The Community

By: Elisabeth Bassini

Narrated by: Jack Nolan

Meet Cecilia, a young girl living in the strictly regulated world of the Community. For her and everyone else, feelings have been suppressed, and life revolves around predetermined paths. But everything changes when Cecilia stumbles upon four mysterious letters that reveal a hidden truth—a truth that shakes the very foundation of her existence.

As Cecilia embarks on a quest to uncover the secrets of her society, she is driven by a profound desire to liberate her fellow citizens. Her journey is filled with obstacles, challenges, and unexpected encounters. Along the way, she finds love and companionship, forming deep connections with others who share her longing for a life unrestrained by emotional suppression.

In this gripping tale of self-discovery and rebellion, Elisabeth Bassini masterfully weaves a narrative that will keep listeners at the edge of their seats. As Cecilia fights against a regime that seeks to control every aspect of its citizens' lives, she must also confront her own fears and uncertainties.Can she inspire change, even when faced with the risk of personal sacrifice?

©2023 Elisabeth Suzanne Bassini (P)2023 Elisabeth Suzanne Bassini

Very thrilling

I liked that I was drawn in at the very beginning. I would’ve liked to see Todd be a bit more suspicious of Cecilia in the beginning but overall it grabs your attention right away and keeps you interested right up until the end, I was also very satisfied with the ending as well. Would definitely like to see more by Elisabeth in the future

Another push to make you break away from it all.

Performance: I have to start by mentioning that I prefer to have the narrator's voice match the gender of the main character. I would have prefered a voice actor with a higher pitch to play Cecelia. Bias apart, Mr. Nolan does hit emotional notes just fine. He captures Cece's mood changes, but at times falls flat for male characters. The pacing goes great with the setting that the book is trying to build. The timbre of his voice was very pleasant in general, very relaxing and comfortable.

Story: We get detailed descriptions of the environments where the drama takes place and of the people involved. They become a little bit methodical as the plot advances though. Ms. Bassini did a great job at transporting us to the community. Yet, whether it be due to the nature of the story or an excessive focus on descriptions, there is a certain lack of attention-grabbing moments, especially at the end. We only get a brief glimpse of the final climactic moment, which could have used more "literary real-state" to propel the ending to a higher peak. Having said that, the novella really teases the part of you wanting to drift away from the monotony of life, and sparks a renewed confidence in your potential to make a positive impact in society. A nice read for a snowy winter night during the holidays.