Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Question of the Week #15

Welcome to the fifteenth edition of the Question of the Week! Please consider sending me your ideas for future questions :)

Do you listen to the Bible on audio? Why? Why not? Do you have a favorite audio edition? Do you prefer dramatized editions or voice only editions? Do you have any you'd recommend?

I've tried listening to the Bible on audio--several times--but I have yet to find the perfect match for me. Either I like the narrator, but am not so fond of the translation the narrator uses. Or I like the translation, but the narrator creeps me out. Or I like the narration--mostly--but there are weird sound effects put in for dramatic purposes that snap me out of it. It's hard for narrators--I'd imagine--they have to treat the Bible with respect and not make too light out of it. But if they're too glum, or too monotone, or too robotic, or too anything really...then it can be hard to listen to. Also, I've found that some narrators sound like they're reading it for the first time. That they're surprised by where the sentence actually goes and they've ended up putting emphasis on weird words.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

5 comments:

Bellezza said...

Two years ago I noticed that a recording of the Bible won an award as Best Audio Book. It was a translation of the NIV, and of course, now I'm blanking on the exact version and the exact award. (!) However, I can get it for you when I'm at home if you wish. Anyway, I loaded the Old Testament on my iPod, and I do like having it available. But, I like to read His word the best. Somehow, I'm better visually than auditorially, and apparently, my memory is suited to neither. ;)

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

I have never listened to an audio bible. The idea intrigues me though especially for the more poetic sections.

Anonymous said...

I haven't tried listening to an audio version yet, but I can't imagine it would be successful with me. I listen to audio books all the time, while I take my dogs for walks and when I'm working out, but it has to be something light and not hard to follow, as I get easily distracted and my mind often drifts away.

I don't think I would get as much out of the Bible by listening.

hopeinbrazil said...

Some good online Bible chapters are available at iTunes. They are free (hooray!) and beautifully read by Michael Lee. There are no actor's voices or distracting sound effects. I am presently teaching the book of Acts at my church and I spend the whole week listening to the chapter I'm about to teach. When I finally sit down to prepare my lesson, I'm "saturated" with the passage and raring to go.

Sherrylinn said...

I have yet to find one that can hold my attention.