Bad Idea

By: Damon Suede

Narrated by: Charlie David

Length: 14 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

Reclusive comic book artist Trip Spector spends his life doodling super-square, straitlaced superheroes, hiding from his fans, and crushing on his unattainable boss until he meets the dork of his dreams. Silas Goolsby is a rowdy FX makeup creator with a loveless love life and a secret streak of geek who yearns for unlikely rescues and a truly creative partnership.

Against their better judgment, they fall victim to chemistry, and what starts as infatuation quickly grows tender and terrifying. With Silas’s help, Trip gambles his heart and his art on a rotten plan: sketching out Scratch, a "very graphic novel" that will either make his name or wreck his career. But even a smash can’t save their world if Trip retreats into his mild-mannered rut, leaving Silas to grapple with betrayal and emotions he can’t escape.

What will it take for this dynamic duo to discover that heroes never play it safe?

©2013 Damon Suede (P)2014 Dreamspinner Press

Great story, OK narration

Really loved this story. I mostly liked how it was read, but I found the narrator's pronunciation really distracting. I think I should forgive the nonstandard pronunciation of terms of art, and chalk some of the other words up to dialect, but that still doesn't cover the spread. I ended up feeling like the narrator just didn't know what he was saying.

Snappy writing

Not being a comic buff, the world these characters live in was new to me. I enjoyed this story though. Mr. Suade’s writing style is dynamic and evocative. Charlie David’s narration was middling. At least 10 times he simply misread a word, mangling the writing, i.e saying “egregarious” when the word was “egregious”. Shame these fumbles weren’t caught by a producer or editor of the audio narration.

I've had better.

What would have made Bad Idea better?

I think this author is pretty talented, but his overuse of euphemisms for male genitalia is very off-putting, at least to this female reader. I also felt this book was pretty dull. There wasn't nearly enough action or angst for my liking. I bought this because I enjoyed the writing (minus the euphemisms) in Hot Head, but this wasn't nearly as good.

How could the performance have been better?

I seriously don't understand why everyone has such a hard on for Charlie David. He's the most irritating narrator in this genre, in my opinion. Every time he says "shone," but pronounces it "shawn," I want to slit my wrists. Also, his "southern" accent is like nails on a chalkboard for me (i.e. someone who knows what an Alabama accent actually sounds like). I've returned most of the books I've purchased that were narrated by him, but I decided to keep this one so I could leave a review. Feel free to say it wasn't helpful just because I don't fall down at his feet to worship at the Charlie David alter.

underwhelming

basic story, nothing really exciting about it. I was not a fan of sounds given to auxiliary actions of objects. did we really need the sound of the door closing to be written or the sound of paper falling.

I fast forwarded the book so I can be done. Charley David has a good voice but he could not save this book.

I have a few beefs with this story...

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Ok, Number ONE Stop Trying To Make Random things Euphemisms FOR A PENIS!!! It is Not an... pulsing rod or a pork sword or a cream cannon or whatever other ridiculous thing Damon Suede could think of to describe cocks. It was distracting and cringe worthy! It removed me from the story and therefor made the listening disjointed!
Number TWO, Charlie David, For the sake of us all, STOP WHISPERING! You can speak quietly without Whispering and you needn't do it ALL THE FRICKING TIME!!

I haven't even finished listening to it yet, I just need to get it off my chest!

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

I haven't gotten that far yet

What didn’t you like about Charlie David’s performance?

As stated above, the whispering annoyed the absolute bejeezus out of me

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

frustration mainly!