Do you listen to audiobooks? Did you know they’re more emotionally rousing than movies?
Challenge Details
- Runs January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2019. You can join at any time.
- The goal is to find a new love for audios or to outdo yourself by listening to more audios in 2019 than you did in 2018.
- Books must be in audio format (CD, MP3, etc.)ANY genres count.Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed.
- You do not have to be a book blogger to participate; you can track your progress on Goodreads, Facebook, LibraryThing, etc.
- If you’re a blogger grab the button and do a quick post about the challenge to help spread the word. If you’re not a blogger you can help by posting on Facebook or Tweeting about the challenge.
- Updates plus a giveaway will be posted twice during the year. The first update will be June 30, 2019, and the last update will take place on December 15, 2019.
Achievement Levels
- Newbie (I’ll give it a try) 1-5
- Weekend Warrior (I’m getting the hang of this) 5-10
- Stenographer (can listen while multitasking) 10-15
- Socially Awkward (Don’t talk to me) 15-20
- Binge Listener (Why read when someone can do it for you) 20-30
- My Precious (I had my earbuds surgically implanted) 30+
- Marathoner (Look Ma No Hands) 50+
What level could you achieve?
Sign up here. It’s never too late.
Courtesy of Caffeinated Reviewer and Hot Listens
Personal note:
I started a Lame-excuse-for-being-absent post several times but it’s all whiny, long-winded crap and there are other things to write today so here’s the short version.
Chronic illness swallowed me for a bit.
Trying to better manage and, even on the worst days, sneak in whatever little I can. It’s a work in progress.
Also, I missed you!
The 2018 Audiobook Challenge:
I finished 48 audiobooks, coming just shy of “Marathoner”, the highest level attainable in the challenge, not counting a few repeats.
Most Noteworthy
Click image for more by Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman, if you’re unfamiliar, is a multi-genre mastermind. Last year I had the good fortune of finding most of his audiobooks through the library or he’d have taken a year’s worth of Audible credits, not that he doesn’t deserve them.
A favorite from ’17, Trigger Warning (the ebook edition) is on sale now for $2.99, by the way.
Click to search Stephen King
He’s Stephen King! 😍
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft is a must-read for everyone in the #writingcommunity.
The Eyes of the Dragon is a dark fairytale I thought we could listen to in the car as a family. A chapter or two in, however, was talk of “man swords” so we changed books. Luckily my son was zoned out on his phone.
Awkward.
Although I enjoyed all of The Bazaar of Bad Dreams, one short story, “The Little Green God of Agony” hit me hardest as a spoonie and former care provider.
Check out Moore Christopher Moore, he’s hilarious.
No spoilers. The grim reaper in a stroller and cigarette-smoking lizard demon should be enough to warrant a peek if you trust me. Excellent narration on both.
Miscellaneous Must Reads:
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern is like the child of Something Wicked this Way Comes by Ray Bradbury and The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. Did someone say it’ll be a film soon?
The Hate you Give by Angie Thomas. A powerful and heartbreaking view of racial bias, inequality, oppression, and attacks that speaks loudly for change. I hope more people listen. The movie looks paled down based on its trailer.
Dog Walker by Jack McGuigan (review here) is full of dogs, demons, luchadores, magic, and mayhem. LOVED IT. Travis Baldree is a new favorite narrator.
Revolution by Russell Brand is a poetic, insightful, mind-bending guide for shifting ourselves to balance this polarized and consumeristic world. I’m sure the text version is great but Russell’s voice and tones feel like an integral part of the message.
2019 Audiobook Challenge, seven weeks in:
Thirty-two audiobooks down–20 from January alone.
It’s maniacal and a sign of too much time laid up. *shrug*
Books that’ve tethered me to my tablet this year:
We are Water, a book about a family’s struggle through an unexpected shatter.
I’ve loved every Wally Lamb novel I’ve read thus far. His characters are multifaceted works of art and hilarity.
The Power by Naomi Alderman shows a world in which women develop an ability to take man’s place of power–a bit too far.
Little Bee by Chris Cleave was a visceral reminder of worldly atrocities, another wake-up call to the level of privilege most people able to read this have, and a call to action.
Jennifer Niven nailed the struggles and brilliance of Bipolar Disorder–and a few holes in my heart with All the Bright Places.
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi won the 2019 Audie Award for Audiobook of the Year. With the intensity and creativity behind this novel, I’m not surprised.
What great audiobooks have you listened to lately?
Eloquent Rage by Brittney Cooper was my fav audiobook last year. I laughed, I cried, and I learned so much. The author narrates it and I think that takes it up a notch. From your list: I HAVE to get the Stephen King “On Writing”. I have loved his writing for 30 years! Great list, thank you!
Can’t wait to read that one. Best of the year says a lot. *quietly rearranges TBR*
I read “On Writing” before listening to it. It’s nice to flip through pages to for reference but the audiobook was far more personal and enjoyable because he reads it too.
Thanks so much for sharing your favorite. Glad you like the list!
Ok, I signed up! I just started listening to audiobooks occasionally this year, I believe, maybe the end of last year. I’ve listened to 2 or 3, I seem to fall asleep on them, so I need to figure out a different time to listen. I have one in my reader by Harper Lee and being read by Reese Witherspoon that I want to get back to, but I started reading An Innocent Man so it will be a bit. I found a free avenue for audiobooks by visiting my library and signing up with my Libby app. Now I read audiobooks for free! I will sign on as a beginner and we will see how it goes. I will try to do the required blog post today, or over the weekend. Happy “reading”!
Yay! I use Overdrive but it’s essentially the same.
I like to listen on long trips in the car and while doing simple tasks like folding laundry. Some books, especially non-fiction are easy to listen to at higher speeds too. I almost always turn one on with a sleep timer at night too. Who says we have to give up our bedtime stories?
Right! Well, I didn’t get to the blog today but maybe tomorrow 😊
Good luck!
I must’ve done my post wrong or something because I’m not getting any responses whatsoever.
Oh no! Where is your post? I can’t find it.
https://wp.me/p9PTFo-gc
I can see it through the link but not if I go to your blog. Maybe something is funky in the post settings? I don’t see it on the signup sheet either. 😕
Ugh, I will look on the computer when I get up and see what I did wrong, thank you, that explains why no one liked or commented!
No prob. Probably just an accidental click somewhere, hope you find it quickly!
Are you looking on my blog Words on a Page because that’s where it is, not Keto for Beginners
No…. It’s there. 🤦🏻♀️
*easily
Ok, I added my link to the Caffenaited Reviewer so I hope that fixes it.