The Long Weekend

Normally love her books, especially as audio books. This one didn’t have different voice actors and many times no chapter or heading notices to alert you that perspectives had changed. Made it difficult to follow as an audio book at times. Not sure if that’s why I liked but didn’t love the book. Also didn’t love the ending for a few reasons. Overall still worth the read though

It’s okay at first, the narrator didn’t pause when it went from character to character so it was soo confusing

This book oozed potential.
A super interesting and original set up, a creepy location with interesting characters.
The problem is that a) there are far too many characters to keep up with
b) the narrator reads as if she is just trying to get through it as quickly as possible.
She doesn’t even take a breath between scenes, chapters.
It makes the listener’s head spin.
All of the characters sound exactly the same, there is never an indication that a new character is now speaking.
So it reads long one long run on sentence , no pauses, no emotional investment or inflection. Ever.
I wanted to love this book so badly that I stuck it out, despite my discontentment.
I just found myself shocked over and over again as scenes would play out and nothing, absolutely nothing changed as far as the performance was concerned.
How did anyone approve this as an acceptable rendition of this story???
Also, why is it that not one of these characters is DEVELOPED.
The reader is never, ever given any detail or insight as to what type of human being each character is, not even what they look like.
Also, how is it that we have this fabulously spooky location but never, not once is there a description of the place? With the minor exception of a character or two mentioning that it’s “cramped” There is not a single atmospheric detail, absolutely no point at which “the stage is set” for the reader???
Was there a publisher putting pressure on the author to simply “get it done” or something?
I am shocked by this book.
Shockingly disappointed, shocked that such little effort was made, and especially flabbergasted that this speed reading narration made it past the editors.
It’s honestly kind of insulting.
These books are expensive!
And essentially this book is one long rip off moving at the speed of a bullet train.
It made me sad. Is this what it’s come to?
There is no way to keep up with what’s happening, it is rushed and read through with such speed that I even tried slowing it down to 1/4 but then the narrator just sounded possessed.
I love this author, but I have learned a lesson here…you must listen to the sample offered before purchasing.
If I had done this I would have realized immediately that there would be no way to enjoy this book.
It is one of the most disappointing audiobooks I’ve ever bought.
Namely because I love the author and the story itself, the premise was chock full of potential that is totally squandered within the first chapter…
I hate leaving negative reviews, especially when it’s an author I love.
But this was a joke.
A total letdown in every way.
And frankly just downright silly!
I can’t believe my beloved Gilly signed off on this…
Maybe the hardcover or hard copy would’ve been more pleasant but nothing could save this rushed, compressed nonsense.
It’s too bad.
I will never buy another book without listening well to the sample.
Unhappy face 😞😞😞