These Gentle Wounds

De: Helene Dunbar

Narrado por: Brian Rollins

Sometimes I wish I'd lost a leg or something. Everyone can understand that. They never get it when what's been broken is inside your head.

Five years after an unspeakable tragedy that changed him forever, Gordie Allen has made a new home with his half-brother Kevin. Their arrangement works since Kevin is the only person who can protect Gordie at school and keep him focused on getting his life back on track.

But just when it seems like things are becoming normal, Gordie's biological father comes back into the picture, demanding a place in his life. Now there's nothing to stop Gordie from falling into a tailspin that could cost him everything - including his relationship with Sarah, the first girl he's trusted with the truth. With his world spinning out of control, the only one who can help Gordie is himself - if he can find the strength to confront the past and take back his future.

©2014 Helene Dunbar (P)2014 Helene Dunbar

Coping with Trauma

This is a moving story about Gordie. Gordie is a teenaged boy who suffers deep emotional scars due to a traumatic event that happened when he was younger. I don't feel that this is a spoiler to say that his mother tried to drown him because the story is more about how he's forced to cope with the after effects of such an unspeakable act.

Told in first person and with a great voice actor, this is a sad but good story. He lives with constant panic attacks and fear and he learns some coping skills. He tries to have as much of a normal life as he can with the help of his brother, even having a girlfriend but his dad looms in the background threatening to enter his life again.

I listened to "These Gentle Wounds" written by Helene Dunbar and would recommend this audiobook for a good study in how the selfish and cruel actions of some can affect a person's entire being.

About the narrator: Brian Rollins did an excellent job portraying Gordie. He spoke in a quick and clear style that made me believe the story. He's a great voice actor in the teen YA genre and I look forward to hearing more from him in the future.

Audiobook gifted in exchange for review

interesting story about a hurt teen

If I hadn't received this as a free audiobook, I never would have read it. It's just not normally my kind of book. Having said that, it was actually OK. I felt for the main character and wanted him to succeed.

I enjoyed the narration of the book. This is actually the second book by this narrator I've listened to. I think he was a good fit for this book.

Loved it

I did not expect to love this book. It is a story that will warm your heart as a young man deals with his ptsd and the evils in his life. After hearing this book you will love Gordie!

Powerful YA Tale

What did you love best about These Gentle Wounds?

The main character, Gordie, is a tragic young man that's sympathetic without being whiny and weak like so many are in these types of stories. You feel like while he's gotten the short end of the stick, he's trying to make things work.

What did you like best about this story?

I didn't see Jordan's character and that twist coming. It was a great motivator for Gordie.

What does Brian Rollins bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The raw emotion of the characters, particularly Gordie, Kevin, and Jordan. It made an already moving tale even more emotional.

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

I got choked up after the climax. You know kids go through this sort of stuff and it was great to see them overcome adversity.

Any additional comments?

Ms. Dunbar's story and Mr. Rollins' narration go hand-in-glove. I hope to hear them collaborate on more works.

Like a trauma zoo; listen safely from behind glass

You don't need to have experienced severe or mild trauma as an adolescent to be quickly and fully immersed in Gordie's struggles with his birth family, his adoptive family, school classmates, and social workers. Expertly described in tactile detail, Helene Dunbar provides an immediately relatable story of fears and nervous ticks, thoughts of flight and self destruction. Gordie's inner thoughts resonate in clear and straightforward language as he tries to reconcile past tragedy and self worth. Brian Rollins provides exceptional voice work with stress, tension, dismay, and confusion all beautifully coordinated with the story's pacing and teenage characters. A listen worthy of your time, and a better understanding of PTSD. [disclosure: I received this title for free and listened at 1.85x]

Deals with PTSD

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Despite the dark subject matter of THESE GENTLE WOUNDS, Gordie's story is survivable, even in it's horrible sadness... and it needs to be survivable for Gordie to find his way through the aftermath. The story is very compelling and the narrator added depth to this audiobook.

Beautifully Tragic Tale

What did you love best about These Gentle Wounds?

I wasn't sure what to expect, but I wasn't disappointed. This is a well-written teenage story. No over-wrought emotions here, this kid is clearly suffering from severe PTSD, but managing it and not using it as an excuse for not living life. Powerful

What did you like best about this story?

Gordie and his brother were truly brothers. They act like real brothers. They fight, they bicker, but in the end, they have each others' backs.

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

This was very different from the last book I listened to, Errors and Omissions. What a range! From hard-boiled gay detectives to traumatized teenagers. Mr. Rollins is a narrator to watch for in the coming years.

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

"Mend With Care"

Any additional comments?

I hope Ms. Dunbar plans to put other books out in audio. And I hope she uses Mr. Rollins again. His somber voice matched her melancholy words beautifully.