The Incurables

De: Jon Bassoff

Narrado por: Richard Rieman

The year is 1953. Disgraced in the psychiatric hospital where he'd practiced for nearly 30 years, Dr. Walter Freeman has taken to traversing the country and proselyting about a very new kind of salvation: the transorbitol lobotomy. With an ice pick and a hammer, Freeman promises to cure depression and catatonia, delusions and psychosis, with a procedure as simple and safe as curing a toothache.

When he enters the backwater Oklahoma town of Burnwood, however, his own sanity will be tested. Around him swirls a degenerate and delusional cast of characters: a preacher who believes his son to be the Messiah, a demented and violent young prostitute, and a trio of machete-wielding brothers, all weaved into a grotesque narrative that reveals how blind faith in anything can lead to destruction.

©2015 Jon Bassoff (P)2016 Jon Bassoff

Creepy and captivating

Great thriller lots of blood and gore. Moderate story with creepy characters. Decent Plot twists. Will keep you listening. A few of his other books have been made into movies. Very interested in checking those out. I received this audiobook from the author narrator or publisher for free via audiobookboom in exchange for an unbiased review

Not bad, but not great

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

This book is well written and thought provoking, and I did listen to it to the end. I didn't dislike this book, but at the same time it did not make my favourites list.

I did enjoy the various bleak themes in this book. The stories flow at a good pace, and I was pleased when the stories of the different characters finally converged.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

My favourite character in this book is Scent. She is a teenage prostitute that does not know a life beyond destitution. She hates having to prostitute herself in order to just barely make ends meet, and she grows increasingly desperate for a chance at a better life.

Least interesting aspect... there is a lot of preachy Christian moments in this book that I had to skip over. I skipped a few chapters and ended a few chapters early because of that.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

Jon Bassoff's performance was okay. There were a few moments where he narrated the voice of Scent's mother (baby) that made me cringe, though.

Do you think The Incurables needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No. I actually liked the ending for this book (though I do love grim endings to horror stories), and I thought everything was wrapped up nicely.

Any additional comments?

This audiobook was given by the narrator at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Boom.

Good, but left me a lot of questions.

What made the experience of listening to The Incurables the most enjoyable?

The narration was very well done.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Interesting to think of the times when these labotomy procedures were common. Scary, what was done.

What does Richard Rieman bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Not a whole lot. I think of myself as a reader, not a listener. This audiobooks experience is new to me.

If you could take any character from The Incurables out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Anyone of the people at the end that called him the messiah. I love the whole subject of the messiah and his coming. I would love to hear other's take on the subject and why from there perspective.

Crazy story

What would have made The Incurables better?

It was a decent story, well worth the time

What could Jon Bassoff have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Very enjoyable narration

What does Richard Rieman bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He brings out the creepiness from all the characters

Any additional comments?

"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of Audiobook Boom."

Holy Smokes

This audiobook was phenomenal! The story was so dark, but yet so powerful! The idea that faith and delusion can be so confused is astounding. The author did a tremendous job at shedding light on mental health in the 50's and how no one knew exactly how to react to depression, anxiety, or even grief! Such an amazing job done by the narrator. The voices he used and the inflection in his performance was mesmerizing. #AudioShelf