Layne Fargo

I always have two books going at once, one I read-read, and the other I listen to-read as I commute. Trust me, the other drivers appreciate how it keeps the road rage at bay ;)

Young Rich Widows was my most recent listen to-read. The title is the book: four young women are suddenly widowed when their spouses' plane mysteriously goes down leaving behind a law firm of secrets, a mob-connected land deal, and Tiger, the infamous hitman. And in a nutshell, one wife learns another had been sleeping with her husband, a stripper comes forward as the partner and heir to the firm's only female partner, and the matriarch learns her husband and son weren't quite the people she thought. Through their strife, the women must learn to work together in order to save themselves and their families.

The book is read by four different voices, who are mostly distinct, but sometimes too close for my ear to discern and I found myself jumping out of character and back into reality to work out who was speaking. This of course meant that I was transported back to my actual surroundings of the road and the idiots on it.

The story was good, entertaining even, and well-done. It certainly won't change the world or linger in your brain like an earworm song, but, you won't regret it either. I can only give it a four because, as an audible book, the last thing that should happen is confusion with the characters because the author chose four actors to read. Other than that, it's a five. But, I've been called easy before...

Until next week's audio review, keep your eyes on the road, your foot off the flux capacitor (a nod to Back to the Future for all you younins, and enjoy Young Rich Widows, you won't regret the time.… (mais)

What a meandering mess. The book is nothing but a back and forth of stage dialogue and thoughts inside the head of the main character, which I don't care about at all. I wouldn't mind if this back and forth lasted for a few dozens of pages, no biggie. But I am now at page 104 and it is still going on. I couldn't take any more of this mindless banter. The characters are one dimensional without any personality whatsoever. I got through about 100 or so pages then decided that just couldn't spend any more time with these folks. As I was wading through this sludge, I could not help but feel that the main character is simply an extension of the author's own personality and sexual needs and desires. If that is the case, then the author needs to get a boyfriend or a partner or two fairly quickly.… (mais)