AudioBooks: About Audio Books and Talking Books

An audio book is a recording of the contents of a book read aloud. It is usually distributed on compact discs (CDs), cassette tapes, or digital formats (such as mp3). The term "audio book" has been synonymous with "books on tape" for roughly 20 years. Cassette tape sales still comprise roughly 40% of the audio book market, with CDs the other dominant format type.

Unabridged audio books are word for word readings of a book, while abridged audio books have text edited out by the abridger. Audio books also come as fully dramatized versions of the printed book, sometimes calling upon a complete cast, music and sound effects.

There are quite a few radio programmes serialising books, sometimes read by the author or sometimes by an actor, most of them on the BBC.

Some books are recorded by a Computer and others by human narrators

The popularity of portable music players such as the iPod have made audiobooks more accessible to people for portable listening.

L2b £60 Gift Voucher - Cert PG and 12. Savour the story of the Ashton family from Liverpool as they struggle to deal with the harsh realities of wartime life. their sons are sent abroad to fight, children are evacuated and those who remain at home live in constant fear - either of the War Office telegram or the Luftwaffe.

Ladies Of Letters....And More - Patricia Routledge is Vera Small and Prunella Scales is her bosom buddy Irene Spencer, and the two pass their time in regular correspondence and not an event goes by that is left unrecorded by the ladies of letters. Often critical of each other (though always in a loving, caring way - of course!), their hilarious put-downs create a wonderful insight into the ups and downs of family life today. Brilliantly written and performed, the Ladies of Letters will have you laughing out loud!

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