orrisimo

What a Life

Revisado: 09-19-24

Who knew the Gilmore Girls matriarch was such an open-hearted free spirit who has lived a whole lot of life? As a musical theater fan and writer myself, I did know about A Chorus Line history as was eager to hear about that. And was NOT disappointed. But the through line of gently wishing something would happen… and then the phone would ring… made me think about lessons I’m learning in my own life. And who knew she was such an insightful spiritual person? As a big GG fan, I already felt like Kelly was an old friend of a sort. After this book, wouldn’t it be great to get more of her? Come on, ASP, A Year in the Life ended on a total cliffhanger and would give us more Emily and co. Is there a fourth Gilmore Girl in the world maybe? It’s time…

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Another “gay” story that feels like a woman wrote it

Revisado: 05-01-24

I have no clue who Hayden Stone is, but this feels like yet another “gay” romance written by a woman. The sex feels like a woman’s idea of what she thinks gay male sex is. The dialogue and the emotional intelligence of the characters feel like a woman’s— for better and otherwise. I’m a gay man and just felt so outside of this story. More than the fantasy of falling in love with a celebrity (and I’ve actually had that experience personally), there was just very little here that felt in any way authentic. I didn’t dislike it. It just felt thoroughly false. Like someone who thinks they know what the gay male experience is but absolutely and clearly just doesn’t. Fun. But phony.

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Enjoyed, but…

Revisado: 12-17-23

This was mostly enjoyable… ish. I should cop to the fact that I’m a gay man and a professional musician. So I may be a tougher critic when it comes to the research and accuracy of it all.

The characters are sort of caricatures in many ways and I guess that’s maybe something that sometimes goes hand in hand with the erotica aspect? I honestly didn’t care about the sex stuff… until the author really started getting some basic things very very wrong. First of all, these guys are described after eating and being together for hours as suddenly eating ass and fucking. No prep. Over and over. Dear young gay man: unless you’re into skat (and I do not mean scat singing), THIS IS NOT A THING. That much spontaneous ass eating and fucking and no one is douching or washing or even taking a sexy shower first to be nominally clean. Nope, by the end of this book, these guys 100% have serious infections and the sex was for sure a disgusting mess.

When the author casually said “he fisted me” in one of these weird sex scenes I did a literal spit take. A quick google of that term might have done the author some good. What she actually seemed to mean it turns out, was a tight hand job. These boys “fisted” more than once. Come on- if you’re gonna write gay sex, get the basics right.

These guys who, as their music is described HAVE to be rock tenors are routinely described as low and gravely voiced. Literally not plausible for Theo, maybe Caleb with an imagination stretch. Maybe.

And finally (mild spoiler alert forthcoming), this guy Theo feels unworthy and gains rock stardom and after only a few years WANTS to throw it away to go “just make music” on his own terms and live with his boyfriend. Nothing against that plan. But I was in the major label world for a long time and the cost of admission to being that kind of a star simply isn’t one a kid with something to prove walks away from. Also, he almost certainly owes his label several more albums contractually and could probably be sued for 100s of millions, to say nothing of all his representation and tour promoters and brand sponsors who would also have broken contracts when he blithely decides on a whim he doesn’t want the thing he always wanted. The author DID get it totally right that a musician might want to make all their own choices and hate that the machinery won’t let them. But even in this fantasy where Theo walks away, the author has— in the SAME SENTENCE— written that Theo wants to make all his own musical choices and he wants to hire a producer. But definition, the producer is very often calling the shots— taking the choices out of the hands of the artists much of the time. Again, a little research would go a long way.

With those gripes noted, I have to add that there’s something very romantic and sweet about this story that I appreciated. If you’re not annoyed by the total un-reality of the thing, the spirit of it is quite lovely.

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Riveting

Revisado: 05-08-23

Totally engrossing. Great production, writing and performances. Challenges the reader to stay curious and to question whether or not you know what you think you know. Couldn’t stop listening.

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Phenomenal - but why the abridged credits??

Revisado: 01-28-23

The performances and writing and sound design all work together in riveting magical form. Like an elevated radio play. I loved every minute. What I can’t fathom is why you have the great Tony-winner Judith Light and the great Margo Martindale in this stellar cast and not even mention them in the audible description. That’s insane. But other than the insanity of not capitalizing on the presence of two of the most phenomenal actresses of their generations, this is wildly entertaining. Don’t miss out.

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What A Gift

Revisado: 01-09-23

As a lifelong U2 fan who also share Bono’s proclivity to wrestle with the ‘big’ questions, you’re left with the feeling of a genuine humility in the tone of his well-crafted and poetic memoir that sort of dances through time. Even as he points to his own egoic whatnot. This is a man with the soul of a true artist who has helped craft some of the greatest popular music of the past century. Music that will live well beyond us. And this book gives us a not just a glimpse into the inner world of one of the great artists of our lifetime, but right into his struggling artist’s soul. That struggle and the humanity are undeniably and palpably genuine. More than that, as with the music he co-crafts, he reminds you what it means to dream of a building a better world— and how to waste no time in setting about that work. Nothing less than the mere roadmap of his own motivation for how and why to walk on.

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Especially the reader

Revisado: 11-05-22

The story was riveting and that much more so because of the extraordinary skill of the narrator/performer. Just terrific.

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All Books Should Be Narrated by Scott Aiello

Revisado: 06-14-20

This was a genuinely intriguing listen for a number of reasons, but most of all because of Scott Aiello's narration which keeps the listener really engaged, even when the book necessarily turns toward explaining the crypto business of coding, math and the politics of nerddom. The book is well-crafted and there is a good amount of intrigue woven into this true-story education on crypto (and really, particularly on Coinbase). But over and over, it is Scott's rich voice, engaging choices and his own obvious grasp of the material that both help you understand what you're hearing and draw you in and keep you interested. A great listen for anyone interested in crypto-- its history, the basics, where's it's been and where it's potentially headed.

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Great story and performance

Revisado: 04-21-19

The story is inventive and surprising and Mr. Quinto is truly unbelievable. One of the best Audible Originals yet.

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Billy Crudup Is Incredible

Revisado: 01-20-19

I’m an avid audiobook (etc) listener and this was one of my all-time favorite experiences as a listener. Billy’s ability to clearly, honestly, and evocatively bring each character to life in this incredibly well-crafted and well-directed story, that really is one surprise after the next, is jaw-dropping. He’s breathing some rare air. I hate spoilers, but this is as much a really interesting character study as it is a sort of thriller. And this is an excellent piece worthy of first and repeat listens.

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