Official Review: Dead Weight by Matt Casamassina

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kandscreeley
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Official Review: Dead Weight by Matt Casamassina

Post by kandscreeley »

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Dead Weight" by Matt Casamassina.]
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4 out of 4 stars
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Zephyr is out camping with his girlfriend Keiko when he finds her missing. The only thing left of her is her clothing. Where did she run off to and why would she have gone without her clothes? He knows he's going to get in trouble for losing her as he was supposed to be spending the night at a friend's house. Resigning himself to the inevitable, he races towards home hoping to bring others to help search for her. All that he finds is more empty clothes, bodies gone. Is this the Rapture? Alien Abductions? Where is everyone and how will he survive now?

Dead Weight by Matt Casamassina is a post-apocalyptic novel. The version that I reviewed was the audible book narrated by Joshua Nicholson. It's almost 10 hours to listen to which would be great for a weekend or even a short road trip.

The theme of the novel is certainly not unique. I've read my fair share of books where everyone has disappeared or there has been another such life-altering event. The author does put his own touches on the story, but it still isn't necessarily that different from other such books. So, if you don't enjoy end-of-the-world stories, you aren't going to want to listen to this one. For me, it was still enjoyable.

The narrator has a nice soothing voice that is easy to listen to. He does attempt different voices for each character and, for the most part, accomplishes the feat well. Never once did I get lost as to who was speaking, which can be easy to do in an audio book format. Also, I've listened to books where the narrator is a monotone. That is never fun, and I'm pleased to say that is not the case here. Mr. Nicholson does a fabulous job catching the audience's attention.

There are a range of characters in the story - old, young, men, women. It includes, of course, those that are evil and will take advantage of the situation. Still, most of the people are a mix of good and bad as you would see in real life. To me, this always makes the book more realistic. We do explore some of where they came from, but the book is more focused on their lives going forward.

I did find a fair bit of violence in the book as well as some graphic scenes. Therefore, I wouldn't recommend this to the squeamish or younger audiences. Also, you won't find all the answers here. There are still some questions in your mind after reading, though I was fascinated by some of the theories postulated by the characters. In a genre such as this, that's pretty commonplace, but I realize it might be off-putting to some. Also, the ending of the book does hint at the possibility of another book. Whether or not that is the author's intent, I'm unsure.

All in all, I rate Dead Weight 4 out of 4 stars. The narrator was on-point, and the story was enjoyable. I would recommend it those who enjoy audio books that center on world-altering events. If you are looking for a book that is uplifting and encouraging with no riddles left unanswered, you're probably not going to want to read this one. I hope that Mr. Casamassina continues what he has started, perhaps answering a few more of the questions that were raised here.

******
Dead Weight
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Post by gen_g »

I think this is the first audiobook review I have seen! The premise is not a new one, but it seems interesting and certainly worth checking out since the story seems to be well-developed. I hope that there is a paperback available? Thanks for the amazing review!
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Post by Caylie_Cat »

Although post-apocalyptic stories have sort of been done to death, the fact that you gave it 4 stars tells me it is likely to be better than most and well worth a read. Insightful review without giving away too much.
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Post by Sahar Majid »

I didn't know you could review audio books! In fact I've never actually heard one, but I've always wanted to, and I might just start with this one. Post-apocalyptic books aren't really that fascinating to me, but when done well I do find them quite enjoyable. Congratulations on the great review!
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Post by Gee-Ruth »

Thanks for your honest review. I know there is no way i will listen to an audiobook, but i'm definitely reading this one.
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Post by kandscreeley »

gen_g wrote: 01 Nov 2018, 00:43 I think this is the first audiobook review I have seen! The premise is not a new one, but it seems interesting and certainly worth checking out since the story seems to be well-developed. I hope that there is a paperback available? Thanks for the amazing review!
I looked on Amazon before reviewing this one, and I'm pretty sure that all the versions are available including an e-book. Thanks for commenting! I hope you enjoy.
A book is a dream you hold in your hands.
—Neil Gaiman
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kandscreeley
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Post by kandscreeley »

Caylie_Cat wrote: 01 Nov 2018, 00:45 Although post-apocalyptic stories have sort of been done to death, the fact that you gave it 4 stars tells me it is likely to be better than most and well worth a read. Insightful review without giving away too much.
Thanks! It's always tough to figure out how much to reveal, especially in stories such as these. The book does make you think.
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kandscreeley
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Post by kandscreeley »

Sahar Majid wrote: 01 Nov 2018, 01:43 I didn't know you could review audio books! In fact I've never actually heard one, but I've always wanted to, and I might just start with this one. Post-apocalyptic books aren't really that fascinating to me, but when done well I do find them quite enjoyable. Congratulations on the great review!
This book could just as well be classified as action; there is definitely not a boring moment. This is one of the few audio books I've seen available for review. They don't come about often. Thanks for commenting.
A book is a dream you hold in your hands.
—Neil Gaiman
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kandscreeley
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Post by kandscreeley »

Gee-Ruth wrote: 01 Nov 2018, 03:16 Thanks for your honest review. I know there is no way i will listen to an audiobook, but i'm definitely reading this one.
It's also available in an e-book format. I checked on Amazon. I hope you enjoy it!
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Post by Cecilia_L »

Zephyr is out camping with his girlfriend Keiko when he finds her missing. The only thing left of her is her clothing. Where did she run off to and why would she have gone without her clothes? He knows he's going to get in trouble for losing her as he was supposed to be spending the night at a friend's house. Resigning himself to the inevitable, he races towards home hoping to bring others to help search for her. All that he finds is more empty clothes, bodies gone. Is this the Rapture? Alien Abductions? Where is everyone and how will he survive now?
Even though it's not an original concept, I still find this sort of plot appealing enough to read and explore the answers. Thanks for the recommendation!
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kandscreeley
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Post by kandscreeley »

Thanks Cecilia_L! It definitely is worth your time.
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Post by Dael Reader »

You write a compelling review! But it probably isn't something I would enjoy. End-of-the-world and graphic violence aren't quite for me.
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Post by fredrick otieno »

Audio book! that's interesting and i am willing to give it a try. I love the fact that the book is giving the audience an opportunity to fill in part of the plot, and i love that. Thanks for the good review.
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Post by inaramid »

Not the most groundbreaking premise, but it's good to hear that the author put his own mark on the concept. I don't mind end-of-the-world stories or the grim tone of this one, but the unanswered questions would definitely leave me frustrated. I think I'd hold off to see whether the author comes through with a sequel. Thanks for this review!
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kandscreeley
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Post by kandscreeley »

Dael Reader wrote: 01 Nov 2018, 20:38 You write a compelling review! But it probably isn't something I would enjoy. End-of-the-world and graphic violence aren't quite for me.
Yes, if that's not something that appeals to you, you'll definitely want to skip this one. Thanks for reading my review, though.
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