I recently just listened to my first audiobook. I got two free credits for Audible from Amazon. So with my first one I got The Siren by Kiera Cass. I listened to almost the whole thing during one day of work.
When I was trying to decide which audio to get, I noticed a few things. One being that there didn't seem to be a lot of options on there. I don't know if I just didn't know how to navigate the site, but I didn't see as many options as they claimed to have. Second thing I noticed is that, while it seems like Audible should be a fantastic source for audiobooks, the prices are totally outrageous. For $15 a month, you can get one Audible credit for any book on there, no matter the price. Why not just buy the physical copy?! Without a credit, the prices are just stupid. I think Game of Thrones was like $50! That's the dumbest thing I ever heard. I don't know why they think that having to listen to someone drone on for hours is worth more than just reading it yourself!
Beyond this brief audiobook experience, I've never looked into them before. I don't know what they cost from other places for like an MP3 of them or whatever, but I hope it's better than Audible. I don't have a lot of experience in that department so Audible is the only source I can speak on at this point. And if it weren't for those free credits, I probably wouldn't really do audio books. So I guess that's just all the point of view of someone who's not really interested in audiobooks and only listened to one.
Then we have ebooks. I have done a post on ereaders and ebooks before when I was just a wee newbie. But basically what I want to say is that ebooks aren't cheap either. Unless you want to restrict yourself to the sale ebooks or novellas.
I personally bought an ereader because I live so far out in the middle of nowhere that I can't just go to the store to get a new book. So if I buy the first book in a series and I'm DESPERATE for the second one, I can just buy it on my Nook. Which I did for awhile, but it costs just as much to buy the book, so what's the point of using the ereader if you're gonna pay the same or be restricted in what's logical to buy? I bought an ebook once that was more expensive than the hardcover! That's just dumb!
What I would personally think is that a physical book that you can hold in your hand would cost more than getting a digital copy or an audio copy. But that apparently isn't how the world works. Because you'd think you'd be paying for the paper and the printing and the supplies to make a book as well as the content, but I guess not.
I don't understand it all. And maybe I'm looking too hard into it, but it just doesn't make sense! I have just had this on my mind ever since I got that audiobook and was looking at all the prices. I just can't believe that!
What are your thoughts? Am I being silly? Or is the world being silly with those dumb prices?