I surrender. I have given up on Metro Girl by Janet Evanovich on Chapter 8. I was trying to listen to this on audio - and let me tell you, big mistake. Huge mistake! I even have the book in my TBR (I got it at RWA last year), but I thought, "Hey, I'll listen to it on audio! One less book in my TBR that way."
I am a colossal dumbass.
The problem is the reader. C.J. Critt has actually narrated some of the Stephanie Plum novels by Evanovich. She should not have been allowed to get her hands on this book. The issue here is the hero. In Metro Girl, the hero is a Texas NASCAR driver. Critt makes hims sound like a moron. I'm not kidding. Her Texas accent sounds so bad and lazy that the hero comes off sounding like the "slow kid" in your high school math class. He's sort of like the rednecks in Deliverance without the homoerotic tendencies. I hated him with every fiber of my being. Every time his "voice" came through my MP3 player I wanted to start banging my head on my steering wheel.
To make matters worse - Evanovich's talent for guy dialouge was obviously on vacation during the writing of this book. The hero does not talk like a guy. Even worse, he constantly refers to himself as "NASCAR Guy." This is sexy how? It would be like The Boyfriend referring to himself as Salesman Guy. Not only would I laugh in his face, I'd feel his forehead to make sure he hadn't spiked a fever.
As for the rest of it - it wasn't good enough for me to overlook my problems with the hero. The heroine seems OK, but she's so going to be be boinking the dumbass hero pretty soon and I just can't stand it any longer. I know my older sister read this, and I seem to recall she found it "OK." Which I guess is a lesson that you should read it and stay far away from the CJ Critt read version of the audio book.
Oh, and yeah - I've got Alison's contest for today. Which explains the weird title that doesn't have much to do with this post - other than the fact that I think "NASCAR Guy" was supposed to be a "Bad Boy." Bleck.
30 comments:
Great blog...I found it through Alison's site and want to enter contest!
Hugs!
I came here through Alison's contest, but it was easy to figure out since I read your blog whenever I get the chance to go through my favorite blogs. I like CJ Critt as a reader (just finished listening to her do The Body Farm by Patricia Cornwell), but it does sound like she was annoying in this one. I actually finished reading Metro Girl and liked it okay but then again I seem to like most anything.
The narrator on an audio book can really make or break it in my experience.
O, and I am in for Alison's competition as well!
I enjoy your blog and am entering Alison's contest.
interesting and lively blog that is super. Entering Alison's fun contest.
love this cool web blog. it is the best. entering the contest.
I'm here to enter Alison's contest. Love the Batwoman logo.
unique and fun blog. Alison's contest entry
I love your cool blog and website. This is for Alison's contest.
Hi! Really cool site. I went through alot of work to figure out this puzzle!! Please enter me in the contest!
Lovely blog. I will be coming by here more often. I would like to say thanxs to Alison for having me on a wild goose chase *G* I am glad see did though. This blog looks really nice :-)
I like this title though (A Week of Bad Boys, Good Spies, Unforgettable Lovers)
HUGSSSS
Linda.H.
Wendy, I've had that issue with one of the books before Metro Girl. Even though it wasn't an audiobook I got. Can't even remember the title now--not a Plum.
Ah ha! Found you!!!
Came over from Alison's clue on her blog.
And don't let the audiobook put you off Metro Girl...it was pretty good. Even if it wasn't Stephanie :P
Maybe he sounds like a moron in the audio book because he reads like one in the real book. I remember reading this a while back and thinking I am glad this is a library book!
I've never even read an Evanovich book. It took me awhile to figure out the clues to get to your website. I'm enjoying Alison's contest and really like checking out the new blogs!it!
Great blog :)
Had fun finding your blog - enjoyed your review - I'll be back!
I found your site because I was looking for Alison's contest but I liked your review. I have given up on books myself that have an awful hero. Once I start spending all my time thinking about how much I dislike the guy it is time to put the book down.
I enjoyed reading your blog. I am entering Alison's contest.
A bad reader can really ruin a book. I almost didn't give Nora Roberts a second chance because the first of her books I experienced was an audiobook read by someone awful. It was truly bad. To read for the men, she just made her voice all low and gruff, which really didn't work. You could barely understand her.
So was it like Will Ferrell as Ricky Bobby? (god I hate Will Ferrell!)
Look at all the newbies! It's amazing what a contest will do for one's blog stats.
The lesson here is that yes, a reader on an audiobook can make or break a novel. Kinda sad, but there you go...
I followed Alison's clues and found your blog. I enjoyed your comments about the audio version of Metro Girl. I used to write and produce commercials for a living and matching the right voice with the copy could make a mediocre commercial sound fantastic. (Not that I ever wrote any mediocre commercials.)
Just like she had the "A Week of Bad Boys, Good Spies, Unforgettable Lovers" tag, we should have "Alison sent me"
The narrator on audiobooks can kill a story. The actors who did Crusie & Mayer's Don't Look Down were great, btw.
Enjoyed reading your comments. Would like to enter Alison's contest.
Cherie Japp
I've had the same problem with some audio books. The person reading the book totally turned me off. Or I was used to that particular voice belonging to a whole 'nother character, such as Barbara Rosenblatt being Amelia Peabody in the Elizabeth Peters novels.
On some books that seemed good but I couldn't get past the voice I would seek out the paper version & read it.
Like your blog.
Yeah! I finally found the contest!!! Slow and steady wins the race right. I think I am making this harder than it is..LOL :)
I found my way here through the contest, but I think I'll hang out and read a bit... going to have to find that book and read it myself, just to see if it's as bad as all that.
Great blog. Entering Alison's contest!
The winners are: Darlene and Angie T!
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