1st Quarter Audiobook Challenge Update

Spring is upon us once again, and with it our quarterly update on what we’ve consumed in the last three months in audiobook format. Spring presents many opportunities for us to enjoy audiobooks more (not that we needed a reason!) as we spend time spring cleaning, enjoying the outdoors more, and various other audiobook friendly situations. Here’s a quick look at our first three months.

Reading Challenge Details:

• Runs January 1, 2017 – December 31, 2017. 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 2017 than you did in 2016.
• 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, Booklikes, 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.

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+

I know I’ve been doing a lot of audio listening lately…but even I’m surprised at how much progress I’ve made. Initially I had intended to play it safe and aim for My Precious, but at this rate if I keep up the pace I should just barely cross the finishing line into Marathoner by the end of the year.

As always, audiobooks help me get through long drives and through some of the more tedious tasks at the office. I am super excited to report that my office — a school board — actually supports that, more or less, after the recent introduction of Overdrive for staff, students, and their families. We’re fresh into our first month and there have been a few glitches, as is to be expected, but the uptake on the endeavour has been so amazing. I love to see people enjoying a good book, as does the superintendent in charge of the project, who has been happily adding all the books I recommend to our library. So I’m well on my way to my Binge Listener goal, and looking forward to lots more reads!

This year has already started out super busy for me, busier than I normally am this time of the year, so audiobooks have been a big factor in helping me stay sane all these months. I’m getting into a groove now with things and hoping to cover more ground with audiobooks in the coming months, but I am happy with what I have been able to listen to all things considered.