Rebekah Carolla

Love Morbid Podcast.. and, more Jon Allen, please.

Reviewed: 03-14-23

My niece turned me on to the Morbid podcast on Christmas Day.

As I searched Audible promptly after leaving my family's home, devouring Episode 1 and Episode 2 during the train ride home (and having since binged the subsequent 190+ episodes in the subsequent 78 days), I believe it's most apropos that Jon Allen’ "Meaning of Christmas" was the episode that finally drew my first Audible.com comment regarding the podcast.

The hilarious narration had gleefully ended by Ash and Alaina, but the reminder to "follow them on Instagram at..." hadn't started before I began typing the following:

Jon Allen's typical wit and beautifully descriptive prose is the stuff of geniuses. Indeed, had Allen been writing for a public audience a hundred years ago, the format of creative writing as an elementary tool would have shaped the youth of our Nation in an entirely different manner.

While the depraved protagonist Lester might have been any typical Morbid suspect, and while "The Meaning of Christmas" led us down the typical aberrant path, the conclusion to the parable had the *atypical* characteristic of a satisfying ending *without* new bills signed into law. (Sigh. The beauty of fiction.) This fable was most perfectly narrated, doing justice to Allen's tale (which in turn did justice to Lester!). "The Meaning of Christmas” may even inspire my return to my long-dry fountain pen.

I love the Morbid podcast, in general. I love following the women's growth as researchers and as narrators.

And, specific to this episode...

I would love to see Jon Allen merch available with the Morbid merch. Have you considered an ugly sweater shirt with "The Meaning of Christmas"? I'd wear one. I'm sure it would be a big hit with my niece in the next holiday season.

Yes. I loved it that much.

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Fiction from a past era, not "historical fiction"

Reviewed: 12-24-21

Set 350-sh years before the Tutor era and a mere five years before the rise and fall (?) of the most notorious murderer of Whitechapel - the London periods of which I've read the most - this is not a peep at British history. It's a visit, rather, with the "Watchmaker of Filigree Street." Mori, the watchmaker, is a lovable character once you get to know him, The book takes place on the fictional Filigree Street, and it's more of a trip to the town and a meeting of its citizens than submersion into the culture of nineteenth century London. I love speculative historical fiction and ordinary historical fiction, so "Watchmaker..." isn't a book for which I'd normally reach. (It may have been part of an Audible sale?)

No spoilers: just know that I rooted for Grace, whose brilliance I covet and for whose laboratory's existence I'd hoped. I rooted for Thaniel and his piano to meet once again. I rooted for Mori on general principles: he's a truly nice guy and I didn't want anything bad to happen to him.

Should the author, Natasha Pulley, read her reviews: I bought the sequel immediately after finishing this book - within minutes. Because I'm not Mori and don't have his abilities, I waited until I was done on the off chance that I hated the ending and didn't want to see where the characters would go next.

I didn't; and I do. Now, I can't wait to get back to my car and begin listening to "The Lost Future of Pepperharrow," already downloaded and queued

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I'm ready to level up -- where's the sequel?

Reviewed: 11-16-21

I wanted to jump through my speakers and hug Wheaton. But let me back up a bit.

While I'd pre-ordered "Ready Player Two," I have a bunch of other books queued before it. After talking about this title with my brother (who'd initially recommended "Ready Player One") I jumped the line and downloaded Book Two. SO glad I did.

It's been a long time since I enjoyed a book this much. In a near-dystopian world set not too far into the future, people can escape into the Oasis, an immersive virtual world filled with quests and adventure and places to learn and play, to congregate or to be alone. Wade - Parsival - and his friends spend a lot of time in the Oasis, even more so now that Parsival found Halliday's Easter Egg in Book One. No spoilers - but I disagree with the negative reviews. The quest, mostly taking place over the course of twelve hours (listening time isn't much longer), had me on the edge of my seat, or annoyed, or crying, or looking for (and finding) the set list and listening to Prince.

After several unrelated audiobooks, the last of which took place in a 1800s asylum and whose narrator nearly drove me over the edge with her monotones (but by gum I finished it), Wil Wheaton was a breath of fresh air. Actually, his narration is a whirlwind. He sounded as excited to read as I was to listen, and he really made the book come TRULY alive for me - which is especially interesting given its end.

But I digress.

Mr. Cline, I just finished listening and ran to the computer to write my review. I'd like another book, please.

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Drew me in completely

Reviewed: 03-26-21

Now, I cannot speak as to authenticity of the author's voice. I'm not a mother. I'm not a teenager anymore. I'm not Black. I've never had the cops out to get me.

But I can speak as to authenticity of being the child of loving parents. I can speak as to the authenticity of being a woman who loves and who is loved. For that, dear Reader, "If Beale Street Could Talk" is as real as they come.

(I'm trying to avoid spoilers here, and apologize in advance for my stilted tone:)

Even though Tish and Fonny got royally $!&^%ed over, they cling to love. They have shining examples from Tish's parents. Fonny is a gentleman and Tish is learning to be a lady. Not in fine clothes, mind you, but in manner. They are intelligent and will change the world whether or not they are able to overcome that which this book addresses. Even though the reader's left to hes imagination, s/he can get a good idea of what's to come (depending of course on the system) because of the strength and insight and communication of the characters.

What Tish sees in people's eyes may or may not be the romanticism of a teenager, but it's what she sees and it's how that makes her feel, at each of those moments, that shape her into the woman she will become.

(Aside: I noted a few reviews addressing the narrator's use of expletives, by the way. The characters sound like I sounded when I was their ages; and I thought it was scripted as appropriately as the language was inappropriate. Shrug.)

It's been a long time since a book hit me this hard.

I bought "If Beale Street Could Talk" because I'm utterly in love with Bahni Turpin's voice. It's like when you mix butter and cinnamon together to spread on the toast that goes with your first cup of coffee of the day. This came up when I searched for her narration, and the customer ratings got my interest. I can't think of anyone better to tell Tish and Fonny's story to me.

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3 people found this helpful

Fast-moving, easy to follow.. and Spider Robinson

Reviewed: 10-20-20

Having read the first three of the Callahan Chronicles many years ago, I recently looked for more from Spider Robinson. I was delighted to see some of the later Chronicles, and some other Robinson books, available with the new Audible.com Plus Catalog. What the heck, I thought, and I decided to try something new.

Dreamworld is Disney to the nth. Mike is a 12-year-old who wants to permanently hide from his past within Dreamworld. Annie is a midget who's already doing just that. The unlikely duo - there simply isn't another description - having met for the first time, immediately connect and then get into a death-defying adventure as they try to figure out what the [insert expletive] is trying to infiltrate their paradise of fantasy and instruction manuals.

"The Free Lunch" was narrated by Spider Robinson himself. The man, the myth, the legend. His tone and enunciation tell the listener what had been in his head as he'd written his book. This intimately shares the author's intentions with the listener. As for the listener hemself, s/he can easily follow Spider Robinson's cadence. I had the book running in the background as I focused on a document layout; and I don't think I missed a thing.

The story is light yet solid, like the pastry my mom used to make. It's just as delightful. It's been a while since I listened to something that was so much fun I dropped what I was doing to share my opinion. Spider Robinson is as funny and as robust as I remembered. I hope that the reader of this review enjoys "The Free Lunch" just as much as I did.

I recommend that Audible members check out the Plus catalog if you haven't already. There are full versions of wonderful books, many of which you may find familiar. Since August I've listened to over a dozen of its features, many of which had actually been on my Wish List for purchase. To many readers it will be, well, a Dreamworld.

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11 people found this helpful

Thank you for the title, Mr. Maupin

Reviewed: 05-16-20

"Tales of the City" was the first series my now-husband and I watched together. Andee brought out the first few seasons, knowing that I'd love it. We bought the videos he didn't have, and watched them all. I started reading the books. Eleven years later, I've gotten the first two on audio CD to begin enjoying all over again.
I named my car Maddy after Mrs. Madrigal. I think I fell in love with Anna when she talked about logical families. Her edit of the word "biological" succinctly sums up the reality that DNA in and of itself doesn't necessarily make a family.
When I crossed paths with Armistead Maupin's autobiography, I pounced upon it.
Getting to know young Armistead, wishing I was his intimate and could call him Teddy, and travelling through his life with him, I wanted to be his friend, even finding myself jealous of his friends.
His narration and narrative bring the listener into his world. Often funny, sometimes sad, and always real, "Logical Family" shares many of the comings of age that Armistead Maupin has reached, passed, and surpassed. I didn't want the book to end for any reason other than wanting to share a review.
(And how cool is it that Neil Gaiman interviewed him at the end?)
His imagination, ways with words, winsome personality, and solid upbringing have made Armistead Maupin the man, and the writer, that he is. I enjoyed his own story as much as I do the stories he's told. I'm sorry that he didn't have the older mentor he wished he'd had, but am glad that men like him have mentored other men because that, my fellow readers, helps to make our world a more loving place.

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2 people found this helpful

Renewed an interest I never actually lost

Reviewed: 03-04-20

While I'm not sure when I began reading true crime documentaries, I'm sure that the genre left me spellbound for a good decade. Perhaps that's what led me to study the second World War and the books of survivors along with the clinical biographies and historians.
I'm not sure why I added "Murder, We Spoke" to my audible library. As I listened to different people joining Kat Jackson's narration, I found myself adding Michelle McNamara's "I'll Be Gone in the Dark" to my library, as well.

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1 person found this helpful