Jessica

Damn you to hell, Michael J. Sullivan!

Revisado: 07-16-22

This is one of the best books in the series of any series of books I have ever read. Never have I loved and related to so many characters, and I will never ever be able to read this book with fresh eyes and innocent hopes unless and until I have my memory wiped due to tragedy and/or old age.

Now that it's over, I am both praising and cursing the name of this author forever! Damn you to hell Michael J. Sullivan! You broke my entire heart, and if we ever meet in person, you're getting sincere gratitude and a swift kick to the shin!

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Hello, I'm 31

Revisado: 10-19-20

I listened to this book hoping to get a peek into what problems and solutions the generation right before me are dealing with. I was born in 1989, considered the very last generation who spent the majority of our childhood outside and I was 14 before I started making all sorts of awful choices online. This book showed me a clear and concise way to explain the beginnings of existential dread that I've been feeling but also provided hope that not only is there another side, but that older millennial women have so much to learn but also that we have already internalized and corrected for the woes of our older cousins and sisters.

All of this is of course anecdotal, but the expectation to "have it all" seems to have been beaten to a pulp. Now, the message I feel the most is "this part of life is slow and boring, but important." (In regard to motherhood. I had kids stupid early, with little to none of the stigma). Every other mom around me is at least a decade or two older than me. Telling them to relax, they're doing fine, seems disrespectful. But they're trying so hard, that I want to stop them and let them know that I'm showing up in sweat pants not because I don't care, but because I choose WHAT to care. Because of the striving to death of our foremothers, I can confidently look at diet culture, fat shame, and fuckability scores and say "nah... I like doing arts and crafts instead."

So thank you unsung heroes of Generation X. Thanks for raising me on grunge, and showing me all the choices I could make, but also, thank you for burning out so us young'uns could make the most important choices. Like the previous humans who had to eat all the berries to figure out which were poisonous, woman kind (and those such as myself who don't really fit in that gender category) owe you waaaay more than we possibly could repay. We probably won't, if history is any indicator. But we'll try really really hard.

In particular, thank you Allison Gill. My personal Gen X Hero. She gives me hope that I'm going to be ok in 10 years. I love you!

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Love the book

Revisado: 06-21-20

My only complaint is that I wish it was easier for the guys to record together so the add-ins would feel more natural. Obviously, three people with individual lives are hard to get together for a podcast, but throw a book on top? Also, if Marcus could find it in his heart to read everything to me, I'd appreciate it. Actually, Ben and Henry both sound really good as well, but without longer recordings from them, it'd be unfair to judge. I only know their voices work well together in a podcast format.

Can't wait to see what you learned from this experience and how it benefits your future work!

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Mara Wilson is Awesome!

Revisado: 03-25-20

I absolutely loved the more linear narrative and the narration was done by one of my favorite humans on Earth. The Faceless old woman is one of my favorite characters from the show and just in time for the shelter in place order from the state, 9+ hours of awesomeness appears in audible. if I was religious, I'd call it a friggin miracle.

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Eerily Similar

Revisado: 11-15-19

This was a hard listen. Before I paid for this story, I read some reviews about how people were aghast that the matriarch of this story didn't do enough to find her children. Understanding depression and the family situation she was in like I do, disregarding the proximity to the Holocaust that this story is set, I get it. This could be any story about any of my own family. Mine has more drugs and alcohol and physical and emotional violence in it, but even with that said, I feel a bit defensive on behalf of the mother in this story.

Overall, a well produced and well thought out story that has me sitting in the carpool watching my own children and deciding whether or not to tell them the family history in order for them to learn the lessons that have been learned the hard way or to let the past die with me.

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Well written, well researched, and profound

Revisado: 02-15-18

I am a victim of childhood sexual abuse as well as a survivor of rape while serving in the military. I want to state that first so you know, as a reader, where my perspective comes from. This, as well as Missoula and A History of Misogyny, are accurate both factually and emotionally.

While reading this book, I was triggered. But the respect and care that was taken to tell the story with enough detail to give an accurate picture of what rape is, as well as the dexterity to express the wide range of reactions to being raped was what made this an overall cathartic read.

I'm not going to go into details so as not to ruin the journey carefully and tactfully crafted by the authors. I am going to say that this book is profound and a clear and concise answer to the question, often posed in bad faith, "What about false reports?" and "What about the innocent men?" and "What about innocent until proven guilty?". It goes a step further and explains why the philosophy of believing the victim first is important and necessary in the investigation of intimate crimes.

Finally. Marie, if you ever read this, thank you. Thank you for your bravery. Thank you for your honesty. I reacted to my rape the same way you did. I told my story over and over again, like you did. I have a deadpan way of describing my childhood. I also had nobody believe me until well after the damage was already done. I too was hurt again by the people who were supposed to help me. Hearing that you're out there, somewhere, and living your life has breathed some life back into me. Thank you for telling me that I'm not alone. Thank you.

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esto le resultó útil a 45 personas

Frightening in a deeper way

Revisado: 10-16-17

The diversity of voice in this collection is fascinating. The narrator changes along with the voice of each piece. Not scary in a gory way, but in a deeper way. I related to, and was frightened of, the monsters in a way that crept into my dreams. I want more from this author.

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esto le resultó útil a 7 personas

Kind of Meh

Revisado: 03-06-17

I'm not sure if I've read so many fantasy novels that nothing seems to excite me anymore or if there is actual fault with the story, but for some reason I wasn't very interested. With all establishing books in series, it might be the tedium of setting up a new world with a unique magic system and presenting characters that will last for 5 or more books. I'm a very forgiving reader, but this time was harder that others.

Take that as you will.

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esto le resultó útil a 3 personas

note to editor

Revisado: 01-01-17

I counted more than four instances where a sentence was repeated. Please go back and edit these out. otherwise a thoroughly fascinating book that is well performed.

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narrator was fine

Revisado: 12-13-16

I'm not sure what all of the fuss about the narrator is for. Her accents are correct, she is intelligible, and the characters are distinct. More drawn into the story and only focused on her voice when it was specifically called for. If you liked her other books and other accents don't put you in a tizzy, go for it.

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