing things without pressing the rewind button. It gets easier the more you listen, but when still new to the format, try linear, shorter stories. 🙂 If you like memoirs, I find those to be the easiest to listen to.
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Hmm not really. I am currently listening to an almost 9 hour long novel, probably not the best option, huh? 🙂
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Nine hours isn’t too long. When I say long I mean the equivalent of 400+ page books. I listened to The Goldfinch, but I also read parts of it in print… it kept me grounded to the 800+ page story!
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I always enjoyed audiobooks, but the advent of the smartphone has made me a listener pretty much wherever. I listen while I exercise, while I cook, while I clean, while I drive. It’s added a lot of books to my reading totals and I’ve found that I’m better at it than I used to be. In the beginning, I pretty much only listened to books that I’d already read – just in case I missed something. Now, I listen to all kinds of things.
I’d love to hear Val McDermid’s new non-fiction book – Forensics.
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OMG, what an amazing gift! I’m looking forward to listening to all the books in the series by Louise Penny, they are amazing, with the great Ralph Cosham, whom alas passed away. I have only listened to 3 so far
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look forward to listening to The seven sisters by lucinda riley
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I love audiobooks and for the last year or so, I have hardly read a paper book 🙂 I have just gotten a new car with bluetooth and it is the greatest invension! When I get in my car, my books starts immediately 🙂 Just love, love, love it! I have read (listened to) so many “new” genres that I am sure I would not have attempted if not in audio form.
I am a World War II buff, so I would love to listen to Goebbels: A BIOGRAPHY.
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I’d like a Susanna Kearsley or a Lucinda Riley. Audiobooks new to me. Just won one set!
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Leslie, thank you for hosting this great audiobook giveaway! 🙂
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I’m desperate to read Mislead by Nell Zink. Can’t find it out yet here!
Thank you Leslie for introducing me to audiobooks. I’m now a daily listener and a much calmer driver.
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Right now, it’s Nalini Singh’s Shards of Hope.
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Both Tantor and Highbridge put out many high quality SFF. I also enjoy mysteries so I hope Highbridge will continue Lene Kaaberbol’s Paris mysteries, once they are translated into English. Tantor has Alastair Reynolds titles and I recently enjoyed his Terminal World. Honestly, I woud be happy with either Tantor or Highbridge books. Thanks for hosting such a cool giveaway!
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The audiobook I’m most looking forward to listening to is The Fault In Our Stars by John Green.
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