What do you think of audio books? They're free to download too.

Audio books are so popular now and this has become the latest trend in net.I prefer to download them rather than ordinary e-books

I don't have a personal audio player. If I did have one I may use it to listen to an audiobook in bed, or on a long journey, but prefer to read in print.

When I read a novel I am unaware of my surroundings. I am with the characters in their fictional situation. When I hear an audio book I find it difficult to keep listening, I start to think of other things, or I get distracted by the way the reader speaks.

I would rather buy a paper back addition than reading an e-book on the computer. Paper back edition appears handy to me and it can be read at any time at any convenient place, on the other side, for reading an e-book, you will have to sit besides your computer or laptop.

I prefer ordinary books because for me audiobooks are just hype. People listen them just because they are popular and trendy but I think they are useless. I like when you have the book in front of you and then read it page after page; it is better because sometimes you don't understand something and you want to read it once again so you turn back few pages and start reading again. You can't do that with audio books, you have to rewind which is more complicated than turning the pages.

I don't think I would download an audiobook that I'd have to listen to at my computer. But in the past I have had audio books on tape that I have listened to while doing the ironing and other boring chores.

My daughter for one loves these and when she rides in the car listens to them....I know a few others that do....but for me I really don't have the time to even listen to any...

Yes, I sometimes came across websites offering audio books for free. But I have never download any audio books yet. I prefer reading ebooks. I prefer to actively read the books than listening them read, because I am a visual person, not auditory person. Moreover, by reading written works we can learn how they write as well and it can obviously improve our writing skill. As a short story authors, of course you know that .
Also, audio books are usually big files, taking longer time to download.

Personally I would rather read the book myself. I get distracted easily and I have two kids that bother me all the time when I am having me time. So i would rather read the book that away i can selectively hear whats going on around me and I have the choice to take that book when I am waiting a while somewhere, like the doctor offices .

It's a tough challenge!!! It's really a tough challenge to write something 'interesting'! Anyway! Accepted.

I think concept of Audio book is good for kids - they would like to listen to stories. Might be some background music would have been more entertaining. Still, you know - kids make the world impossible for you by hitting your brain hard with impossible questions! So, the audio book will deprive them of their birth right!
For us, I think an audio book will not be that much exciting.

Oh! BTW, we used to listen to a program in our local radio station. In that program, an eminent actor of our locality would recite stories from different books. The program was a big success.

Still I'll not rescind my presumption that listening to the audio version of books will be more enjoyable in comparison to the hard paper books. The aroma of paper itself makes the reading more pleasurable. Is not that so?

Oh really now this is interesting Jen.I did not know this.My dad would love an audio book. I shll be checking this out further. Thanks for the heads up on this .