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A review by jenbsbooks
Checking Out by Nick Spalding
4.0
Whenever I have a KindleUnlimited subscription, I try to check out some Nick Spalding. They aren't available at my library (not as audio/ebook anyway. I've found a couple physical books I picked up at book sales). Spaldings books are always a good change. Always dealing with some contemporary issue, British accent, so much crude humor. Lots of proFanity and sexual situations. This is no exception.
One thing I note in books, is where a character "sings" ... does the narrator sing? Here, there are whole sections of "Foodies" ... think Veggie Tales, but dressed up Teletubby style instead of animated. A lemon, and orange, cheese, sausage, potato. Here, the "lyrics" were spoken (who was singing also indicated). Can I indicate just how much I wanted to HEAR this sung? By "the foodies" even though they don't actually exist, and even though I doubt a melody exists? One thing I adored about the audio of [book:Illuminae|23395680] was as a pop song was mentioned ... the producers of the audio (it was graphic audio) actually created the song, and we COULD hear it playing in the background. Loved that. I SO wanted to hear some of these foodie songs actually sung.
Major pet peeve on some format/setup ... I went with the Audible edition (KU had both text and audio). The Table of Contents in Audible has basic numerical chapters. The book TOC (and within) never indicates numerical chapters. It has extensive headers. Personally, I prefer both ... but to have Audible have one and the book have the other is nonsense. And of course, I did bump my phone and lost my place ... how do I find it again? Even if I know I'm in chapter 6 ... which one is that in the kindle copy? Do I actually have to COUNT the chapters? If I do remember the header, looking at the Audible TOC is useless. KEEP THE TOC THE SAME BETWEEN FORMATS! Audible needs to include the chapter headers in their TOC.
Spalding has so many scenes that are over the top ridiculous, but also often laugh out loud funny. Here an early one with his mom, regarding her garden sculptures ... it really has nothing to do with anything. just providing some additional crass humor. Tons more vulgar hilarity, but at least it is somewhat related to the goings on.
Per the blurb - some seriousness as well ... dealing with death, the knowledge of it coming, quickly. It was interesting to see the changes that could happen to an individual in such a situation. What does matter in life, what's left of it.
One thing I note in books, is where a character "sings" ... does the narrator sing? Here, there are whole sections of "Foodies" ... think Veggie Tales, but dressed up Teletubby style instead of animated. A lemon, and orange, cheese, sausage, potato. Here, the "lyrics" were spoken (who was singing also indicated). Can I indicate just how much I wanted to HEAR this sung? By "the foodies" even though they don't actually exist, and even though I doubt a melody exists? One thing I adored about the audio of [book:Illuminae|23395680] was as a pop song was mentioned ... the producers of the audio (it was graphic audio) actually created the song, and we COULD hear it playing in the background. Loved that. I SO wanted to hear some of these foodie songs actually sung.
Major pet peeve on some format/setup ... I went with the Audible edition (KU had both text and audio). The Table of Contents in Audible has basic numerical chapters. The book TOC (and within) never indicates numerical chapters. It has extensive headers. Personally, I prefer both ... but to have Audible have one and the book have the other is nonsense. And of course, I did bump my phone and lost my place ... how do I find it again? Even if I know I'm in chapter 6 ... which one is that in the kindle copy? Do I actually have to COUNT the chapters? If I do remember the header, looking at the Audible TOC is useless. KEEP THE TOC THE SAME BETWEEN FORMATS! Audible needs to include the chapter headers in their TOC.
Spalding has so many scenes that are over the top ridiculous, but also often laugh out loud funny. Here an early one with his mom, regarding her garden sculptures ... it really has nothing to do with anything. just providing some additional crass humor. Tons more vulgar hilarity, but at least it is somewhat related to the goings on.
Per the blurb - some seriousness as well ... dealing with death, the knowledge of it coming, quickly. It was interesting to see the changes that could happen to an individual in such a situation. What does matter in life, what's left of it.