Review: DRIVE by Stephanie Fournet
I have loved everything I’ve read from Stephanie Fournet, and DRIVE did not disa[...]
Hi peeps! It’s day 2 of Audiobook Week (hosted by Jen @ Devourer of Books), and today’s topic is the essentials of audiobook reviews. If you’re new here, check out my post for yesterday where I discuss how I came to love audiobooks, when/where I listen, and my favorite listens from the past year!
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’ve been listening to and reviewing audiobooks for a while, but I am by no means an expert. I’ve made an effort to improve my audiobook reviews over the past year (I’m embarrassed of my early ones), and I’m always looking for ways to make mine better. For today’s post I decided to list things that I both want to see in other’s reviews and what I now try to include in my own.
Audiobook Review Essentials:
- List the title, author, and all narrators
- Include the length (hours/minutes), and how many discs if applicable
- List the publisher of the audiobook
- Give your opinion of the narrator – voice, performance, speed
- Give your opinion of the story itself (without the audio being a factor)
- Mention if the audio includes music, sound bytes, or distinct sounds
- Include details regarding how the audiobook is performed: full cast, alternating chapters by narrators, etc.
- If you have a hard time paying attention to the audiobook because your mind is wondering, and not because you’re doing other things at the same time that distracts you – mention it! I want to know if the narrator/storyline grips you… or not.
Making this list was a great reminder of how I want my own reviews to be like. What’s missing from my list? What do you look for in an audiobook review? I’m really looking forward to reading everyone’s posts on this topic!
Happy Audiobook Week!
Twitter: fakesteph
says:
I’m so excited to be reading these posts! I’ve been doing more audiobook reviews and I’ve read some really great tips today!
fakesteph recently posted..Top Ten (Tuesday) Characters That Remind Me Of Myself
Twitter: readingdate
says:
Great checklist! I like to cover a lot of the same things as you, but probably the last item is the most important to me. Sometimes my mind wanders while listening to an audiobook and I don’t know if it’s the narrator or the story, but those are the ones I like to avoid.
Lucy @ The Reading Date recently posted..Audiobook Week Discussion: So You Want to Review Audiobooks
Thank you SO much for this checklist! I don’t do all the points, but I think I might start including the audio length, which I hadn’t even thought of before!
Tanya Patrice recently posted..10 Audiobooks {on My 2012 Reading List}
Twitter: sawcat
says:
You list good points. I have a tendency to forget about listing the length until the library has taken the book back.
Sarah Williams recently posted..So you want to review audiobooks….
It really is helpful to have a list like that when you’re stuck on what to write about the audio portion!
Jen – Devourer of Books recently posted..Nonfiction Audiobook Giveaway – US-only
You make some good points here. I feel like I am not consistent in my audio reviews other than pointing out they are an audio book and who the book is read by.
Kristin @ Always With a Book
Kristin T. recently posted..Review: The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown (audio book)
Great ideas! Especially letting readers know if you were distracted while reading. I started listening to Code Name Verity on audio and made it to disc 4 before I turned it off. The story was jumping from past to present and the narrator had a very thick accent. Names and places were hard to understand. Just so many things that I couldn’t grasp! BUT the story sounded really good, so I’m waiting for it in print. I will definitely mention my thoughts on the audio for my print review, too, though.
That’s a huge one … some books are just so easy to follow no matter what you’re doing — others take more of a commitment.
Kristilyn (Reading in Winter) recently posted..AUDIOBOOK WEEK: So You Want To Review Audiobooks
Your last bullet seems to be my issue with Night Circus. I don’t think it’s Jim Dale. I think it’s the lengthy drawn out story.
Juju at Tales of Whimsy.com recently posted..Yackety-yak: The Essentials of Audiobook Reviews
Nice list!
Here is a link to an article in AudioFile Magazine that may also be useful for reviewers.
http://www.audiofilemagazine.com/features/fea1007.html#_lex008
Jeff @ Audiobook Jukebox recently posted..June is Audiobook Month – Listen to a Clip from The Bible Experience
I forgot to mention that I’m listening to Ready Player One this weekend as I have a lot of driving to do. Susan just finished it and LOVED it. We likely both will review it, which could be interesting.
Jeff @ Audiobook Jukebox recently posted..Honey West: Murder on Mars