Tamara

The fact that Ablow kept inserting himself into the story - I found it incredibly selfish and grating. In addition, he repeats phrases over and over (particularly about the viewing of Casey's natural childbirth - it's repeated so often that I could picture people performing a drinking game for every time Ablow mentions it. I don't recommend that - someone might slip into a coma with all the repetition.)

Remove all references on how he'd speak with the police investigators that interviewed her - his unnecessary interruptions and need to shuck and jive about how he would handle the situation was incredibly disruptive to the scene. I found him obnoxious. Hey Ablow - this isn't about you, okay??

I thought that he had an effective performance style as a narrator.

The beginning, detailing exactly what "emotional smothering" means and the details behind the history of the Anthony's was interesting.

This was unintentionally funny, because the narrator was simply out of her depth in reading an explicit memoir like this. Picture that recorded voice that welcomes you to the mall when you're given your ticket. Picture the recorded voice in the airport that tells you which zones are for loading and unloading. Now imagine that voice reading a dirty memoir. I don't know about you, but I laughed my ass off for the first ten minutes until i realized two things: the entire memoir will sound like this, and the sinking knowledge that I had wasted yet another precious credit...DAMN!!

If you're interested in learning about recording and tech issues from 70s era sound and recording equipment, then this is for you. If not (like me) you'll wish that you skipped this altogether. Yes, Caillat served as co-producer and trusted tech employee on the Rumours album as well as helping out on tech issues during the Rumours tour, but folks...this bears repeating: other than the aforementioned, you won't be learning anything new about Fleetwood Mac that you haven't already seen covered on an episode of VH1's "Behind the Music." I'm not kidding. This was a borefest of the highest degree. And, oh yes- did you know he's the father of singer Colby Caillat? That's good, because if you don't, you'll be reminded (in addition to a completely useless detailed description of how he handled a recording issue on his daughter's (Colby Caillat!) album. I wish someone would please kick me in the forehead with a pen for buying this damn thing.

Would you like to know what Caillat's days were like? (I woke up. I showered. Scooter went through the doggie door to go to the bathroom. Scooter came back in from the doggie door after he went to the bathroom, etc.) Holy crap- it's a monotonous nightmare. If this book was solely about his adventures with his dog Scooter, the best little buddy and tension breaker that made him happy during the recording sessions, that's one thing (I adore dogs)...but that's not how this was marketed. ("I ordered a drink. The waiter arrived. He poured the wine into my glass. I raised my glass. I made a toast." With hours upon hours worth of moment by moment description of every single thing he did every single day he worked on the album and subsequent tour, how in the hell did he have time to effectively do anything? He's too busy writing down every single boring everyday tasks he did, thought, etc. Frankly, if the book was about Scooter, the best pal Caillat ever had, it would have been far more interesting on the road with him and Scooter's adorable personality in the recording studio. That dog was interesting. Caillat wasn't. In spades.

Other than two major confrontations that take place during the Rumours recording sessions,I learned nothing. Just a lot of "the band seemed tense/the band knew exactly how much was at stake in making this album"...really? Ya don't say! Honestly, I felt that Caillat's reflections had about as much importance as a pimple on the ass of the universe.

By the way, is it just me, or does the narrator (although giving his best) sound like a voiceover actor for children's products/that happy voice at the end of the latest medicine commercial that happily warns you that one of the side effects is death? They should have had that warning at the beginning of this audiobook.

I really enjoy the voice of narrator Victor Bevine - he created distinct and very different voices for each one of the characters. I appreciated it.

Too many. The Johnson family history is packed with painfully sick individuals that took extreme joy in punishing/annihilating their family members. The ripple effect still affects the family to this day.

Yes!

It gave me the opportunity to listen to Dodson's life without any sugar-coating. I have always respected the work she continues to do - breaking old myths about women and men's sexuality. I just had no idea about the hell she went through in the search just to be herself and question the old principles of sexual morality. To me, she comes across very much like a sex-ed astronaut from the future, plopped smack dab onto Earth with the sole mission of changing our attitudes about the double standards that women are confined to - even to this day! I think that the title was misleading because Dodson learned very early that she preferred not to become entangled in exclusive dating. She made a choice to remain steadfastly single, yet build a network of friends that understood and respected her life choice. It fueled her life, research, writing and art powerful because she experienced it all...with no regrets. Please note however that there are three incidents in the book that were triggering, so be forewarned.

What I liked best about this memoir was learning about her life-long struggle to teach herself (and others) not to be afraid of their own bodies, nor should there be any fear in speaking frankly with your partner to work together for greater intimacy. Also, there is nothing wrong with choosing not to marry/have kids, etc. for a life of free personal exploration and solitude.

Yes, I have. I'll be honest - at first, when I heard her voice, I distinctly thought that it was being narrated by one of Marge Simpson's sisters with a gravelly deep voice. Actually, I wound up appreciating it because Rosenblat's voice really does sound like Betty Dodson's voice! It was a very bold choice to have this narrated by an older woman with a powerful, booming voice instead of an annoying breathless ingenue. She captured the cadence and style of Dodson's voice spot-on. Lastly (but most importantly) the audiobook is narrated as if Dodson is right in front of you, sharing her life story with joy, humor and determination.

I had an extreme reaction toward the end that I never, ever expected to do- the relationship that Dodson had with her mother when she became an adult. It was precious and moving (I'm getting chills just remembering that section.) That relationship was such a source of support, laughter and mutual respect that I will never be able to listen to that passage without crying. It was incredibly moving. You'll be moved, too. Please read the emotional trigger alert below for more. This book is very polarizing and not for the faint of heart.

EMOTIONAL TRIGGER ALERT: Please be aware that the book delves briefly into childhood molestation, sibling incest and bestilality. Although Betty has a completely different opinion on how she chose to deal with her childhood, there's no doubt that it will certainly open up a contentious debate. The bestiality incident she witnessed - no matter how many protestations to the contrary that the animal was never hurt/raped, just "spoiled" and "loving" left me infuriated and disgusted. No matter how brief the aforementioned incidents were, it doesn't take away the anger I had about these incidents.

No. No. Please no.

Anything but this!

They all come across as exactly the same- the narrator obsessively whines about every facet of every gal pal that she's ever had- it's no wonder the friendships didn't work out

Pleaase folks, don't waste your time!!

I enjoy having audiobook bios/memoirs of very controversial, polarizing people. This sounded like a very bad, never ending high school one-sided tirade against Anna Nicole Smith.

Hearing a very formal English narrator completely threw me off and was absolutely unnecessary. Then, when Hogan begins narrating, it gets even worse because she's a poor narrator.

Please- save yourself time and a credit: do not get this audiobook.

Pinchot, definitely- bruno, probably not. I thought that this would be about the extensive interviews that the Iceman did. It isn't. The Iceman interviews are far more chilling because it is an in-depth glimpse into what makes the Iceman tick and how he could live such a double life.

He has showcased once again what an incredible range of accents and line readings he has. Incredible! Gave me chills.

For fun, I'd highly suggest listening to Pinchot's narration on the life of Angelina Jolie- the levels of annoyance, boredom and disgust (listen to the passage wherein Jolie describes her love of Billy Bob Thornton's nether regions. I laugh every single time. Yet still, he manages to rise above the dreck of the memoir and add gravitas to it. Listen to it-you'll see.)

Cohen has managed to take an enticing subject and turn it into a borefest. She spends so much time doing overkill on the narration explaining the motives behind each diarist like it's a %$#@!&* Mutual of Omaha Wildlife Special. Also, the voices of the diarists were just awful. Awful, I tell you.

Extreme disappointment- I tried to give it time, hoping that the narration would finally let up so that the diarists could just tell their stories, but nooooooo. I white-knuckled it for an hour before I ripped the headphones off my head, logged in and hit the "return it" button on the Audible website. No lie.

Nope. I think I made my point.

Frankly, I can't stop listening to this delusional narcissistic whack job (for other case studies, see Julie Powell "Cleaving" and Karrine Steffans (well, everything she's written.) Hunter has the absolute gall to whine for over 8 hours that she and Edwards were just the most well-intentioned pair of home wreckers you'll ever meet. You'll recoil in horror as she blames Elizabeth Edwards for John's cheating ways and creating barriers for the author to be with John. I'm not kidding when I say that the author devotes countless hours literally waiting for Elizabeth to die from cancer so that Rielle can get her love life back on track and spend more time with John. To top it all off, before Elizabeth dies, Rielle even states (no vague insinuations here, folks) that John and Elizabeth's kids really liked her and couldn't wait to see her again.Yet Rielle consistently describes Elizabeth as an interfering and infuriating B@#$H. Yeah. Right.In addition, she details in frustration how difficult it was to wait for John's staff and financial backers to pay for her travel, food, shopping and housing...um, whom owed her a living for getting knocked up?? Could someone tell me?? Oh, that's right: NO ONE.Anyhow, the one thing that I must give her credit for is the dead-on accurate description of "Johnnie" Edwards, a morally questionable moron that stumbles around in life, making excuses about living deceitfully, unapologetic for being a cheater and ruining Elizabeth's life. That's why Hunter and Edwards are so perfect for each other- pot, meet kettle!

Yes, both - the feeling of witnessing a car accident that you simply cannot look away from. The astonishing lack of accountability for what Hunter and Edwards did is simply un-freakin'-believable.

Cassandra Campbell is a great narrator.

I'd definitely recommend this book to any world-weary single friends exhausted from the frustrating front lines of dating.

Laugh - I also really loved her Gen X pop culture references. Makes you feel as if she's talking to you directly.

I will definitely subscribe to her iTunes podcast-she's funny, honest, intelligent and cool.