The audiobook also alters the paratextual experience. Unlike a paperback, which includes a cover, blurbs, and pagination, the audiobook begins with a disorienting moment of pure voice. There is no table of contents, no chapter title announcing “The Bacchanal.” Listeners must orient themselves through sound alone.
A: Absolutely. In fact, many first-time readers prefer the audiobook because Tartt’s narration clarifies which character is speaking and emphasizes the tragic irony of the prologue. donna tartt the secret history audiobook