Just a Thought about Abridged and Unabridged Books
Why is it that there’s a plethora of audio books available in an abridged version, but it’s extremely rare to find a paper book in an abridged version?
Obviously, the publishers believe that there is a market for abridged audio books, and they are correct. While most people prefer unabridged fiction, many publishers have found that the majority of people prefer abridged versions when it comes to non-fiction books on subjects such as business and politics for example. So you’d think that publishers would try to reach those people with the paper books too.
I, for one, prefer unabridged versions of most of the time. But, I know I would really appreciate abridged paper versions of very long, wordy novels. Charles Dickens and J. R. R. Tolkien come to mind… (I can’t be the only one who feels that The Lord of the Rings was too wordy…can I? :)) I realize that my sentiments about these authors are not shared by everyone, but I do believe I am representative of a good part of the population who would be interested in abridged paper books.
February 23rd, 2006 at 1:01 pm
Abridged Tolkien!? An outrage!
On a serious note, I think that most good authors are economical in their work. And when they are not, they are busy developing complex characters and settings that are wholly worthwhile and rewarding to the patient reader. Though, there are certainly exceptions…
Being somewhat of a purist about most forms of media, any alteration to the author’s original work and intent just upsets me. I could never listen to an abridged book without wondering, “What am I missing?”
Its an interesting debate, but one which does ultimately come down to personal preference.
I have saved my most important point for last: the secret to ending all of life’s troubles is [editor's note: this post has been abridged for your reading convenience.]
February 23rd, 2006 at 3:04 pm
I never really thought about it, but I rarely read every word of a book (the way I hear every word in an audio book). In a sense, most people do their own “abridgement” of print books by skimming the story and only focusing on sections that really interest them.
I do it all the time– and have even gone so far as to only read some story lines (when there’s multiple subplots) in pulp fiction-type books.
March 2nd, 2006 at 3:40 pm
Second the above… if I feel that a book is too wordy, and don’t feel the need to absorb every single word, then I’ll skim it. I *much* prefer to be the one who decides what I read and what I skip than some anonymous abridger.
Someone might argue that in the case of audio books, it’s harder to “skim”; but even then would I prefer to use a high-speed mode, fast-forward, or simply zone out and think about other things during the dull parts. The label “abridged” has always leant a book a certain stigma in my eyes.
March 5th, 2006 at 10:50 am
Reading abridged work is giving up control. In an age wherein so much is out of our control and that which is IN our control is so often beyond our grasp …. it seems to me that abridgement is censorship. And who actually MAKES the decisions about what should and should not be presented?
Let the reader make the decision about what words have value and act accordingly. I find the idea of abridged books abhorent. Now frankly, we could easily abridge and remove much of the innanity that assaults us on television and be none the worse for the brevity.
End of rant
March 30th, 2006 at 3:15 pm
I have been waiting for an opportunity to officially voice my opinion on this subject so here goes. I get so frustrated when I can only find a book that is abridged and will only purchase or rent an abridgment if I have no other options. It is hard enough to find the book that you want in audio but the field really narrows when so many are only offered abridged. I realize that some people might not have time or just want a general overview but that is not me so please give me a choice! There is one site that offers unabridged versions when no one else will but I do not have $100 a pop for books.
I tried to listen to abridgments when I first got hooked on audiobooks but soon found that they always left me wanting. I agree with Julie above concerning television. There are so many choices on television that you could not possibly watch everything. But who would want to considering most of it is trash. Please listen to those of us who are not placated with any cheap, base entertainment that gets put in front of our faces. We want the whole story!
March 30th, 2006 at 3:57 pm
I think some of the controversy about “abridged” vs “unabridged” audiobooks is inherent to the intrinsic difference between listening to a book and reading a book. Audiobooks at their best can be a spellbinding performance of the written book, and abridged versions can certainly work at this level, just as masterful screen adaptations of literature can be as rewarding in their own way as the written version.
That said, I definitely prefer to listen to unabridged audiobooks. Just as a terrible screen adaptation can spoil a great book forever, a poor abridgement can cut the soul right out of a story. If the unabridged version drags, it is not usually improved by listening to an abridgement.
March 31st, 2006 at 8:55 am
I recently got hooked on audio books and have listed to several abridged and unabridged forms. My vote is for unabridged. Without really knowing what exactly that word meant when I rented an “abridged” book, I most definitely felt after listening to just a few books that the characters were not fully developed. Sure the storyline plugs right along, but I think subtle details and depth of character and story were missing. I like to put myself into a book and feel the characters and the story. Abridged versions take that away from me. I don’t listed or read a book to skim over it. I want it to envelope me, absorb me. I’ll read the book before I ever listed to an abridged audio version again.
April 2nd, 2006 at 8:40 am
My wife and I only listen to unabridged books. The one time we accidentally got an abridged version of a novel, we were really bitter. The book didn’t feel like it was chopped up, we still enjoyed it, but afterwards, we were thinking, but if only we had listened to the *full* book, we’d have enjoyed it even more.
On a more direct note, I’ve noticed a number of titles here on Simply Audio Books where the unabridged version is available for purchase, but only the abridged version is available for rental. Why does that happen? Couldn’t you just break the shrink wrap on one of the copies on the “For Sale” shelf, and put it into circulation?
Another suggestion: I would really love to have a checkbox preference, which would hide all abridged titles from me, for any view, anywhere on the site. I never need to see them. Seriously.
April 3rd, 2006 at 9:43 am
Hey, good news for you… that option already exists as part of “Advanced Search.” While you’re browsing books, the Advanced Search is always located in the lower right corner of your screen.
It allows to search by keyword, author and/or title (even by ISBN!), and limit your search to within a particular genre, or by abridged/unabridged.
July 21st, 2006 at 4:07 pm
Hey what a great site keep up the work its excellent.
January 20th, 2007 at 12:34 am
best friends animal shelter…
Didn’t notice it before . . . quite clever….
September 4th, 2007 at 6:36 am
I almost never read/listen to abridged books unless there is no other option. Most likely if I really like it, I will end up listening to to it again to pick up anything that might have been missed.
Even special editions, for instance the old books on tape version of Stephen King’s The Stand.. I have listened to that more than once, but when the Complete edition was released, I had to give that a go as well.
However I typically only listen to Nonfiction, and I feel I will be missing out on important details if I do abridged audio.
September 3rd, 2009 at 2:24 am
Case Packers…
Great Tip…