You Be the Judge

I've been trying to listen to The Witch's Boy, by Michael Gruber in the car, but have almost decided to give up on it. I'll give it to the end of the first disc (of 7) to change my mind, then I'm moving on to something else. It's gotten good reviews, so I can't decide if it's the book itself I don't like or the reader, who is absolutely awful for this material. Either way, I'm not enjoying it.

With that in mind, I requested three possible replacements last night. Which one should be next?

The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier - One of the classics of young adult literature, which I've never read. I figure it's about time.

Eragon, by Christopher Paolini - I thought this was OK when I read it a couple of years ago, but it didn't make much of an impression. I actually don't even remember much of it. But it's wildly popular with the teens, and our fantasy discussion group is going to see the movie in a couple of weeks. I thought maybe I should give it another try.

The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien - It's been many years since I've read this and it's recently been calling me for another visit. Tolkien is marvelous at spinning an engaging, sensory tale, and reading it in middle school was one of my first experiences of being transported to a magical and wondrous realm. I'd like to go there again.

What should it be?