Wretched

By: Lynn Lowther

Narrated by: Elizabeth Semida

Length: 13 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

My body and soul are weak, and I am tired. I close my eyes and lie back on my bed. I dream of the past. My thoughts bringing back memories of trees, flowers and my fiance. He is waiting for me at the alter. It is the day I will marry the love of my life. I turn to walk outside the house. My breath is captured by a strange smell. I try to fight it but the drug is to strong. Darkness overcomes my consciousness.

I leap from my bed, my heart pounding, as my sweet dream is stolen by reality. My feet embed into the rat dropping and mud that once was carpet. I glance around. The dungeon remains dark and dreary. I let out a loud sigh.

I try to convince myself that today will be the day I escape. The sound of foot steps overtake the silence of the room. My heart skips a beat. I run to the middle of the room and take my position. Sitting on my knees, my hands tucked beneath me. This is the way I am to meet my captor and if this is not done I know the consequences will be dire.

©2013 Lynn Lowther (P)2013 Spore Press LLC

Save yourself AND your credit!

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

If I were a precocious 12 year old girl, I might find it interesting.

What could Lynn Lowther have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

The premise wasn't completely terrible and maybe there are contractions in the print version, but this audio version has practically no contractions which lends itself to being read in a stilted manner.

Character reactions, seem to me, to be completely unrealistic. The story is told from the perspective of a late 20's woman. As I listened, I thought that if the writer were a 12 year old girl imagining what it would be like to be that much older, it might make sense. Truly, the writing comes across as an early teenager attempting to find a voice through the use of impossible situations and inappropriate use of adjectives. An "immortal voice?" What is that? Ugh!!!

How could the performance have been better?

The editing is spotty. Several times throughout the book, the same phrases are repeated. It made an already challenging (not in a good way) listen that much more difficult to get through.

I generally tend to lay a poor performance in the lap of the director. The reader chosen for this book would be better suited to read books geared toward a much younger audience.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Wretched?

If I could play editor, I would've required the author to scrap most of what was actually written and begin again.

Any additional comments?

I wanted to like this book, but the combination of things that didn't make sense, coupled with editing and performance issues made it impossible.