By Tessa Pulyer Posted on

#BookBloggerHop | The Challenges of Audiobook Reviews

The Book Blogger Hop was originally created by Jennifer @ Crazy-For-Books in March 2010 and ended on December 31, 2012. With Jennifer’s permission, Billy @ Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer relaunched the hop on February 15, 2013. Each week the hop will start on a Friday and end the following Thursday. There will be a weekly prompt featuring a book related question. The hop’s purpose is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to their own blog.

Do you think listening to an audiobook instead of reading the print version makes it more difficult to write a review?

(submitted by Elizabeth @ Silver’s Reviews)

For me, personally, it is much more difficult to review an audiobook than a print book because I can’t focus on an audiobook no matter how hard I try. And I have tried so many times and in so many different ways.

What would be an ideal for me would be to include a review of the audio with my print review. I tried that once but I ended up DNFing the book, so it was a bad one to try with.

I might try again when I start having room to review my own books. Once I gain confidence in my ability to provide a good review of both then I will request ARCs…maybe.

What are some challenges to reviewing an audiobook? Do you think it is any more difficult than reviewing a print book?

38 Replies to “#BookBloggerHop | The Challenges of Audiobook Reviews”

  1. Jenny Mcclinton says:

    I have never tried an audio book but I think I would be the same, I usually find myself drifting off in my mind if I’m listening to something 😂

    Liked by 1 person

  2. nickimags @ Secret Library Book Blog says:

    Great question! It can be more challenging because you can’t put a note on a quote or a paragraph like you can with a print book. I end up using my progress on Goodreads sometimes or making notes somewhere else. Or just making sure I write my review as soon as I’ve finished the audiobook! 😂

    Liked by 1 person

  4. bookwormbloggerweb says:

    I love listening to audio books when I’m driving or out walking. The biggest challenge for me is knowing how to spell names and places but what I love about audios is the emotion you get from the narrators.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Lady Tessa says:

      That’s actually why I would like to review both print and audio – to mostly talk about the narration experience.

      Liked by 1 person

  5. CJRTB Books says:

    Hmmmm I don’t think so for me. The only part where I fall down is spellings of character names and places. I’ve heard it in my head and think I know how I would spell it but then find out it’s spelt differently!!! ❤️

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Mischenko says:

    I agree with you, especially if the story is complex. It’s hard not to take notes because without them, I struggle with writing a review and remembering everything. Excellent topic today. 😉

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Teri Polen says:

    I think it depends on the book for me. If it’s an average length book I do fine. If it’s 400+ pages, I struggle more. The narrator also has an effect – I’ve DNFed books because of narrators whose voices grated on my ears. But if I didn’t listen to audiobooks I’d only read half the number of books in a year. I’m always listening to one while doing household chores, at the gym, getting ready in the mornings, etc.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lady Tessa says:

      I imagine that’s one of the worst things when listening to an audiobook – a narrator whose voice is very unappealing to you.

      Liked by 1 person

  10. Jonetta | Blue Mood Café says:

    Audiobooks aren’t for everyone, that’s for sure. For me? A match made in heaven. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised as I’ve since discovered I’m an auditory learner. I get that it’s more of a struggle for you and maybe it’s better to try one for a road trip. Less distractions and allows you to focus better.

    The hardest thing, for me, about reviewing an audiobook is getting the names spelled right. Other than that, writing them is an easy process. Yesterday, I wrote the review for one I’d just finished moments before. The listening experience was so impactful and I’m better able to be more succinct and summarize effectively (at least in my mind). I’m more in touch with how the book impacted me than needing to reiterate the story.

    Love this question.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lady Tessa says:

      I’ve listened to them on road trips and have the most success that way but my brain still tends to wander. I couldn’t imagine I would ever get enough to review.

      Like

  11. Mani says:

    I love listening to audiobooks! The only trouble I have with reviewing audiobooks is getting the names of characters and places right and writing about the narrators.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Staci Troilo says:

    I struggle to concentrate when I listen to audiobooks. I can read faster than they speak, and if I speed up the recording, it sounds so unnatural, it’s distracting. (And I feel like I can read faster than the speeded-up version, too.) And I’ve been known to get distracted by something else or to fall asleep.

    Those issues aside, if I don’t like the voice(s), I think I factor that into my enjoyment of the book, whether I intend to or not. So, long story short, yes, I think audiobooks are harder to review. Interesting question to think about, Tessa.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lady Tessa says:

      I’ve fallen asleep many times when trying to listen to them at home. Lol. And, I agree, the voice of the narrator can make or break the listening experience.

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Louise H says:

    Audiobooks just don’t work for me, I end up getting distracted by the narrator’s accents and dislike listening to the dialogue being narrated by a person of the opposite sex to the character. I end up not actually listening to or following the story.

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Kelly says:

    I love audiobooks and I like reviewing them. It’s not harder for me than reviewing a print or digital book, I start my review in the same way and add a paragraph discussing the narration. I don’t review many audiobooks these days cos I mostly review gifted books now and I don’t like the NetGalley audiobook app very much. I have an audiobook review planned soon though, because I loved the book and the narration so much I just had to talk about it 😊

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Mae Clair says:

    I have a few audio books (mainly Shakespeare plays) that I listened to decades ago. They were on cassette tapes which tells you how long its been, otherwise I’ve never listened to an audio book. I prefer to read, but I can see how writing a review would be harder when you’re not actually reading the book.

    Liked by 1 person

  17. WendyW says:

    I think the performance of the narrator makes a big difference in how I perceive the book. When I listen to an audiobook with a great audio performance, I tend to enjoy the book more than if I read it. And the reverse is also true. If the performance is bad, I won’t like the book as much. But, overall, I do enjoy audiobooks.

    Liked by 1 person

  18. Julie Anna's Books says:

    I definitely struggle with this too – and I think it’s one reason why I don’t listen to audiobooks as often! It’s hard for me when I don’t hs e a physical reference.

    Liked by 1 person

  19. PeachyTO says:

    I have the same problem with audiobooks, Tessa. I can’t stay focused, no matter what I try. My mind will inevitably wander to the shopping list, what I forgot to do that week, or even wondering how the neighbour that just passed by the window is doing. 😆 It’s so silly and makes me feel as though there is something wrong with me, so I take solace in reading your post. Happy first day of Spring! 🐇🐤🐥🐣

    Liked by 1 person

  20. Carla says:

    It took me several years and many tries to finally be able to concentrate and enjoy audiobooks. I can now write reviews with no problem, but I do often have both an audiobook and access to an ebook or physical book in case I have to check something. The hardest thing for me is the spelling of names and places. Wonderful discussion post, Tessa.

    Liked by 1 person

Comments are closed.