Greetings Bookworms!
I feel like I ought to preface this post by saying that nobody is paying me to write it. Not one red cent. They should be, honestly, because I’m about to go all fangirl, but I’m getting no dough. I’m probably not doing blogging right. Whatever. You know how much I love audio books. The problem I have is that they get pricey. They typically cost a good deal more than a print or digital copy of a book and I chew through them at an alarming rate.
Audible is a great service that I’ve used and enjoyed. It costs $14.95 a month and you get one book credit a month. You get to keep and access these digital downloads forever and ever which is FABULOUS for books you plan to revisit. (I bought the entire Outlander
For a while I was feeding my aural fixation with titles from my local library, which is a great option too. Unfortunately, library books (even digital ones) are available to only a certain number of patrons at any given time. Also, I go through these books much more quickly than my library adds new ones and I’m starting to run low on books that interest me.
Enter Scribd. Scribd is a subscription service that offers unlimited digital books, audio books, and comic books for $8.99 a month. Now, you don’t get to keep the books, but they’ve got a monstrous selection and oh my word. It is the answer to my conundrum. Less expensive than a single paperback and all the stories my ears can handle? It is magical.
Have any of you Bookworms tried Scribd? What about Audible? Your library? Bottom line: how do y’all get your book fix?
***UPDATE: Things that sound too good to be true usually are, you guys. Read all about my broken heart HERE.***
Katie McD @ Bookish Tendencies
I am currently in my free trial month of Scribd, and have been enjoying myself so far. I too, felt like I was running out of books I wanted from the library, or alternatively, they had super long wait lists, and I’m not patient when I REALLY want to read something. Audible just seemed too expensive for me, at the rate I listen to audiobooks – which is usually around 4 per month. Scribd doesn’t have EVERY audiobook I would love to experience, but they do have LOTS, and more than enough to keep me busy for awhile. So I concur, with your love 🙂
tanya (52 books or bust)
To me Scribd seems like the best option out there, especially given the price. The whole credits thing with Audible is requires too much thought for me.
Bryn @Gleaningful
Hmm…I was just thinking about how audible is too expensive for me but I live audiobooks too much to let it go. And I have the same problem with our library. I’ve seen the word Scribd but I didn’t know what it was. I WILL be taking a look at it!
Beth @ Beta Librarian
Thanks for the recommendation. I hadn’t even heard of Scribd and it sounds like the perfect gift for someone I know.
thatashgirl
Ooo I may have to check this out.
I tried Audible back in the day, before they were bought by Amazon. It’s great but honestly, a book a month just isn’t enough. And the cost was a bit much. Back then I paid an annual fee for x # of credits and each book cost a certain # of credits. The “good” books were obviously more credits. An unlimited service would be worth checking out though.
thatashgirl
OK totally subscribed and have loaded up my Library. Kinda disappointed that some of the more current books on my “to read” list aren’t available but hopefully they will be eventually. I don’t think I’ll keep it permanently but a few months may at least get me through a few knitting projects 😉
Heather @ Capricious Reader
I loooooove me some Scribd!! It is awesome!
AMB
I can’t say I have an “aural fixation,” but Scribd sounds like a great way to satisfy one.
My husband likes audiobooks, though, and I’ve been meaning to give more of them a chance.
Amy @ Read a Latte
OOH, I didn’t know Scribd had audiobooks, too! I just cancelled Audible because it was a bit expensive for just ONE book, especially since I don’t go back to them. I have to check this out, instead!
Trish
I have been SOOOO tempted by this. I do subscribe to Audible but I agree with the one and done sentiment. There have been a few that I’ve listened to more than once (usually when in the company of my husband and I know he’ll enjoy it…Ready Player One), but otherwise meh. Possibly the only reason I haven’t cancelled my account is because I’m not sure what will happen to my books…will they still be there? Things I should probably ask Audible Support.
Words For Worms
Ah a question I can answer! If you cancel your Audible account, you still have access to your library and you can pay for any of the books you’ve already purchased. You will, however, lose any accumulated credits, so I recommend choosing some books to buy up with spare credits prior to cancellation. (They’ll warn you if you have remaining credits though, so don’t worry about it.)
Samantha
I currently have a Scribd and Audible subscription active. I was thinking of ending my Audible sub once I’ve finished listening to the Dark Tower series over again on audio because Scribd doesn’t have it on audio at all.
What I’ve run into so far with what little I’ve used of Scribd I am not finding the specific books I want to read or listen to on there yet, which is making me a bit disappointed. I feel a little stuck right now…not sure if I’ll read/listen to enough to make Scribd worth it but having more than one audiobook a month is a great tradeoff too, as long as I can find one that I am already wanting to listen to/read. I think I’m going to keep both until I finish DT at least, then cancel Audible and see how I like Scribd when I can focus more attention on it.
Belle Wong
A few days into my Scribd trial period I knew it was a keeper. So many choices, so many good books! I have one Audible credit left. I’m getting Jurassic Park from Audible when it’s released this month 🙂 and then I’m probably going to cancel! I’ve been really loving Scribd.
Monika @ Lovely Bookshelf
All this Scribd talk, I think I’m going to give it a whirl soon!! yay!
Katie @ Doing Dewey
Wow, this sounds like a good choice! My fiance and I definitely listen to more than one audiobook a month and spend more per audiobook than $9 with Audible, so we’ll have to check out Scribd.
Andi (@estellasrevenge)
This service is definitely my fave. I planned on doing a Scribd vs. Oyster post, but I just haven’t gotten around to it. One day! The comics and audio really put Scribd over the top for me.
Julianne - Outlandish Lit
I tried Scribd ages ago when it was much less pretty and appealing than Oyster. But now that they’ve stepped up their game by adding comics and audiobooks, I’m super curious! I’ve wanted to get into audiobooks for a while, but it’s hard to try them out with audible. I think Scribd might be in my future!
Sarah @ Sarah Says Read
I’m so glad you tried it and are loving it!! They have SO many good, new-ish titles available on audio. (It actually kind of frustrates me, because they have more recent books available on audio but not as ebooks, and I prefer my fiction in non-audio form).
Loooove them. It’s so worth the 8.99.