Spook

Science Tackles the Afterlife

By: Mary Roach

Narrated by: Bernadette Quigley

"What happens when we die? Does the light just go out and that's that - the million-year nap? Or will some part of my personality, my me-ness persist? What will that feel like? What will I do all day? Is there a place to plug in my laptop?"

In an attempt to find out, Mary Roach brings her tireless curiosity to bear on an array of contemporary and historical soul-searchers: scientists, schemers, engineers, mediums, all trying to prove (or disprove) that life goes on after we die. She begins the journey in rural India with a reincarnation researcher and ends up in a University of Virginia operating room where cardiologists have installed equipment near the ceiling to study out-of-body near-death experiences. Along the way, she enrolls in an English medium school, gets electromagnetically haunted at a university in Ontario, and visits a Duke University professor with a plan to weigh the consciousness of a leech. Her historical wanderings unearth soul-seeking philosophers who rummaged through cadavers and calves' heads, a North Carolina lawsuit that established legal precedence for ghosts, and the last surviving sample of "ectoplasm" in a Cambridge University archive.

©2005 Mary Roach (P)2005 Brilliance Audio

What? A Comedy?

I thought this would be an interesting listen about afterlife and ghosts - you know stuff for long boring car rides. The opening of the book which is very slow follows our author in India while looking into reincarnation. The narration was very unusual and I could not figure out the tone of the book - it certainly was not what I was expecting. I stopped listening to in fact. Then I gave it another chance, it turned into one of the funniest books I have listened to as the author exhaustively goes through the history of mediums and ghost hunting in general. I have recommended it to family members with the warning about a tedious start. All have agreed it is hilarious - unintentionally or not. I can understand why folks are upset though - but as far as historical comedy and satire goes the subject is loaded with great(silly)potential.

Sound quality was not very good.

What made the experience of listening to Spook the most enjoyable?

I'm afraid this was not as good as stiff, but still quite informative.
I believe the subject matter wasn't as interesting as one might think.

What did you like best about this story?

Mary Roach is excellent

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Bernadette Quigley?

The narrator who performed on stiff was excellent.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No

Hasn't aged well

I loved "Stiff" by Mary Roach when I read it, and "Bonk" was just okay. "Spook" had several interesting sections, but the author's sparky, wry humor lost its charm for me when she aimed it at beliefs of the Hindu religion (and the names of so many people, for some reason)--and in this audiobook production, the white female narrator delivers an Apu-style fake Indian accent that had me cringing for the whole chapter.

Not much rhere

I'd listened to Fuzz and very much enjoyed it. it was funny and human and the author herself read it in a charming, non-actor way. Spook felt less substantial and less amusing, though I feel the main difference was the narrator. I won't go into detail on it out of kindness and respect for the difficulty of the job in general and if science in particular.

Better read than listened to

I like Mary Roach partly for her skepticism, it's true. But while I don't want to be hurtful to the performer, I had a hard time listening to the snide, snarky tone that sounded like the schoolyard bullying that I hear in the hallways of the middle school where I work. It undermined the value of the book.

Could've done with a different narrator

If you could sum up Spook in three words, what would they be?

tongue-in-cheek

Would you ever listen to anything by Mary Roach again?

I'm not to sure if I'd purchase an audible or hard copy of any of Mary Roach's books again. I still haven't decided if it was the narrator I didn't enjoy or the actual content.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Bernadette Quigley?

I have no idea who I would've cast as a narrator, but it sure as hell wouldn't have been Bernadette Quigley. I COULD NOT stand the snotty way she interpreted Mary Roach's opinions. Nor could I stand the way she felt the need to use an accent for every person that is quoted in the book. Specifically, the Middle Eastern doctor in the chapter about reincarnation. Totally and absolutely obnoxious.

If you could give Spook a new subtitle, what would it be?

Spook: When a close-minded skeptic continues being a close-minded skeptic

Any additional comments?

I only finished this audio book because I paid for it. Otherwise, it wouldn't been deleted after chapter two. The only things I actually enjoyed were learning about some of the scientific/medical aspects of the search for the afterlife.

Narrator Ruins Book

Would you try another book from Mary Roach and/or Bernadette Quigley?

I love Mary Roach. I hate this snarky, superior, judgmental narrator. She absolutely ruined this book for me.

Would you be willing to try another one of Bernadette Quigley’s performances?

NO!

Not what I expected but worth a listen

What did you love best about Spook?

Humor

What other book might you compare Spook to and why?

Any of Mary Roach's books

Which character – as performed by Bernadette Quigley – was your favorite?

I didn't realize the narrator was not the author until after I finished the book. She very convincingly made the words her own.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. Sometimes the chapters felt fluffed, with a lot of information that was not necessary.

Any additional comments?

I did enjoy the book and the narrator, but I liked it less than some of Mary Roach's other books.

I wanted to love this book...

The subject matter is fascinating, but Roach sometimes dwells a bit too much on the particular ins and outs of studies. Roach's humor is always appreciated, but when read by the narrator it comes off as corny and sarcastic. Still this book is well-researched, and well worth a listen.

Another great read from Mary Roach

As usual, Roach’s writing is engaging and her research impeccable. Unfortunately, the narrator tries too hard to be emotive and enthusiastic. It comes across feeling false.
I would not buy another book narrated by Bernadette Quigley. Her performance changed my rating from five stars to three.