Publisher Lunacy

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Reading an Audble book is not substitution for actually reading. Sorry, but I feel that suggestion just isnt a good replacement for actual reading.

Well, yes and no. You do actually read the book, it's not abridged in any way. But it does enter the brain via a different medium. I find I get different things out of a well read audio book than the text version, but I also get many of the same things.

I've read hundreds of books via Books on Tape and Audible in the last 30 years, while I've read thousands via pBooks and now eBooks. Some of those have overlapped each other, some haven't.

As an example: West With the Night by Beryl Markham. Read on BOT by Donada Peters (alias of Wanda McCadden). One of the all time best books ever, full stop. Read on Audible by Anna Field? Hopeless.

Same book, read as a normal book. Also one of the greatest books ever written in the English language. Evocative, descriptive, and very compelling. Not the same experience as the Donada Peters reading, but compelling on the same level.

[Andrew H.]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

Ahhh "licensed", well that explains their power. I would have imagined that they could buy e-books from Amazon (mobi) and B&N (epub) and then lend them to clients, with backing in the law. In other words, the law was there to protect lenders (library users) and not publishers.

It's more complicated than that. Libraries don't acually buy from Amazon or B&N; they contract with a 3d party (usually Overdrive in the US) to take care of the actual checking out process; what they pay OD is based on how many books they've licensed.

I was under the impression (based on reading about E-lib) that Swedish libraries use a similar service.

[Kumabjorn]

I'm actually not sure exactly how Swedish libraries obtain e-books. I know they do pay authors a fee based on how many loans are made of p-books and for many years that was a huge part of Astrid Lindgren's (of Pippi Longstocking fame?) income.

[tompe]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Well, yes and no. You do actually read the book, it's not abridged in any way. But it does enter the brain via a different medium. I find I get different things out of a well read audio book than the text version, but I also get many of the same things.

For me it is a totally different experience and since I also cannot get into a book when listening it is not reading for me. I am not a visual reader and I suspect that that have something to do with my trouble to follow a reading.

[tompe]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

I'm actually not sure exactly how Swedish libraries obtain e-books. I know they do pay authors a fee based on how many loans are made of p-books and for many years that was a huge part of Astrid Lindgren's (of Pippi Longstocking fame?) income.

From elib I think. And they have to pay 20SEK ($3) for every loan. So there is a big debate going on now since that cost is probably 10 times or more the cost for a paper back loan.

[twowheels]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Reading an Audble book is not substitution for actually reading. Sorry, but I feel that suggestion just isnt a good replacement for actual reading.

I feel that I get the same experience from a well narrated book as a book that I've read. Looking back I often have a hard time remembering which way I consumed the material as both affect my in much the same way. Over time the distinction becomes even less notable IME.

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by tompe

For me it is a totally different experience and since I also cannot get into a book when listening it is not reading for me. I am not a visual reader and I suspect that that have something to do with my trouble to follow a reading.

I'm sure that's true for some people, as it gets processed by a different part of the brain. But for others, it's much the same net result. I certainly get details out of reading a book that I might well miss when listening to it. But often the reader's insights into the book actually help me where I might have missed something. And a well narrated book is a pleasure, as the example of the Donata Peters reading of West with the Night. (Honestly, I think I could listen to her read the London phone directory and enjoy it.)

I have read every one of the O'Brian Aubrey/Maturin books, and also listened to unabridged audio versions of them. I've enjoyed both, and learned from both. I actually listened to them first, and then went back and bought regular books of them after.

Other books I doubt I'd be able to read at all, but can enjoy as audio books. Probably because I can ignore the author getting boring or preachy or simply verbose more easily, somehow.

[pidgeon92]

Originally Posted by tompe

For me it is a totally different experience and since I also cannot get into a book when listening it is not reading for me. I am not a visual reader and I suspect that that have something to do with my trouble to follow a reading.

I used to be the same way..... I tried listening to audiobooks about ten years ago, and hated it. Then I gave it another shot about a year ago, and found that it can really be a great experience, especially with an excellent narrator.

I now listen to audiobooks all the time while driving, and I find them great for helping me to fall asleep when I otherwise can't.

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by pidgeon92

I used to be the same way..... I tried listening to audiobooks about ten years ago, and hated it. Then I gave it another shot about a year ago, and found that it can really be a great experience, especially with an excellent narrator.

I now listen to audiobooks all the time while driving, and I find them great for helping me to fall asleep when I otherwise can't.

While...uhm, you're driving and can't sleep???

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

While...uhm, you're driving and can't sleep???

The comma makes all the difference.

[RWJ]

The more I think about this, the worse the taste it leaves. (To mangle the metaphor.)

I think I need to vote with my wallet. I'm going to do my best (aided, I admit, by lukewarm reviews) to ignore the new book. If I need to read it, I'll get it from the library. Mustn't reward this sort of publisher ass-hattery.

[Adele Ward]

We try to bring out our ebooks more or less at the same time as the print book. It really helps to be able to launch them together. Some authors don't want an ebook to be released, although none of our authors have said that. I suppose you can only tell if it was the author if they say openly that they don't want ebooks released quickly (or at all), or if the publisher usually has ebooks released faster.

[citac]

On the topic of audiobooks and narrators, I recently listened to Tom Hiddleston's narration of the book "The Red Necklace", and he did an excellent job. If I ever found another audiobook narrated by him, I would definitely buy it.