I read a bit of “A Thousand Splendid Suns” and I really liked it. When I was reading I really felt like I was the way it was written was really nice. – But I’m doing this thing where I choose one book I will read “by the side” every month through random lottery, and this was one of them and because I’m reading other books I had to listen to the audiobook of this one when doing other stuff like exercising etc. – but now I’m lost. I don’t even remember how Leila came into the picture and why her story is told now, what happened to Mariam? – I’m just so confused now, I can tell it’s a really great book and part of me feel like it’s stupid to continue it now but I just hate to dnf it now I’m so upset why does this happen to me, are audiobooks just not for me?
by foxstroll
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This is really common, many people don’t absorb and remember things as well through audio as they do reading from a book. I read mostly fantasy and sci-fi, so a lot of worldbuilding and places/names to remember, and I often can’t listen to audiobooks until I’ve read further into a series and have all the names/places/political factions down.
edit: It’s been pointed out that I’m wrong about people remembering better from reading than listening, my bad. Still, though, a lot of people have trouble keeping up with audiobooks, maybe it’s because we’re not totally focused or it’s because we as individuals find audio harder to remember. Either way, OP’s not alone there at all.
I’m guessing the problem is you’re doing the audiobook while doing other things. It moves to the background and then you lose focus.
I have similar problems with audiobooks. They really only work for me if I can devote the same attention to them as I would if I was reading. OR, it’s a book I’ve already read.
It could also just be that audiobooks just aren’t for everyone (you or me). Though I do ok with lighter books that I already know.
You’re probably either going to have to not multi-task to finish listening, or move to the actual book.
I’m the same – I can’t focus on audio in the same way as with the written word. Some people are the exact opposite – which is demonstrated by the popularity of audiobooks these days.
I would say, stick to written books and only listen to ‘lighter’ stuff on audio books, or non-fiction.
This is why I prefer paper books. I don’t just bookmark my current spot- also things I want to think about further. It doesn’t rely on a key press or swipe combo to get back to, or for the software to have usable bookmarking.
And I love, love, love my local public library, but it’s also why I like to buy paper copies of books- I’m a bit of a marginalia freak. It all started when I checked out a copy of Stanisław Lem’s Solaris and someone had written many notes in it. I read the notes and they really helped and provided some food for thought. So my absolute faves, I buy and mark them up pretty good.
I also have a harder time with audiobooks, I just feel like I miss stuff.
I can’t listen to audio books. The narrator always annoys me.
Some books I just can’t do on audio…
A big epic fantasy? No, I need to see that on the page.
But, I really enjoy non-fiction (especially memoirs) on audio. Or, books I’m already familiar with (read a few books in the series already, saw the movie, etc)
I never bothered with audio books. They’re not reading and I like to read.
I’d rather watch YT or listen to music than listen to an audio book. They serve the same purpose.
You are letting your mind wander when you’re doing other things, treating it like the music/background noise that you usually listen to when you exercise. Audiobooks need your full (mental) attention. They only work if you’re doing tasks that use your body but not your mind, and you have to keep your mind focused on it. It takes some mental training to be able to do other things while listening to audiobooks. I have been doing audiobooks almost exclusively for more than 10 years now.
It’s very book-dependent for me. There are some books that lend themselves very well to narration, or have a really spectacular narrator that adds a lot of depth to the story.
Other books I just can’t sink into and my mind wanders.
I have the same problem
It took me a long time to get into audiobooks. My mind tends to wander and I’ve had to rewind many times. I’m selective about what I do while I’m listening, I have to be doing something, but it can’t require much focus. If I’m driving and traffic slows down, or I need to look for a street I pause the book. If something happens unexpectedly I pause as soon as it’s safe and rewind. I also listen at a faster playback speed, it varies by narrator, but 1.5 is my average.