This year I decided to sign up for the Audiobook challenge run by Hot Listens and Caffeinated Reviewer because it sounded like a lot of fun and just my type of thing since I already listen to a lot of audiobooks. More details about the challenge can be found in my original post here.
Levels of achievement:
- 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+
I decided to go for Marathoner since I already listen to a lot of books by audio, this is really the challenge level for me. So, how am I doing so far?
Out of the 52 books I’ve read so far this year a whopping 20 of them have been audiobooks! In fact, the first 5 books I finished this year were all audiobooks! At this rate I really don’t think I’ll have a problem getting to the Marathoner level, so I’m more interested in seeing how high of a number I can achieve. 🙂
Here’s a list of all the books I’ve listened to so far this year:
- Of Blood and Bone by Nora Roberts
- This Mortal Coil by Emily Suvada
- My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows
- In an Absent Dream by Seanan McGuire
- White Stag by Kara Barbieri
- Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman
- Minimum Wage Magic by Rachel Aaron
- Dracul by J.D. Barker and Dacre Stoker
- The Kingdom of Copper by S.A. Chakraborty
- The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi
- Look Alive Twenty-Five by Janet Evanovich
- King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo
- Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
- Bloodwitch by Susan Dennard
- The Au Pair by Emma Rous
- The Ruin of Kings by Jenn Lyons
- The Spirit Eater by Rachel Aaron
- The Hiding Place by C.J. Tudor
- The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin
- Once & Future by Amy Rose Capetta and Cori McCarthy
Some of these were fantastic as audiobook productions, while others were average and the audio didn’t really add anything dynamic. Books that had amazing recordings for me and worked especially well were My Lady Jane, The Kingdom of Copper, Minimum Wage Magic, Look Alive Twenty-Five, and The Hiding Place. All of these benefited from having really dynamic narrators that brought something extra to the audiobook experience–they were a joy to listen to. I also really loved listening to The Ruin of Kings (two of the narrators for that one are some of my favorite narrators), but it’s such a confusing book I don’t know that I’d actually recommend the audio since it may add another layer of confusion, lol. Illuminae was also a good listen, there are a lot of sound effects and such which makes the audiobook an interesting experience!
Honestly, sometimes I still have problems listening to audiobooks. Sometimes a narrator just doesn’t work for me and it’s nothing against them, I just have a problem hearing certain types of voices (usually if they’re too breathy or too monotone). Listening to books is definitely a skill when you’re used to tuning out auditory stuff in order to concentrate and suddenly you have to do the opposite. It’s taken me a while to get used to them, but I’m glad I’m able to listen to books because it’s increased the amount of books I’ve been able to read! Now I can read while driving or doing chores or even working sometimes. But it’s key for me to have a good, dynamic narrator. Someone who isn’t just reading a book but into it, acting it out, etc. That works well for me and I hope I continue to find more books with great narrators in the future!
Do you listen to audiobooks? What are some of your favorite audiobook recordings? Leave a note in the comments, I’d love to hear from you!
Way Too Fantasy 
This is so impressive, Lisa! Congrats on your audio achievements thus far!
Thanks, Jennifer! ❤
Good luck with the challenge!
Thanks, Cathy!
You are doing great! I wish I could listen to audio books, I just need to dive in one of these days😁
It does take some getting used to!
Looks like you’re going to smash this challenge. I’ve only just listening to my first audio of the year – I’ll be going for the newbie level!
Lynn 😀
Good luck! 🙂
Wow! Yea you’ll make it to Marathoner no problem.
I’m enjoying audio books more and more now. I think I prefer them for stories that are quick or will suck me in quickly AND keep my attention, like a thriller.
So far the best audiobook I’ve listened to is You by Caroline Kepnes because the narrator does a great job of capturing the voice of the protagonist.
I don’t think I like dramatized ones, though the only dramatized one I’ve listened to are the Lord of the Rings BBC production. I didn’t like it. I was so confused.
Yeah, short and engaging reads have been the best for me. Mysteries and thrillers have generally been good as well as shorter fantasy novels (urban fantasy is great on audio).
I’ll have to try an urban fantasy one soon. So far the only fantasy one I’ve tried that worked for me was Beauty and the Clockwork Beast, which is supernatural period romance.
I enjoyed Daniel Jose Older’s Bone Street Rumba, he reads it himself and his voice is like butter. Or smooth jazz. Lol
Ok. I gotta listen to it considering how you describe his voice.
Or just check out a sample. I think there are videos of him on YouTube talking as well. Not that I’m a stalker or anything. O.O
Lol!
Whoa, nice job! You’re blowing away this challenge!
Thanks! Yeah even I didn’t realize how big a percentage of my reading has been audio until I looked, whoops lol. 🙂
Oh, someone’s who knows the Eli Monpress series! They’re a great set of stories!
Yeah, I’m having fun with them so far. 🙂
Wow!! 20 audio books so far?!?! That is crazy! I only have 6 haha. And I totally agree that a narrator can make or break a story!
I have a longish commute and I can listen at work so that helps lol. It’s almost easier for me to make time for audiobooks than regular books sometimes just because I can multitask. 🙂
6 is good! Good luck with the challenge