Testing one, two, three. Is this thing on?

Heard any good books lately? What are your thoughts on audiobooks?

by Paul D. Marks

The answer to the first question is “no”. The reason is because I don’t listen to audio books, much as I sometimes wish I did. My mind wanders too much. But when I read a paper book I don’t have that problem. I also like the heft and tactile sensation of paper books and still prefer those to e-books as well. Though I do read e-books.

Since I basically commute from the bedroom or kitchen to my home office, a distance measured in seconds rather than hours, I don’t do much reading of any kind on my commute. But if I did—and if I had a self-driving car—I’d be reading a hardcopy book or one on the Kindle app. 

I don’t know why my mind wanders when simply listening, but it does. So, while I’ve tried to listen to audio books and have even completed some, mostly I don’t. I got The Girl on the Train in audio and kept losing my place so to speak. So I ended up buying the paper book and reading it with my eyes instead of my ears. And doing it that way, I got through the book and enjoyed it.

"The Girl on the Train" audiobook

I have stacks of TBR books all over the place and a virtual stack on the Kindle app. I have some audio books around that I try to listen to now and then, but as I said, I tend to lose focus. My wife Amy reads on audio a lot—or did, before working from home during Covid, when she commuted to work on the train. However her brain is wired vs. the way mine is allows her to concentrate on audio books and her mind doesn’t seem to wander. She really enjoys her audio books and I envy her ability to do so.

Also, like Susan said earlier in the week, she was taken aback by the readings of some of her books. I haven’t had that experience, but I have had actors read scripts I’ve worked on. And sometimes it’s great and other times it’s a horror show. In those cases, I think it also depends on the director. S/he can give input into how to play a scene or a whole script. And I remember one time when the director directed the actors to play something for laughs that wasn’t at all meant that way. It was a nightmare. So it does also depend on the presentation.

Janet Hutchings, of Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, and Paul D. Marks
recording "Howling at the Moon"

In response to the second question, I think audio books are great for people who enjoy them. I have nothing against them, they’re just (mostly) not for me. And, from what Amy says, I do think the reader has a lot to do with one’s enjoyment of them. As long as people are “reading” books, I pretty much don’t care about the medium they get them on.

All that said, there is an audio recording for Ellery Queen of my story Ghosts of Bunker Hill, which won the Ellery Queen Readers’ Award for 2016. I’m not sure if it’s the best performance possible. The actor did as good a job as he could, but then he wasn’t a professional. Uh, it was me. Ellery Queen asked me to read the story for their Fiction Podcast Series. So if you want to hear Ghosts of Bunker Hill, read by the author, you can find it here: https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/eqmm/episodes/2017-05-02T08_49_33-07_00 . 

I also recorded my first story for EQMM, Howling at the Moon, for their series and you can find that one here:  https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/eqmm/episodes/2016-02-01T06_56_00-08_00 . But please remember, I’m not an actor, so don’t throw tomatoes.

So, bottom line, books and reading—in any form—are gifts that we should treasure.

~.~.~

And now for the usual BSP:

Thanks to Steve Steinbock and Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine for the review of The Blues Don’t Care in the current September/October 2020 issue just out. Four stars out of four. My first time getting reviewed in EQMM. A great honor!

And our own Cathy Ace’s The Corpse with the Crystal Skull is also reviewed in this issue.

You can find them here: https://www.elleryqueenmysterymagazine.com/current-issue/the-jury-box/

Please join me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/paul.d.marks and check out my website  www.PaulDMarks.com

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Heard any good books lately?

If you listen to audiobooks, how do you find they compare to old-fashioned reading, as far as absorbing the content? What are the pros and cons of each? If you don’t listen to audiobooks, why not?

by Dietrich Kalteis

Comprehension between reading and listening to a novel seems to be on a par. The story comes to life either way, but given a choice, I’d rather settle down in a favorite chair and read the novel. I’m not as likely to sit at home and listen to an audiobook, but they are great when I’m on the road or doing something where I can’t physically read a book. 

There was that time I was driving on the 401 and passing another car on a straightaway. My fellow motorist had the cruise control set, doing the speed limit while holding a novel open against the steering wheel. It must have been one of those books you just can’t put down. For me, listening to an audiobook while traveling at highway speeds would be the better way to go. Maybe I suck at multitasking, but to my mind playing an audiobook rather than reading while in motion means I’ll get more enjoyment out of the novel, and I’m far more likely to arrive at my destination.

Choosing between an audiobook or a book also depends on the type of book and the subject matter. If it’s heavy reading, I might want to reread parts or even take notes, which makes sitting with the book and giving it my full attention a better choice.

I heard somebody say audiobooks were a kind of cheat, figuring the listener gets some undeserved reward for listening instead of putting in the work of reading the book. I’ve never thought of reading as work, and I don’t think I deserve a gold star because there’s some extra step in decoding the written word.

When I’m on a flight or train trip, sitting back and listening to an audiobook or reading an ebook are better choices than lugging along printed copies, which tend to make the suitcase feel like it’s filled with cinderblocks.

The first thing that hooks me when I’m reading a novel is the author’s voice, and when I’m listening to an audiobook it’s the narrator’s voice reading the author’s words. If the narrator’s voice matches the rhythm of the author’s written words then it’s fantastic. Over the years I’ve listened to most of Elmore Leonard’s audiobooks, and nobody did a better job narrating them than Frank Muller. His voice was perfect for the rhythm of Elmore’s stories. And I loved Robert Forster reading Mr. Paradise. Just another perfect match.

When I read a novel I imagine the characters, I get transported somewhere else, the story builds in my mind, and the whole thing comes to life. Getting lost in a good book is like watching the film in my head. So, when somebody narrates the story, his or her voice replaces my own, so they have be the right articulator and nail the story’s pace and cadence.

Actors tend to make great audiobook narrators — all that voice training and getting into character — they just knows what to bring to the party. Just listen to Samuel L. Jackson reading Adam Mansbach’s children’s book for adults Go the Fuck to Sleep, or check out William Golding’s The Spire, read by Benedict Cumberbatch. Or Kathryn Stockett’s The Help narrated by Jenna Lamia, Bahni Turpin, Octavia Spenser and Cassandra Campbell. Or Harper Lee’s Go Set a Watchman read by Reese Witherspoon. 

And comedians reading their own books make a great argument for the audiobook. Just check out Kevin Hart reading I Can’t Make This Up. Or if you’re a Lewis Black fan, check out the audiobook of Me of Little Faith. Then there’s George Carlin reading his book Brain Droppings, or Joan Rivers reading Diary of a Mad Diva. All hilarious and all well done.

So, it’s not so much about choosing between reading the book or listening to the audiobook. It depends on when and where and who’s doing the narrating. For me, there’s definitely a time and place for both.