New (To You) Narrator Reading Challenge 2021

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During my first book blogging stint, I hosted a few reading challenges, as much for my own benefit as for anyone else’s. One of the challenges I’ve decided to resurrect is the 2021 New (To You) Narrator Reading Challenge. This wasn’t a terribly popular challenge but I also introduced it in 2016, the year my blog died a slow death. I’m giving it another try this year because I still see value in the idea.

I enjoy listening to audiobooks as I drive around or clean the house. I do find that I seek out the same narrators over and over again. Katherine Kellgren? She could read the phone book and I’d listen. Neil Gaiman? Jayne Entwistle? Check and check. I need a little push to get out of my comfortable listening zone so that’s what this challenge is about.

Table of Contents

Rules

• Listen to audiobooks read by narrators who are new to you. They do not have to be narrators who are new to the industry, they just have to be readers you personally haven’t checked out before.
• You can listen to any genre
• You can listen to books meant for any age group
• Crossovers with other challenges are fine
• The challenge will run from January 1 through December 31, 2021
• A blog is not required for participation; you can also link to reviews on other sites such as GoodReads or LibraryThing
• Sign up anytime throughout the year
• I’ve tried to keep this simple but if you have any questions, reach out in the comments, via social media (links in my sidebar), or my contact form.
• Most importantly, have fun!

Reading Suggestions

Check out links from the 2016 version of this challenge. AudioFile has some great resources, such as their Golden Voices and Narrators pages. I have a “Narrators I Like” shelf on GoodReads. There’s also a Best Audio Narration list on GoodReads that should give you some good ideas. Caffeinated Book Reviewer hosted an Audiobook Challenge in 2020 that should also have some great recommendations.

Levels

Eavesdropper–Listen to 1-5 books read by narrators who are new to you

Listener–Listen to 6-10 new narrators

Sounding Board– Listen to 11-15 new narrators

Audiophile–Listen to 16 or more new narrators

Spread the Word

If you like the idea of this challenge, please help me spread the word via social media using #2021newnarrator. Please also add a link to this post and/or the challenge image to your sign-up and review posts (You can copy the image code at the top of this post). You can also tag me @IntrovertReader on Twitter, @Introverted.Reader on Instagram, or @IntrovertedReader on Facebook if you’d like and I’ll try to share your posts. Thank you!

Sign Up Posts

I’m signing up at the Listener level myself.

Please link directly to the post announcing your intention to participate (Not your home page), or your social media profile (Please keep in mind these links are publicly viewable).

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Review Links

Please link directly to your review and not your blog home page. My suggested format is your name and/or the title of your blog and then the title of the book in parentheses.

Example: Jen @ Introverted Reader (Bloody Jack)

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Wrap-Up Posts

If you’ve completed the challenge, congratulations! If you choose to write a wrap-up post, you may link it here.

I have an affiliate relationship with Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe in beautiful Asheville, NC. I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you if you purchase merchandise through links on my site.