DrayFace 15
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Head On (Narrated by Amber Benson)
- By: John Scalzi
- Narrated by: Amber Benson
- Length: 8 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
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Hilketa is a frenetic and violent pastime where players attack each other with swords and hammers. The main goal of the game: obtain your opponent's head and carry it through the goalposts. With flesh and bone bodies, a sport like this would be impossible. But all the players are "threeps", robot-like bodies controlled by people with Haden's Syndrome, so anything goes. No one gets hurt, but the brutality is real, and the crowds love it. Until a star athlete drops dead on the playing field.
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A fantastic book hampered by a mediocre reader.
- By LooptyLoop on 06-13-18
- Head On (Narrated by Amber Benson)
- By: John Scalzi
- Narrated by: Amber Benson
Wish I had bought version with narration by Wil Wheaton
Reviewed: 05-29-24
The story is great as a follow up of Locked In—same main characters, Agent Van and Agent Shane, picking up presumably several months after the first book left off. This book dives into world of Hilketa, a sport that is reminiscent of gladiators fighting to the death in front of an arena full of fans, but the athletes are navigating threeps, so no one really dies. Scalzi takes on game politics, the finances of the league, and the implications that come with people having computer networks installed in their brains. Very interesting read, but I really wish I would’ve known that audible produced another version that was narrated by Wil Wheaton. I really struggled with the narrator on this one. The story is told from first person point of view for a male, so it was an awkward adjustment to have a female voice narrating. Sometimes her voice really grated on my nerves, but eventually I adjusted and was able to finish the book.
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My Dark Vanessa
- A Novel
- By: Kate Elizabeth Russell
- Narrated by: Grace Gummer
- Length: 16 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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2000. Bright, ambitious, and yearning for adulthood, 15-year-old Vanessa Wye becomes entangled in an affair with Jacob Strane, her magnetic and guileful 42-year-old English teacher. 2017. Amid the rising wave of allegations against powerful men, a reckoning is coming due. Strane has been accused of sexual abuse by a former student, who reaches out to Vanessa, and now Vanessa suddenly finds herself facing an impossible choice: Remain silent, firm in the belief that her teenage self willingly engaged in this relationship, or redefine herself and the events of her past.
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I apologize
- By Judy George on 03-13-20
- My Dark Vanessa
- A Novel
- By: Kate Elizabeth Russell
- Narrated by: Grace Gummer
Not a “Feel Good” story
Reviewed: 02-10-24
And it’s NOT a love story—I’m perplexed by anyone trying to call it that. The author and the narrator do a fantastic job of depicting the seduction through the eyes of a 15-yr-old girl, Vanessa, who believes she is falling in love with her teacher, Jacob Strain. But the author also tells the story in such a way that she makes it clear, an adult with a “consenting” teen is abuse. I’ve never read anything that illustrates so well the process of grooming and the devastating effects of grooming on a person’s psyche. Over and over again, Strain plays the victim while he shares blame and accountability for his actions with his victim. Vanessa wobbles back and forth between understanding this is wrong, even being angry with Strain, and then convinced again it is her own fault, and that he was good and gentle. Whenever she tries to confront Strain, her thoughts (and even the facts) get twisted around and thrown back at her. It’s an emotionally challenging read: there are some sex scenes that are really more like rape scenes, and Vanessa’s isolation and depression weigh heavy as she remains loyal to protecting their secret. Seventeen years later, Vanessa has to wrestle to redefine Strain, but not without first clinging harder to her romanticized version of their past. I’m glad the author touched on capacity for healing. The last scene in Vanessa’s therapist’s office where she tries again to explain “I wasn’t abused, it wasn’t like that for me” was one of the most gut-wrenching scenes. The therapist was so masterful at gently helping her through her grief and her trauma. I definitely recommend, but be prepared to be uncomfortable. When I had to pause the book to do other things, I found myself feeling grumpy and irritable for no other reason then the story was upsetting and it sucked me in that deeply.
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The Round House
- A Novel
- By: Louise Erdrich
- Narrated by: Gary Farmer
- Length: 12 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
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One Sunday in the spring of 1988, a woman living on a reservation in North Dakota is attacked. The details of the crime are slow to surface as Geraldine Coutts is traumatized and reluctant to relive or reveal what happened, either to the police or to her husband, Bazil, and 13-year-old son, Joe. In one day, Joe's life is irrevocably transformed. He tries to heal his mother, but she will not leave her bed and slips into an abyss of solitude. Increasingly alone, Joe finds himself thrust prematurely into an adult world for which he is ill prepared.
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Heavy in My Heart
- By Mel on 01-02-13
- The Round House
- A Novel
- By: Louise Erdrich
- Narrated by: Gary Farmer
Not for me
Reviewed: 06-27-23
I managed to get through it, but thought of quitting several times. I didn’t connect with many of the characters. I don’t particularly like how the adults in the book couldn’t keep their sex lives to themselves, but instead kept awkwardly putting the 13 yr old main character and his friends into cringy situations. There were some good Native American story telling moments, and history lessons on how life on the reservation had diluted their cultural traditions. The mystery around who assaulted the mother (and if/how Justice would be reached) kept me listening, but I can’t recommend this one.
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The Hiding Place
- By: Corrie ten Boom, Elizabeth Sherrill, John Sherrill
- Narrated by: Wanda McCaddon
- Length: 8 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
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At one time, Corrie ten Boom would have laughed at the idea that she had a story to tell. For the first 50 years of her life, nothing out of the ordinary ever happened to her. She was a spinster watchmaker living contentedly with her sister and their elderly father in the tiny house over their shop in Haarlem. Their uneventful days, as regulated as their own watches, revolved around their abiding love for one another. But with the Nazi invasion and occupation of Holland, everything changed....
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Inspiring
- By Sara on 03-03-14
- The Hiding Place
- By: Corrie ten Boom, Elizabeth Sherrill, John Sherrill
- Narrated by: Wanda McCaddon
If you have wrestled with faith while suffering
Reviewed: 06-22-23
I’ve asked myself from time to time, perhaps when I witnessed someone experiencing hardship but still praising God, or when I was going thru difficult events in my own life, “How? How do people who are deeply suffering hang on to their faith?” I know many hold onto their faith in spite of enduring extreme atrocities, persecution, torture, and injustice. The Jews who lived through and found themselves inside a death camp in WW2 often came to my mind when I asked myself this question. It’s a faith I hope I have but wonder about. Could I still cling to Him in the face of suffering? If I lost everything?
It’s not lost on me that this book shows up in my list of suggestions from Audible now, because yes, this season of my life has been a “dark valley.” While I have leaned into my faith, I have also shed tears, fretted, and questioned God. “Why is this happening? What is your plan anyway? When, God, when will you step in? What am I supposed to do?”
I don’t think I can adequately explain how Corrie Ten Boom’s story helped me to hold on tighter and see God more. This book was such an encouragement to me. The faith of Corrie and her family is truly inspiring. I feel like God sent it to me now because I needed it. Listening I often felt Good saying to me, “I see you. I’m here. I always have been.” Strongly recommend. For me, it was a beacon of light when I needed it.
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Black Cake
- A Novel
- By: Charmaine Wilkerson
- Narrated by: Lynnette R. Freeman, Simone Mcintyre
- Length: 12 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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In present-day California, Eleanor Bennett’s death leaves behind a puzzling inheritance for her two children, Byron and Benny: a black cake, made from a family recipe with a long history, and a voice recording. In her message, Eleanor shares a tumultuous story about a headstrong young swimmer who escapes her island home under suspicion of murder. The heartbreaking tale Eleanor unfolds, the secrets she still holds back, and the mystery of a long-lost child challenge everything the siblings thought they knew about their lineage and themselves.
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Wonderful Listen
- By Regina on 02-04-22
- Black Cake
- A Novel
- By: Charmaine Wilkerson
- Narrated by: Lynnette R. Freeman, Simone Mcintyre
Memorable, well written
Reviewed: 05-25-23
This book has a lot to say and the stories are wonderfully told. I loved all the characters, the island, and the mystery. I loved the role that the black cake played in bringing women together, bridging generations, traumas, and continents. One of the reoccurring themes is about being an “ in betweener”, or being a blend of two groups and therefore not being enough to be really part of either groups. Another recurring theme is the cost of silence, both for yourself and the people around you, but also the reasons we chose to stay silent.
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The Silent Ones
- By: K. L. Slater
- Narrated by: Lucy Price-Lewis
- Length: 7 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
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When 10-year-old cousins Maddy and Brianna are arrested for a terrible crime, Maddy’s mother, Juliet, cannot believe it. How could her bright, joyful daughter be capable of such a thing? As the small village community recoils in horror, the pressure of the tragedy blows Juliet and her sister’s lives apart. And things get even worse when their daughters retreat into a self-imposed silence. Can anyone reach Maddy and discover the truth before her fate is sealed? Juliet is crushed. Nothing will ever be the same for her darling girl.
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Duh I need Cpt Obvious to be my bestie
- By Shots RN on 10-04-19
- The Silent Ones
- By: K. L. Slater
- Narrated by: Lucy Price-Lewis
Couple good twists
Reviewed: 03-03-23
The story is mostly a dramatic build up where you know things cannot be as they appear, followed by a couple surprising twists. Unfortunately, the ending feels rushed. After the twists are played out, the ending is just not well developed. Still, I enjoyed this story better than I liked “Blink”.
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The Midnight Library
- A GMA Book Club Pick (A Novel)
- By: Matt Haig
- Narrated by: Carey Mulligan
- Length: 8 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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Somewhere out beyond the edge of the universe there is a library that contains an infinite number of books, each one the story of another reality. One tells the story of your life as it is, along with another book for the other life you could have lived if you had made a different choice at any point in your life. While we all wonder how our lives might have been, what if you had the chance to go to the library and see for yourself? Would any of these other lives truly be better? In The Midnight Library, Nora Seed finds herself faced with this decision.
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Exceptional.
- By Richard B. on 10-05-20
- The Midnight Library
- A GMA Book Club Pick (A Novel)
- By: Matt Haig
- Narrated by: Carey Mulligan
Thought provoking
Reviewed: 02-28-23
Journeying with Nora through an infinite supply of possible lives, I really contemplated the power of my choices made, and the limitless paths that could stretch before me. Also, what is happiness? How do I define success? Why do I hold onto regrets anyway? In the end, this “feel good”book ends the exact way you hope that it will. The first half is possibly triggery to those with a background of suicidal ideation or those who have experienced loss of a loved one through self harm.
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Apples Never Fall
- By: Liane Moriarty
- Narrated by: Caroline Lee
- Length: 18 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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The Delaneys are fixtures in their community. The parents, Stan and Joy, are the envy of all of their friends. They’re killers on the tennis court, and off it their chemistry is palpable. But after 50 years of marriage, they’ve finally sold their famed tennis academy and are ready to start what should be the golden years of their lives. So why are Stan and Joy so miserable?
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I wanted to love this BUT.....
- By Mary on 09-27-21
- Apples Never Fall
- By: Liane Moriarty
- Narrated by: Caroline Lee
Good but not great
Reviewed: 02-16-23
The story unfolds a bit slowly andI thought I was going to give up on it for awhile there’s. Eventually I got used to the Australian accents and enjoyed the narrator’s portrayal of the characters and I did like how we get to delve into each of the characters psyche. The story dues finally start to pick up and it will catch you by surprise.
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Where the Crawdads Sing
- By: Delia Owens
- Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell
- Length: 12 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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For years, rumors of the "Marsh Girl" have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the so-called Marsh Girl. But Kya is not what they say. Sensitive and intelligent, she has survived for years alone in the marsh that she calls home, finding friends in the gulls and lessons in the sand.
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Don't listen to the negative reviews.
- By Kyle on 12-03-19
- Where the Crawdads Sing
- By: Delia Owens
- Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell
Feels like one of the classics
Reviewed: 12-14-22
This is historical fiction and as such, there is a lot of descriptive writing that portrays what life was like in a small town in the American South in the 1950’s and 60’s. It delves into the specific geography of the Carolina shoreline, bringing the marsh to life thru the eyes of Kya, a young girl who was left to fend for herself. She learns about relationships, loss, love, and many other things by observing the behaviors of the marsh creatures. She demonstrates incredible resilience, intelligence, and imagination while simultaneously being crippled by her fear of abandonment and her hurt over repeat rejections and prejudice from the townsfolk. In the end, this is a story about survival, self love, and forgiveness. Although slow paced, the poetic descriptions and introspective reflections made for a beautiful unique story.
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Lady Jayne Disappears
- By: Joanna Davidson Politano
- Narrated by: Justine Eyre
- Length: 10 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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When Aurelie Harcourt's father dies in debtor's prison, he leaves her just two things: his wealthy family, whom she has never met, and his famous pen name, Nathaniel Droll. Her new family greets her with apathy and even resentment. Only the quiet houseguest, Silas Rotherham, welcomes her company. When Aurelie decides to complete her father's unfinished serial novel, she must keep her identity as Nathaniel Droll hidden while searching for the truth about her mother's disappearance - and perhaps even her father's death.
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One of the best books I have heard lately
- By Ponderbunny on 03-09-20
- Lady Jayne Disappears
- By: Joanna Davidson Politano
- Narrated by: Justine Eyre
Mystery, intrigue, and romance
Reviewed: 11-23-22
A glimpse into gothic Victorian era with a likable main character. Lots of great themes: choosing to see the good in others, generosity, forgiveness, compassion, being true to yourself in spite of other people’s expectations for you, trusting in God to get through the hard times, and acknowledging/accepting the faults in those we look up to, The plot does a great job of revealing surprises, and introducing new twists, keeping the reader guessing. There’s a good deal more going on in this story besides the romance!
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