Rene Gutteridge

The small town of Marlo is blindsided when a mysterious website begins posting the private conversations of its citizens, and newspaperman Damien Underwood commits himself to finding the site's creator.

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Manda

First off I want to say that I think this is a book that everyone should read. We are a world that is too quick to speak. We are too quick to dirty someone’s name when they aren’t around to defend themselves. In Rene Gutteridge’s book, Listen, you meet the citizens of a small town called Marlo who quickly learn the power of words. I absolutely loved this book. I was drawn in immediately and I was kept enthralled all the way till the end. The thing I liked most though was the realness of this book and the ability it had to open my eyes up to my own life. How often do we talk badly about other people? How often do we say one thing behind someone’s back, but another to their face?

After reading this book, you’ll start seeing yourself in a different light and you’ll start realizing that your words have power. Do you want that power to be uplifting or bring people down?

“Speak Kindly. Love powerfully. Listen Fully.”

Jolie

I was a little confused by this book until midway through the book. The book starts off with a young woman (I thought it was a teenager) about to hang herself as the prologue. Then it jumps into present day Marlo and into the lives of Damien Underwood, his wife Kay, his two children, Jenna and Hunter and his friend Frank. There was no mention of the girl until almost the middle of the book and she gets tied into the story. But I felt that maybe she should have been left out. I understand why the author put this character's story in but I felt it was unnecessary. 


I gave this book a 3 star review on Shelfari. I do think it is a great book to read and that it definitely portrays what happens when what is said in private is made public. But I also felt that the book lagged in certain parts and at times was a little preachy. But, overall a really good read.

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