Audio Adventures is a new type of review! It is specifically formatted for my Audiobook Reviews & it helps explain how I feel about all the main categories.
The Execution: The voices, narrations, and accents of the audiobook. How did they hold up?? Were they inviting, did I hate them, anything about the voices will be found in this section.
The Excursion: The plot, the storyline, the adventure that was had. See how I felt about the premise of the book here!
The Evaluation: The round up! This includes my normal ratings, some wrap up comments, and a general consensus!
Revival
by: Stephen King
Narrated By: David Morse
Received for review from Simon Audio
In a small New England town, over half a century ago, a shadow falls over a small boy playing with his toy soldiers. Jamie Morton looks up to see a striking man, the new minister. Charles Jacobs, along with his beautiful wife, will transform the local church. The men and boys are all a bit in love with Mrs. Jacobs; the women and girls feel the same about Reverend Jacobs—including Jamie’s mother and beloved sister, Claire. With Jamie, the Reverend shares a deeper bond based on a secret obsession. When tragedy strikes the Jacobs family, this charismatic preacher curses God, mocks all religious belief, and is banished from the shocked town.
Jamie has demons of his own. Wed to his guitar from the age of thirteen, he plays in bands across the country, living the nomadic lifestyle of bar-band rock and roll while fleeing from his family’s horrific loss. In his mid-thirties—addicted to heroin, stranded, desperate—Jamie meets Charles Jacobs again, with profound consequences for both men. Their bond becomes a pact beyond even the Devil’s devising, and Jamie discovers that revival has many meanings.
Buy It: Audible
This book was read for the #hailtotheking Reading Challenge. Find out more, here!
I will admit, when I started listening to Morse’s narration, I was a bit nervous. When telling the early years of Jamie’s life, David Morse is a bit scary. However, he grows into the part when you don’t even realize. At some point he just BECOMES that child that you heard so much about, and you understand all of his thoughts and reflections on his life, and what has happened to him. Point blank, Jamie = David Morse. Job=well done.
I am by absolutely NO MEANS a Stephen King connoisseur, so to those who say this book reads like CLASSIC KING, I truly do not know. I have not read enough to know. But perhaps, I can tell you from the perspective of someone who is well versed in both thrillers and contemporary novels, that this reads like a perfect combination. I believe that what brings that to reality is the memoir like feel that we get from Revival. The story spans 50 years, and we basically follow Jamie throughout his whole life. This is laced with girlfriends, bands, addictions, sex, poverty, religion, anti-religion, discovery, obsession,and more. If those things sounds like something you may enjoy, that dive on in. This novel is intense. The entire book is written so that you want to keep listening, or turning the pages. It all starts with Charles Jacobs, and truly, it ends with Charles Jacobs.
We need to know more about him, and why he gave his “terrible sermon”. We need to know why a man who doesn’t believe in religion, is practicing it. Basically, we just need to know. Here’s what Revival did for me, it proved that Stephen King’s writing, as well as his characters, are remarkable. I know for a FACT that Jamie will stay with me for a long time to come. The story will follow me, and haunt me a little. But here is what it didn’t know. It did not invoke fear in me. Considering the subject matter, I truly thought it would. But it intact did not. Granted, I was creeped out at times, but I was never fearful. It did lack that element. However, for me, that did not take away from the enjoyability of this novel. It just made me want to get my hands on more Stephen King novels!
I truly enjoyed my third Stephen King novel! I absolutely LOVED how we went on a lifelong journey with the main character, and I loved the different dimensions that we got to explore of his personality. I loved the Charles Jacobs storyline, and I loved the mystery element that this story offers. I loved that this brings about questions and issues amongst many different groups of readers. I truly think that by pushing boundaries, King becomes more of a legend than he already is. Truly, SO SO VERY GLAD that I am doing the #hailtotheking reading challenge this year with Leah and so many of you who have joined in! This novel made me realize we he is so well known, and beloved.
Memoir Meets Thriller? Win!
I am halfway through this book and am loving it so far!!
A+++++! We’ve already discussed our feelings a bit, but I couldn’t not comment! Even though I wasn’t scared shitless (really disappointed by that!) I’m so glad this was the novel to kick off our year of King. I absolutely loved it (enough to make it a contender for a top read of 2015!!) and am itching to get to my next read of his!
And I’m VERY curious about how this book – and the rest of his books – translate on audio. I think it could potentially be even creepier!
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Oooh I didn’t even think to listen to an audiobook for this challenge! What an awesome idea!
Laura Plus Books recently posted…Top 10: Books I’d Love to Read with Others
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