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

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

Great listen. Ari Sucks

Great insight into the struggles and reality of a stand up comic. Heartfelt and true descriptions of settings were great listens. Funny jokes. Ari Sucks. Worst read of all the individuals chosen. Dan Soder and the rest, just excellent. Ari Sucks. He could have taken his time. Just seemed a bit rushed. Love all the comedians and Ari. But it just had to be said. Great book! Can’t wait for another read by the author.

Phenomenal

It really is as good as Kyle Kinane describes in the forward. Having a bunch of different people read it was an interesting choice but I feel like it changed the tone at time but over all for real this is a great listen.

Running The Light is heartbreaking and hilarious

Sam Tallent captures the dark and obsessive side of being comedian perpetually on the road while describing a landscape of ugliness with beautiful prose

That Sam can write

The Bachman-esc ending is abrupt and semi unsatisfying but hopefully it allows for Mr tallent to replumb the depths at a later time?! I love Sam’s work his comedy is amazing his writing is fucking phenomenal kudos my brother!

A great listen!

I loved the story- it was engaging and well-written. I enjoyed the fact that well-known comics read different chapters. I do wish the audio was more consistent but understand it was recorded during *troubling times

Morose, Graphic and Comforting

I loved the strong use of imagery and brutal honesty. It's a raw tale and truly very gripping - like Tuesdays with Morrie, only there's no one there with the exception of addiction.

Inconsistent performances

Extremely fascinating character study offers a glimpse into the lonely word of Stand Up Comedy. Why would anyone submit themselves to such a grueling lifestyle? Why would anyone give up almost everything to be a comic? Because they have no choice. They are driven by an overpowering passion that demands everything else in life must be secondary to comedy. Tallent has captured this obsession beautifully - although the story is sabotaged by the inconsistent, unprofessional, and frequently amateurish readers. Maybe a better read than listen.

Incredible story

An incredible story that just happens to be about a comedian. I enjoyed the story to the point that I was disappointed it was over.

Great story, some readers quality was off

Should have had better quality control on the readers’ entries. I’m assuming they recorded their parts themselves because some sounded like they were recorded professionally and others sounded like they were recorded on an old Nokia phone. Some of them take you out of the story by how bad the quality of the recordings are. But overall it didn’t bring the story down and that part was great.

Great story

All of it, more relatable to some than others, all around incredible story and storytelling