RMFAO (Reading My Frigging A** Off) discussion

With the evolution of technology, the book industry has also progressed by leaps and bounds. Where there were only physical books available at one time, there came ebooks and took the world by storm. As we progressed ahead in time, a new format introduced itself in which readers could enjoy stories in audio format. Audiobooks instantly won everyone's heart as not only were they easy to carry (like ebooks) but also one could listen to them while doing something else that was mundane, like driving or cycling or washing clothes or cooking, or anything really because now there is no need to hold the book physically in your hands to read.

Today, many readers prefer reading audiobooks over other formats, but there are few who either don't like audiobooks or simply haven't got the chance to explore them enough. No matter which category you belong to, this challenge is for you!

All you have to do is pick a Level, and try and read at least that many audiobooks in the entire year. Simple. No rules at all.

Levels:
Level 1: Casual Reader: 1-10 books (easy)
Level 2: Frequent Reader: 10-25 books (moderate)
Level 3: Bookworm: 25-40 (mildly strenuous)
Level 4: Bibliophile: 40-60 (strenuous)
Level 5: Bookiopath: 60 books or more (challenging)

You can download this image here: https://thereadingbud.files.wordpress...

Feel free to use this discussion board for recommending books, discussing the ones you're reading or really love and posting links to the books or your reviews.

Other challenges that you can participate in:
RMFAO 2020 Genre Challenge
RMFAO 2020 Classics Catchup
RMFAO 2020 Series Challenge

If you're as crazy about reading and books as we are then go wild combining all or any challenges to spice up your reading lists!

You can also read blog posts relating to this challenge, other challenges or the group itself here: https://thereadingbud.com/rmfao/

Happy listening!

I’m in again, and I’m going for level 2 but may get to level 3 😁

Yippee!! Officially I'll go for Level 5 for this challenge, I've named my personal challenge "Insane", I'm hoping to get 100 listened to next year!!!

I never was very good at listening to audiobooks. (My mind tends to wander.) However, this year I will listen to at least one audiobook. So many of you like them, so I will give it a try.

Cheryl I find it relaxing to listen while I'm making dinner, or tidying up. Hope you come to love audio books as much as I do.

Level 2: Frequent Reader: 10-25 books (moderate)

#1 #2 #3 #4

The first audio book is finished for the new year.
1.) The Diviners - Libba Bray 4/5

Fran wrote: "Yippee!! Officially I'll go for Level 5 for this challenge, I've named my personal challenge "Insane", I'm hoping to get 100 listened to next year!!!"

OMG!! That is insane, Fran! You're a legend - RMFAO's Audiobook Legend :)
Please share some pointers for those of us who want to listen to more audiobooks. Anything really would help :)

I will try to aim for Level-4! Difficult for me so it'd be definitely challenging.

Dagny, I'll be relying on you for LibriVox suggestions!!

I am currently listening to Way Station by Clifford Simak. So far it is pretty good. It covers three categories, audio, classic, and science fiction.

Dagny wrote: "I haven't had the time to search for any specific recommendations, but there are quite a few free audiobooks at LibriVox which also count for this month's Genre Challenge which is Science Fiction. Also with possibly a very few exceptions, they will also all count as Classics since they're old enough to be in the Public Domain - a triple play! You can browse at LibriVox, SF is under the category Fantastic Fiction - Science Fiction or this link should work:
https://librivox.org/search?primary_k...

Over 500 books are listed, although a quick browse shows that most might be short stories. If you're not up to wading through the pages of listings, you can search by author, especially if you have a favorite or have been wanting to try a particular author. Two of the more famous ones would be H. G. Wells and Jules Verne. There are also some 'newer' authors like Andre Norton, Keith Laumer, Murray Leinster, Fritz Leiber and even some Ray Bradbury although his are probably only short stories. There are plenty of short story collections shown too if that is of interest to you. "

Wow, thanks a lot, Dagny! I'll go through the list and see if something catches my eyes. I was quite interested in Ray Bradbury's short stories, though I just got an ebook The Martian, so let's see how that goes first. I think I might explore some of the newer authors you listed. Thanks a bunch again :)

#1 How I Write: Secrets of a Bestselling Author by Janet Evanovich - 3/5

An okayish book on writing. I did find some interesting insights but most of it was repetition, hence 3 stars. Though good enough for new writers.

#5 #6 #7

1) Way Station by Clifford Simek

#2 New Moon by Stephenie Meyer - 3/5

Re-read this after more than a decade! I'm planning to complete this series as I left this series after this part when I first read it in 2008. Enjoyed every bit of it. Loved Jacob's character development minus some cheesy descriptions.

Off to a good start for 2020:
1.) The Diviners - Libba Bray
2.) The Cruel Prince - Holly Black
3.) Dr Who: Dark Horizons - Jenny T. Colgan
4.) Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
5.) Cress - Marissa Meyer
6.) Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
7.) Pirate Latitudes - Michael Crichton

#8 #9 #10

I'm going to aim for Level 3. I listen to audiobooks on my commute (40 minutes each way), so that should be doable.

1. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
2. The Sinner by Tess Gerritsen
3, A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton
4. Vanish by Tess Gerritsen
5. In the Dog House by V.M. Burns
6. Ice Cold by Tess Gerritsen
7. Witch Is When It All Began by Adele Abbott

#3 The Institute by Stephen King - 5/5

A fantastic read! Would recommend to everyone.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

#4 Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer - 2/5

A horrible read. Bella was simply intolerable in this book.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

#5 Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer - 1/5

#6 The Sleeper and the Spindle by Neil Gaiman - 2/5

#7 Wilder Girls by Rory Power - 2/5

#8 Elevation by Stephen King - 3/5
An okay-ish read. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Long time since my last update, sorry everyone.

8.) The Other Einstein - Marie Benedict
9.) Blood Rose Rebellion - Rosalyn Eves
10.) Ready Player One - Ernest Cline
11.) The Wailing Wind - Tony Hillerman
12.) Long Road to Mercy - David Baldacci
13.) All the Pretty Horses - Cormac McCarthy

14.) The Case of the Deadly Desperados - Caroline Lawrence

#11

15.) Robert B. Parker's Buckskin - Robert Knott
16.) Gunslinger Girl - Lyndsay Ely
17.) The Snows of Kilimanjaro and Other Stories - Ernest Hemingway
18.) Endless Night - Agatha Christie

#9 The Whisper Man by Alex North - 4/5

19.) Banana Cream Pie Murder - Joanne Fluke
20.) Inland - Tea Obreht
21.) The Haunting of Hill House - Shirley Jackson
22.) The Bitterroots - C. J Box
23.) Zero Day - David Baldacci

Dagny, I really enjoyed this. I gave it 4/5 stars. The main character reminded me a lot of a more stable, relaxed Jack Reacher (by Lee Child). The audio was wonderfully narrated.

just fyi: (to anyone and/or everyone) I briefly review and rate each of my books. I will accept anyone's friend request or just follow. Happy reading to all. Stay safe and stay strong.

#12 #13

#10 The Haunted Hotel: A Mystery of Modern Venice by Wilkie Collins - 2/5

#11 The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Other Tales of Terror - 4/5

#12 The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis - 4.5/5

#13 The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis - 4/5

#14 The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis - 3/5

#15 The Optimist by Roy E. Schreiber - 3/5

24.) Magpie Murder - Anthony Horowitz
25.) The Whispered Word - Ellery Adams
26.) The Camel Club - David Baldacci
27.) Texas Ranger; One Shot to Clear His Name - James Patterson
28.) Lair of Dreams - Libba Bray
29.) Aurora Rising - Amie Kaufman
30.) This World We Live In - Susan Beth Pfeffer

Dagny wrote: "#21 The Forgotten

Listened to John Puller #2 right on the heels of #1. Exciting, especially the last half. A couple of the characters fooled me big time. Thanks again, Fran!"

I can't wait to listen to the second. So glad you enjoyed them both.

#14 #15

#16 Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis - 3/5 - Okay-ish as compared to the first 3 books.

#17 The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen - 4/5 - An absolutely amazing read!

31.) Sawkill Girls - Claire Legrand
32.) The Daughter of Sherlock Holmes - Leonard Goldberg
33.) Raspberry Danish Murder - Joanne Fluke

#16

#18 Those People by Louise Candlish - 3/5
A great read but the author completely botched up the ending.

#19 Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari - 1/5 - DNF - it was too much for me right now.

Dagny wrote: "#24 The Ghost Pirates

Great fun and easy listening."

I'm so glad you enjoyed it as much as I did.

#20 The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager - 3/5

#21 All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover - 1/5 - DNF

#22 The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris - 4/5

While perhaps I haven't been reading as much as I would like during the past couple months, I have used my audiobooks to pull me through the cooking, cleaning, reorganizing and lesson planning that has been kicked into high gear. Hope everyone is well and enjoying listening to a few good books.

34.) The Dangerous Ladies Affair - Marcia Muller
35.) The Innocence of Father Brown - G.K Chesterton
36.) Closed Casket - Sophie Hannah
37.) Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
38.) Candide - Voltaire
39.) Kidnapped - Robert Louis Stevenson
40.) The Razor's Edge - W. Somerset Maugham
41.) A Farewell to Arms - Ernest Hemingway
42.) The Treadstone Resurrection - Joshua Hood

Fran wrote: "While perhaps I haven't been reading as much as I would like during the past couple months, I have used my audiobooks to pull me through the cooking, cleaning, reorganizing and lesson planning that..."

Fran,

You have amazing concentration skills if you can do all that while listeniing to an audiobook! I wish I could do that.

I've been homeschooling the high schooler and middle schooler for years. Adding the high energy, limited attention span and truly extroverted qualities of the kindergartner has been a bit more difficult to juggle. But audio books make those late nights, early mornings and daily chores much more enjoyable.

#23 If It Bleeds by Stephen King - 4/5
#24 Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky - 4/5

Both these are such brilliant reads!

#17 #18

#25 The Dutch House by Ann Patchett (narrated by TOM HANKS!!) - 5/5

#26 Pretty Things by Janelle Brown - 4/5

#19