6.26.2012

Audio Week - So You Wanna Review Audio Books


Tuesday's Topic for Audio Book Week is So You Wanna Review Audio Books.

Discuss the essentials of audiobook reviewing. What do you make sure to include? What do you want to see when you read other people’s reviews?

I have to admit I'm more interested in hearing OTHER people's response to this than what I could possibly write on my own.  This is the first year where I can say I've consistently had an audio book going on at all times.  (I think that as of now I've listened to 7 which is the most that I've listened to combined in all previous years).  

But the thing is, even though I've listened to all of these books, I haven't reviewed them all.  And I think it's because I'm only now getting the gist of what it takes to be a good narrator.  Seriously.  If you haven't LISTENED to The Daughter of Smoke and Bones, I HIGHLY recommend it.  And lucky you - YA SYNC is offering it up FOR FREE before the summer is over. 

I guess immediately what comes to my mind is the reviewer to review FIRST the audio aspect of the book and then the book itself.  If that makes sense?  It's sorta like, I want to know why I should choose to  listen to the book rather than read it myself.  (Especially since most of us read quicker on our own than what the audio version delivers). 

So, as a newbie, how should I go about reviewing the backlog of audio books I've listened to?  Treat them just like a book I read on a weekend?  I'm a clean slate...teach me. *grin*


5 comments:

  1. One of the most important features of an audiobook review for me is the narrator--I love to hear what people think of the narrators. I also want to know if the production was free of flaws--there is one CD book out there that I know has a pretty major flaw in it, but no one mentions it in their reviews. I didn't write a review for it myself because I read the book, I didn't listen to it. I noticed the flaw when a bunch of library patrons turned in multiple copies of the book on CD all stating that disc 4 had problems--it would have saved the library some money if a reviewer had mentioned that problem first. Most of all be honest, and tell me what you think.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I think the most important part is the narrator. Did they connect with you? Did they make the experience enjoyable? And if there were any problems or cool things in the production, you can mention those. (Sometimes I mention if the author's note is included at the end, because those can be pretty cool).

    ReplyDelete
  3. You could try this: This audiobook was narrated by: [fill in the blank] and I liked [disliked] the narration because [fill in the blank].

    That should get you started. Once you start doing that, the rest will flow as you feel the need to explain yourself.

    I hope that helps!

    Dorothy - The Alaskan Bookie - Squeak
    Blog ~ http://alaskanbookie.blogspot.com/
    Twitter ~ http://twitter.com/AkChocoholic

    ReplyDelete
  4. I think what is important to add to what you would normally write is how the fact that it was an audiobook affected your enjoyment: did the format work? did the narrator? etc.

    ReplyDelete

Talk to me!