The Gunners

By: Rebecca Kauffman

Narrated by: Michael David Axtell

Length: 8 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

Following on her wonderfully received first novel, Another Place You've Never Been, called "mesmerizing", "powerful", and "gorgeous" by critics all over the country, Rebecca Kauffman returns with Mikey Callahan, a 30-year-old who is suffering from the clouded vision of macular degeneration. He struggles to establish human connections - even his emotional life is a blur.

As the novel begins, he is reconnecting with "The Gunners", his group of childhood friends, after one of their members has committed suicide. Sally had distanced herself from all of them before ending her life, and she died harboring secrets about the group and its individuals. Mikey especially needs to confront dark secrets about his own past and his father. How much of this darkness accounts for the emotional stupor Mikey is suffering from as he reaches his maturity? And can The Gunners, prompted by Sally's death, find their way to a new day? The core of this adventure, made by Mikey, Alice, Lynn, Jimmy, and Sam, becomes a search for the core of truth, friendship, and forgiveness.

A quietly startling, beautiful book, The Gunners engages us with vividly unforgettable characters, and advances Rebecca Kauffman's place as one of the most important young writers of her generation.

©2018 Rebecca Kauffman (P)2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

the big chill kinda story

first, I like the narrator. second, I like the story. as a lower middle class kid who's boy and girl friends were family, i immediately related to this. I love reading classics, but sometimes I don't get rich people, English countrysides and college pressures. sometimes I want to read about people with my kinda life, but not a poverty sob story. and this was it. beautiful characters, and a neat unique story.
thanks for reading

Touching and Real

I listened to this novel during a very emotional period in my life but it is quite perfect. No fairy tale happy ending or miraculous, improbable events but just the experiences and journies of a group of very dear friends. It doesn't tie up in a pretty little bow and leaves unanswered questions but then doesn't life usually?

Que bochinche!

This was a great listen. I was hooked all the way through. The narrator did an amazing job and kept me engaged with the plot and the #tea.

The ending was a bit underwhelming. I feel like nothing actually came out of it.

Amazing story and narrator!

Thank you GR friend Elyse for steering me to “The Gunners” by Rebecca Kauffman. This is one that leaves you gut-punched in so many ways.

A group of latchkey kids from the scrappier part of Buffalo NY (Lackawanna) form a “club” in an old, abandoned house near their homes. The children are neighbors; they ride the school bus together, most of them are in the same grade. Kauffman writes them exactly how children are: plain, basic, outspoken, fearful, worried, and innocent. Their group tries to suss out how to grow up. It’s her style of writing that sneaks up on you. Although it’s literary fiction, the children’s conversations are authentically simple and straight-forward.

The story begins with a funeral. The Gunners are grown, 30 years-old now, with only one (Mikey) still living in the area. As they group together, they each feel as though they bear some responsibility to the death of Sally, who abruptly broke off contact with their group Junior year of high school. From the start, Kauffman provides the reader with Sally’s difficult home environment. She’s not the only one existing in a sad home. Mikey, who is the protagonist of the story, is a character that the reader feels all his emotions. He’s 6 when Alice finds the abandoned home and collects the group together. Sally and Mikey are best friends. Alice is the group leader; although bossy and blunt, she has a way of keeping everyone together. Lynn is a redheaded pianist. Jimmy and Sam are blonde boys who complete the group.

The story is told by switching between the funeral, a time when they are 30 years old, and their history: how they grew up and became childhood best friends. What Kauffman does so well is show how kids don’t need to completely understand their world or their friend’s world. They understand stress and instability. They have compassion for one another. They get by.

It is at the funeral that, as adults, the friends get together and piece together their lives. The group chats and there are some shocking reveals. Mickey especially struggles with new information (as did I). The group struggles with Mikey’s revelation of his early onset macular degeneration.

Kauffman shows how tight-knit childhood friends can form lifetime friendships that include support and emotional understanding.

I will remember Mikey and Sally for a very long time!

I listened to the audible audiobook narrated by Michael David Axtell. It’s an 8 hour listen and was an audible freebee.

The big chill

I assume she had just watched The Big Chill before she wrote this. They are mirror images minus a few things.

cried several times

I'm glad I didn't skip this book. It made me miss my mom, I hadn't felt that sharp a heartache in a while. Don"t let my sentimentality get in the way though. The story was refreshingly different.

Keeps You Listening

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

Yes, I loved this book and it is great for someone who doesn't usually like audiobooks.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Gunners?

Last paragaphs

Which character – as performed by Michael David Axtell – was your favorite?

Mikey was my favorite but I also enjoyed Jimmy's story.

Any additional comments?

This was a great book. It was my first audiobook I could actually finish. I found myself listening any chance I got!

Hidden gem

I found this book by accident on Audible and it was just amazing! The pace of the story line and the breakthrough that each character has was just stunning!

Michael David Axtell as a narrative was just a perfect marriage. It is nothing short of brilliant how he can transition to different characters without the unnecessary change of voices.

excellent engaging read

loved it, not predictable, good character development. dealth with family secrets and dysfunction in a realistic manner.

So enjoyable...

What a beautiful portrayal of deep and long lasting friendships. Great performance as well by Mr. Axtell - highly recommend.