Aberrations

By: Penelope Przekop

Narrated by: Rebecca Roberts

Twenty-one-year-old narcoleptic Angel Duet knows her father harbors secrets. He loves and protects her, but his suspicious refusal to discuss her mother's death drives Angel to worship an image created from the little history she does have: her father's sketchy stories and her mother's treasured photography, studies of clouds that have hung in the their foyer for more than 20 years.

When her father's girlfriend moves in, the photographs come down, and Angel's search for truth becomes an obsession. As she struggles to uncover the past and gain control over the narcolepsy that often fogs her world, Angel descends into a dizzying realm of drugs, adultery, and confused desire that further obscures reality.

As Angel begins to expose a history she could never have imagined, she discovers her entire life has been anchored around lies. Accepting the truth, once found, is the key to understanding herself, her family, and her life. To truly awaken, Angel must realize that sometimes the gifts we receive are not what we want - and only in time do we see their worth.

©2008 Penelope Przekop (P)2013 Penelope Przekop

Don't let reality put you off of this good read

Life is hard when your mother dies when you're a baby. Life is hard when nearly everybody thinks you're weird. life is hard when your dad moves his lady into your house, and she is the hag from hell. But when you have narcolepsy, it's all worse. Nobody wants to believe you. It seems that nobody really loves you, and you go on to make the kinds of mistakes that people without narcolepsy make. Compassionately written, but real, not soupy. Think of this as a wake-up call.
RR shows how good an audio performer can be when fully engaged in the work being interpreted. Congratulations on a good pairing of story and audio performer.
Thanks to AudioBook Blast for this gifting

Beautiful narration

Would you listen to Aberrations again? Why?

No. I was a bit confused by this one. The book is beautifully written and the characters are quirky and well drawn. But somehow the story never quite grabbed me. I did listen to the end, but mostly because the narration was flawless and Rebecca Roberts managed to keep me engaged enough to want to know what happens.

Would you be willing to try another book from Penelope Przekop? Why or why not?

No. For the above reasons

What does Rebecca Roberts bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Without Ms Roberts I would have given up on the story.

If you could take any character from Aberrations out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Carla, the step mother of the main character. She was the only one I actually identified with.

Any additional comments?

This book just misses. It's a shame. However, I suspect this might just be me and I would be interested to know what other people thought.

Well Written and Moving Story!

What made the experience of listening to Aberrations the most enjoyable?

The narration was excellent! The narrator really brought the story to life without sounding corny or rehearsed. It helped me connect with each character as I was listening.

What other book might you compare Aberrations to and why?

Personally, I would not compare this novel to any other books I have read. Aberrations is a very unique novel and I have not read any other like it.

What about Rebecca Roberts’s performance did you like?

I like that she really gave the characters personality. She changed voices and tones depending on which character was speaking. She was dynamic without being too drastic. She spoke steadily, clearly, and at a good pace.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I was not able to listen to it in all one sitting, but I think I could have. It would be wonderful for a long car trip or flight because it is entertaining enough that I could listen to it all in one go. The story kept me wondering what would happen next!

Any additional comments?

On the actual novel itself, I have to say that Penelope did an amazing job. The way she uses words to paint a picture for the audience is incredible. It got me emotionally vested in the story, and I felt I could actually feel what the main character was feeling. The story is unique but easy to relate to all at the same time.

I loved the narration!!!

I normally am into different types of books but it was the narration that really drew me in. Very good story! I will be checking out other books by this narrator
Jsamsjr

A good listen

Any additional comments?

You know that saying what you do know wouldn’t hurt you that apply to this story. I think Angel is better off not knowing the truth. There are many secrets that go deep and back many years. For years it has torn one man and a family apart leaving them broken, filled with sorrow and so much pain. You think you know what is going on but the author throws some major twist on this that will break your heart as you watch Angel go through the steps of finding out what really happened to her mother.

Ms. Roberts’s narration as always is outstanding. She has a way that really pulls the listener in giving you an audio that keeps you hanging on the edge. Her natural voice is just as pleasant as her character voices. Her males are strong, bold and at times broken men that you love as you feel their pain. Her female voices are very natural from her very young to the very old. She puts so much passion and emotion into them you get lost in the story. There are neither background noises nor any volume changes. There is no repeat of words just a clear, clean and crisp audio. Ms. Roberts’s puts so much emotion into her audio’s you never have trouble knowing who is talking or what they are feeling. When their heart breaks yours breaks right along with it. This is a very emotion and powerful story that Ms. Roberts’s has no trouble pulling off. If any breaks were taken I could not tell. This is one of my favorite narrators when I see her name I know I am in for a treat.

I have mixed emotions over this plot it was good, interesting and pulls you in. There is no doubt your heart will break as does Angel’s and her family. I thought the writing style was great, I can’t put my finger on it but something was just a little off for me. I felt so much pain for Angel’s father he gave his all but it just didn’t seem good enough. He was always there her first but when it was time for him to find his own life things didn’t go so well. I have mixed emotions for his girlfriend I just couldn’t get a handle on her. She went from wicked step mother to someone you could relate to but she was just so wishy washy. Angel at times comes off as a spoiled brat. There were characters I really liked and some not so much. I never really understood why her mother’s family felt the way they did. All in all it was a good read I did enjoy it but it just didn’t come together well for me. I think it is well worth a 4 star the author does pull you in giving you many twists and turns you won’t see coming. Give it a try I thought it was worth my time.

pleasant surprise

What did you love best about Aberrations?

I really liked the story but I think that the narrator's performance truly brought it to life.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I think that its a tie between Tim and Mac. Both of them were always there for Angel regardless of the situation. Mac was steadfast and dependable. Tim was the funny, easy going and realistic. They were so different from each other but they each had their own endearing qualities.

What about Rebecca Roberts’s performance did you like?

I loved how Rebecca Roberts brought Angel's character to life. She really captured her essence and southern charm. Every emotion Angel felt was conveyed so precisely through Rebecca's performance. It added a whole new level to the book.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I didn't listen to it in one sitting but I probably could have if I had the time. The pace was good and I kept wanting to know what was going to happen next.

Any additional comments?

I thought this was a really unique premise for a novel and I liked it. Learning about Angel's narcolepsy was fascinating.
This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review. It is unbiased and my own opinion.

I LIKED IT!

I liked it! This book is a real eye opener regarding real life issues. The narration was great and kept me entertained. The author did a great job with the character builds and plot. This was my first book by this author but definitely not my last! I look forward to reading more books from this author! I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.