Today I am sharing my quick thoughts on the audiobooks I listened to during the months of August and September.
It’s Not What It Looks Like
By: Molly Burke
Narrated by: Molly Burke
Published: August 2019
Published by: Audible Original
Genre: Memoir
Format Read: Audiobook, Audible
Rating: 4/5
Synopsis:
Listening Length: 3 hours and 5 minutes
In an audiobook like none you’ve ever heard before, blind YouTube star Molly Burke speaks with authenticity and candor about being a purple-haired, pink-loving fashion and makeup lover in a seeing world.
Diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, Burke has been legally blind since age five, and became completely sightless as a teenager. Here, she tackles the preconceived notions we have around blindness, her struggles with bullying and anxiety, inclusivity, how she built her successful influencer business (with over 1.8 million followers), and what it’s really like to travel the globe with her service dog, Gallop, now that everyone has an emotional support animal. (Hint: Really hard!)
This is a beautifully voiced, honest, and rousing journey of a young woman who has made it her mission to make us see her and the disability community in a totally new way.
Quick Thoughts
I came across Molly Burke’s It’s Not What It Looks Like, when perusing Audible one day. I had not heard of the YouTube star and motivational speaker before, but was instantly intrigued by her story. Despite her medical problems and struggle with mental health, this was quite an upbeat and optimistic memoir. I especially found it interesting learning about the process of obtaining a service dog. I would highly recommend It’s Not What It Looks Like to those who enjoy memoirs. This would also be a great book for young people and their parents who may be struggling with health problems.
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
By: Deborah Moggach
Narrated by: Nina Wadia
Published: February 2012
Published by: W.F. Howes
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Format Read: Audiobook, Audible App.
Rating: 3/5
Synopsis:
When Ravi Kapoor, an over-worked London doctor, is driven beyond endurance by his disgusting and difficult father-in-law, he asks his wife: ‘Can’t we just send him away somewhere?
Somewhere far, far away.’ His prayer seems to have been answered when his entrepreneurial cousin, Sonny, sets up a retirement home, recreating a lost corner of England in a converted guesthouse in Bangalore. Travel and set-up are inexpensive, staff willing and plentiful – and the British pensioners can enjoy the hot weather and take mango juice with their gin.
These Foolish Things is a brilliant comedy of manners, mixing acute observation with a deeper message about how different cultures cope in the modern world…
Quick Thoughts
A few years ago I saw the movie adaptation of Deborah Moggach’s The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and absolutely loved it. I was happy to have found the audio version on Audible and was eager to find out if I loved the book as much. Like in the movie, it compares the British culture to that of the Indian, in a way that was both humorous and touching. I enjoyed reading of these comparisons and found the differences to be quite fascinating. Unfortunately, however I didn’t love the book as much as the film, as I had a hard time keeping track of the numerous characters. Still I think it is a good representation of how the older generations are affected by the modern world and I would recommend to those interested in learning about different cultures.
