Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis for October 02, 2024

It took a long time, but GOAT STRIKES AGAIN!

Goat must be a Librarian! Or my English Teacher…

Did Goat borrow Rat’s baseball bat?

It’s called being a voracious reader. So far this year I’ve read 110 books. Full length novels or nonfiction books. That’s considerably lower than pre-pandemic. In those days I suffered from terrible insomnia and only slept 4-5 hrs a night, max. The pandemic killed my job but I learned to sleep again, so even though I have a lot more free time I sleep more and read less.

I call BS pig.

Meanwhile, Rat is visiting Dark Side of the Horse, sans bat.

Good work, Goat.

Don’t see why it isn’t. It’s the same information and in audio book form it’s delivered in a way that I can retain easier.

Text-based books (paper or digital) are best for using your imagination. The tools (search, dictionary, etc.) that come with e-readers make them a better choice than paper, IMHO. Audiobooks are best for reading in bed — no light to keep you up. Some of the narrators are great — real performers. That makes audiobooks a collaborative art form, like movies.

I had the captioning on on a TV show so I wouldn’t mistake certain words. This toon brings to an audio book with closed captioning, which would basically be…a book

Goat finally channeled Rat! Good show!

Pig gets it right!

Print is dead.

Goat is jealous that there aren’t in Pearls Before Swine audio books.

The satisfaction of being able to read printed copy of a book or magazine is hugely satisfying, in a way that I cannot see how looking at a screen could ever be.How does a person know, or find a book that one once read, a book that was printed long before the ‘electronic version’ was even thought of.The books I read were written and published by authors long dead, or haven’t written in years, OR, like some, John Grisham comes to mind, have found that repetition, with only slight changes in plot, or storyline, will still sell. Tom Clancy was another whose later writings were basically the same, with only the “names changed to protect the innocent”.

Goat is right; definitely does not count.

If my eyes get much worse I’m going to have to go with audio books.

Some people hav no time to read, so audio books in the car on commute is the only way they can get to know about them!

Book him!

I wonder how a scenario like Fahrenheit 451 would play in this with books on tape.

No matter the pastime, someone, somewhere, will be a snob over it.

I love my audible while driving

One advantage of printed books over audiobooks is: when you fall asleep, at least you know where you last part you read is. If you fall asleep while you listen to an audio book, you could be chapters and chapters away from what you last remember.

I can’t believe that Rat donated his bat to Goat?

I’d expect this type of behavior from Rat but not Goat

Wow! Violence from Goat. I always thought he was the calm, rational, pensive type.

This time me is with Goat. Goat is 100% correct about it.

That’s like saying you read a book by watching the movie! No, you did not! You were passive, you did not participate, you made no effort. The only person reading here is the narrator! Listening is NOT reading!

It does count goat. Since my eyesight has deteriorated, I can’t read books like I used too. I listen to audio books on the way to work and on the way home.

Goat chose violence! Goat chose violence! Wow!

is that Rat’s bat? just curious…

What if, when you read a book, you read it out loud in your head? Some people say that indicates a poor reader, others say that it greatly adds to the experience.

I’m quite a bit older than Stephan Pastis, and I immediately thought, “Tape?” Books on tape haven’t been a thing for what, a couple of decades? I’m sure someone still has a cassette player for their books, but in the USA it can’t be many.

I wonder if Bob’s ear is bleeding?

Though nothing will ever take the place of reading a physical book, open your mind (and ears) to all the wonderful books on audio out there. I’m a librarian, and my opinion has always been – books in any form – THEY’RE ALL GOOD! And, as long as you’re listening to an unabridged audiobook – why shouldn’t it “count”? My husband and I commute together, and we’re listening to the Orphan X series by Greg Hurwitz. We cringe, gasp, and laugh together at Evan Smoak’s exploits. There’s something very special about this shared experience. It would not be the same if we had to take turns reading the book.

downsized the house, gave away the books

Books on tape? Pfft! Where’s the fun in that?

30 years ago I had a long road trip ahead of me, by myself, and a friend recommended books on tape. I first reaction was “how lame,” but I tried it. I was amazed at how time seemed to fly and the trip was way less boring (across Kansas even). Now I’m hooked.

Give him a break, Goat! (Oops! Sorry!) He’s listening to books…on cassette tape! He’s still charmingly retro!

morning commute? i thought we all telework

An audiobook is no substitute for the real thing.

Goat is the one with the bat and yet he???

Goat went a little batty here.

So Goat is no better than Jeff the Cyclist when it comes to elitism. Who knew?

I have almost 1500 physical books, and I can’t BELIEVE that any sane person opposes audio books or Kindle. They’re great. So are paper books.

Three ways to do this: reading, reading out loud to someone, and listening. These are all different forms. Not a neurologist, but my experience is that these each engage different regions of the brain. Someone reading braille might get still another experience. None of these are objectively best or worst. They are different.

If someone asks you if you read a book and you say yes, that’s gonna be about the end of it. No one knows how or much cares. It’s not like they’re going to hit you with the ‘God knows’ thing.

Listening to a book takes five times as long as reading it – BORING!

Someone needs to get Neighbor Bob to read Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451”, and not on tape, but actually read it.

even goat can get violent. :j

The thing is LISTENING to a story being told is not actually READING the story. Just not the same. If the grid ever goes down I will be thankful for my very large stash of hard copy books. Ah, “time enough at last”.

I definitely prefer bound books to E-books. However, I think audio books are a wonderful option that I can see myself using as I and my eyes get older.

What if the author never read the book, such as, “The Art of the Deal?”

This is the ONLY time I’ve seen Paris act like Rat! I hope it’s the LAST time!

As one who makes a few thousand a year from audiobook royalties, I beg to differ, O Goat.

I write banned books

Goat must be subbing for Rat on his day off with the bashing with a bat thing.

Im ok with counting them both, but thise abridged versions dont get full credit. I do prefer the old fashion way. Much faster as well for me

I still read quite a bit, but not as much as I used to.

Neighbor Bob needs to move! Too many wild bats around.

What I mind most offensive: He listens to them on tape. TAPE! This isn’t 2004 anymore!

I feel the same way about people who skip the book and just see the movie.

I don’t opt for audiobooks very often, but I have to say that the audiobook version of Barbara Kingsolver’s Demon Copperhead is terrific, with a great narrator.

Of course it counts.

My preference is a real BOOK. But, I have a hour and a half (each way) commute usually three days a week. I usually have one audiobook and one or two print books in progress at any given time. Can’t keep up with Bob though, average about 100 a year.

I’ve never listened to taped books. But I kinda think Neighbor Bob’s doings qualify.

Goat going to bat for all we readers who love books!

Boo. I love both. How does Goat feel about e-books? You do read them.

I’m almost done with The Power Broker, audio version. I’d never make it through the dead tree version.

How many times has GOAT batted people?

I am sort of with Goat here, though I am far more likely to keep my opinion to myself and let Neighbor Bob think he has “read” those books.

Just over the summer I read 116 books

Who cares if you define it as “reading” or “not really reading” You ingest the words, you learn, you are entertained, you wonder, you laugh, you cry. I partake of books with my eyes and ears and I love both. I would rather listen to music than read the notes; I would rather look at a painting rather than listen to a description of it.How does Mr. Pastis define “book”? Maybe he thinks we should only look at his cartoons on paper rather than our screens.

“books on tape” – a blast from the past! Storytelling is storytelling – it doesn’t matter how your brain absorbs it. I’m a book or kindle person but I have a friend who can only process books audibly. We both read the book as far as I’m concerned.

People who read know how words are spelled, but not how they’re pronounced. People who listen to books know how words are pronounced, but not how they’re spelled.

Given how poorly people spell nowadays, they must be selling a lot of audiobooks.

He’s not reading them he’s listening to them, the cheater.

I’m with Goat aka. The GOAT

The world of books is the most remarkable creation of man. Nothing else he does ever lasts. Monuments fall. Civilizations grow old and die…. after an era of darkness, new races build others. But in the world of books are volumes that have this happen again and again, and yet live on… still as fresh and young as the day they were written, still telling men’s hearts of the hearts of men centuries dead. (Clarence Darrow 1874-1935)

Does goat dislike Kindles? So easy to travel with, too.

Regardless of how you swing regarding paper vs audio, listening to audio on long drives and commutes when you can’t hold a physical book adds value to time that would otherwise be wasted.

I started listening to audio books during my commute back when they were on cassette tapes. Then came CDs. Now I download to my cell phone and bluetooth to the car. I’m now retired but still listen in the car. Helps control my road rage.

A book is a book is a book! Any way you can get it!

“What is a book?” seems to be the new “what is a sandwich?” Audio books, comic books, etc. might or might not be, depending who you ask.

I’ve seen a number of drivers (mostly women) zoom by me on the interstate with a paperback opened on their steering wheel.

Try putting a book on tape over your eyes to nap.

Audio books are real books and I’ll die on that hill. Plus at least I’m reading while driving and cleaning and cooking and walking. Book summaries on the other hand….

Semantics, Goat. Your brain (and imagination) is engaged similarly no matter how you read, whether books are made of dead trees or bytes (at least mine is). And, by the way, tell sight-impaired people that they’re not reading books, especially those who relied on audiobooks to help them obtain college degrees.

Isn’t that distracted driving? Book him!

Reading an E-book doesn’t count, and the print is so small I’m amazed anybody CANread it

Multi-tasking is a myth. You cannot listen to a book and drive.

No way, I read with a yellow highlighter in one hand. To think, I had to use ink and a quill pen in c. ’60s university.

I updated my count the other day. I’m up to 45. Though that’s including some pretty light reading in there.

Pastis, have you seen this? >

I agree. I listen to books all the time while I’m doing something else. It’s not the same as giving your full attention to a book and getting lost in it!

Bob must have a helluva commute to have time for 175 audiobooks.

“Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside of a dog, you probably need an audiobook.” – Groucho Updated

I’m with Goat on this: no Kindles, e-readers, et al for me.

Reading Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy was funny. Listening to it was hilarious…

You go Goat!!!

Librarians encourage the pleasure of gaining information and joy of research, fiction, nonfiction films cds, ebooks. Format doesn’t matter. Blind people read with braille and audio. Don’t blame us if you’re a luddite

Some of Rat’s influences have definitely rubbed off Goat for the worst.

I need to read print. I like audio drama and comedy but I sometimes get distracted, especially when I’m driving. With print I can backtrack easily.

So out of character for Goat to be so physical! Mayhaps he’s been hangin’ around Rat too much.

I once read a book that wasn’t a book. I fergit what it was. I think it might have been a pastry.

I like books on tape, but my mind wanders too much. I only re-read er… re-listen a book on tape if I’ve already experienced it in the flesh, or physical form.

“reading” comprehension of audio books is generally far below that for print. Might work for easy fiction but not so great for history, science, and other non-popular nonfiction.

Yawn

I can read a novel in 1-4 hours, depending on length. I have several audio books that take 10-25 hours. How can anyone get through more audio books than paperbacks or hard cover novels?

Don’t say you listen while driving, that is unsafe, and ensures you aren’t paying enough attention to either activity.

What’s Goat’s problem?!

We were listening to stories long before we could read. Both historically and personally.

Goat has been hanging around Rat too long.

This is the way I feel, though I’ve never said it out loud. Many of my friends only “read” books via Audible. They can fall asleep and still the book gets read.

I see he learned a few things from Rat.

Audio books count as books. They do not count as reading books. You listen to them, you don’t read them.

I read constantly as a young person, and as a single person. My first and favorite job was in the local library.

But since I became a housewife, I can’t sit and read. It’s like working from home. All the things that need doing “call” me, and the older I get, the more prone I am to falling asleep if I sit and am not engaged in a task or conversation. If not for audio books, there would be no books.

But i still stick to older and classic material. Like today’s tv and movies, modern books are too much about dead bodies.

Anyone with a higher count that Goat MUST be cheating. Or it’s Rat is trying out his Halloween costume.

Don’t tell Goat that you listen to recorded music instead of live performances, or movies instead of live theatre.