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

By: Barbara Venkataraman

Narrated by: Carrie Lee Martz

Length: 42 mins

Publisher's summary

"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.

Best 42 mins EVER!

If You’d Just Listened to Me in the First Place… by Barbara Venkataraman, was the funniest 42 mins I have listen to in quite a while. I felt that it I was listening to my own life of a rambling voice except in a southern accent. At least this what my husband told me as Ella’s husband told her. Barbara takes what some of us only wish we could put down in writing. The narrator Carrie Lee Martz southern accent was so perfect for this short story. Taking Barbara’s story from Ella’s young youth and her best friend. The ideas she always got them in and never went well. When Ella meets her now husband in the current life. She continues her many jobs. Each one so funny from start to going on the next one. I do hope that there is a follow up to this hilarious story!

This story was provided to me by the author for an honest review. So all my views are my own and all I can say, “Get it and listen for a great laugh and wishing that there was more of it!”

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.

Most enjoyable thing I’ve read in years.

In the interest of full disclosure I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

I rarely give a book 5 out of 5 stars. This was absolutely deserving. It’s hilariously funny and very cute.

The audio performance was excellent. Just flawless. A great short story with a great audio performance. What else can one ask for?

I love the ending I was laughing and crying and just happy. It’s just a really good short story. I’m so glad to have had the opportunity to have listened to it. It’s absolutely one of the best things I’ve read in a long time.

Get yourself a copy and enjoy it!

Fun light hearted story

Carrie Lee Martz brings the characters to life with her performance. The author Barbara Venkataraman has a fun little story here. Two stubborn males who think that they are right. One woman who knows she is right just has to get these two on the same page. A quick read but a bright spot in your day especially if you need a laugh.

Fun!

Light, quick read. Very good short story. Love author's tone and style. Will look for more of her work.

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.

Southern humor

This story had me laughing from the get go. The southern drawl was awesome love that it was a short story would love to have more from this reader.
I received this free for an honest review.

This story is a GEM..!

I loved it. Ella is hilarious. This story is the epitome of the southerners I know. It reminded me of everyone I know back home. We like to talk A LOT. Listening to this audiobook was kind of like listening to an old friend.

I hope Barbara Venkataraman keeps writing these great stories. They ring so true to life. Ella, Charlie, Captain Jack and the barnacle scrapers. I liked it when she told Charlie to stop laughing at her when she said she was going to college for Culinary Arts.

Carrie Lee Martz is great! I love her southern drawl. It must be natural and if it's not, she nailed it. She does a wonderful job in this story and I look forward to more from both.

Audiobook gifted in exchange for honest review.

Short but cute

I received a free copy of the audiobook for an honest review.

This audiobook was short but cute. It wasn’t laugh out loud funny but I enjoyed it. I’ve read and listened to several of Barbara Venkataraman’s books and she has a great sense of humor.

The narrator, Ella, tells about how she met her husband, Charlie, as well as the many jobs she had before she found her true calling (I’d never heard of a barnacle cleaner before), and the relationship between Charlie and his dad. It’s all told matter-of-factly in a Louisiana accent.

If you’re looking for a quick pick me up, If You’d Just Listened to Me in the First Place… will be sure to make you smile.