If You'd Just Listened to Me in the First Place...

By: Barbara Venkataraman

Narrated by: Carrie Lee Martz

"Nagging just sounds so negative, and I am not a negative person. Truth is, I'm the kind of person you'd ask for directions if you were lost, or tell your life story to while waiting in line at the grocery store, which has happened on more than one occasion, believe me."

Sure, Ella Boudreaux is great at nagging - in fact, she's the best - but where has it gotten her?

Nowhere, that's where.

She can't hold onto a job and she can't find her true calling, but she knows it's out there. Could a handsome stranger help her find her destiny? Or maybe he was her destiny...

©2013 Barbara Venkataraman (P)2015 Barbara Venkataraman

Laugh your chores away!

I listened to this fun while doing chores and it was like having a friend from NOLA on speakerphone! The narrator added the right touch to the first person ramble about some of the jobs she's had and how she met and managed her husband, especially the way she turned aside to ask him for verification on a few things. It's really a hoot and a howl!
I got it as Whispersync on the cheap.

Another Venkataraman gem!

Only talented, versatile author Barbara Venkataraman (and fabulous narrator Carrie Lee Martz) could put so much fun and wit into a 42-minute audiobook. ‘If You’d Just Listened to Me in the First Place’ is so funny, Ella Boudreaux crazily charming, every word so perfectly chosen. All of which made this story perfect for my daily walk: grins became chuckles which turned into guffaws and belly laughs. The perfect thing to make you start your day with a smile.

Ella is one of those people you see talking to someone near you in the grocery store, and you’re kind of afraid to make eye contact, because you are pretty sure that once she starts talking she won’t stop. Ella has a lot to say, just ask her, has lots of opinions, whether you ask her for them or not, and she’s not afraid to share. She says she’s not a negative person, and it’s true, she’s not, but she comes with a lot of warnings and cautions and absolutely no filter on what she tells you. Ella may be a real nagger, but really, who among us hasn’t thought at some time, “If you had only listened to me in the first place . . . . ”

Good thing Ella’s not a negative person because she’s been through almost every job imaginable, culminating in her current job, the job to beat all jobs: cleaning barnacles. Somehow she’s always gotten sidetracked on the job and it just doesn’t work out. But even when it doesn’t, she finds the bright side and some little snippet to take away. And she shares those snippets with us, as well as delightful little glimpses into her talking to and talking about husband Charlie and why that barnacle-cleaning job might have been the best one of all.

Everything Venkataraman writes is supremely readable, engaging, and deceptively thoughtful. The accents, the comical scenes, the you-are-there feeling you get with every single thing this author writes just brighten your day. So my recommendation is that you read every single thing this author writes. I was given an audio copy of ‘If You’d Just Listened to Me in the First Place’ from the author. Absolutely delightful. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.

Chuckles

Would you listen to If You'd Just Listened to Me in the First Place... again? Why?

Yes, it is amusing and I will laugh again.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Captain as that is the only name that immediately comes to mind.

What about Carrie Lee Martz’s performance did you like?

Her Southern accent added charm to the stories.

If you could rename If You'd Just Listened to Me in the First Place..., what would you call it?

Why I married Charlie. Another name came to mind.

Any additional comments?

More, please. Reduces road rage. I can't be angry at other drivers while laughing.

Funny Book

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Another funny book written by Barbara Venkataraman. I found her audiobooks very relaxing to listen tol

Cute story

Funny short story about a young woman looking for her perfect job and finding a husband too. From scrapping barnacles to selling magazines as a telemarketer, each episode is told with humor and a willingness to try new things.

Because of the length of this audio book, I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had read it as opposed to listening.