The Nothingness of Ben

A simple read

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

If my friend had already listened to most of the other book in the M/M genre, had both money and time to spend, then yes I would recommend it. Not to say it was that bad of a book but for me, the plot that I'd gathered from the blurb wasn't all that compelling to begin with. And then it sort of dragged, going through the motions of the usual book with a "gay for you" (suburbs style) theme that you find in this genre. I found this book similar to the book "Nothing ever happens" by Sue Brown but ironically less climatic.

If you’ve listened to books by Brad Boney before, how does this one compare?

Unfortunately I haven't because it didn't really leave a strong impression on me.

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You've Gotta have Heart Ye’ll!

What about Charlie David’s performance did you like?

Mr. David’s performance was first rate. He captured the Texas accent as well as the New York, upper-east-side accent. His voice is rich and melts into the ear like a warm caress. It adds humanity to the somewhat directorial love scenes.

Any additional comments?

This book serves as a prequel to the next book “The Return”. It introduces a subset of characters that become important second half of that book.

The novel has a lot of heart. The title character Ben is a self-absorbed trial attorney in New York City who has become estranged from his family and roots. He has a dream boyfriend and a dream job when BAM his life is turned upside down by the death of his parents and he becomes guardian to his three much younger sibling boys. While sorting the newly re-founded family out, he meets the odd duck that is destine to be his soulmate. The two characters are really an odd pairing of square peg in a round hole; no pun intended. LOL But these differences are part of the charm and heart of the work.

The differences become accentuated when Ben brings the three siblings and his new lover to New York City at the behest /scheming of his former Columbia classmate and best friend with an eye to moving the family the big apple. The trip is a disaster, throwing a monkey wrench into the relationship, and causing Ben to conclude that Austin is a better place for the family and his responsibility to rear his siblings trumps all other relationships.

The soulmate has some soul searching maturing to do as well. Stung by the snooty reception by Ben’s, upper east side, A-list friends, and Ben putting him on “time out” while he learns his a pseudo parent role drives him to a 6 month hiatus in Alaska. Upon his return he has grown a pair and a backbone and gives Ben the business he so richly earned. Ben stupidly takes relationship advice from a straight Austin attorney friend who a few chapters earlier admitted he has no experience in gay matters, rather than following his heart. He would have thrown his soulmate away were it not for the intervention of the eldest of the three siblings to get Ben to remove his head from his bum and satisfyingly resolve the love interest plot.

The most memorable portions of the book are his conversation, during a bad fever, with his deceased father; and the charming Thanksgiving Day speech of gratitude made by the eldest sibling at the end.

The sex scenes are a no holds barred directorial description of M/M action. You can mentally visualize everything. However, the sensory hooks of sent, texture, taste, color, and auditory word stimuli, that invite the imagination into the picture, are too sparsely distributed to adequately enrich the monochromatic picture flashing in your brain.

My recommendation is this: Enjoy the amuse-a-bouche of literary references that peppers this book designed to appeal to the delicate sensibilities of the intellect. Tuck in to the gut filling chili spiced bowl of this hot Austin Texas offering. Top it off by savoring this crazy banana split with bitter sweet hot chocolate fudge, savory salty nuts, and the pure as the driven snow whip cream with popped tart cherry on top. So dig out your book or ear bud spoon and tuck in to this adult meal of hot steamy raw sex and good old fashion down home heartwarming sentiment. “You've Gotta have Heart” and this book has lots and lots and lots of heart. Yeeeee Ha!

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DNF

Is there anything you would change about this book?

There are many thing that I would change about this book. I love long audiobooks, but the story was longer than it was supposed to be. I did not like the main characters love interest, I actually liked his ex a lot more. And biggest of all, it just didn't seem 'real'.

Has The Nothingness of Ben turned you off from other books in this genre?

No

Could you see The Nothingness of Ben being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

No

Any additional comments?

This was one of those m/m stories where there were too many sex scenes. I don't mind some in my story, but it don't like when the plot revolves around it.

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Loved it sooo much on audible!!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes !

Who was your favorite character and why?

Ben and Travis and the brothers

What does Charlie David bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He does the voices so well and sounds very good on audio,
He knew the characters well to sound them out as they would be.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes if I had the time .but I enjoy it so much I listen to it very many times.

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Nice feel good m/m romance

Really nice feel good m/m romance. I liked it. I really didn't like the country accent David used for Travis character, but other than that...it was your basic m/m romance. Well take that back... it was a bit interesting in how Travis left Ben, when Ben broke up with Travis... it actually worked for the story though... Just enough angst, romance and storyline. I really liked the brothers too...

Nice narration. Charlie David is best with Hispanic or Italian accents, but he did great here as well.

Good credit or sale... Or just buy and save credit it the price is still under 10 dollars.

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Excellent

The best audio book. I have enjoyed listening to the book at night. Love the book ever

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Couldn't put this down!

Any additional comments?

A real slice of life that kept me deeply involved in Ben and Travis' story. Family and friends play a huge part in the story, giving it wonderful depth. Just loved it!

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I cried ....It was beautiful

Where does The Nothingness of Ben rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This book ranks in my top 5. I have a hard time putting a particular number on a book because I love them all...but this one drove me to tears

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Nothingness of Ben?

I loved when Ben finally broke down and came to terms with the fact that his parents were really gone. I didn't realize how important it was for me to see him acknowledge his parents death until he did, and my heart broke for him.

What does Charlie David bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I loved his voices, his southern drawl. It was sexy when it needed to be, strong when it needed to be and kept me enthralled as much as the story did.

If you could rename The Nothingness of Ben, what would you call it?

I couldn't rename this book. The title is so apt. We see a man at the height of his life brought to his knees, laid bare and empty. It forced me to see myself stripped to that nothingness and left me wondering how and if I could make it to the other side.

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WOW! Great Book

For the first time in quite a while i have absolutely no complaints about a book. This book was well written, well narrated, the characters were very realistic and easy to relate to and the story line flowed so well. An A+ Listen!

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Feel good story. Horrible narrator.

Any additional comments?

This is a feel good story. There isn't much character development or emotional attachment to any character. Sometimes though you want a simple book that you don't have to think about. Just something that fills the silence and keeps you somewhat occupied, so that if your mind wanders in and out your don't really miss anything.

The narrator really is bad though that he ruined a simple feel good story. Made it pretty unbearable in fact. Travis is given an over the top stereo-typical Texan accent. Although amazingly, none of the other Texas residents have one. Lubbock is pronounced Lou-bock. Correct way is Lub-ick. It makes it distracting to try and puzzle out what the author is trying to say when a main character sounds like a buffoon. I kept expecting to hear something along the lines of Goofy's "Ah shucks" and laugh after ever sentence. There wasn't any need to make him sounds so stupid, it came across as if the narrator was prejudiced against Texans and southerners in general.

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