laurenmidna's review against another edition
3.0
The audiobook is very short - which might be a strength. The voice actor is very talented, he made me believe many of the characters. But the story itself seemed pretty predictable, with almost no real closure. I would have liked some more expansion of the characters - they seemed like they could have been interesting if they’d been given more depth.
efabri123's review against another edition
4.0
I highly recommend listening to the audiobook version which is performed by the author. This is a quick read and highly entertaining. The characters are rich and truly brought to life by the author's voice. If you're looking for a quick bite to brighten your day - this is it.
abrswf's review against another edition
5.0
Of course I’ve heard of Leonard Pelkey but this sweet and humorous performance by the author illuminates how really special he was. It’s bitter that his life was so short. May cruelty to LGBTQ people and everyone who’s is “different” by being true to themselves be the thing we finally obliterate.
kuru's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
3.75
Nice quick listen. Well perfomed.
aggielexi's review
2.0
Thought it was fine. Cute and a little quirky, nothing in my opinion that made it stand out as amazing. The voices were well done.
jschmidt10's review
4.0
At first this seemed so stereotypical cop story, detective with the NYC accent saying cliched things. But as the story spun, I realized what this said, and the message it brings home about how LGBTQ people are viewed and treated, but in reality, they are just like everyone else (shocker!) and Leonard is impactful on everyone he knows. There were some great one liners. But I think this was set in Atlantic City or some shire town near it - and the people in the story had NYC accents - sorry, but the vibe in southern Jersey shore towns is NOT “Jersey Shore” it’s much less NYC.
groovygirl858's review
1.0
There is no story here.
The narrator is talented, that is for sure, but there is no story here. This is just a collection of uninteresting conversations that serve no purpose and push along no plot. At the end, via a character's monologue, listeners are simply told what message we are supposed to be receiving from this work. I prefer a message to unfold organically throughout a work, a natural conclusion gradually unveiled as the plot unfolds.
At the end of this work, I can tell you very little about Leonard Pelkey. In fact, I can tell you very little about any of the characters. Given this is a short story, a lack of depth isn't necessarily out of the ordinary, but since there is also no real story here, I find this work to be pointless.
The narrator is talented, that is for sure, but there is no story here. This is just a collection of uninteresting conversations that serve no purpose and push along no plot. At the end, via a character's monologue, listeners are simply told what message we are supposed to be receiving from this work. I prefer a message to unfold organically throughout a work, a natural conclusion gradually unveiled as the plot unfolds.
At the end of this work, I can tell you very little about Leonard Pelkey. In fact, I can tell you very little about any of the characters. Given this is a short story, a lack of depth isn't necessarily out of the ordinary, but since there is also no real story here, I find this work to be pointless.
wanderlustlover's review
3.0
September Audible Original:
This was cute and short. This short act play is about the 'bright life of Leonard,' a gay young man who was supremely confident in who he was, but who was killed because of it. I love the 'gumshoe' detective point of view, the mother's prattling always remembering something she forgot earlier, and the circling nature of the point.
This was cute and short. This short act play is about the 'bright life of Leonard,' a gay young man who was supremely confident in who he was, but who was killed because of it. I love the 'gumshoe' detective point of view, the mother's prattling always remembering something she forgot earlier, and the circling nature of the point.
givnuapeacesign's review against another edition
4.0
This story must be listened to. The narration was brilliant. It is a rather trite story of a young, gay boy who is murdered for just being himself. Tragic. But certainly and sadly not an original storyline or occurrence in society today. But the narration made this story stand out and stab me in the heart. The narrator is one of the founders of The Trevor Project. Maybe, just maybe someone will change their hate by hearing about Leonard.