Monday, February 19, 2007

The Book On Tape Debacle

I've never listened to a book on tape before. For me, there's too much pleasure in reading a book to give that pu for a listen. But there was a book coming out and I knew I wouldn't have time to read the one preceding it. I had managed the first chapter, but it wasn't completely grabbing me. But I liked the author and wanted to read it. Especially since the new one coming out seems to be a continuation of sorts, using characters from this book. I figured if I borrowed the BOT from the library, I could listen to it in the car on the way to and from work, or while I got supper ready.

So this morning I popped the first CD into the car's player. It's going good. The woman doing the reading had a clear voice and she did the heroine's voice in a believable manner. But then we got to the hero.

Uh...yeah. No.

Because listening to a woman do an impression of a guy's voice totally threw me out of the story. Plus the guy was supposed to be this sexy, hot, business mogul type, but the impression just made him sound kind of...dumb. A bit of a buffoon. Very unmanly. I kept telling myself to hang in there that maybe after a few minutes I'd get accustomed to it, but...nope.

It was bad.

I hit the eject button before I became so disturbed by the pseudo man/woman voice I drove myself off the road.

I think I'll stick with the print versions from now on.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm not a fan of BOTs either and really don't understand their appeal.

Why is a woman reading the hero's part? They couldn't find a man to read that part?

Unknown said...

I'm not big on BOT myself. I think in all the years I've been reading, there's only been one BOT I've actually liked. It was Stephen King reading his book The Gunslinger. There was something pretty cool about hearing him read his characters, how he envisioned them talking. I could listen to that one over and over.

The rest I could leave.

Maxx said...

One of my fondest memories was laying on my mom's bed with her listening to her listening to her books. I would laugh at some of the interpretations, especially when she'd listen to it at a slightly higher speed...

Unknown said...

I listen to lots of non fiction on Cd, or MP3 these days. Used to listen to them while I walked. Now that I go to a gym instead I have a tendency to listen to fast music to keep up the pace. The nonfiction has been relegated to when I do housework or as I'm falling asleep.

Tess said...

I too never really caught on to BOTs - for me the voices rarely matched what I imagined them in my head.

Rene said...

I don't listen well enough to do BOT's. I suppose if I was a commuter I would consider it, but I could see how that would drive you crazy. I'd thought about dowloading some books from iTunes to listed to while I worked out but geez louise, they are expensive.

Melissa Amateis said...

I think I've only listened to one BOT and that didn't last too long, either. Give me the print version any day.

Brenda Oig said...

LOL, that's funny. I've listened to quite a few books on tape and eventually got used to it. I prefer it when they don't change their voices and just read the story. I started listening to them so hubby would get interested in novels. Now he reads all the time and I don't have to bother with them anymore. :)