Audiobook Rec, please?

[Wilma]

My family is fixing to have a big bike ride -- 240 miles spread over 6 days. It's going to be super fun for most of us, but a couple of our weaker riders would really benefit from an audiobook to speed the miles along. 

I'm thinking something epic and inspiring. We all loved Boys in the Boat. Leslie Connor's Crunch was also popular (we may listen to that one again, being bike related!). Seabiscuit was a hit. Can anyone point me to a great listen that would fit the occasion?

[Kareni]

I'm impressed at the idea of six days with forty mile bike rides! I hope you all have a great time.

Regards,

Kareni

[Wilma]

Yes! It will be super fun. But I really do feel like we need books. Preferably long, epic books. 😁

[Spryte]

There’s a dramatized version of Lord of the Rings that is very good, and long.  I think it was BBC.  It’s on audible, maybe check out a sample?

What about a book that references the area where you will be biking?

[Wilma]

Ooh, LOTR would be fun! I like that idea. Thank you, Spryte. I'll look into a geographical fit book -- we one time read a biography of John Colter when we were up at Yellowstone and that was very cool (and nerdy).

[Spryte]

18 minutes ago, Wilma said:

Ooh, LOTR would be fun! I like that idea. Thank you, Spryte. I'll look into a geographical fit book -- we one time read a biography of John Colter when we were up at Yellowstone and that was very cool (and nerdy).

I’m all for nerdy!  🤣

[Rachel]

That sounds like an adventure! How old are your kids?

Given that you have liked similar books to me, you might like “The Autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr.” read by LaVar Burton, with some recordings of speeches by MLK.

If your kids are teens and you are ok with some swearing, this book had me in stitches: Bill Bryson “The Road to Little Dribbling: Adventures of an American in Britain”. I don’t remember how long it is, but probably not long enough for the entire bike ride.

 

 

[Wilma]

Let's see, at the time of adventure they'll be 9, 11, 14 and 16. All daughters. I don't mind a little cussing here and there (we LOVE James Herriot, for example) - I will look into the Bill Bryson! MLK also sounds interesting. Thank you for the ideas!

[Toocrazy!!]

Well it’s about running and not biking, but Born to Run is a great audiobook. We listened to it years ago and I still remember it. 

[ScoutTN]

HP!

[Terabith]

Conn Iggulden's Genghis:  Birth of an Empire?  Whole series is fantastic.  

Oh, wait, just saw a 9 year old girl.  Maybe not.  

Actually, we listened to the whole Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow series when my kids were around 10-11, and they loved them.  

Edited March 30, 2021 by Terabith

[Wilma]

10 hours ago, Toocrazy!! said:

Well it’s about running and not biking, but Born to Run is a great audiobook. We listened to it years ago and I still remember it. 

Great idea! I read Born to Run years ago, before I was into audiobooks, and I bet the kids would really enjoy it.

[Rachel]

14 hours ago, Wilma said:

Let's see, at the time of adventure they'll be 9, 11, 14 and 16. All daughters. I don't mind a little cussing here and there (we LOVE James Herriot, for example) - I will look into the Bill Bryson! MLK also sounds interesting. Thank you for the ideas!

Given the ages of your kids, I would wait on Bill Bryson, it’s been a couple years since  I read it but it’s definitely more swearing that James Herriot. It’s also geared toward adults so the two younger girls may not get it. 
 

James Herriot was another book (really books) I was going to recommend. 

[Wilma]

2 hours ago, Rachel said:

Given the ages of your kids, I would wait on Bill Bryson, it’s been a couple years since  I read it but it’s definitely more swearing that James Herriot. It’s also geared toward adults so the two younger girls may not get it. 
 

James Herriot was another book (really books) I was going to recommend. 

Ah, okay. Thanks for that heads up. I may just recommend Bill Bryson to the older girls.

James Herriot as an audiobook might be really fun - we've loved the print books, but if they are read with a fun accent that would definitely be a boost.