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jenbsbooks 's review for:
Whisper Me This
by Kerry Anne King
I've read a few by this author (included in KindleUnlimited with text and audio), they are generally 3-4 stars, not anything super memorable. Same here. I think with the title/cover, I was expecting more of a psychological thriller, which this wasn't (which is probably good, as that's not a favorite genre for me personally). There was some mystery, but it was more "Lifetime movie"esque. It dealt a lot with abuse in relationships. I think I liked the story more while I was in it, but as I finished, reflected, checked out some of the other reviews ... there were things I had issues with.
This was mostly 1st person/present tense, from Maisey's POV. It starts off with one chapter where she is a child (1982), then shifts to "present day" (2017). At some point, Maisey discovers her mother's journal, and then there are journal sections included, they don't get their own chapter number, but are placed between chapters (not between every one, but there are a lot of the "journal" sections, 17 or so). Listening to the audio version, I think I would have preferred a separate narrator, just to give a different voice to Maisey and Leah. Even though the sections were marked, the narration wasn't distinct between the two "voices". On print, the Leah Journal sections were in italics, so a read with the eyes would create more distinction that the audio version did. They were mostly memories/past tense, but a little speaking to someone in the present too. Add to that, there were a few chapters throughout that suddenly switched to Tony, in 3rd person (no header or note, so it took me a minute, I had to stop, rewind, check the text ... what just happened? Whose head am I in?) Same narrator. I can deal with the same narrator if it's 3rd person (I can NOT if it's first person, it needs its own voice, and if the character is male, needs a male narrator ... that's just my opinion). Even in 3rd person, I would have preferred a male narrator for these chapters. Tony with his own voice. Still present tense for these sections.
There is possible abuse between Maisey's parents ... purposeful or just because of aging? It's uncovered that there was some abuse with Maisey's EX, and then Leah's journal reveals extreme abuse in an early relationship. So if domestic abuse is a trigger, heads up ... there were some "profound revelations" (although from a non-abused person, so I'm not sure if I'm that great of a judge) but it sounded good and inspiring.
One thing I note - songs in books (how the audio/narrator addresses it). Here, the narrator sang. The "Whisper Me This" was a song, and then there was "Amazing Grace" as well a little later on. Here, I very much appreciated the melody, as a straight patter-speak of the words would not have had the same effect at all. For those who despise music in audiobooks (of which I am one), this is not "music" per se, just narration with melody.
There were some "Book Club Questions" included at the end of the Kindle copy (not in audio) which I do appreciate. The questions here were good and made me think. I little proFanity (x4), some abuse, some slight sexual situations but nothing explicit.
This was mostly 1st person/present tense, from Maisey's POV. It starts off with one chapter where she is a child (1982), then shifts to "present day" (2017). At some point, Maisey discovers her mother's journal, and then there are journal sections included, they don't get their own chapter number, but are placed between chapters (not between every one, but there are a lot of the "journal" sections, 17 or so). Listening to the audio version, I think I would have preferred a separate narrator, just to give a different voice to Maisey and Leah. Even though the sections were marked, the narration wasn't distinct between the two "voices". On print, the Leah Journal sections were in italics, so a read with the eyes would create more distinction that the audio version did. They were mostly memories/past tense, but a little speaking to someone in the present too. Add to that, there were a few chapters throughout that suddenly switched to Tony, in 3rd person (no header or note, so it took me a minute, I had to stop, rewind, check the text ... what just happened? Whose head am I in?) Same narrator. I can deal with the same narrator if it's 3rd person (I can NOT if it's first person, it needs its own voice, and if the character is male, needs a male narrator ... that's just my opinion). Even in 3rd person, I would have preferred a male narrator for these chapters. Tony with his own voice. Still present tense for these sections.
There is possible abuse between Maisey's parents ... purposeful or just because of aging? It's uncovered that there was some abuse with Maisey's EX, and then Leah's journal reveals extreme abuse in an early relationship. So if domestic abuse is a trigger, heads up ... there were some "profound revelations" (although from a non-abused person, so I'm not sure if I'm that great of a judge) but it sounded good and inspiring.
One thing I note - songs in books (how the audio/narrator addresses it). Here, the narrator sang. The "Whisper Me This" was a song, and then there was "Amazing Grace" as well a little later on. Here, I very much appreciated the melody, as a straight patter-speak of the words would not have had the same effect at all. For those who despise music in audiobooks (of which I am one), this is not "music" per se, just narration with melody.
There were some "Book Club Questions" included at the end of the Kindle copy (not in audio) which I do appreciate. The questions here were good and made me think. I little proFanity (x4), some abuse, some slight sexual situations but nothing explicit.