Comments on: The Big Question: Black and White and Heard All Over http://manolobig.com/2009/09/02/the-big-question-black-and-white-and-heard-all-over/ Fashion, Lifestyle, and Humor for the Plus Sized Woman. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:54:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Layla Collins http://manolobig.com/2009/09/02/the-big-question-black-and-white-and-heard-all-over/comment-page-1/#comment-420216 Layla Collins Mon, 11 Oct 2010 08:24:48 +0000 http://manolobig.com/2009/09/02/the-big-question-black-and-white-and-heard-all-over/#comment-420216 my sister has dyslexia but she can live a very normal life eventhough she can't read that much*-, my sister has dyslexia but she can live a very normal life eventhough she can’t read that much*-,

]]> By: Susan http://manolobig.com/2009/09/02/the-big-question-black-and-white-and-heard-all-over/comment-page-1/#comment-202812 Susan Sun, 06 Sep 2009 13:58:58 +0000 http://manolobig.com/2009/09/02/the-big-question-black-and-white-and-heard-all-over/#comment-202812 I love books -- traditional, audio, and warming to electronic -- however in recent years I listen more than I read. My current favorite audio book - 'The Help' by Katheryn Stockett, unabridged, just over 18 hours, and with a full cast of narrators. Traditional bound books also serve an alternate purpose, in that they are comforting and decorative, which will never be surpassed by more modern media. I love books — traditional, audio, and warming to electronic — however in recent years I listen more than I read. My current favorite audio book – ‘The Help’ by Katheryn Stockett, unabridged, just over 18 hours, and with a full cast of narrators.
Traditional bound books also serve an alternate purpose, in that they are comforting and decorative, which will never be surpassed by more modern media.

]]> By: Margo http://manolobig.com/2009/09/02/the-big-question-black-and-white-and-heard-all-over/comment-page-1/#comment-202416 Margo Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:27:46 +0000 http://manolobig.com/2009/09/02/the-big-question-black-and-white-and-heard-all-over/#comment-202416 I'm a self taught speed reader, and I have a hard time slowing my reading speed down enough to actually savor what I'm reading, so audiobooks are wonderful for me. A lot of my work is very visual rather than literal, so I'm able to listen while I work. I also like audiobooks for screening out the Wall Of Testoterone in which I live. I share my home with two teenage boys and a 45 year old engineer, so there's always classic rock, video games, punk rock, or tv shows with explosions on in the background. I’m a self taught speed reader, and I have a hard time slowing my reading speed down enough to actually savor what I’m reading, so audiobooks are wonderful for me. A lot of my work is very visual rather than literal, so I’m able to listen while I work. I also like audiobooks for screening out the Wall Of Testoterone in which I live. I share my home with two teenage boys and a 45 year old engineer, so there’s always classic rock, video games, punk rock, or tv shows with explosions on in the background.

]]> By: TeleriB http://manolobig.com/2009/09/02/the-big-question-black-and-white-and-heard-all-over/comment-page-1/#comment-202412 TeleriB Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:10:12 +0000 http://manolobig.com/2009/09/02/the-big-question-black-and-white-and-heard-all-over/#comment-202412 I have a problem with fiction: I can't put it down. It doesn't even have to be good. I just have a compulsion to know How It All Ends. This is bad enough when I stay up all hours to finish a paperback book and end up late to work as a result. (And that is not good, which is one reason why I mostly read history books and other dry stuff.) It is worse when, after a four-hour car trip listening to an audiobook, I park the car in front of the house and just <i>sit there</i> with the key in the ignition so I can keep listening to the book. I have a problem with fiction: I can’t put it down. It doesn’t even have to be good. I just have a compulsion to know How It All Ends.

This is bad enough when I stay up all hours to finish a paperback book and end up late to work as a result. (And that is not good, which is one reason why I mostly read history books and other dry stuff.) It is worse when, after a four-hour car trip listening to an audiobook, I park the car in front of the house and just sit there with the key in the ignition so I can keep listening to the book.

]]> By: Christine http://manolobig.com/2009/09/02/the-big-question-black-and-white-and-heard-all-over/comment-page-1/#comment-202398 Christine Fri, 04 Sep 2009 12:34:02 +0000 http://manolobig.com/2009/09/02/the-big-question-black-and-white-and-heard-all-over/#comment-202398 I come from a family of serious readers and we all shunned audiobooks for years; until my mother had lung cancer and hardly had the strength to hold a book up. She got a tape player and some audio books and loved it. We also read a few books to her, as she had done when we were young. There was a time when I was very ill, and missed my books terribly. Audio books sure filled the void. And in a sad repeat, my father lost his vision and all of us (4 daughters) spent time and money ensuring he had a steady supply of books. I think I'd rather lose any other sense than sight. My sisters were more discerning, picking the mysteries he loved, whereas I often picked a book I'd loved and sent that. (However, he did reject the 18 discs of Crime and Punishment, after enduring 26 discs of Jonathon Strange and Mr. Norell). I think holding and reading a book is (one of) the ultimate pleasures in life, but for those who can't read audio books fill a void, and do it very well. I'm with the anti Ayn Rand group. Sadly, one of her books has shown up on my son's reading list for next year. However, he's a clever lad and should hate it as much as I do I come from a family of serious readers and we all shunned audiobooks for years; until my mother had lung cancer and hardly had the strength to hold a book up. She got a tape player and some audio books and loved it. We also read a few books to her, as she had done when we were young.

There was a time when I was very ill, and missed my books terribly. Audio books sure filled the void.

And in a sad repeat, my father lost his vision and all of us (4 daughters) spent time and money ensuring he had a steady supply of books. I think I’d rather lose any other sense than sight. My sisters were more discerning, picking the mysteries he loved, whereas I often picked a book I’d loved and sent that. (However, he did reject the 18 discs of Crime and Punishment, after enduring 26 discs of Jonathon Strange and Mr. Norell).

I think holding and reading a book is (one of) the ultimate pleasures in life, but for those who can’t read audio books fill a void, and do it very well.

I’m with the anti Ayn Rand group. Sadly, one of her books has shown up on my son’s reading list for next year. However, he’s a clever lad and should hate it as much as I do

]]> By: chachaheels http://manolobig.com/2009/09/02/the-big-question-black-and-white-and-heard-all-over/comment-page-1/#comment-202348 chachaheels Fri, 04 Sep 2009 10:15:16 +0000 http://manolobig.com/2009/09/02/the-big-question-black-and-white-and-heard-all-over/#comment-202348 I love audiobooks on a long drive, but I do want them read by someone who is a very good reader. I've not been lucky enough to come across Jeremy Irons' reading of Brideshead Revisited, but I've loved that book for years and I remember his narration from the series years ago--I practically hear him in my head whenever I give the book another reading. I'm going to to out and look for audiobooks like the ones mentioned by so many of the commenters here: Anthony Bourdain reading Kitchen Confidential, for example. So much better than news and overplayed pop tunes on radio stations, music you've heard far too many times, and utter silence. Haven't we all learned the hard way to run away from anyone reading Ayn (rhymes with "mine") Rand, any of the Beatniks after age 13, and anything that has anything to do with/resembles The Hobbit? I love audiobooks on a long drive, but I do want them read by someone who is a very good reader. I’ve not been lucky enough to come across Jeremy Irons’ reading of Brideshead Revisited, but I’ve loved that book for years and I remember his narration from the series years ago–I practically hear him in my head whenever I give the book another reading. I’m going to to out and look for audiobooks like the ones mentioned by so many of the commenters here: Anthony Bourdain reading Kitchen Confidential, for example. So much better than news and overplayed pop tunes on radio stations, music you’ve heard far too many times, and utter silence.

Haven’t we all learned the hard way to run away from anyone reading Ayn (rhymes with “mine”) Rand, any of the Beatniks after age 13, and anything that has anything to do with/resembles The Hobbit?

]]> By: Rose Red http://manolobig.com/2009/09/02/the-big-question-black-and-white-and-heard-all-over/comment-page-1/#comment-202344 Rose Red Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:28:31 +0000 http://manolobig.com/2009/09/02/the-big-question-black-and-white-and-heard-all-over/#comment-202344 I knit - a lot - it's an obsession. And so I hardly read books any more - until I found audiobooks. It's not the same as reading a physical book, as you lose the ability to put your own interpretation on it, and you can't flip back to remind yourself of something (well, not easily anyway) but as long as the reader (narrator?) is good, and it's unabridged, then for me it's a great way to keep up my reading AND my knitting. It's not about cheating - but rather about preference and what fits with your lifestyle. I knit – a lot – it’s an obsession. And so I hardly read books any more – until I found audiobooks. It’s not the same as reading a physical book, as you lose the ability to put your own interpretation on it, and you can’t flip back to remind yourself of something (well, not easily anyway) but as long as the reader (narrator?) is good, and it’s unabridged, then for me it’s a great way to keep up my reading AND my knitting.

It’s not about cheating – but rather about preference and what fits with your lifestyle.

]]> By: Kalamari http://manolobig.com/2009/09/02/the-big-question-black-and-white-and-heard-all-over/comment-page-1/#comment-202101 Kalamari Thu, 03 Sep 2009 22:03:50 +0000 http://manolobig.com/2009/09/02/the-big-question-black-and-white-and-heard-all-over/#comment-202101 Let's start here... I READ books, and I LISTEN to books too. Having listened to at least twenty books, I have come to this conclusion: audiobooks are kinda cheating. I feel cheated. I feel like I'm cheating myself out of expanding my vocabulary. If I actually read a book, I see a word, I learn it, and I recognize it later. If I only hear a new word, I probably won't know how to spell it or recognize it again. Yet, I keep listening to books because I feel like it's more useful than listening to music when driving, and I can listen to a book while doing housework, that would otherwise not get done if I was sitting on the couch reading a book. However, if there is a person who is never going to READ a book, I would hope that they would listen to a few. At the very least, they will be entertained and exposed to some new words and ideas. P.S. Have you seen/heard of the Playaway? It is basically an audio book on a self-contained player like an iPod. http://www.playaway.com/ P.P.S. I'm a librarian. Let’s start here… I READ books, and I LISTEN to books too. Having listened to at least twenty books, I have come to this conclusion: audiobooks are kinda cheating. I feel cheated. I feel like I’m cheating myself out of expanding my vocabulary. If I actually read a book, I see a word, I learn it, and I recognize it later. If I only hear a new word, I probably won’t know how to spell it or recognize it again. Yet, I keep listening to books because I feel like it’s more useful than listening to music when driving, and I can listen to a book while doing housework, that would otherwise not get done if I was sitting on the couch reading a book.

However, if there is a person who is never going to READ a book, I would hope that they would listen to a few. At the very least, they will be entertained and exposed to some new words and ideas.

P.S. Have you seen/heard of the Playaway? It is basically an audio book on a self-contained player like an iPod. http://www.playaway.com/

P.P.S. I’m a librarian.

]]> By: JenniferP http://manolobig.com/2009/09/02/the-big-question-black-and-white-and-heard-all-over/comment-page-1/#comment-202095 JenniferP Thu, 03 Sep 2009 20:50:12 +0000 http://manolobig.com/2009/09/02/the-big-question-black-and-white-and-heard-all-over/#comment-202095 I don't love audiobooks myself - when I read, I just want to read, and when I want something on in the background while I do something else, I just want music. I downloaded a couple of audiobooks during a bout with the flu, hoping to recapture the comforting feeling of being read to, but they just made me sleepy. But they don't anger me, and I had an ex who was great at reading stories aloud and I loved listening to someone in the room read to me. The answer to the fill in the blank question is obviously The Fountainhead. I don’t love audiobooks myself – when I read, I just want to read, and when I want something on in the background while I do something else, I just want music. I downloaded a couple of audiobooks during a bout with the flu, hoping to recapture the comforting feeling of being read to, but they just made me sleepy. But they don’t anger me, and I had an ex who was great at reading stories aloud and I loved listening to someone in the room read to me.

The answer to the fill in the blank question is obviously The Fountainhead.

]]> By: enygma http://manolobig.com/2009/09/02/the-big-question-black-and-white-and-heard-all-over/comment-page-1/#comment-202092 enygma Thu, 03 Sep 2009 20:22:13 +0000 http://manolobig.com/2009/09/02/the-big-question-black-and-white-and-heard-all-over/#comment-202092 While I prefer holding a book in my hands and actually reading a good book, as a teacher, I've come across several students who literally cannot process information by reading. They need to hear the novel and I've burned copies of the novels for them so that they don't fall behind. In my opinion, it doesn't matter as long as the written word is being enjoyed. When I used to drive back and forth from Maryland, I used to listen to books on tape. With the right reader, listening to the novels was as good as reading them. While I prefer holding a book in my hands and actually reading a good book, as a teacher, I’ve come across several students who literally cannot process information by reading. They need to hear the novel and I’ve burned copies of the novels for them so that they don’t fall behind. In my opinion, it doesn’t matter as long as the written word is being enjoyed.
When I used to drive back and forth from Maryland, I used to listen to books on tape. With the right reader, listening to the novels was as good as reading them.

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