2016 Audiobook Challenge

We love audiobooks here at Bibliosanctum for a variety of reasons from distraction while doing chores to just enjoying a good story being read by an awesome narrator. We also love to undertake a good challenge, especially when it coincides with our love of reading. This will be Bibliosanctum’s second year participating in the event, and we’re excited to see where this year’s challenge takes us!

The Book Nympho and Hot Listens host this challenge ever year, and this will be their fourth year organizing the event. Make sure to check out their sign-up page for this year’s challenge, and be sure to check out their Goodreads group.

Reading Challenge Details:

• Runs January 1, 2016 – December 31, 2016. 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 2016 than you did in 2015.
• 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, Shelfari, Booklikes, Facebook, LibraryThing, etc.
• If you’re a blogger grab the button (on the sidebar) 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.

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 multi-tasking) 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) 30-50
• Marathoner (Look Ma no hands) 50+

Tiara’s Goal

I tend to aim low and finish better than expected in challenges. Last year, I didn’t start this challenge until the end of February because I told myself I wouldn’t be doing any challenges in 2015 since I had things I wanted to catch up on from 2014. I broke my promise with this challenge first, but it did help me to catch up on many things I wanted to read in 2014 just in a different format. This challenge also helped me to develop an even deeper appreciation of audiobooks. I don’t know if I’m going to participate in many challenges yet, but the ones I do participate in will hold hands with this one.  Last year, my original goal was Stenographer with a long goal of Socially Awkward. I hit Marathoner last year. This year, I am aiming for a short goal of Socially Awkward with a long goal of My Precious. Hopefully, I’ll make Marathoner again this year!

Wendy’s Goal

Audiobooks have become such an important part of my life–I’m listening to one right now, even as I type this–that doing this challenge is almost a default practice.  Not only do I love listening to audiobooks now, I have an ongoing personal campaign to promote the medium to other book lovers (or those who want to read more books, but don’t necessarily enjoy reading).

In last year’s challenge, I made it to the My Precious level, which was more than I expected. This year, I am feeling confident enough to maintain that goal and earn myself a few more achievements in the Audible app.

Mogsy’s Goal

I was actually very surprised that I reached my goal of Marathoner in 2015, and part of me still thinks it was a fluke. I love audiobooks and I listen to them like a maniac, but still I barely squeaked by the finishing line last year so this year I’m going to dial back and aim lower to avoid any stress and disappointment (I have a tendency to take all challenges way too seriously!) Most of my audiobook listens were also review copies last year, so as part of my challenge I also want to try and fit in more personal listens in 2016. I’m planning to aim for My Precious, which I think is a reasonable goal; 30 to 50 titles should be doable at the rate I listen, and if I just happen to go over and hit Marathoner again, well, then that’ll just be grand.