Gichi Manidoo

By: Charles J. Musser

Narrated by: Francesca Del Greco, Alan Silva

“Remember that stories can set us free. Tell her a story from your heart and she’ll know what to do.”

Forty-year-old Federico Garcia is an Afghan vet who has seen more than enough tragedy for one lifetime. His dreams and memories of his bloody past haunt him, and leave an empty space in his heart. When he meets Marie, a young woman trapped in an abusive marriage, they forge an unlikely friendship that blossoms into the promise of something more....

Until Marie is mysteriously injured in a fall down the stairs, and finds herself in a coma.

Federico begins his own investigation into the life of his beloved friend, and uncovers secrets about Marie’s personal life that she never wanted revealed. But his discoveries have only begun.

Marie would like him to meet someone - the strange and magical Elizabeth - who has a story for Federico to hear.

Magical, lyrically rendered, and sparkling with childlike wonder, Gichi Manidoo is a captivating tale of magical realism and love against all odds.

©2019 Charles J. Musser (P)2019 Charles J. Muser

Strange and different

Author gets an A from me for creativity. Story takes some weird twist and turns.

“I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.”

Pretty Good

I got this story via audiobook boom and this is my voluntary review. This story was just pretty good to me. The narrator did not enhance nor detract from the story. Perhaps I just was not into the story that well. From the description, I had one idea in mind but the story presented another. I can't say I enjoyed it nor can I say I disliked it. I will listen to it again just to make sure and perhaps update my review.

Enchanting

I read Mr. Musser's book when it was first published and liked it so much I bought it for a friend and myself to listen to on a long road trip. While the writing itself is vivid, and the language is poetic and graceful, this story truly comes to life read aloud by Francesca Del Greco and Alan Silva. Silva's voice is exactly the way I'd imagined Federico's. It is true that Elizabeth is American, and the woman who narrates her is British, but because of the novel's fantastical nature, it works. I never questioned the voice because the characters,from Elizabeth and Zaagi to the minor characters they encounter in the alternative, magical world of Gichi Manidoo, become even more distinctive and full of personality than I could have hoped for in an audio book.

If you like romance and a bit of Native American mythology in your magical realism, I'd recommend both the read and the listen. This is a recording I'm sure I'll be coming back to over and over, any time I want to get swept away in a spellbinding world full of magic and lyricism.

Disjointed

The male narrator had a sexy, intimate voice that fit his character, but his swallowing and lip smacking pulled me out of the story. I didn't make it through to the end of this story. It started out well enough but I found the childish interaction by Elizabeth with the meerkat incongruent with the adult theme of spousal abuse. The female narrator over acted just a little bit that also pulled me out of the story. I think the author tried very hard to make the tale magical, but for me the author confused adolescent conversation and behavior that didn't fit a 17 year old with a magical tale. There were too many odd encounters with characters that didn't really add to the story. The book tried to have an Alice in Wonderland feel, but needs to make The conversations and behaviors age appropriate. The author had a wonderful idea that just needs a little more work. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review.