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Running the Light

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Running the Light

By: Sam Tallent, Kyle Kinane - foreword
Narrated by: Greg Chaille, Tracy Chaille, Trae Crowder, Tim Dillon, David Gborie, Chris Gethard, Adam Cayton Holland, Jackie Kashian, Rick Kerns, Kyle Kinane, Bert Kreischer, Kristine Levine, Nathan Lund, Nora Lynch, full cast
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About this listen

Debauched, divorced, and courting death, Billy Ray Schafer is a comedian who has forgotten how to laugh. Over the course of seven spun-out days across the American Southwest, he travels from from hell gig to hell gig in search of a reason to keep living in this bleak and violent glimpse into the psyche of a thoroughly ruined man. Ex-inmate, ex-husband, ex-father - comedian is the only title Schafer has left. Trapped in the wreckage of his wasted career, Billy Ray knows the answer to the question: What happens when the opportunity doesn't come - or worse - it comes and goes?

©2018, 2019, 2020 Sam Tallent (P)2021 Tantor Crime Fiction Crime Fiction Funny
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incredible book from an amazing comedian and now writer. Having comics read the book is a cool idea but some readers didn't seem suited to the task. Sam should have just read it himself.

A Hunter S. Thompson style slice of Americana

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interesting insight into the life of a touring comedian, well written. good work by the voice actors, even if they are amateurs lol

really enjoyed it

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An absolute pleasure to listen to, Sam Tallent isn’t just an amazing comedian for spoken performances but an absolute word smith when it comes to written material too highly recommended

More than one Tallent

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Well written, the comics didn’t do the words justice. It was like the main character Billy Ray, he was a mess. Sam should either narrate himself or get Soder to do it. Some of the narrators were dreadful to listen to.

Great book

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This is a good book but spoiled by some terrible narrators. Some of the people sound like they are reading a book for the first time in their lives. A couple of women may have been forced to read at gunpoint by the sound of it. He should get Doug Stanhope to read the whole thing.

Great book

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A vivid and ruthless account of the composition of a comedian, his life and the pursuit of comedy.

A comedians modern greek tragedy.

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A strong compelling story that moves elegantly and quick!
Reminds me of a Bukowski character but the writing has its own unique voice, stopping from time to time with a profound statement to make sense of the immense complications the protagonist faces, loved it and do recommend!

A Incredible fast paced gripping novel!

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Gripping and eloquently written. I loved everything, the characters, the plot, and especially the imagery. I was Billy Ray. The narrators were also brilliant, despite the shitty audio at times. Thank you all for creating such a masterpiece. Sam, you are a genius!

Fucking unreal

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Sam wields gripping imagery and detailed observations into this tragic story of Billy Ray. As addictive to listen to as Billy’s personality, Sam has created a story that gives a glimpse into the potential life cycle of a touring comedian.

While a treat to have many beloved comedians reading chapters, with the looseness of the takes inviting closeness, there are a handful of excellently crafted words entertainingly mispronounced. I enjoyed seeing Sam and Tim on tour in Perth, Australia and was surprised by Tim’s rampaging pace in reading.

Thank you Sam for taking the time to hone your diverse skill set and sharing this with the world!

Gritty insight into the potential pitfalls of success

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A few hours in and I’ve already met maybe my 4th narrator. The narrators appear to be functionally illiterate and the guy I’m up to at the moment sounds like Dr Steve Brule from Tim and Eric. Really hard slog for what appears to be an ok-ish narrative so far. This book won’t be on any curriculums any time soon, but it could actually be enjoyable if it had only one narrator, preferably one who can pronounce the word “narrator”

This might be OK if you can deal with the performance

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