Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge discussion

This thread is for dropping ideas, questions, resources, comments, and discussion about Task 16: An Audiobook.

http://bookriot.com/2013/08/13/11-aud...

Lots to choose from for free at librivox.org. All the books are in the public domain so it's a good way of catching up on your classics.

I've listened to House of Mirth (Edith Wharton) read by Elizabeth Klett (sp?) this year and it was fantastic.

I listen to audiobooks all the time and have a bunch waiting to be heard. Picked Paper Towns for this challenge.

I've never listened to an audiobook before so this should be interesting. No idea where to start with choosing one, though.

I got into listening audio books just this past year. I found a nice place to start is with funny nonfiction/ memoir, like Tina Fey's BOSSYPANTS or Amy Poehler's YES PLEASE.

Those are both high on my TBR list. I think that's my dilemma solved. Thanks :)

I am going to listen to Inside by Alix Ohlin as its in my TBR pile.

If you're looking for another way to obtain free audiobooks, there is a GoodReads group called the Ford Audiobook Club. I've gotten four free audiobooks from them thus far.

I truly dislike audio books. I have tried several times to listen to them while I knit. I just find myself annoyed.

I discovered audiobooks a few years ago when our family's road time increased. I've found that I have preferences about a reader's appropriateness for the story rather than following a particular reader.

I really enjoyed Life of Pi read by Jeff Woodman and Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet read by Feodor Chin.

Ready Player One is simply the best audio book I've ever listened to. I listen to about 2 a month.

I found my go-to audiobook choices have to be either nonfiction or celebrity bios. I don't know why, those are the only ones that work for me. I highly suggest the fore mentioned Bossypants and Yes Please as well as As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales about the making of the Princess Bride by Cary Elwes.

I've never really listened to audiobooks before but I think I'm going to seize this opportunity to finally try some of Big Finish's Doctor Who stories. I love the show and have seen every episode minus a couple of missing ones from the 60s and have read a few books, this is a good time to explore other media.

I listen to audiobooks all the time, and I have a couple of suggestions! The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd was fabulous. Stephen King's Doctor Sleep is read by my favorite narrator, Will Patton. If you like a classic, To Kill a Mockingbird read by Sissy Spacek was great.

I really enjoyed Anansi boys read by Lenny Henry, and as others have said The Martian is good too.

I really enjoyed Anansi boys read by Lenny Henry, and as others have said The Martian is good too.

One of the best audiobooks I've listened to is When The Emperor Was Divine.

Jaime wrote: "Ready Player One is simply the best audio book I've ever listened to. I listen to about 2 a month."

Thanks for the rec. I've only done a few audiobooks, with mixed results. Looking forward to it.

For those who aren't sure they like audiobooks, be aware that there are various styles and you might like one more than another. Some people prefer those that are read in a very straightforward way, some like the more dramatic. There are even some done like radio plays. Usually an author reading his or her own works isn't the best, since they are writer, not actors, but there are exceptions, especially if the writer is already a performer.

I listen to audio books all the time. I love being read to. I am always listening to at least one.

One of my favorite audiobooks was Kenneth Branagh reading Longshot by Dick Francis. Wish I still had it.

This one should be interesting. I never really seen the point of an audio book. For me it seems like it kind of defeats the purpose but I'll keep an open mind.

Doing "Naked" by David Sedaris

Finished Naked by David Sedaris on audiobook--highly recommend for anybody who wants something short and easy to follow along to, it's only 3 hours and is a really funny and engaging listen!

My favorite audio books were "Faithful Place" by Tana French narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds and "I Am the Messenger" by Marcus Zusak narrated by Marc Aden Gray. (I must like Australian accents.) They are great for long car rides.

Yes Please by Amy Poehler was really great as an audiobook.
Currently I'm listening to As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes.

Completed this task today!!

Finished by Jodi Picoult-- 3 Stars!!

Another solid read by Picoult. Tackles some difficult civil rights issues, in a way where Picoult presents cases for both sides and puts the reader right in the middle.

My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

My True Love Gave to Me by various authors...this is a great book for the Christmas season!

I listened to about 20 audiobooks last year and they were all good - among the best were The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis, Treasure Island, narrated by Frederick Davidson, The Rosie Project, and The Book Thief but hands down, the best was Lolita narrated by Jeremy Irons - he was born to the part of Humbert Humbert. Fabulous.

Finished this one. First I prefer the printed word. I like to read at my pace and I tend to zone out and stop listening to background sounds. My brain counts audio books as background sounds. This quirk is really annoying if I'm trying to listen to a mystery.

I decided for this challenge to try a humorous book Is Everyone Hanging out without me I listened to it like it was an extended comedy sketch. Still sticking with my books or nook.

I recommend any books by Sarah Vowell. She reads her own quirky historical works with guest actors providing the voices of historical figures and other characters.

For more light-hearted fare, you just can't beat the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich as performed by Lorelai King. She is a master of changing her voice for the various characters. Her timing is laugh-out-loud funny.

Another audio favorite of mine from popular fiction are the Chet and Bernie mysteries by Spencer Quinn performed by Jim Frangione. The way he gets us inside the mind of Chet the dog is spot on.

The Outlander series are very well done. Davina Porter has a lovely voice and a talent for seamless changes between character voices and accents.

this was an easy one for me. listen to books in my car all the time. just finished Gore Vidal ' s "Golden Age"

I just started listening to audio books through Overdrive at my library in the last year or so. I listened to Hemlock Grove by Brian McGreevy after having fun watching the show on Netflix. The show is way better than the book... oh well. Is it okay if I listen to some of my other books for other tasks? I don't feel like it's cheating, but input is appreciated. :-)

I'm listening to The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith (or Ms Rowling if you prefer). Robert Glennister narrates and I can strongly recommend.

Amy Poehler's "Yes Please" was amazing.

I listen to a LOT of audiobooks (and podcasts) anyway, as I spend entirely too much time in the car driving to and from work. The first one I listened to this year was Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie. I loved the story, thought the narration was a little bit odd, but I think it's because the narrator is supposed to be...well, not exactly human.

Truly happy that I got Amy Pohler's Yes Please this week for the audiobook challenge. I listen to them all the time, but I knew this one would be special with the cast being used.

I am currently listening to I Always Loved You by Robin Oliveira, a fictional account of the relationship between painters Mary Cassatt and Edgar Degas in Belle Époque Paris. It is beautifully written and just as beautifully narrated by Mozhan Marnot

As far as an audiobook. I'm listening City of Bones being read by actress Mae Whitman. I'm really enjoying it because she is pretty much each character and it's done so well.

The Lies of Locke Lamora is wonderful on audio! I have no idea how Michael Page manages all the voices.

Kerry wrote: "I agree with the above suggestions to start with funny books. My first audiobook was Tina Fey's "Bossypants" and I laughed along the whole time. Chelsea Handler's "Lies that Chelsea Handler Told Me..."

So why is Overdrive controversial? I work at a library and love it.

My library also uses Overdrive. I was not aware of any controversy with it, but I have found that what is available from one library (CT) to another (SC) seems different. Why is that?

I just recently discovered that I can use an app called Hoopla through my library to stream audiobooks. Smaller selection than the library's digital collection, but no waiting :)

Just finished and enjoyed "The Husband's Secret" by Liane Moriarty.

Kerry wrote: "Jen wrote: "Kerry wrote: "I agree with the above suggestions to start with funny books. My first audiobook was Tina Fey's "Bossypants" and I laughed along the whole time. Chelsea Handler's "Lies th..."

Thanks. I was unaware. Very interesting stuff. Definitely keeping that link handy.

Love, Dishonor, Marry, Die, Cherish, Perish, a novel by David Rakoff. This is a novel written entirely in Seussian rhyme, and read by Ira Glass and David Rakoff not long before David died. I've had this on my list for ages, and I like that it's a stretch for me on two fronts--I don't usually listen to audio books, and I've never read a novel in rhyme before.

I am attempting to listen to Richard III, but I think it might be cursed. Started it six times so far, but EVERY SINGLE TIME, something interrupts within the first five minutes. "Deformed, unfinished," indeed.

I listened to , which turned out to be a pretty good book. I actually saw Holly Black with Cassandra Claire late last year and she was so personable that I thought I would give one of her books a try, I'm glad I did.

I second Ready Player One--Will Wheaton reads it. I also recommend The Rosie Project . The reader is Dan O'Grady and he really nails the main character. He also reads The Rosie Effect but I haven't listened to it, yet.

I listen to audiobooks every morning while I cook breakfast and on my commute to and from work. I use Overdrive to borrow them from the public library and it has been a blessing. While I am waiting for my turn to get Yes Please, which I wanted to be my official challenge pick because everyone raves about it, I downloaded Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly which I am enjoying more than I thought I would. Before this book, I had listened to I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings--if you like Maya Angelou's voice, you'll like this, though personally, I read it at time and a quarter speed--and Longbourn, which was disappointed.

Reading your comments there have been several favorites mentioned, and a few that I am adding to my TBHeard list.