I Struggle With Audiobooks, but ADORE Audio Dramas

It's a shame that my old blog's content couldn't transfer over. I will see if I can migrate one of my most popular posts and it was on my issues consuming audiobooks.

I'm a visual learning. Audiobooks just fade into the background. I can ONLY consume the story fully when I do an audiobook + text duo - meaning listen WHILE I read along word-for-word. 

Anything else, and the story... the sentiment is lost on me. This is a bit unpopular because so many people just plow through their TBR piles with the aid of audiobooks, but I'm a dense, slow, deep reader and any time the thought of "plowing through" a novel has entered my mind, I know it's time for a forever DNF or a putting aside for another time in my life.

Literature is meant to bring me close to the sublime. The awe. The deep lived universal experiences of all of humanity. Tall order? Certainly, but nonetheless it's my most basic requirement. THEN and only then can I be "entertained" by the works.

This leads me to today's point. Audio dramas are fascinating ways to be connected to works in an auditory way without actually listening to the full story via audiobook.

• I only listen to audio dramas of works that I am very familiar with. The audio dramas are NOT abridged audiobooks. I feel you will lose the essence of the true story if this is your only introduction to the work.

• With that in mind, it's better to listen to the audio drama and become familiar with the work (even if it's your first time), rather than to never know the story if you've shied away from the full text.

• I love listening to them on 1.0 speed. The extra audio sounds in the back (wind blowing, doors slamming) are lost when you speed them up.

• I do enjoy just sitting with a coffee and listening to the story- especially by candlelight. While it can seem ancient Victorian-esque to do so, the experience is so delightful.

I've only just discovered these audio dramas and purchased a few from audible. I can't seem to find them anywhere else!

Currently, I'm listening to the BBC Radio Drama: The Brontë Collection

source: audible cover

This has been a phenomenal experience and I now have added a few other collections to my personal wishlist.

I LOVE Jane Eyre. It is one of my top 3 favorite novels of ALL time and the dramatization of it was excellent! I was truly blown away. 

I don't subscribe to audile, so I just buy them outright, but even then it's worth it to me. I will re-listen to this collection endlessly. 

I hope that if (like me) you avoid audiobooks (for any reason), you may now feel compelled to seek out a dramatization of your favorite works to accompany you on drives and while doing chores. It's changed my life. 

Happy reading my slow living friends.