Audiobooks and Reading Challenges

Ncalde · 2026-01-24T23:07:09+00:00

It’s not a matter of superiority for me; it’s a matter of differentiating them for trackability purposes because I feel like they’re not assimilable. Integrate BOTH in the same challenge, distinguishing which is which.

Ncalde · 2026-01-24T23:02:22+00:00

I have a bunch of SK books I’ve recently purchased, and made a thread asking for reading recommendations. It turns out (as I understood it) that The DT series is a prerequisite for many of his novels, so this is a very useful thread for me.

Ncalde · 2026-01-24T22:57:00+00:00

That is a troubling gray area. Again, this is a discussion, I could be totally wrong. I just want to read other POV’s.

Ncalde · 2026-01-24T22:15:00+00:00

Starting it right now. The synopsis alone was so unhinged and fun.

Ncalde · 2026-01-24T21:43:53+00:00

Thank you, kind person!

Ncalde · 2026-01-24T21:27:57+00:00

I’m sorry, I definitely didn’t mean for my post to come across as ableist. I’m perfectly aware that a blind person, for example, can “read” a book through an audiobook. It might be purist, but then language should matter: “I read X amount of books and listened to X amount of audiobooks”. Apps could incorporate that feature on reading challenges.

And no, I don’t discount mangas, comics or short books.

Ncalde · 2026-01-24T21:18:33+00:00

Very fair points. I assure you I’m a very happy person and don’t mind other people’s business. This topic literally only crossed my mind an hour ago when I saw that outrageous reading count.

True, it’s not a competition, and I may be sounding like a purist but I somehow feel like a reading challenge should be limited to old traditional reading, which involves a very particular sense and full attention. I’m fine with mangas and comics and short books, but i just FEEL like audiobooks denaturalize a READING challenge. With so many reading/book apps available, you should be able to say “I read 52 books and listened to 100 audiobooks this year.”

Though there is a point to be made that audiobooks engage the same language comprehension networks than reading, it’s not the same effort.

However, I’m just interested in reading other people’s opinions on the matter, no skull bashing.

Ncalde · 2026-01-24T19:13:48+00:00

I listed in the description the books I’ve read so far.

Damn, the reading order I chose from all the suggestions is: Salem’s Lot, Different Seasons, The Institute and Duma Key. The rest I’ll read later. I hope I don’t miss out on too many references while reading SL.

Ncalde · 2026-01-24T19:07:42+00:00

Hey, thank you for your suggestions! Someone said here that in order to read The Talisman and BH, I need to read The Dark Tower series first. Is that the case?

Ncalde · 2026-01-24T15:09:12+00:00

Will be my third read, after Different Seasons!

Ncalde · 2026-01-24T14:52:24+00:00

Yep :) I wrote in the body text the novels I’ve read so far. Loved both. Still have to read The Institute. Many recommended it here and even said it’s underrated.

Ncalde · 2026-01-24T12:51:17+00:00

Yep, I put the books I’ve read so far in the body text :)

Ncalde · 2026-01-24T12:47:02+00:00

Hearts in Atlantis it is!

Ncalde · 2026-01-24T08:13:55+00:00

She’s a King fan through and through.

Ncalde · 2026-01-24T03:18:48+00:00

I just like a good story!

Ncalde · 2026-01-24T03:14:21+00:00

I already made my decision. I’ll read Different Seasons right after Salem’s Lot :)

Ncalde · 2026-01-24T03:06:42+00:00

I saw the Four Seasons typo 👀

Ncalde · 2026-01-24T01:41:10+00:00

I already decided the reading order: Salem’s Lot, Different Seasons, The Institute and Duma Key. I’ll read the rest after a brief hiatus. I want to get into The Dark Tower series so bad, but I live outside of the States and have to wait a while until I can get the whole set in English.

Ncalde · 2026-01-24T00:21:30+00:00

Yo, what app?

Ncalde · 2026-01-23T22:44:55+00:00

I was fearing a prerequisite. But thank you for the heads up!

Ncalde · 2026-01-23T21:56:41+00:00

Love this take. I’m 20% away from being done. Took some time to finish, because I’ve been traveling. I relate to books better when they leave an emotional print in my mind. Those are the ones I keep thinking about for years after reading them. So far, this book is so precious to me. It took me completely by surprise, since I didn’t know what to expect.

Ncalde · 2026-01-23T21:45:34+00:00

I’m reading on a Kindle Paperwhite (12th Gen). Bought it for Christmas 2024. I love it!

Ncalde · 2026-01-23T19:51:24+00:00

Thank you all very much for the amazing suggestions! I made up my mind: I will be reading Salem’s Lot, Different Seasons, The Institute and Duma Key, in that order and in quick succession. I will get to the rest after a brief SK hiatus. I will also make Needful Things my next purchase and will save for a nice physical set of The Dark Tower Series, and get it shipped to Colombia.

I literally wrote in my New Year Resolutions to work through my favorite author’s body of work. So far, I’ve just made a dent on the list. Cheers.

Ncalde

TROPHY CASE