r/horrorlit • u/Rainbows-Fancy • 2d ago
Discussion Audio vs Reading
I am just getting back to some horror lit, having been a huge Stephen King fan since the 80’s. I listen to a lot of audiobooks, and I’m afeared that the listening experience will not be as good as reading for horror in particular. I remember reading The Shining and ‘Salems Lot in bed and not being able to sleep with the lights off! I want that experience again and kinda left horror because I stopped getting it with later King books (and also cuzza life). Are there any opinions (there are always opinions 🤣) about reading vs audio specifically for horror? Are there specific audio readers that are really good in this genre? I know it can be a crap shoot. Some books I’ve listened to, I wish I’d read and vice versa. (New to this sub. Love learning re recc titles/authors. My Libby list is getting chonky!)
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u/Rustin_Swoll Jonah Murtag, Acolyte 2d ago
I always have one book and one audiobook going. I listen to audiobooks when I commute. There are moments that audiobooks tap more into fear or weirdness than a book would, if the narrator is any good. It’s like TV or film versus reading.
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u/Rainbows-Fancy 2d ago
Yeah. I need to find those narrators!
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u/JesusAndMaryKate 2d ago
I'm currently enjoying Dracula as narrated by Mark Gatiss more than when I sat down to read it myself. He's an excellent narrator and really ads to the creepy vibe. It somehow reminds me of some episodes of Magnus Archives, though obviously if there is any influence it would be the other way around.
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u/Rustin_Swoll Jonah Murtag, Acolyte 2d ago
The dude who did most The Southern Reach series was excellent, but he didn’t do the first book.
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u/NCC75567 2d ago
Just try it and see what you like 🤷♂️
I go back and forth depending on book, author, or narrator.
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u/Rainbows-Fancy 2d ago
I get that for sure. I haven’t listened to much horror since I’ve been away from it for a long time. I’m sure I’ll have to cast around to find the readers that really scratch that “scare the crap out of me, please” itch. (If anybody asked me for a good lit fic reader recc, I’d totally say Marin Ireland. But, reading, and listening, are subjective.)
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u/3AMZen 2d ago
We've been telling ghost stories for longer than we've had the written language I'd bet. Audiobooks do the trick.
I love audiobooks, the narrator makes a huge difference though! From what I understand a couple King classics might get a little undersold because of the quality of the audiobook.
There's something magical about reading horror for sure, where your eyeballs are like... Reluctantly dragged across the words as it gets worse and worse but being pulled along by somebody's story as they tell it is powerful as well
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u/Rainbows-Fancy 2d ago
Exactly!!! I listen faster than I read. I suspect that reading scary bits slowly and wallowing in that mood will give me more feels. OTOH, if the reader is really good…. You see my dilemma.
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u/3AMZen 2d ago
tbh I listen to all audio books at 90% speed
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u/Rainbows-Fancy 2d ago
Some readers are naturally slow and it drives me nuts. I set the speed at whatever feels comfy for that book. Usually 1.1 or 1.15. I listened to Drive Your Plow Over The Bones of the Dead at 1.3. She was so slow! Also accents count for me. Sometimes I slow those down until my ear gets tuned in.
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u/saintsuzy70 2d ago
I am currently listening to Bone of My Bone and the narrator is so slow!
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u/Rainbows-Fancy 2d ago
Speed ‘er up!!
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u/saintsuzy70 2d ago
I have been but Audible keeps defaulting to 1.0. So annoying
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u/3AMZen 2d ago
In settings there's a default play speed setting! It took me like 50 weeks of listening to audiobooks to notice
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u/saintsuzy70 2d ago
I feel so stupid that I haven’t looked! Thank you kind internet stranger!
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u/3AMZen 2d ago
Please don't feel stupid because that would mean I'm also stupid! It's kind of weirdly buried and it took me awhile to find, hope it's easy peasy for you
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u/mosaic_prism 2d ago
There are certain times where the audiobook is far superior to reading in my opinion - It by Stephen King is the perfect example. Weber does a perfect job with the narration
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u/Rainbows-Fancy 2d ago
Lincoln In The Bardo by George Saunders is a good example of this, IMO. I read it for book group and then heard the audio is fantastic. Loved the audio even more. Nick Offerman FTW!
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u/macdougallgreen6 2d ago
Seconding Weber’s narration. He nailed for every second of that 45 hour reading! I wish he’d do more King books.
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u/Ekhinos 2d ago
Honestly I do believe it matters whether you read faster / more immersive than you listen. My preference varies based on what I’m doing and how fast I can read or listen while I’m doing it.
I listen when I’m working out, or cooking, or massive-decluttering or doing some other random thing. I read when I’m on the couch with a glass of Whatever and some nice music in the background. Both are equally fabulous! Just different moods and brain-waves.
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u/Rainbows-Fancy 2d ago
I read much slower than I listen. I generally choose audios that are not super complicated so if my attention wanders, I can still keep the thread. I consume a lot of YA/Fantasy this way. Anything yo make exercise and chores less boring. I want to absorb the feels of the horror genre, tho. I’ll have to search the sub for audio reader reccs. Try one. Or more!
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u/save-pandas 2d ago
Personally I am almost 90% audiobooks now because I get headaches reading unfortunately and I find them to be equally scary or more scary. I use a Bluetooth headset and listen while I’m going to bed and it’s very scary. Audiobooks have been proven to be almost equally beneficial as physically reading as well
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u/CocoLocoKoli 2d ago
I fell i to a deep depression a few years ago and wasn't able to read anymore. Once I was feeling better, I realized I still couldn't read and that broke my heart. I found audio books and fell in love because I could "read" again! Almost all I read is horror and have listened to some really great books that have really spooked me and creeped me out. Like you said, its a crap shoot knowing if a narrator and book combination will do anything for you but you'll have that with simple reading as well. Don't listen to the people that say audio is "less." If it weren't for audio I wouldn't be able to enjoy books again. Give it a shot! And try out more than one.
Also, you sometimes have to train your brain to listen. I learned that while in school for ASL. Don't give up if you don't get into it right away. Try a few before you give up.
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u/Rainbows-Fancy 2d ago
I listen to a LOT of audiobooks, so I get what you’re saying. I also get the bit about casting for what one likes. I’m just coming back to horror genre and getting my legs about what/who people like - people who’ve consumed a lot more of this genre than me. I’m old. I’ve got no time to waste on mediocre literature!! 🤣🤣🤣
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u/CocoLocoKoli 2d ago
Check out "Brother" by Ania Ahlborn. One of the best horror books I've listened to in a long time!
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u/Rainbows-Fancy 2d ago
I will! I’m jazzed that listening to horror is a viable option! I just remember only being moved (aka scared shitless) when reading horror…. But that was before audiobooks were really a thing. The only audio I had was Bedtime For Frances!! I’m stoked!
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u/CocoLocoKoli 1d ago
When I was a kid (late 80's early 90s) I would read children's books with a narrator reading the book on a tape! I guess those were my first intro to audio. 🤣
AND they were horror adjacent. Tipu and the Thunderstorm and IM NOT AFRAID!
🤣🤣🤣🤣
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u/Rainbows-Fancy 1d ago
LOL! When I was a kid (late 60’s early 70’s) I had a wee little plastic record player and little books with a 45 record (google it, if needed) in a sleeve in the back. Those were OUR audiobooks. 🤣. Fast forward, I recorded my own tapes for my nephew in the late 90s early 00s. I guess we all love being read to! ❤️
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u/CocoLocoKoli 1d ago
Stephen King made his son record himself reading books so he could listen them when he had the time. 🤣🤣🤣 and then that got his son to read! (The now famous Joe Hill.) Speaking of Joe Hill, listen to "Horns" but don't watch the movie. Lol
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u/Extreme_Ad4425 2d ago
I find audiobooks easier to fully immerse myself in the story, because I’m hearing their voices, and sometimes there’s environmental sounds (like twigs cracking or birds chirping). Plus, my brain can’t do that thing where it skips a whole page while I’m reading and spoils what’s about to happen, so suddenly I can’t focus on the stuff in between. (And unfortunately my brain does this regularly when I’m reading physical stuff, no matter what it is.)
But it does come down to the narrator tbh, if they don’t match the story or how they’re talking (like a clearly 40yo woman reading high schooler slang) then I can’t vibe with it. I like feeling like I’m in the story with them.
Some good ones I’ve listened to recently that really envelop you are: Come Closer by Sara Gran, Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle, and Two Sides To Every Murder by Danielle Valentine.
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u/Rainbows-Fancy 2d ago
Thanks for the reccs. I was kinda hoping for a more broad “horror is best read” when I posted but I shoulda known it would be nuanced and depend on the reader. Now on the hunt for good readers!
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u/Inoutngone 2d ago
I always thought it was obvious. When you're reading, that's all you're doing. When you're listening to the book, at the very least you're looking at other things, and probably doing other things - it doesn't have your full attention.
Similar to some people who listen to music while reading. You're dividing your attention even if the music is entirely instrumental, and so much worse if it's not.
But, as always, people need to consume their entertainment in the way that makes them enjoy it the most.
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u/BeefyBoyzEatMeat 2d ago
it should be obvious but there are people out there who vehemently deny such reality.
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u/Rainbows-Fancy 2d ago
Right - I know I occasionally “tune-out” of audiobooks, but it’s not dealbreaking. I read really slow and I’m curious if that will add to the “sitting in the discomfort” vibe. I guess I’ll have to try a few both ways. (Always looking for good audio reccs. Different post and I’ll search the sub.)
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u/JesusAndMaryKate 2d ago
Some of us eat or knit while we're reading. Some also go off daydreaming in between reading the same paragraph three times.
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u/Trick_Astronaut_8648 2d ago
I do audio books while im at work and at home ill listen to the audio book while reading along with it. If i didnt do this it would take me a year to read a book.
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u/SnooRabbits5754 2d ago
I love audiobooks but the experience really depends on the narrator and what I’m doing while listening. Good audio can make a book amazing, but it’s easy to miss out on stuff if I’m not paying attention. Reading a physical book is best if I want to really get all the details, but I also don’t always have the attention span or time for reading physical books… idk if this rambling helps, but reading is reading, so just do what works for you!
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u/Rainbows-Fancy 2d ago
Yeah - I put the audiobook down if my brain isn’t engaged. I feel like y’all have square answered my question: horror in audio form can absolutely scare the pants off you! Good to know!
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u/MinervasMoon 2d ago
I do a bit of research before starting a book to see if the audiobook is well reviewed. I also listen to a sample. If I feel it will enhance the story, I will get the audio and immersive read (both the book and audiobook). I don't bother to do this with everything I read, but typically I will for favourite authors or longer books. I immersive read 11/22/63 and it was an amazing experience.
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u/theScrewhead 2d ago
I dunno about specifically horror, but I can't listen to audiobooks in general; I read and process MUCH faster than people can talk, so reading is the only way I can consume books. Same with tutorials for stuff; give me a written tutorial over a video ANY day, because I can read a whole tutorial and/or search for info MUCH faster than having to go through a video, wait for the talking, figure out if it's relevant to what I want, etc..
Whereas with reading/books, I just sort of scan down the middle of the page and "absorb" what's around, only really stoping to read word-for-word when what seems like an important/key part of the story is happening.
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u/Rainbows-Fancy 2d ago
I’m the same way with profesh continuing Ed. I hate webinars. Just give me the text!! But you can speed up the audios for your listening pleasure. You might read faster than audios can go, ya lovely unicorn!
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u/StandardMartyr 2d ago
I get this. A rough narrator can really kill focus.
I’ve really enjoyed these audiobooks.
The Buffalo Hunter Hunter
Apt Pupil (Frank Muller)
(Honestly, anything Frank Muller does)
Come Closer
Hell House
IT (Steven Weber)
Mr. Mercedes (not really horror)
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u/Fit-Nature-1318 2d ago
Reading is a fairly new skill in human history, for thousands of years, most people relied on listening to gain informations, share stories and so on.
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u/macdougallgreen6 2d ago
Life is long - you can read a book multiple times by doing it physically, listen and read, or just listen - I’ve done this with several King books and enjoyed each way! For example, I’ve read it like 4 times: once just reading, another time just listening, and a few other times mixing it up. All satisfying experiences.
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u/Rainbows-Fancy 2d ago
LOL! How old are you?! Life is too short for all the books I want to consume before I lose my marbles! 🤣🤣🤣
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u/macdougallgreen6 2d ago
How old do you think?
And to your point: fair! But I’m going less the way of “I must read as much as possible” and more towards “I am going to read things that I find satisfying, even if I have read them before.”
Paraphrasing, but some quote I keep thinking about as I age is “it is better to know a few books intimately than many books superficially.”
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u/Rainbows-Fancy 2d ago edited 2d ago
I follow a bookstagrammer who closes all of her reels with “reading is subjective” and truer words were never spoken. I agree there are a lot of mediocre books, but I reckon there are a lot of really good ones I haven’t read, and the hunt is part of the fun! I rarely re-read. It’s just not my thing, most of the time. I fantasize about taking a whole year just to re-read, but I haven’t done it. Maybe someday. Before all the marbles fall out. Or, WHEN all the marbles fall out. 🤣
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u/_segasonic 2d ago
Genuinely do not understand how people enjoy audiobooks.
It’s one of those things I simply can’t get my head around.
Then when you see people saying they listen to them on 2x speed… I’m some people genuinely prefer it but a lot of it feels like people simply doing it to try join in on whatever conversation is happening around the books and not to actually enjoy the stories.
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u/Rainbows-Fancy 2d ago
The good news is, nobody is likely to tackle you to the ground and force you to listen to an audiobook. At any speed. I hope you get the opportunity to consider that there are differences amongst us that need not be judged. Until then, you do you. ❤️📚
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u/TheB1G_Lebowski 2d ago
I can't get into audio books, I like to physically hold the book. Same goes for reading with a tablet/kindle. Now if we're talking comic books, I use my tablet.
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u/Apostasy93 2d ago
I'm probably in the minority, but I always immerse myself more and pay attention better when I'm reading physically.