Raw

By: Mark Haskell Smith

Narrated by: Peter Berkrot

Sepp Gregory, a reality-TV hunk and one of People magazine's "sexiest men alive", is on tour to promote his debut novel. Not that Sepp's actually read the book - he doesn't have to. He lived it! And everyone just wants him to take his shirt off. The book has hit the best-seller list and is even getting rave reviews from serious critics. Aside from Harriet Post, that is.

One of the blogosphere's most respected literary minds, Harriet fears that the novel's reception means the end of civilization is upon us. Determined to pen an expose on the publishing industry, Harriet hijacks the book tour and uncovers the ghostwriter. Reality and "reality" collide, and a tragic accident sends Sepp and Harriet off on a sex-fueled roadtrip through the Southwest.

Raw: A Love Story is Mark Haskell Smith at his raucous best, dangerously sexy and wickedly funny.

©2013 Mark Haskell Smith (P)2015 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

"By turns racy and profound, Haskell Smith writes at Mach speed about what passes for culture in today's often unreal world." ( Booklist)

"Gleefully absurd..... [Smith] turns what could have been just an amusing book into an incisive, caustic and hilarious one.... He's able to pull it off because his prose is so hard-boiled and self-assured - he comes across as the slightly more well-adjusted offspring of Hunter S. Thompson and James Ellroy.... A hilarious and - occasionally - an unexpectedly sweet illustration of why we write and read in the first place." ( Los Angeles Times)

"Audacious satire." ( Vanity Fair)

HILARIOUS! ORIGINAL! HUGELY ENTERTAINING!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

There is nothing more healing than laughter. The world is a dark place and the more we laugh the more light we share. Some books are deep, some are poetic, some are dark and fascinating. But a book that can take your breath away with laughter is a great gift and this writer has that gift in spades.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Raw?

When poor Sepp Gregory, the book's protagonist, accidentally takes a viagra instead of something for his anxiety in the middle of a book signing. I can see it and hear it so vividly. I actually feel like I saw it.The results are heartbreaking and hysterical and the same time.

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

Pretty much everything!! He is simply fantastic. It's almost as if he and the author share the same mind, the same humor. His delivery is flawless. His characters are very lovingly expressed and very clearly delineated. And his comic timing is impeccable. I'm sure it would be fun to read. But it would seem like a black and white photograph instead of a movie. That's what this felt like.

Who was the most memorable character of Raw and why?

Definitely Sepp Gregory. I never imagined that I would fall in love with a brainless reality show celebrity. But the heart and the soul of the man is almost pure and childlike. In his shallowness he has more depth than many of the novel's more well grounded and intelligent characters. And the rest of the characters are great too.

Any additional comments?

I can't wait to hear more of this author's work. The humor is so contagious that I listened to this one with the same breathlessness as a suspense novel or a Stephen King book. And Mr. Berkrot was just wonderful!