Declaring Spinsterhood

De: Jamie Lynn Braziel

Narrado por: Johanna Parker

Emma Bailey is fed up with the dating scene, and if she hears her mother nag one more time about getting married…well, she’s had it, and she wants everyone to know it. In a moment of clarity (or insanity?), she announces to the world that she will never marry. No husband and no kids; no worries about diapers, driving lessons, or divorce. Her friends are there for her, but they’re also involved in their own lives and loves, so off she goes into a world of casual dating. But what happens when the avowed spinster, the woman who has supposedly tucked her heart into a safe little space, suddenly realizes that her best friend Brian means more to her?

Jamie Lynn Braziel’s Declaring Spinsterhood delivers with this enjoyable romp through dating, friendship, and passion.

©2011 Jamie Lynn Braziel (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Vomit

Would you try another book from Jamie Lynn Braziel and/or Johanna Parker?

Johanna Parker is a fantastic narrator.

Has Declaring Spinsterhood turned you off from other books in this genre?

Kind of.

What about Johanna Parker’s performance did you like?

She's the best narrator of all of the books I've listened to on audible. After listening to the Sookie Stackhouse series, I thought this was a good next choice.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Declaring Spinsterhood?

The end. Gag me.

What is it the 1950's??

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

The book was average. Not bad - not fantastic. I won't be re-listening to it like I do with other books.

What could Jamie Lynn Braziel have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Seriously? Live in the 2014 instead of 1950s.

Have you listened to any of Johanna Parker’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Not yet but she was excellent.

Could you see Declaring Spinsterhood being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

God no.

Any additional comments?

This book had a fine story line. This was ridiculously dated. Women now days don't have to wait for marriage to have sex, or get permission to have men sleep over. Every time something remotely "riske" happened (and Shakespeare was more bawdy than this book) the women all shrieked and went church. It was irritating. Guess what. Women now days don't need permission to have sex, it is completely okay to actually have sex for fun, AND shockingly - it is perfectly normal not not have to get married if they actually do have sex. UGH. Made me grind my teeth.
Instead of showing how women rebel against being pushed into marriage and motherhood (like many women feel now days) she emphasized the fact. Woman cannot be whole without a man.

Seriously? Like joke says "If my vibrator could mow the lawn I wouldn't get married"

Emma had a bookstore, was taking charge of her life - only to be miserable without a man. (insert cringe - teeth grind here)
Chicka, grow some balls, tell your family to f-off, and buy some toys.

love this book

this book has the romance without the s_x. wonderful story. I have listened to it several times

Classic and cute

Would you consider the audio edition of Declaring Spinsterhood to be better than the print version?

I like the audio version, because then i can clean and do other things. But if i want to relax whit a cup of tea, it will be the printet version.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Emma. The way she handle her mother and her ex Steve. The way she takes control on her one life. And her confusing feelings about Brian.

What about Johanna Parker’s performance did you like?

I just love her. She make all the characters difference and unique.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Declaring Spinsterhood is a good tag line.

Any additional comments?

it's a cute story. I love it and i will absolutely tell others about this book.

Good clean book

If you could sum up Declaring Spinsterhood in three words, what would they be?

Good Clean Book

Have you listened to any of Johanna Parker’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Have not listened to others but I will

Any additional comments?

Nope, I hate having to do a long review

Rated PG

Cute story.I listened to this particular narrator from another story and I have to say she has really improved.She’s great.I just don’t understand with all the “spending” the night together,how can Brian not be obvious in his feelings about Emma.Any red blooded man,if he’s in bed with a beautiful woman,would show”signs”of interest I think.So not sure how Emma was ever unsure.Emma has to have the patience of a saint with her family constantly reminding her of her unmarried state.I would’ve said(well since y’all are so unhappy with my”single status “then I guess I can skip all the family gatherings while I’m single and so offensive).They were horrible,especially uncle Richard.

Humorously True!!

What did you love best about Declaring Spinsterhood?

The best friend "boyfriend" was a kind and honest character. It had a happy ending.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Declaring Spinsterhood?

When her potential lover she met comes to "talk her into " selling him her first edition Nancy Drew book! Slime ball!! Let's hear it for concealed carry!!

Have you listened to any of Johanna Parker’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Her characters came to life and were distinct. Sometimes when other narrators read you can't differentiate one character from another.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed several times! I really could "see" the situation though her inflection.

Any additional comments?

I've listened to over 400 books in the past 24 months. This book and narrator were great together!

Predictable

The story is very formulaic and has little depth. It reminded me of a 1980’s teen angst movie. While I realized at first look that this book was going to be a light easy read I did want a little invention within the storyline. Most of these books all end the same way – girl get guy, I only wished the journey had not felt so forced and convenient. The writing is passable but had no real flare or distinctive style. I was bored most of the time and only continued to read in hopes that it would get better. I can't recommend this book if you have another choice.

BAD BAD BAD

I see no reason why this book needs to be read by anyone. Spare yourself the agony now. Frankly I feel a bit duped by Audible for even offering such malarkey and/or forcing a one star review!!

Terribly Unlikeable Characters

Johanna Parker is a fantastic narrator and has narrated several exceptional books. She must not have read this book before narrating it. No one could read this twice.

The plot hinges on a declaration of spinsterhood by the main character. Thus the title. And she does "declare" it at lunch one Sunday. Then the book continues on exactly as before. Besides providing a few lines of dialog, the book totally ignores what was supposed to be the primary hook of the plot line.

The mother is emotionally abusive to the daughter. The father is one of those characters we are supposed to see as an upstanding moral Christian. Instead he is a mysogonist who thinks if his daughter would only carry a gun and find a man to guide her, no matter how big a tool the guy is, she would be worthy of his love. No one could be raised by these parents and emerge undamaged. And while the daughter gets angry at them, we are still suppose to believe they are good people worthy of the daughter's love. After all they are Christian, go to church every Sunday and the dad is a preacher. That must mean they are "good." Two words. Jim Jones.

On a blind date her loving mother made for her, her drunk date makes a sloppy attempt to grope and kiss her in a public place. Even though her dad was also a cop, she is totally helpless against the drunk groper. Her family response? Not -- take a self defense class. No. It is get a conceal and carry license so the next time your mother sets you up on a date with a drunk lech, you can blow his head off. This alone makes this book a great argument for gun control.

I could not finish the book. There could be no acceptable happy ending. And I was pretty sure the only satisfying ending, her parents getting killed in a violent shoot out, wasn't in the cards.