James

Thought-provoking, romantic, a tad unbelievable

Reviewed: 07-27-16

Would you listen to Teach Me to Prey again? Why?

I wouldn't rule it out - the book is intentionally mysterious, so listening to it a second time to go, "Oh, so that's what that meant!" could be fun. Listening to Melody Muzljakovich's engaging character portrayals is also worth hearing again.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

The story itself is enjoyable and, as mentioned in the review headline, thought-provoking at parts. Our protagonist, Rebecca, finds herself upriver without a paddle much of the story as everything that should go right winds up going wrong. Characters make mistakes, and consequences are reaped, leading readers to wonder just how far one could or should go to exact justice or - dare we say it - revenge. That said, the ending can feel a bit hard to swallow at parts; "good" actions are taken that would raise a few eyebrows in real life, the unveiling of the killer feels a little anticlimactic, and, in this man's opinion, a few of the story's moral quandaries feel a bit unresolved by the end (i.e., careless actions generate initial consequences, but we never really get a sense for how that will affect the characters down the road). More of an introduction (or even just implication) of the killer's identity may have come across better.

Have you listened to any of Melody Muzljakovich’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

As a voice actor and audiobook narrator myself, I have crossed paths and worked with Melody Muzljakovich in prior projects, though this is the first of her audiobooks I've listened to. She's been a talented, engaging voice artist in these projects, and she's no less talented in this audiobook. The characters stand out in this reading.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

While I wouldn't describe the story in its entirety as particularly "moving," one of the most thought-provoking, well-written moments comes early in Rebecca's pregnancy (which I figure is not a spoiler, as it's in the book's description) as she struggles with a certain hard decision. Not all stories bother to show both sides of the dilemma so objectively or humanly, and I feel this moment was written well.

Any additional comments?

A good read (or listen, as it were) for anyone with an interest in romance stories, particularly those with an element of suspense or mystery. Certain elements can feel a little "much," if you catch my meaning, but the story remains enjoyable nonetheless. Melody does a great job with the characters.

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