Audio Books: What's the Best Deal?

by Marilyn Forsyth

Image courtesy of giphy

If you could do two things at once—say, clean the house (crazy idea, I know) and read a book while you’re at it—why the heck wouldn’t you??

The problem is logistics.


But there is a solution...

Audio books! 

Audiobooks have been growing in popularity for a while now, and the main reason is pretty obvious - we’re all time poor. The flexibility and time-saving aspect of listening to your current read on a road trips, or even just to and from work (either on the train or in the car), is what makes audio books so damn appealing.


For my own interest, I did some research into the main avenues for accessing audio books. here's what I found:

Image courtesy of  Audible

Audible is probably the most well-known here in Australia.


Your first book on joining is free. After that, for $16.95 per month you can access one book from their library (or pay an extra $14.95 for any additional books). The book comes in the form of CDs or an MP3 (which you then download to your listening device). You’ll also receive exclusive access to ‘Members Only’ sales and Daily Deals.


If you don’t manage to finish the book, you can roll over your credits. If you don’t like the book, they offer a ‘love it or swap it free’ guarantee (for a limited number of times). This is available even to trial members.

Image: Gage Skidmore

This raises an important point. The narrator can make or break a book. Richard Armitage reading The Tattooist of Auschwitz? Yes please! Pauline Hanson reading Anne of Green Gables? Not so much. To help you make the right choice with your book, Audible allows you five minutes to listen to samples.







Apparently it’s easy to pause or to cancel membership, too. (And the Rebel Wilson campaign is great).

Image courtesy of Bolinda

Bolinda Digital is a non-subscription service. Audio books (CDs and MP3) can be purchased for between $39.95 and $49.95 (with 15% off for members).

They also power a download service called BorrowBox. The app ‘makes it easy to browse, borrow and listen to your library’s eAudiobooks and ebooks…by logging in with your (library) member details’. It allows you to listen to a library audiobook via your iphone, ipad, Android, Android tablet or Kindle Fire. The app has a 3-star rating but does have mixed reviews as to its effectiveness.


In conclusion…

I used Jean M Auel’s book The Land of Painted Caves to investigate how much an audiobook would cost through different avenues. Here’s how it panned out:


Google Play $39.00 AUD to buy outright (but I have heard that Google Play is about to start an Audiobook Library)


Booktopia $24.95 (not in stock atm)


Book Depository CDs $32.00 AUD (free shipping)


Audible $16.45 AUD (with ongoing payments per month for new books)


Bolinda (unavailable for purchase or through BorrowBox)


I’ve listened to the different samples from each provider and would be happy to listen to any of them. However, it seems to me that Audible might be my best option. It’s an ongoing cost, but I’d probably send more than $16.45 per month on books, anyway (and I can roll over credit or even cancel if need be). Also, I’m quite a slow reader (I read at night in bed), so I’m thinking that if I’m able to listen while I’m doing something else, the book won’t take as long to get through as it normally would.

(Prices quoted are correct as of 28/4/2019)


Are you an audiobook fan? How do you like to access them?

Love to Love the final season of Game of Thrones.

Love to Laugh (in a kind of sad way) at Game of Thrones memes.

Love to Learn that Bookbub is soon to introduce CHIRP, a new promotional channel for audiobooks. Yay!

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