Dickinstein

By: Shannon Yarbrough

Narrated by: Maria Marquis

Length: 7 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

Science and Religion. Love and Hatred. Life and Death. It's all the same without poetry.

In the mid-1800s, at the encouragement of a dear friend, Emily Dickinson began writing poetry. Fewer than 12 of her poems were published while she was alive. The hundreds of poems for which Emily is known and celebrated today were almost lost at the hands of her sister, who was only fulfilling her dying sibling's wish.

Emily feared death. As she witnessed the numerous deaths of her close friends and loved ones throughout her life, she became a recluse, locking herself in her room and refusing visitors. Did Emily spend all that time in her room writing poetry? No! She was giving life back to the dead!

Years earlier, after observing a galvanism experiment in biology class, young Emily decides to build a "Second Life" apparatus that will give life back to small dead creatures she finds in her garden. Terrified that her discovery could be used for more dreadful purposes, she cherishes her success and keeps it a secret. But upon discovering that her dearest friend has passed quite suddenly, Emily's battle between science and spirituality begins, threatening to change her life forever!

In the spirit of other great mash-ups such as Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Shannon Yarbrough blends the story of Emily Dickinson with the classic Frankenstein, creating this chilling tale of Gothic horror: Dickinstein: Emily Dickinson - Mad Scientist!

©2013 Shannon Yarbrough (P)2021 Shannon Yarbrough

Well written

Story is well written with really good narration. Only issue is the story is a little slow. It doesn't really drag, but there definitely could have been a little more action. Good book nonetheless.

“I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.”

Dickinstein review

Both the writing and narration were incredibly impressive, the characters likable, the plot intriguing. Well worth the time.

The last enemy to be destroyed is death!

Shannon Yarbrough takes a unique and interesting look at Emily Dickenson’s life and poetry. Many of her poems dealt with themes of death and immortality, two recurring topics in letters to her friends, and also explore aesthetics, society, nature, and spirituality. With this base, Yarbrough progressed Emily’s interests into life after death, having her create a device called the Second Life Apparatus that brought the dead back to life; hence Dickenstein. Emily successfully reanimated insects and small animals at the beginning, to which she kept the utmost secret. Dr. Charles Wadsworth, a Presbyterian minister, captured Emily’s interest, sharing her secret with him. Leonard Humphrey, principal at Amherst Academy, had given Emily some of the materials used to create the apparatus. As she was out looking for a bird to use in her experiments she ran into Humphrey who became the second partaker of the secret. Another real-life, influential friend, Benjamin Newton played a leading role in Yarbrough’s tale. Early on, I had considered giving up on the story but something drew me in and I continued listening. The progression of Emily’s experiments piqued my interest, and I wondered if she would succumb to the ultimate test subject.

An immersive tale of creative power

An immersive tale of creative power and what it means. I was drawn in from the very first page of this astonishing story. Astonishing not only because of the research that had to have gone into the preparation of this work, but also the scope of the story and the author’s spot-on writing style and voice that calls to mind the classics. It was a pleasurable, compelling read (or in my case, listen, as I listened to the audiobook version) that kept me hooked throughout. I was struck by just how easily the plot grew, and seemed to be absolutely possible, given Emily’s passion for nature and obsession with life and the mystery of death. Utterly plausible, completely readable, and beautifully poetic. And this is no ordinary monster tale… I found myself emotionally invested in Emily’s conundrum, because it describes a theme so relevant to writers and artists of all kinds: what do I do with this creation of mine? What is my responsibility? Bravo to Shannon for this incredible work, and another bravo to Maria Marquis for the excellent narration. I highly recommend it.

Thoughtful Read

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. This book has brought me through a series of emotions that I was not expecting. I've re-listened to certain parts many times and they have inspired many interesting late night thoughts. It is certainly not a horror thriller, monster-zombies kind of book, but a book that has its own horrors - horrors of the mind. Personally, I do not know Emily Dickinson, or her poems, so fans might not like this fictional take as much, but I have enjoyed it greatly. There was so much life in the characters and the writing is very enjoyable. Narration by Maria Marquis is spectacular, she brought life to all the characters and had me so engrossed in the story. One of the best audio books I have heard so far.

Loved it!

I’ve been watching Dickinson on Apple TV and I absolutely loved it! It’s brilliant…. So I was super excited to listen to this as well. I was not disappointed. Exceptionally well written and thought out. You get some real aspects of her life as well as some fictional accounts. Inspired by Frankenstein’s monster after Emily reads the book she spirals down a quest to make a second life machine to return life to the animals and incests she loves so much. Emily makes a list of rules to follow and manages to balance her science with her faith.
Absolutely loved this story!
Narration by Maria Marquis was fabulous. I would definitely listen to more by her! Really enjoyed her!
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Dickinstein

I kept trying,but could not get through this book.I kept losing the plot.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.