The Muse

By: Suzie Carr

Narrated by: Suzie Carr

Jane Knoll doesn't realize it yet, but life is about to take a daring turn. For the past decade, Jane's been able to recapture her sense of peace after years of being bullied. By day she edits marketing jargon, and by night she watches television reruns with her gay neighbor, Larry. She's comfortable. Then, after she meets her new coworker, Eva, television reruns are no longer an option. Too shy to get to know Eva in real life, Jane creates an online alter ego and starts to follow her on Twitter.

Face-to-face, Jane is nothing more than Eva's nondescript, clumsy coworker: a social catastrophe. But, behind the safety of her laptop screen, she becomes confident and empowered with purpose and talent. The two hit it off, and what forms is an undeniable creative union, one with the ability to positively change many lives.

There's just one major problem standing in the way, though. Can she fulfill her purpose and make a change in the world while living the rest of her life as an alter ego? Is she brave enough to reveal her true identity and risk squandering all she's gained by it?

This audiobook delves into the dramatic world of women in love, anti-bullying, sexuality, social psychology, and social anxiety.

©2012 Suzie Carr (P)2015 Suzie Carr

Painful Experience

First, the author should never have been so egocentric as to read this herself. Her voice is so off-putting I barely cared about the story she was trying to relay. ("Bud-done" is not how button is pronounced.)
The story is childish and implausible. A lesbian, bullied as a teenager, now cat-phishing a colleague - fumbling, and not in funny way. The dialogue just doesn't ring true.
The concept had promise but didn't deliver.

Horrible narration

I wanted to stop listening, but I persevered and finished it. The story was actually okay, maybe even good. Unfortunately, subpar readers make even good books...just not very good.

Not quite what I expected.

Any additional comments?

I admit I was a little disappointed in this book. Not enough to stop listening, but there were things here that bugged me. I've read one other book by Suzie Carr, and I really liked it, so I thought I'd give this one a listen. Most of the time I didn't like the main character, Jane. I know bullying is a very real problem, and one that causes young people to end their lives in an effort to escape the pain and humiliation. And I know that people can be scarred by the cruelty inflicted upon them. But it just seemed like it took way too long for Janie to start finding herself, to start standing up for herself. And if the progression was going to take that long, how realistic would it be for Eva to ignore the fact that Jane lied to her about so many things when they finally meet. And the lying was a sticking point for me. I completely understand why she lied, and why she continued after she started. Because once you've told one lie, it's extremely difficult to come clean, which leads to more lies just to perpetuate the one you first told. I just dislike dishonesty, and I'm not sure Eva would simply dismiss all of it without a word.
Also, I wasn't altogether happy with the narration. Sometimes I can see how having an author narrate their own work could really help a book. The author, after all, is the one person who knows how the writer intended the pauses to go because she's heard them all in her head before. But Suzie Carr has a slight accent, that my head kept telling me was New Jersey, possibly New York, and it just didn't fit with what I imagined Jane would sound like. I could be wrong. I'm not sure I've ever noticed exactly what a Baltimore accent sounded like. But for me, it didn't fit. Also her way of speaking some lines seemed casual when more emotion was called for.
So there were parts of the story that I felt frustrated about. It just seemed that things, even serious things, came across almost in a blasé way. There's a feel good ending that just seems a bit too pat and shallow. They never even talk about the lies that Jane's told. It feels unresolved. And that leaves me a little dissatisfied.

Incredible! There's a bit of Janey in all us!

Powerful story that reaches to the hidden depths of the heart. It does not matter how beautiful you are, how popular, or how wealthy; no one is immune from fear, doubt, and insecurities. This story is amazing how it exposes the reality of how brutal life is but also how empowering true compassion, friendship, and love can be. This positive force is what gives action to our courage, it was an absolute joy to me that Janey's courage brought her to her feet to face her fear. A truly must listen/read, it will change thoughts, feelings, and life for the better. If nothing else it will warm your heart.. "Wink"

Amazing!

Love it! Finding ones courage to speak openly for what is right. Most of all to believe in ones self worth. Great story. I highly recommend.

awful listening experience lost the story

HORRIBLE TO LISTEN TO!! A perfect example of when the author destroys their own work by trying to do something they're not good at. No offence ms carr. remove this from audible and get someone who can do audio books well to rerecord.
the author really seems to be trying to read well but when you can hear every "s" she speaks it is very distracting. Between this and the mispronouncd words and lack of any kind of characterization. attempts at emotional emphasis that completrly miscommunicate the material it is simply not worth the auditory torture to try to engage what may be a much better story than this narrator is able to deliver.

the story is a little full of itself. too busy. too many descriptors and delays between progressing the story. but that may only be my impression from the truly awful reading of it.

A must read or listen too.

Would you listen to The Muse again? Why?

Don't know if I could. Because it was sooooo emotional for me too close to home.

What did you like best about this story?

Happy ending. Finding oneself. We all have baggage. It brought out how some bullies were once bullied themselves or vice-versa. Atonement can be gained through self forgiveness and hard work.

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

It would be a book that would be one of those reads that you would be constantly putting down to breathe or be so close to home you have to put it down for a few moments or days.

Who was the most memorable character of The Muse and why?

Too many to pick.

Any additional comments?

I should have known what a emotional book this would be when it starts out with, "Larry" reading, "The Glass Castle" by Jeanette Walls.