I sometimes use the Alexa app to read Kindle books to me when my eyes are tired but I’m not quite ready to stop reading. Of course, it isn’t perfect. Her nuances are often a little off, and occasionally she sounds as though she’s reading a weather report rather than a dramatic moment—but it’s acceptable, and I’ve become quite used to her voice.
I usually listen with my earbuds, although you can’t use their controls in quite the same way as you can with a proper audiobook. I can pause it with a tap, but it won’t start again unless I open the app, and even then it doesn’t always remember the exact place where I left off. Still, it’s manageable and does the job nicely, especially when there isn’t an audiobook version available.
You’ll find the feature in the Alexa app under Music & More. Scroll to your Kindle library and select the book you want. You’ll also be able to choose where to listen to it—either on your device or through Alexa itself.
Ideally, though, I recommend listening to a proper audiobook. I use Audible. There was a time when I received three credits a month, but now it’s down to one. The advantage is that you get a professional narrator, and if you’re lucky, they’ll use different accents for the characters. I’ve even listened to books where there are both male and female narrators to handle different viewpoints, which works brilliantly.
Of course, if you’re unlucky—as I was recently—you might end up with a voice that puts you off the book entirely. That’s when I quietly retreat back to the Alexa app and let her take over instead.
I much prefer having proper controls where I can pause and start the book simply by tapping my earbuds. It makes the whole experience much smoother.
My favourite setup is to download the Kindle Unlimited version of a book and then get the audiobook as well. Many of them are offered at a discount once you’ve downloaded the Kindle edition, and they’re often quite reasonably priced. I like being able to switch between reading and listening depending on what I’m doing.
One thing that often irks me, though, is that once I’ve finished an audiobook, I can’t do anything with it. I’d love to pass it on or return as you would with KU. I’ve tried using the library app, which lends audiobooks as well as ebooks, but my local library’s system doesn’t have a search function, especially when I already know exactly what I want to read.
How about you? Do you prefer reading a book, listening to it, or a bit of both?
World of Stories 