I loved this book. The pacing feels so natural I hardly felt like I was listening to a book at all, felt like the narration was happening in the moment. WARNING: this book is filled with profanity and trauma and perverted jokes – if that’s not your speed, don’t drive on this highway.
This story does not feel new as far as premise but the manner in which it is written and the ongoing plot is FANTASTIC. If I had to pick my favorite dystopian novel, it’d be this one. Following Carl as he tries to keep his humanity, laughing with him the whole time? It feels relatable in this hamster-wheel society(in the US anyway). Personally I found the brutality just light enough not to depress me but not so casual as to feel intentionally dismissive. The same goes for the kinky humor, hilarious but not grotesque and in bad taste. The book is a true delight to listen to and as someone who has to regularly find connection to my elders through the ancient human art of oral tradition, I can confidently say that I have never been this entertained via an audiobook before. I love Carl and Princess Donut. And I just cannot sing the praises of the narrator enough— HE’S INCREDIBLE. Cannot wait to start the next book!