Caught Up in the Rapture

By: Sheneska Jackson

Narrated by: Peter Francis James, Kim Staunton, Deon Graham

Length: 10 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

Sheneska Jackson made an impressive debut when this novel soared to the top of the Blackboard best seller list. Raised in the same Los Angeles neighborhood that is home to her vibrant characters, she expertly translates the gritty language and ambiance of the ’hood into a dazzling literary experience. When fate brings Jazmine and the X-Man together, the only thing they have in common is a dream to make it big in the music business. Jazmine, a college student, sings in the church choir and yearns for the courage to move away from her overprotective father. The X-Man, who packs a .38 and gets high with his homies, performs his own brand of gangsta rap in the street. Suddenly Black Tie Records discovers them both, and, amazingly enough, they discover each other.

These unlikely lovers are a good match, realizing their dreams together and helping each other find the best in themselves. But can their passionate love survive a world scarred with street violence and cut-throat ambition?

©1996 Sheneska Jackson (P)2001 Recorded Books, LLC

BEWARE: Triggering End

The author gave us three main characters in this novel. Jazmine, the heroine whose trying to live her life free of her extremely religious fathers rules. Xavier, the hero whose a gang banging expiring rapper. And Bobby Strong, the music executive with an increasing drug addiction.
For the most part I liked the story. There was more narration than I like in a book- I prefer more dialogue-but I stuck with it. I liked Jazmine for the most part, though her naïveté was a bit annoying. I DID NOT like Xavier aka X-Man. He was unlikable through more than 80% of the book. His overuse of derogatory references when it came to women was too much. Many times I was going to stop listening. I’m no snowflake by any measure, but it was too much. He was an awful guy (mostly) and his relationship with Jazmine felt unbelievable and unearned.
My biggest problem with this book was how Booby Strong was written. He was actually the most interesting character in the book and his villainous turn made no sense. He went from being a hardworking, loving husband and father to being a drug addicted rapist🤨 His treatment in the book felt like lazy writing and I was incredibly disappointed by the end. Why give us so much of his history and upbringing just to turn him into some kind of one dimensional cartoonish bad guy? Also, had I known that a rape would occur in the last thirty minutes of this novel, I never would’ve started the over ten hour listen. I HATED having to read/hear that. I absolutely would not recommend this novel.

The narrators did a good job with the material.

Awesome book

This book is amazing!!!! I loved it from beginning to end. Sheneska Jackson is a brilliant writer!!!

Kept me listening

What made the experience of listening to Caught Up in the Rapture the most enjoyable?

I really enjoyed Deon Graham's voice as Xman. Damn, he sounded sexy good. The story was good though. It felt familiar, so it really had me listening to see what was going to happen next. I couldn't wait for it to end, but in the good way.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Caught Up in the Rapture?

The most memorable moment was wondering what happened to Jasmine after she took X's car.

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

Deon Graham really sounded like a hard street rapper. And again he sounded good. I especially like when he did his little flow at the beginning of one of those chapters.
I always love Kim Staunton. I had never heard her in a role like this but she was good too.

Any additional comments?

Peter Francis James' parts were a little slow, but this was a good listen.

loved it

I have an hour commute to work so I listen when driving. this book was awesome. not as funny as Lil mommas rules but good just the same. it held my attention and I hated for it to end!!