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The Kitchen Table

Audio book website subscription

stephanie_in_ga

14 years ago

I'm looking for a recommendation. If you have/have had a subscription to download audio books from a website, what site did you use? Would you recommend it, why or why not?

I just started browsing, finding that the monthly fee is about 7.50/month first 3 months then about 15.00/month to download one book/month. Which sort of sounds good (b/c purchasing them on CD is more like $40-50), but I want to be sure. There are so many sites and I haven't heard ratings on them. I think I would download more kids/young adult novels than anything else. The kids will listen very attentively in the car, and my 12 y/o will (who isn't a strong reader) will enthusiastically listen to a book by himself he considers too difficult to read.

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Comments (8)

goose53
14 years ago
Steph, try the website of your local Public Library. Ours offers the service, even tho I haven't tried it yet...and the best part is it's free!
alisande
14 years ago
I ditto the library suggestion. That's where I download all mine--for free. I also borrow audio books on CDs from the library.
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stephanie_in_ga
Original Author
14 years ago
Yeah! I kept browsing after I posted and did indeed find the service from our local library's website. I read up on it, browsed the titles. I specifically wanted to download Brisingr to listen to as I drive with the kids to/from Ohio next week. A 20 hour round trip drive.

My first thought from the start was to borrow the set from the library, but it is checked out. I found it downloadable from the library's site. I had to download some software, update some other... and I am waiting for the audiobook to download as I type! The pros/cons: it's free! It's timed, though; I have 3 only weeks to listen to it, then it's "returned," no longer accessible to me. I cannot burn it to a disc, like I would if I paid for the download somewhere and the file is mine forever. It appears the free downloads from the library are borrowed like anything tangible, there are even waitlists, so I assume there are limited users at a time, or something like that. There were 100+ titles to download, where as there are 50,000+ on the paid sites. Some of the free downloads were not availabe right now, I'd have to wait. Luckily, the one I wanted was. Also, not all titles are iPod compatible. This one is, as soon as it's on my computer I will figure out how to get it to my iPod.

In short, the free library option appears to be working out for me this time. Yeah! But I think I would use the paid service, especially if I get a teaching job and want to use audiobooks in the classroom. So I will continue to research that option.
solstice98
14 years ago
I can gladly recommend Audible.com. They have a great service and thousands of titles. I've been a subscriber since 2005 and have never had a complaint. I get 2 unabridged novels per months, plus lots of other features. The books are mine forever and never 'expire'. You can download to 2 (or maybe 3, I can't remember) different devices so both my husband and I can download the same book to our different players.

Check it out!

Here is a link that might be useful: Audible
Tally
14 years ago
I used Simply Audio books for over 2 years and loved them. Now that I don't commute as far, I don't listen to CDs as much in the car as I used to. But I would highly recommend them. They have a download service as well as a rental one.

Here is a link that might be useful: simplyaudiobooks
alisande
14 years ago
Steph, find out if you can renew your books online. I've done that with mine.
LorifromUtah
14 years ago
Go to your library for download books.
Why pay $$ for an audio book you can get for free?

if your local library doesn't offer this service check with your state library. If they don't have the service, email me and I'll get you set up!

Lori
User
14 years ago
Join the paperback swap, all you pay is postage. No fees. They have books, audios, cds & dvd's I think.

Here is a link that might be useful: free books

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