shipyardjay

Confused…

Revisado: 04-26-25

This book is a really good STORY. But I was so confused as to what was trying to be accomplished here. What story was he telling us? What genre does this book even qualify as?…not that I’m a big fan of grouping books into genders so to speak, but this one was sold to me as a True Crime story that was a work of fiction, but was really a true story and then the author tells us himself that totally true only to have them talk in the afterword about how he came up with all the ideas for characters and where they were born out of! If you’re not confused yet just read the book, because it’s written with a cadence of “man I grew up in the best small town a kid could ask for! Let me introduce you to everyone from the cold-cut slicer at the deli who always gave us a free slice of salami, to the ‘‘ol mechanic who rebuilt engines, and of course my Dad who I loved dearly and how we used to spend cherished time together in the ‘ol pickup truck coming home to my Mum who was the sweetest woman on Earth. Yeah we all knew each other, went to little league games in the summers, threw snowballs with my friends in the winter, and let me describe the entire town to you and just how fabulous it was to come of age here! One of the BEST times I had was the adventure of a lifetime chasing down the details of our town’s serial killer! Yeah it was great! About 8 girls my age never came home, their bodies were all found in bad shape, posed and with bite marks all over them and their ear cut off, but other than that it sure was something goin’ around with the police Chief himself to trade theories on the crimes, disclose private info back and forth and ride around together. Me and some old buddies even fall into more than a few good ‘ol high jinx along the way. Especially me and my best friend, this chick I spend all my time and energy with that my fiancé has no issues about. They sure were some good times!”

There was no suspense, or real mystery being built up about who it could be, just plain guessing. The murders were hardly even talked about forensically, there was no feeling at all of excitement about when the killer would strike next. Nothing written that gave the sense that this book was meant to be an autobiography about the authors memorable town he grew up in.

The narration wasn’t BAD at all, I just think he cooked without any salt! He was reading us a tale of nostalgia not of true crime. But again, I think he worked with what he was given. This book was NOT a book about the killings of (I think) 8 girls and how the hunt was on and the narrator gave a sense of darkness that I was expecting from this. This was the furthest thing from DARK! It came off more like a Stand By Me than anything. I was expecting a much darker feel than what this turned out to be.he should’ve written TWO books! One would be this book that the other I imagine would be a totally different read! Way better in the true crime sense obviously mmThat’s a great idea! Either way this story was worth a credit because I do happen to enjoy books of this nature, just wasn’t prepared at all for it to be THIS book!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Just take the narrators hand…..

Revisado: 02-19-25

1st off I HAVE to say that the performance Mr. Matthew Lloyd Davies gave throughout this book was nothing short of remarkable! There is no way I take in this novel the same as I did without him at the helm steering me thru that wicked, cold, and cruel forest towards that conclusion…the final “episode” so to speak, just completely sealed the deal for me as far as this being a Hall of Fame Audible Narration performance. This dude was just as invested in this story as I was and MAN did it show! I’m sure he will never receive this sincere “thank you” for taking the wheel on what feels like WE (myself and him) just crashed our way out of! What an ending! What a great job. What a great adventure!
This book took me MONTHS to not give up on. It was one of those books I had that I’d keep going back and trying again and an again and again. Normally I will say to myself “what am I doing? Why am I wasting my time with this? Then I’ll put it away for good, moving into something else. Something kept me coming back to this story and boy am I glad I did. It’s not that the start bad so to speak, it’s just so well done and maybe I’m not reading enough of of these masterpieces to recognize one when it fallls on my lap. Regardless, looking back I would tell the impatient “me” to simmer down and trust the process! If if you find yourself feeling disinterested at any point in the early goings just keep reading KNOWING that you’re taking in an unbelievable piece of writing that is going to payoff like nothing ever before! THAT would’ve prevented me from straying in the beginning days of the book. Just hearing the future me telling that version of me how this build-up is happening would’ve made me realize it so much sooner, I would’ve appreciated it so much earlier, and I would’ve absolutely torn thru this book in a matter of hours!
So allow me to tell YOU that this book is a creeping up on you, and it’s doing it in a perfectly paced, deliberate manner. When Nevill finally brings you to the final 1/3 of this adventure you will be locked-in! Receiving exactly what we look for whenever we crack a book! Feeling! You will feel the exhaustion, the suffering, the pain, the fear, the exhilaration, the confusion, the hatred, the love, the desperation and the great sadness that you’re supposed to be feeling. And do you ever! What a ride I just stepped off of. Seriously, if you’re thinking about picking up this title then you’re the type of person that will not be disappointed…..Holy Macaroni!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Chilling! Wow. You will finish this knowing more than you even expected…

Revisado: 01-09-25

1st off props to Zac for a great job narrating! Great job. Just perfectly done.

This was really good guys. It was even more than I expected! Blum really puts together a chilling evidence based and many times heart-thumping rendition of what he believes likely happened within that sad house on that late night/early morning. Let’s face it, I’m willing to bet most of us can easily relate to the exact feeling within that house in the moments before things went upside down. We’ve all experienced that post-night out, drinks in us, starving at the food truck.The only thing topping how good that warm Italian sausage with the peppers and onions tastes is the knowledge that your soft, warm, comfy bed is only minutes away! We’ve all been there. I know I have. Especially the times when you’re hitting the lights for the night and sharing a room or bed with your best friend. That conversation you have that is so special, leaving yourself wide open to your friend with the confidence it all stays between you guys. Not even realizing in the moment that you’ll covet these talks years from now. The laughs. The times. Who really knows what happened when the last grain of sand dropped from their hourglasses after that sicko did what he did to them all. Absolutely terrifying isn’t it?
Blum puts it’s all together for us in a way that makes total sense. Never did I think he was enhancing the storyline at all in an effort to create a “better” story. Bad choice of words I know, but the interest in those case is just that…SO interesting! The backgrounds on all the characters are engaging, never drawn out, and the car-rides that POS has with his old man told us more than we knew was to be learned. There’s a lot of meat on this bone and even with the Gag-Order applied we learn so much more about the situation. The whole situation. The aftermath. The proceedings. The event. All done with a sense of regret, relation, and unfortunately inevitable remembrance of what was done.
If you’re interested in MORE than has been told about this case, if you’re interested at all in how the families are each handling things, how their responding or what their asking…if you’re interested in this case this book will definitely not disappoint. You will have the only “whole story” we can put together for sure at this stage of the investigation. Well done. Chilling!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Eh

Revisado: 12-20-24

It’s exactly as you’d expect. 100%. So not too bad actually. It holds your attention throughout, just following along with the story, the characters, the happenings, but it was never interesting enough for me to even want to try and guess at who the bad one might be. One thing I will say is that the narrator did a great job. She really did! There just wasn’t much meat on the bones here. I’ve been treading water for weeks trying to find a book that will excite me and so this type of story will usually hold me over while I’m searching for my next “love!” It did that I guess but not nearly as well as others of this ilk have. I’ve come across many very good books like this in the Audible Only (free) section. The search continues. Sorry to the author, I always feel like “who do I think I am!” whenever I give a bad review of a book. God knows I wouldn’t even know where to begin! But if I’m trying to help the fellow reader I must do my duty.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Really introspective

Revisado: 11-17-24

Let me say first off that I couldn’t believe that Lebro’s son “Bronny” had written a book about him caring for elders, his life, and what he’s learned. Lol. Bronny was great, she did a wonderful job narrating the book. This was the type of book where I’m glad that the writer narrated it because I always feel like some books of this “ilk” of you will, should never be read by anyone but the author themselves. It was very much the type of experience where I felt I understood her (Bronny), her heart, and the type of person she was very early on in the book. It was such a good book really! Perfectly paced, easy to understand, and there was no unnecessary fillers in there where the author spends 29 pages describing the backside of a shed in the middle of the woods.
This was a book that I really wanted to hold onto and was always well-aware of where I was in terms of completing it. I didn’t want it to end. She has lived the type of life I would love to have lived! What she did was something I WISH I had the know-how, the guidance, and the guts to jump into as a younger guy. Are you kidding me? Just traveling the land, working odd jobs to keep the wheels turning, like a leaf in the breeze-adrift aimlessly and landing whenever God sees fit. Taking care of all those patients must have been a real task, not for everyone, and although I hope to someday donate my time to the elderly I’m sure it was incredibly hard work to take the “tough parts” in exchange for these amazing friendships she was able to make. This type of “thing” has always interested me…caring for the dying. This book was all of that. She did a perfect job of removing the challenging parts these caregivers have to draw the curtain for. Just enough was told. The important part is the ppl and all they had to say. How the patients received Bronny at their 1st greeting, how each person was able to let their guard down enough to really tell her what they were pondering in the final chapter of their life. Some opened up easier than others of course, but each person had a wonderful story about their lives and how they lived, what message they wanted to pass on the most. All poignant and at the same time different and personal.
This book is just what you’re looking for if you’ve read this far into my review. It’s as good as its publisher claims, but so much better. It left an impression on me for sure. A book that I will surely draw from in my own life going forward. She did THAT good of a job with this.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

A really relatable coming of age story!

Revisado: 10-03-24

1st off I have to mention what a great job Ari did narrating this story. He really made it feel like HE was the one who wrote the book. Told it like he was there for all of it! By the 1/2-way point of this book I was all-in! Not that the first half or so was bad, not at all! Or they I wasn’t enjoying it either, no that wasn’t the case at all, I kept coming back every morning, every night, whenever I had a chance to jump back in. It just felt a little off to me and I realized that it was because there was no real antagonist. There was no mystery being worked on, no real plot other than the telling of this one kid’s summer. This turned out to be THE very best example for the saying “ I couldn’t see the forest for the trees!” Because I quickly realized I was in the middle of a really great, interesting and beautiful story-in the way that we are sometimes able to really sit, focus and recall a particular era of our lives with such clarity that we don’t want to let go of it. Like those times when it’s as if you’re almost THERE, or you feel as if you could honestly drop right into that one day or night with ease and it’s special feeling. One I hate losing my grip on when I’m experiencing it. Y’know what I mean? This was a really well-written, perfectly paced, and as I said before just such a relatable to all of us in many ways at some point in our lives story. Alex George did a fantastic job bringing us along as the 3rd wheel with this pair of friends as they navigated their time together, figured out so much about the world, society, and the people around them. That’s ultimately the beauty in this book. How the teller learns to process so many “things” in this era of his life. His coming of age. Major things in life and how these things can “look” at different times, how they can change, and how to live thru these things. You grow up with him, you’re able to feel his confusion at times, his frustrations, his jealousies, his anger, his embarrassment, but all while being young and experiencing the best times of his life…..even as we don’t realize it. That can be said for all of us during so so so many eras of our lives can’t it? I know for me it really touched a tone. This is a beloved tale that I would recommend to anyone looking to just curl up with a good story.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Worth it!

Revisado: 09-27-24

1st off I have to acknowledge Harriet Anderson’s performance throughout this long but engaging novel. She was perfection! Right on all the time and with passion. More than you could expect from even just a “good” performance. Thanks for that Harriet!
This was a freebie to hold me over ‘till my credits re-upped but had I known how well-written and easily understood Anni Taylor would make a multi-character/somewhat convoluted story so easily followable I would most certainly drop a credit on this one. I am a little bit in love with the main character from Australia! Lol. Her part was great. All in all it’s a really addicting who-done-it that lost about 5mph for me around 2/3 of the way but stuck with it and within a short chapter or 3 I was right back on. The “wrap up” at the end is some spectacular stuff!!! I promise they bring it ALL together for you buttoning up EVERY button on the shirt! Lol. I actually liked the ending and it’s not often that happens with me on books or movies. I can DEF recommend giving this book your time. It’s fun. I was excited to hop back in everyday till it was done. Glad I read it!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Eh

Revisado: 09-11-24

Just had to bail out in chapter 16. Just couldn’t do it anymore. Wasn’t the worst book I’ve ever read…it barely held me until around chapter 10-13, but then I had that epiphany that we all do…”why am I still reading this when I could be into something more worth my while?” Just wasn’t for me. More or a ‘ya take. Narration was really good! Done very well. I’d be excited to see her doing a book I was buying for sure.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Ummm…..are you ppl serious?

Revisado: 08-16-24

I was looking for a “suspenseful thriller.” I read about 10 reviews for this book and of course everyone talked about not revealing anything about the twist. Ummm…nevermind the freakin’ twist guys, I mean seriously, NOTHING I read about this book talked about what it REALLY is! I was in the middle of a regular ‘ol mystery when suddenly I was immersed into an actual porno! I mean was THAT the twist? Cause is it sure twisted the heck out of ME! I have NEVER in my life read anything like this in my life and it seemed to just keep going and going and going, then happening several more times throughout the book! I will say one thing, the wife and I had QUITE the night after I read thru that material! Whew. Not my bag of chips for future reading but these narrators did one heck of a job bringing the story to life! I hope Audible paid for their hotel room because there is NO WAY they made it thru this gig without attacking each other! Wow! My poor wife didn’t know WHAT hit her when she walked thru the door! We had a good laugh afterwards tho after I did some quick explaining as to why I slipped up and called her “bunny!” That was some heavy material that I definitely wasn’t expecting! Sheesh!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Masterpiece. And I’ve never used that word to describe anything in my life

Revisado: 08-15-24

Let me say this before I forget to acknowledge it…Alan Carlson Should’ve won every award possible the year this audiobook was released because I can’t imagine anyone doing a better job with an actual treasure than this man did. The author, Mr. Pat Conroy had to be just floored by the essence this narrator brought to his story. Carlson WAS Tom Wingo and he left me with that trade feeling that the character he brought to life for us is still out there walking around talking breathing and living his life down in South Carolina. What a performance this man turned in! And let’s face it…what a story!
Personally I’ve gone my whole life being interested in writing my own autobiography someday about the magic of my old city neighborhood growing up riding bikes thru the dirt paths along the banks of the railroad tracks, ringing friends doorbells, and playing street sports. The craziness of my adolescence. The fearlessness, feeling unstoppable, and that every single day was a poker hand dealt to me that I was to play…some days were “shit nothing to do,” but other days were absolutely jaw-dropping in unbelievable fun, mayhem, and blurry memories. But so much fun. And then there was the falling in love the few times I was lucky enough to do that…..THE greatest feeling known to man. Anyhoo…..
I’ve spent the better part of 40yrs writing tidbits about here experiences, reminders, and short essays about how the times and music and friends and love, youth, the summer nights, the cold winter nights with a friend bringing out a tv for us to watch Monday Night Football…..always drinking our faces off.
Ultimately as money of my generation (X) saw, the tsunami of opiates, drugs, and guys that couldn’t stop drinking crashed over us and there’s been few survivors. All this and so so so much in-between! Honestly one of the biggest things holding me back is thatj know im not going to be able to fit ALL of it in!

Well Pat Conroy has done the impossible here! He has written the book I would love to strive for! It was so perfectly edited, written and produced. It was easy reading, totally understandable and relatable. Absolutely nothing was far-fetched and on top of that it was one of THE most beautifully written books Ive ever read. I found myself shaking my head in amazement, hitting down notes, and voice recording myself reading back entries while driving! I cannot say enough about how worth the investment this book is for you. You will never be “lost,” you will be locked in the way we all love as readers, and it’s certainly a book I will never forget.
Thank you so much for giving us this gift Mr. Conroy. Excited to head into my next one. Above all else it’s showed me a sort of blue print that I too can attempt to write my story as well the way I’ve always wanted to. And that’s with everything included…not sitting on the editors floor being clipped out. I needed this story.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña