I read and reviewed Into the End by Bonnie R. Paulson last year and enjoyed not only the first book of the series--but, the others as well. When I learned that Paulson's book was now available as an audiobook--I was excited to hear the story told by a narrator. What was my opinion of the Into the End audiobook by Bonnie R. Paulson?
Quick Summary of Into the End by Bonnie R. Paulson. Rachel Parker in Into the End can IDENTIFY fear, she can DEFINE it, but she doesn't feel it. Not anymore. Not since the tests. Her inability to feel fear may be the reason why the rest of America is screaming in terror. America’s end is near. No one knows why, but the great country is under attack. After being weakened by countless natural disasters, America opens its airspace for aid. But instead, what is left of the devastated west coast finds itself nearly obliterated from above. The key may belong to tests designed by a Pacific Northwest psychologist, Rachel Parker. Rachel loses the love of her life in a house fire as they escape with their children to the nearby Rocky Mountains following the first round of air raids. In refuge, she faces her husband’s best friend, Joshua, but doesn’t want to face his ill-harbored feelings or her own inability to face fear. Her sister, Brenda, escapes the fallen city, and, mistaken for Rachel, is captured. Terrified and alone, Brenda is protected by the enigmatic Daniel even while he helps keep her captive. Through torture and mind games, Brenda discovers information about her sister’s work that could spin the free world into a tumultuous frenzy where the unknown is safer than reality.
The audio narration changes the character centered focus of Paulson's pages. Paulson has a wonderful writing style; packing adventure and emotion into her stories. Into the End is well written and action packed from page one. Paulson does not write chapters--but, opts to tell the story from different character viewpoints every few pages. This works wonderfully in her written book as readers are able to develop character relationships from different experiences and life stages--and it really brings the story line together. I felt that a lot of those valuable details and insights were lost in the audiobook as listeners aren't able to develop those same individual voices with one narrator.
Would I recommend Into the End? I read and enjoyed this entire series in ebook fomat--but, the narration for the Into the End audiobook simply didn't inspire me as I listened to the same books. I felt that the narrator was well suited to newscasting--but, not to the emotions and excitement created by the author's words. I really enjoyed the author's writing style and was able to develop connections with the characters from her written words--but, not from the narration. Even if futuristic, end-of-the-world, books are not your usual go-to books, this one may surprise you and I certainly do recommend reading it--although you may want to try switching back and forth between the audiobook and the written book to develop and keep the individual character's voices in your head during the less exciting narration. It really is a wonderfully written series--and I was so excited to listen to it--but, the narration just didn't work as successfully for me as reading the written words in this book.
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