The Husbands
By Chandler Baker
Narrated by Allyson Ryan
THE WALKING BOOK CLUB SNEAKER RATINGS:
Motivation to Move: 4.5 Sneakers
Quality of Narration: 4.5 Sneakers
Overall Experience: 4.5 Sneakers
Moving and listening time: 14 hours 13 minutes. 1.3 – 1.4 x narration speed for 12 hours active time.
AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: JUMP ON AND ENJOY THE RIDE.
It’s tough to pinpoint exact adjectives for The Husbands — tongue-in-cheek, science-fiction, humor, thriller, thought-provoking, timely, and probably a few more. I found it was easier to just jump on the wild ride of The Husbands and enjoy.
Just as in The Whisper Network, Chandler Baker makes you stop and think. What would equality look like in a modern-day marriage? I found myself remarking at the dinner party scene. “Asher rises to collect the group’s salad plates.” The action, so small, hit home. The husband cleared the table of the guest’s dishes. Odd or natural? But if the roles were reversed and the wife got up to prepare for the next course, would it seem so unnatural?
It’s those scenes and dialogue peppered into the story that give pause and make you reflect on stereotypes.
Why can’t we take The Stepford Wives and flip the premise? What thoughts and feelings does it evoke to the audiobook listener on modern-day marriage? That’s why I suggest not trying to overthink each chapter and hold on for a wild ride.
When you get to the end, and the ride attendant asks if you want another round, your head might be a little dizzy, and you might feel a little uneasy; your answer will likely be “yes.” So will you need another round to process — fiction? Science fiction? Mystery? Humor? Irony?
Good news, though, The Husbands has already been picked up for production starring Kristin Wiig, six weeks before the book’s official release on August 3rd. I anticipate The Husbands will make for a great movie and great dialogue for book clubs. So grab a glass of wine, hop on and then opine.
Regarding narration, Allyson Ryan does a nice job and moves easily between character voices. Thanks, Macmillan, for the opportunity to review.
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