
Barefoot in the City of Broken Dreams
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Narrated by:
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Josh Hurley
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By:
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Brent Hartinger
About this listen
"There was no way moving to Los Angeles was going to make me give up my soul. After all, I'd already seen all the movies about Hollywood. I knew how things worked."
Twenty-four-year-old Russel Middebrook and his boyfriend have moved to Los Angeles so Russel can try to make it as a screenwriter.
Almost right away, in a forgotten old house off of Sunset Boulevard, Russel meets Isaac Brander - a once-famous film producer who is convinced he can turn Russel's screenplay into a movie.
Russel knows that success can't possibly come this easy. After all, most of Russel's Los Angeles friends are so desperate to make it that it's downright scary. His ex-boyfriend, Otto, is trying everything to become an actor, and Daniel, the sexy neighbor, doesn't even need a casting couch to get naked.
So what's the catch with Mr. Brander? Could it be that movies about Hollywood don't tell the whole truth? But what does that mean for Russel's soul?
Barefoot in the City of Broken Dreams, a companion book to Brent Hartinger's The Thing I Didn't Know I Didn't Know, is a fast-paced, funny story about the price of fame in Hollywood: the hilarious lengths people will go to achieve it, and the touching secret to survival when things don't work out exactly as planned.
©2015 Brent Hartinger (P)2015 Audible, Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...
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Critic reviews
Interesting continuation
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Great series
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The relationship between Russel and Kevin is far more front and center in this sequel, but then that would make complete sense now that they are back together and having relocated to Hollywood, putting the focus on them primarily, as opposed to the will they, won’t they of the first 📕.
As an aside (which is going to make me sound lecherous), the character of Zoe’s brother, Daniel, was really, really hot, ripe with sexual tension, even more so because Russel and Kevin didn’t fall prey to it, even as titillating as they found him. A wonderfully unexpected addition to the 📕…
Two for two…
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The story is an amusing look at Russel's quest for success in Hollywood. The sections of the story describing the inner workings of Hollywood are perhaps a little longer than necessary, but overall I liked it.
Once again, Josh Hurley does a fantastic job narrating Russel's journey. I can't think of a better voice for Hartinger's characters.
Recommended.
Russel Moves to Hollywood
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LA is where everyone is taking advantage of everyone else and they all get screwed in the end, usually without closing credits. The sun may shine and the beaches may be beautiful, but the whole area is a dump surrounded by mountain top experiences before washing away in the sewers into the ocean.
Those trying to live there lie to themselves and everyone else about how great it is life in the perfect weather and scenery, but deny the reality that their dream will not happen and they will struggle until they die.
Anywhere else is a place to live, but does not have the dream. To live in the "virtual reality" of a bad computer game with worthless rewards are better than enjoying the real reality of life for most of the rest of the world.
Hollywood has created a dream to entertain others, but cannot hang on to the broken dreams of those living and dying there in the sun and sans. Wearing shoes anywhere else is better than bare feet without dreams filled with love and emotions.
What if you dream you know what you don't know?
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Excellent
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Other than that it is s great story. The narrator was excellent.
Good listen....
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A great ending to a fun coming of age series
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Awesome
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A good follow up
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