Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge discussion

Rachel wrote: "I'm going to go with The Help which won fiction award in 2001 and is available on Audible"

It actually won in 2009 or 2010. The lists of Audie award winners on the audio publisher's association website is terrible. If a category didn't exist the year that you're looking at, they just put the book that won the first year that award existed on all the lists from that year back. I drove myself nuts trying to figure out what was going on as I was going back through the lists.

It did win the award, but if anyone is confused about how a book won an award years before it was published, that's how.

I just listened to "Not My Father's Son" by Alan Cummings, really enjoyed it and loved his accent!

I'm going to listen to Chopin Manuscript.

I absolutely loved The Graveyard Book. The cast was wonderful and the story kept me excited to be in the car both commuting to and from work and when I needed to drive between buildings at work.

I'm thinking The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammet, 2010... I've wanted to read it, and have a vintage printed copy but never having really listened to an audio since childhood, I thought it might be a good one too try?

I'm in the middle of The Girl With All The Gifts, and it is really well done!

Katy wrote: "I'm going for "The end of the affair" by Graham Greene, largely because it's narrated by Colin Firth, whom I adore. Is that a good enough reason?

Audio books are a new thing for me - as witnessed ..."

Excellent choice. I just finished listening to it and his performance is sublime. It definitely deserved the Audible Book of the Year Award that it won in 2013

I started Amy Poehler's "Yes Please" and can't get enough. If you're a fan of her comedy the audiobook is definitely worth a listen.

I just finished Not My Father's Son - written and read by Alan Cummings. Such an enjoyable listen - I love the lilt in his voice, and it's a remarkable story. Highly recommend!

I'm also doing Bossypants by Tina Fey. I'm not a huge fan of audio books either, so I had to find one that I wanted to read, but not so bad that listening to the audio would spoil the reading experience. Since Fey reads the book herself, it seemed like the perfect choice. (Second choice would be Einstein: His Life and Universe, read by Edward Hermann [rest in peace, Richard Gilmore!], which I plan on reading for the biography task.)

I love listening to audiobooks especially because I drive a lot and I'm visually impaired. I chose Billy Crystal's "Still Foolin' Em". Loved it. He's fabulous. Funny, heartwarming. I can't say enough. Great choice

This category turned out to be more difficult that I thought. I originally was going to apply Yes, Please, but abandoned it after the first disk. A Prairie Home Companion: English Majors was good (and short), but even better was Nelson Mandela’s Favorite African Folktales because of its excellent selection of stories and high production quality.

I ended up doing Yes Please for this and it was OK. I actually like the last 90 minutes or so the best (time travel section through the end). but other chapters I really didn't connect with--she felt uninspired or whiny.

I listened to Still Foolin' 'Em: Where I've Been, Where I'm Going, and Where the Hell Are My Keys

Strongly thinking about reading Alan Cummings Memoir, he really interests me and I love his voice!

I just finished The Aushwitz Escape. My first audio book in about 20 years. I thought it was a fantastic telling of a horrible chapter in human history.

Carrie, I just read the book and thought it was great. Having him read it on an audiobook would be magic.

I have just finished with Yes Please and I agree with most comments on the book/subject - the book left me unmoved. It was hard to choose from the winners mostly because the categories are a bit odd. I enjoy listening to audibooks and had wonderful experience with Moab Is My Washpot by Stephen Fry. His book was meant to be read by him into your ear, and I hear is a really dull read if you pick up a physical copy. Though, unfortunately it didn't get an Audie - since it was released in 2010.

Was debating The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks but I also sort of want to listen to You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life.

Joining the chorus of those who've listened to Not My Father's Son and come away an Alan Cumming fan. A fascinating (and often harrowing) story, well told.

Finished The Girl With All The Gifts. The story kind of lost me towards the end, but the narration was spot-on!

I highly recommend (just finished it!) Winter's Bone. It counts for a book to movie too if you're doubling up. The writing is just gorgeous and the narrator has a fantastic accent that brings the story to life.

I missed out on getting The End of the Affair when it was one of the Audible Daily Deals. I managed to get The Help and Not My Father's Son on those deals last year but alas I also listened to them last year. So I'm keeping my eye on those deals (as I've used up my free trial) but I'm also waiting to see what will win the Audies this year, I think the winners are announced in May so it'll be good to see some other books announced

Sigh...unless my sister (librarian) can come up with a free one that's 4 hours or less, I think I'm going to have to skip. The idea of listening to anything for hours on end, even the most wonderful book in the world, practically gives me hives. I get easily audially exhausted and my mind wanders. I know there's no consequence for skipping a task (other than I suppose not getting my discount from BookRiot for submitting a photo of my completed list), but it's funny how anxious it makes me to do so!

I know nobody would tell someone who actually can't hear that they are awful for skipping this item of the challenge, so I think I'm going to do good self-care and not do something that I would not at all enjoy! Maybe I'll double up on one of the others (I have more than one option for so many of them!)

Jobiska (Cindy) wrote: "Sigh...unless my sister (librarian) can come up with a free one that's 4 hours or less, I think I'm going to have to skip. The idea of listening to anything for hours on end, even the most wonderfu..."

Would it make you feel better if you read a book that won an Audie? As you said, no one would expect a hearing impaired person to do this. Give yourself a break.

Ha, that's a thought! :-)

Jobiska, the goal is to challenge ourselves, not cause a flare-up. I suggest you do your self care. *hugs*

Finished by Susanna Kearsley-- 3 Stars! Won the 2012 Audie award for female narration. I found the narrator horrendous.

Castles, Scottish men, and a historical mystery... Oh my!

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

Jobiska (Cindy) wrote: "Sigh...unless my sister (librarian) can come up with a free one that's 4 hours or less, I think I'm going to have to skip. The idea of listening to anything for hours on end, even the most wonderfu..."

Here are some suggestions that are less than 4 hours each:
1. Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales
2. A Prairie Home Companion: English Majors -
3. The Art of War by Sun Tzu, Adapted and Introduced by Stephan Rudnicki, read by Ron Silver & B.D. Wong (Dove Audio)

I've listened to #1 and 2, and really enjoyed #1.

Good Idea - There must be children's books that have won Audies that are short enough to not irritate you. You sound the way I feel whenever I think about meditation!

I listened to Yes Please and loved it! Amy Poehler is one of my favorite comedians.

Jobiska (Cindy) wrote: "Sigh...unless my sister (librarian) can come up with a free one that's 4 hours or less, I think I'm going to have to skip. The idea of listening to anything for hours on end, even the most wonderfu..."

Your situation piqued my interest - how many audio books make the mark of 4 hours or less? I don't do audio books that often and didn't know the answer. For me, this is a trigger to "investigate". : ) After reading @Robin's reply, I was also curious to see if Audie Awards were given to children's/middle grade books.

Below are some of the books I found that are 4 hours or less - and some of them are children's/middle grade books!

The Best of Oprah's What I Know For Sure by Oprah Winfrey [3:58]
I Am America by Stephen Colbert [3:33]
The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller [3:50]
Selected Shorts: New American Stories by Symphony Space (Editor), Sherman Alexie, Chimamand Ngozi Adichie, Jhumpa Lahiri, Aleksandar Hemon [1:59]
The New Adventures of Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer, Vol. 2: The Little Death by Mickey Spillane [2:14]
Thirteen by Scott Harrison and others [3:36] - related horror shorts

Children's/Middle Grade books:
Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman (narrates too) [1:46]
Zorgamazoo by Robert Paul Weston (narrated by Alan Cummings) [3:12] - rhyming adventure for kids

Winner's for Children's Titles for Ages Up to 8:
Hooray for Anna Hibiscus! by Atinuke [1:08]
The Great Cake Mystery by Alexander McCall Smith [55 min]
Django: World's Greatest Jazz Guitarist by Bonnie Christensen [18 min]

Just starting Euphoria which won an Audie in 2015.

Jobiska (Cindy) wrote: "Sigh...unless my sister (librarian) can come up with a free one that's 4 hours or less, I think I'm going to have to skip. The idea of listening to anything for hours on end, even the most wonderfu..."

I was dreading this category, having dragged myself through the Audio Books category in last year's challenge. I read for the sake of reading, not listening, so I was bummed to see audiobooks included yet again in this year's version of the challenge. (Apologies to those to whom this sounds curmudgeonly!) Anyway, I found a fabulous option: The LA Theater Works production of "Hound of the Baskervilles". It won the 2015 Audie for Best Drama, and clocks in at only around two hours. I actually enjoyed it quite a lot. Hope this helps.

Good point, there are dramatizations which are like listening to a play or radio show more than a book, if that sounds more appealing to some of you.

Personally, I thought for years I wouldn't like audiobooks because I rarely liked being read to by another person. The readers would be too slow or too boring. I got some audiobooks 20 years ago from the library for a trip with my kids. The kids thought the books were ok but I was hooked and am now totally addicted. I don't even know how to use the radio in my car as I'm always listening to a book! (Not saying this to invalidate anyone else's reaction, we all have different preferences.) I still read lots of print books as well, it just added to my available "reading" time.

I just listened to Mandela: An Audio History today -- for anyone looking for something short and a bit different than a regular book, this would fit the bill. It is just over an hour long and is a historical document rather than an actor reading a story. I thought it was great! Five stars.

I finished listening to "The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher" by Hilary Mandel. Her word choices and imagery captivated me; and the dialogue is so pitch perfect for her characters, that I never wondered who was speaking. Each story differs from the other ones in this collection; only the eponymous story is political, and the others include a vampire story and a foreboding story that uses a comma as a device. The reader was marvelous — perfect for these short stories.

I listened to Not My Father's Son, written by and read by Alan Cumming. Fantastic and heartbreaking all in one.

I'm going to cheat slightly and listen to Between the World and Me. It hasn't won an Audie, but I've heard great things about his narration and I've been meaning to read it for ages.

Kylie wrote: "I'm going to cheat slightly and listen to Between the World and Me. It hasn't won an Audie, but I've heard great things about his narration and I've been meaning to read it for ages."

That is not cheating! (I will be doing the same in a few weeks.)

I just finished up Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book and absolutely loved it! Ive never liked audio books, but I adore Gaiman's voice (Ive been to his book readings before at my university) and thought this would be great, and it was!! Listened to it every day during my commute to work and school.

Philippa wrote: "I'm listening to The Graveyard Book. I already really like Alan Cumming so I'm looking forward to that one too!"

Im listening to this one too, Im a huge Gaiman fan! Curious as to what you think about it so far!

I listened to Word By Word by Anne Lamott.

I listened to Bellwether and enjoyed it...

I listened to . It was read by the author and was riveting. Well done Alan Cumming!

Listened to Not My Father's Son as well, loved it! Great story and Alan's reading of the book was amazing...

I listened to The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey. I really enjoyed it! It was a fun experience because my dad (who is blind) and my boyfriend (who is hard to please) both listened to it around the same time as me.

My dad had never listened to anything even remotely paranormal, so it was a bit of a wild card - but he ended up enjoying it!

My boyfriend was so disappointed in the ending - but conceded that it was mostly unpredictable, and he hates a predictable twist. From my side, though, I gave it five stars. Great narration, great story.

I finished listening to Not My Father's Son by Alan Cumming, my daughter and husband heard a lot of it, too.

I also have Captain Vorpatril's Alliance by Lois McMaster Bujold, which won an Audie too!

I don't listen to audio books often, but I listen to a lot of public radio and recommend "Selected Shorts" very, very highly. Those stories can be dl from "Selected Shorts" site, if you're having trouble locating them.

Heather wrote: "I just finished up Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book and absolutely loved it! Ive never liked audio books, but I adore Gaiman's voice (Ive been to his book readings before at my university) and thou..."

I'm listening to this right now too, Heather! I have been to a book reading by Mr. Gaiman as well and think hearing him read his own stuff is just perfection.

Ashley wrote: "Heather wrote: "I just finished up Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book and absolutely loved it! Ive never liked audio books, but I adore Gaiman's voice (Ive been to his book readings before at my univ..."

I'm going to listen to The Graveyard Book for this task too. I was already looking forward to it but now I'm really looking forward to it. Even though I'm a fan of Neil Gaiman and his writing, I have never heard him do a reading. (Though I've heard him sing a goofy song to his baby son in a video he posted on Twitter.) This should be fun!