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Neat  By  cover art

Neat

By: Charlayne Woodard
Narrated by: Charlayne Woodard
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Editorial reviews

Charlayne Woodard's full-length stage monologue of her youthful impressions of her retarded aunt Beneatha, who seems to have perished young when she tried to fly off a precipice, begins at an amazing pitch of energy, which she more amazingly sustains throughout. She enthralls the listener - as writer and performer - with consummate theatricality, expertly orchestrating tensions, rhythms, humor, and pathos. She manages to make experiences peculiar to middle-class African-American Baby Boomers seem familiar to Americans of other backgrounds. The overall excellence of this production almost completely obscures its flaws: a manipulative, sentimental script and a performance that almost tries too hard.

Publisher's summary

In Neat, writer/performer Charlayne Woodard shares her memories of growing up black in America in the '60s and '70s. The play focuses around the life of Woodard's Aunt Beneatha, Neat, who was mistakenly fed camphor oil as a baby, resulting in permanent brain damage. Alternating between Neat's home in Savannah, GA and Albany, NY, where Woodard was raised, stories of family and of time spent with Neat are weaved together with touching results.
(P)2000 L.A. Theatre Works

What listeners say about Neat

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A Must Read

Neat is one of the best audible books I have listened to in years. Charlayne does an absolutely fantastic job of reading her own book. I have not laughed out loud so much when reading/listening to a book in forever. I am a member of a book club and I have the month of February (African American History month). I am the only African American in my book club and always choose February to add a little flava...to the line up. This will indeed be our February selection. I will encourage them to listen to it rather than read the book.
Good on you Charlayne. I am downloading another of yours immediatley.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Moving me to tears, suprise ending.

Would you listen to Neat again? Why?

Yes I would. In order to make sure I have not missed anything. It was a moving story for me.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Neat?

The end of the story was suprising.

Which character – as performed by Charlayne Woodard – was your favorite?

Neat

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

When Neat had the baby.


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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    out of 5 stars

Truly Enjoyed

Very entertaining

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Perfect

Loved it! Short but very sweet remembrance of the good ole days. Wished it was longer?

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A must listen for lovers of theater

Am absolutely phenomenal story and a stunning performance!!! I would highly recommend this audiobook to any lover of theater.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome!!!

I wish it was longer I enjoyed it soooooo much!!!! I 'm so glad the shortness of the book did not keep from listening to this great book, no regrets!!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Nana

In order to relate to Charlayne you would have to walk in her shoes. People that are blindsided to this way of life will enjoy this book. It’s an eye opener.

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