Review: An interesting read
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 03 15, 2014
Please note: An audio book was provided for review purposes by the author. All views and opinions are my own. I am not compensated in any shape, form or manner. Agreeing to reading a book does not guarantee a review, it doesn't mean that I'll enjoy it, or that I will even finish it. This review is also on Amazon's audible site.This was a first for me where audio books are concerned. I'm funny in that I hate stories being read to me. The thing about reading novels is that in my head they paint a picture. Now this has got me singing Valerie by Amy Winehouse! Anyway, I love the pictures in my head, I like how my mind describes characters to me, and I like the way these characters' voices sound in this complex head of mine. Our minds/brains are quite amazing this way. So, it was with some trepidation that I agreed to (read) listen to this audio book. I also have to mention that I was freaking out in regards to how the narrator would portray the story. With these niggly things plaguing me, I sat down and hit play.To be honest, at first it was weird... like really weird. I couldn't settle down. It felt like something was wrong. I was just sitting there, feeling totally lost. And please don't think it was the narrator as surprisingly enough, I thought she did an awesome job as a whole, but especially with baby Natasha's voice - it was creepy, as it should be. So, props to professional voice artist, Karin Allers, for the narration. There was however something lacking as I listened throughout the story and after much thought - and lots of back and forth - I finally clicked what it was. I'll mention this at the end of my review.This is a horror story, and when I closed my eyes, most especially from chapter 14 onwards, there were lots of things that gave me chills. As you've gathered from the blurb, baby Natasha is five months old. Her father, Neal Becker, thinks she's out to get him. He also periodically thinks he might be going nuts, but darn if he doesn't hear her speaking. No five month old baby speaks let alone pronounce words perfectly - not like she does. Neal thinks he knows why this is happening, and it's all because he never wanted Annie to have her. He had wanted Annie to abort and on thinking back to when they were doing the deed, he chastises himself for not pulling out just one measly second earlier. He'd had no choice but to abandon his medical studies and marry Annie. Never a good thing as they're both resentful. That much is evident. Neal now delivers flowers - it's a job - and he has a family to support. Baby Talk opens with how book two pretty much ends, but with the added court case.The first time Natasha spoke, Neal just about had a heart attack. When he tells Annie she spoke, Annie obviously thinks (as we would) that the baby gurgled or made an innocuous sound, as babies do, but when Neal tells her she spoke actual words, Annie is disbelieving. Horrible things happen throughout the story with Neal injuring his foot on a trophy, for which he blames Natasha for having placed there, to Annie having an accident and all sorts of other gory things. Neal's job is on the line as his boss is quite strange and suspicious (as are all the family - it's a family run business) all the time, to things Neal ends up doing to baby Natasha out of desperation and because he's going crazy. I can't go into too much detail as I'd then just give everything away for those who'd like to read Baby Talk. I will say that Neal is right and the baby is evil, but the baby had a plan all along. The ending was as I suspected - some will say predictable - but this was its intention.To sum up my thoughts on this book, I enjoyed this story. It wasn't as scary as I thought it would be, and I wouldn't call it a horror per say; not as an audio book. These types of stories, I think, again this is a personal choice, should be read not heard. I believe that because it was an audio book, it took a lot of the angst and horror factor away from me. As I mentioned when I started this review, I love hearing the voices my mind creates within my head, because you all know that when we read, every character's voice is different and a male voice is a male voice - it's deep and when needed, forceful. This is what I found lacking. A female voice can emulate lots of things from babies to old ladies, young girls et cetera, but it can't always emulate a man's or hit on the exact tone. It comes close, though, yet it's not the same thing. Maybe this is something authors should ponder over when thinking about turning their stories into audio books. Whether a book is narrated by a male or female, always have one or the other to narrate particular tones and characters. This would make a huge difference. It would without a doubt make the listener that much more intrigued, and the characters themselves that much more believable. There are quite a few male characters in this book, and a male voice would have been appreciated when needed. At the end, the author himself thanks readers. Mike Wells (if he doesn't mind me saying) has a good, deep and pleasant voice. Yes, that's a hint. Something to think about. With all of this said, I will admit that in certain circumstances it was quite amazing how much I managed to get done while listening to Baby Talk at the same time. Multi-tasking made easy, although I found myself sitting on more than one occasion when it got tense. I can see now why quite a few bloggers have taken to audio books. They get through them that much quicker as they are able to do other things without sitting down to physically read.In the end, I still liked the story and the concept. I hadn't read/heard anything remotely close - plot wise - to a baby doing what Natasha is capable of.