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adamyeti's reviews
59 reviews
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
5.0
It feels strange to rate someone's autobiography to me. Who am I to criticize how someone tells their own story? Regardless, as an audiobook, I really enjoyed hearing Matthew's story in his own words. I've seen several people complain about the book being told randomly, non-chronologically, or out of order, and this really isn't accurate. I understand why some people feel this way, however.
There are two elements at play: the chapter interludes and tangential storytelling. Regarding the first, each main chapter recounts his life from childhood to present day in mostly chronological order. Between each chapter is a short interlude that either tells part of his more recent story or just an interesting/ funny story from the past. Thanks to the interludes' short lengths, this is very easy to keep track of and often just provides some levity. The second element that I think confuses people more is the way that he tells his story through tangents. As a made-up example, there may be a moment where he is talking about going to a dinner party with a man in 1994, and he briefly tells what happened with his relationship with that man many years later before going back to finish the story about the dinner party. I think this may be more confusing in text form, but in the audiobook it felt very much like how many people naturally tell stories.
Despite the technicalities about how it was structured, the story itself was incredibly honest, and I was really surprised to hear how well Matthew came to understand himself, his shortcomings, and why he made the mistakes that he did. Most of us can only hope to ever achieve that level of introspection. There was also a lot of self-aware humor along the way, as he poked fun at his past mistakes. It's a painful story that will give you a lot of insight into Hollywood, fame, and addiction. I highly recommend it to anyone.
There are two elements at play: the chapter interludes and tangential storytelling. Regarding the first, each main chapter recounts his life from childhood to present day in mostly chronological order. Between each chapter is a short interlude that either tells part of his more recent story or just an interesting/ funny story from the past. Thanks to the interludes' short lengths, this is very easy to keep track of and often just provides some levity. The second element that I think confuses people more is the way that he tells his story through tangents. As a made-up example, there may be a moment where he is talking about going to a dinner party with a man in 1994, and he briefly tells what happened with his relationship with that man many years later before going back to finish the story about the dinner party. I think this may be more confusing in text form, but in the audiobook it felt very much like how many people naturally tell stories.
Despite the technicalities about how it was structured, the story itself was incredibly honest, and I was really surprised to hear how well Matthew came to understand himself, his shortcomings, and why he made the mistakes that he did. Most of us can only hope to ever achieve that level of introspection. There was also a lot of self-aware humor along the way, as he poked fun at his past mistakes. It's a painful story that will give you a lot of insight into Hollywood, fame, and addiction. I highly recommend it to anyone.
Dead Inside by Chandler Morrison
dark
funny
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I have seen people mostly describe this as a messed-up love story, but to me it felt more like a close look at two people trying to exist together rather than falling in love.
In my opinion, the biggest factor that will affect how much you like or dislike this book is the narration. It is written from the point-of-view of the quintessential edgelord. There is a moment early on where he recounts saying something so edgy to a classmate that the normie began stammering and sprinted out of class to get away from him. You know, the type of thing that only happens in an edgy teen's head when daydreaming about how cool he is. This actually was a benefit to me though, as it allowed me to treat him as a bit of an unreliable narrator. It reads as if he is re-telling this story to you, so of course he embellishes it. If the things in here aren't supposed to actually be embellished.... Well.....
There are certainly some major shock factor scenes, but I was surprised to find that most of the book is much more character-focused instead of a non-stop gore fest. This is good because, frankly, if there were many more shocking scenes that felt the need to one-up the previous, they would have become more ridiculous than disturbing. I will not even begin to go into the content of these scenes, because I am already ashamed enough for anyone to know that I read this...
Towards the end of the book I started to feel like it was actually trying to make a point, but after finishing it, I really don't think there is much substance here. It is worth noting that despite this, the ending was so fantastically clever that I somehow ended up smiling as I finished reading.
Even despite my suspension of disbelief thanks to the weirdo narrator, there were many a moment that still just came off a bit too corny and try-hard for me. Overall, it was fun, but you definitely can't take it too seriously.
By the way, content warning for LITERALLY ANYTHING THAT INVOLVES DEAD PEOPLE.
In my opinion, the biggest factor that will affect how much you like or dislike this book is the narration. It is written from the point-of-view of the quintessential edgelord. There is a moment early on where he recounts saying something so edgy to a classmate that the normie began stammering and sprinted out of class to get away from him. You know, the type of thing that only happens in an edgy teen's head when daydreaming about how cool he is. This actually was a benefit to me though, as it allowed me to treat him as a bit of an unreliable narrator. It reads as if he is re-telling this story to you, so of course he embellishes it. If the things in here aren't supposed to actually be embellished.... Well.....
There are certainly some major shock factor scenes, but I was surprised to find that most of the book is much more character-focused instead of a non-stop gore fest. This is good because, frankly, if there were many more shocking scenes that felt the need to one-up the previous, they would have become more ridiculous than disturbing. I will not even begin to go into the content of these scenes, because I am already ashamed enough for anyone to know that I read this...
Towards the end of the book I started to feel like it was actually trying to make a point, but after finishing it, I really don't think there is much substance here. It is worth noting that despite this, the ending was so fantastically clever that I somehow ended up smiling as I finished reading.
Even despite my suspension of disbelief thanks to the weirdo narrator, there were many a moment that still just came off a bit too corny and try-hard for me. Overall, it was fun, but you definitely can't take it too seriously.
By the way, content warning for LITERALLY ANYTHING THAT INVOLVES DEAD PEOPLE.
Amygdalatropolis by Edia Connole, B.R. Yeager
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I'm not sure that I can truly assign a star rating to this book...
Amygdalatropolis opens with a 32 page introduction consisting of lessons in the philosophy of Bataille and nihlism that briefly relates its teachings to the content of the story. For a 154 page book, this felt a bit self-indulgent and random. However, once I began reading the book, it began to make a bit more sense and provided some much needed context.
This is one of the most difficult books that I have read. Nothing is presented plainly, and there is not a clear story--at least at first. The book is written through three evenly dispersed "mediums," for lack of a better word. Two of which provide a stark contrast between nearly indecipherable prose and the simple slurs and language of chan boards, both philosophizing in their own ways at times. I found myself flipping back and forth between pages and re-reading previous passages as I began to connect sections from these mediums together. This is an area that I think would reward multiple read-throughs.
As far as the story itself goes, it follows our agoraphobic protagonist and his struggle to exist outside of his computer. This is really only told through one of the mediums, however. Much of the book seems to focus more on the makings of incels, chan culture, and other things that probably flew over my head. Unsurprisingly, this book features some very disturbing content, sometimes in detail and sometimes in passing. This is not a gruesome book, but it is certainly a troubling one. More so if you are familiar enough with chan culture to realize that this may as well be a true story.
The book overall reads like it is written by an alien who has only observed humans. Even the simplest of actions are described in the most bizarre manner possible. I think this is intended to make you feel detached and outside, much like our protagonist, but it greatly increased how actively I had to read.
The first one or two chapters are a good litmus test as to whether or not you will like this book. Frankly, I'm still not sure how much I liked it after reading the whole thing, but it was certainly an experience.
Amygdalatropolis opens with a 32 page introduction consisting of lessons in the philosophy of Bataille and nihlism that briefly relates its teachings to the content of the story. For a 154 page book, this felt a bit self-indulgent and random. However, once I began reading the book, it began to make a bit more sense and provided some much needed context.
This is one of the most difficult books that I have read. Nothing is presented plainly, and there is not a clear story--at least at first. The book is written through three evenly dispersed "mediums," for lack of a better word. Two of which provide a stark contrast between nearly indecipherable prose and the simple slurs and language of chan boards, both philosophizing in their own ways at times. I found myself flipping back and forth between pages and re-reading previous passages as I began to connect sections from these mediums together. This is an area that I think would reward multiple read-throughs.
As far as the story itself goes, it follows our agoraphobic protagonist and his struggle to exist outside of his computer. This is really only told through one of the mediums, however. Much of the book seems to focus more on the makings of incels, chan culture, and other things that probably flew over my head. Unsurprisingly, this book features some very disturbing content, sometimes in detail and sometimes in passing. This is not a gruesome book, but it is certainly a troubling one. More so if you are familiar enough with chan culture to realize that this may as well be a true story.
The book overall reads like it is written by an alien who has only observed humans. Even the simplest of actions are described in the most bizarre manner possible. I think this is intended to make you feel detached and outside, much like our protagonist, but it greatly increased how actively I had to read.
The first one or two chapters are a good litmus test as to whether or not you will like this book. Frankly, I'm still not sure how much I liked it after reading the whole thing, but it was certainly an experience.
The Eyes Are the Best Part by Monika Kim
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"The Eyes Are the Best Part" gave me everything that I wanted from it and a lot more. The first quarter of it is almost purely a domestic drama, but it was so interesting on its own that I would have been perfectly happy if it never made the shift into horror. The domestic drama aspect was leveraged into a building tension, which continued to build throughout the entire book with the protagonist, Ji-Won, growing increasingly insane. It was a bit of a slow burn in this regard but the slow increase in tension combined with the fast-paced short scenes made the book fly by. It was very hard to put down at times.
One shining triumph of this book is the characters. I was so invested in the characters and their relationships that I was just as excited to hear about Ji-Won's personal life as I was the interspersed horrific murders. The gore in the aforementioned murders was just enough to make you squirm but wasn't over the top or drawn out. You should have a pretty good idea about what the gore entails from the title alone...
I would make a vague comparison to "Maeve Fly" since this book has a similar slow burn structure following the unraveling of a seemingly ordinary female serial killer. The vibes, however, are very different. A comparison could also be made to Sayaka Murata's "Earthlings," particularly in the way that both authors focus heavily on the characters' home lives and personal relationships. If you enjoyed "Earthlings," I really think this one will be perfect for you.
I loved a lot of things about this book, and I think Monika Kim did a great job of putting the reader in Ji-Won's shoes and showing a glimpse of what it's like to be the child of an immigrant and the challenges that come along with that. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves horror and appreciates strong characters and meaningful stories.
One shining triumph of this book is the characters. I was so invested in the characters and their relationships that I was just as excited to hear about Ji-Won's personal life as I was the interspersed horrific murders. The gore in the aforementioned murders was just enough to make you squirm but wasn't over the top or drawn out. You should have a pretty good idea about what the gore entails from the title alone...
I would make a vague comparison to "Maeve Fly" since this book has a similar slow burn structure following the unraveling of a seemingly ordinary female serial killer. The vibes, however, are very different. A comparison could also be made to Sayaka Murata's "Earthlings," particularly in the way that both authors focus heavily on the characters' home lives and personal relationships. If you enjoyed "Earthlings," I really think this one will be perfect for you.
I loved a lot of things about this book, and I think Monika Kim did a great job of putting the reader in Ji-Won's shoes and showing a glimpse of what it's like to be the child of an immigrant and the challenges that come along with that. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves horror and appreciates strong characters and meaningful stories.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Murder, and Abandonment
Moderate: Racism
The Ritual: A Holiday Folk Horror Story by Michael R. Goodwin
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Dark, effective, and only 17 pages. I am impressed with how much is squeezed into these pages. Just read it. You won't regret it.
Smolder by Michael R. Goodwin
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
First of all, do not be fooled by anyone who tells you that this is a "creature feature"... It is way more than that. The "creature" in this story is more god than creature. It felt much more like a cosmic horror story than I expected, which was very fun.
Early on, I was a bit lukewarm with this book, mostly due to the writing style. It was very straight-forward and matter-of-fact. While I don't enjoy purple prose, this felt almost too far in the other direction. One scene in particular had some very heavy contentdomestic violence that was presented in a way that added no weight to it. In short, I felt like the writing just wasn't doing the story justice at times.
That said, the story was something that I very much enjoyed. What seems like a simple premise at first goes well beyond anything that you could imagine. There was also a brief glimpse of a trope that I really enjoyordinary person is disfigured into an unstoppable villain .
This is where I began to change my mind about the writing. The unfortunately common experience with horror is that everything is great, but the ending lets you down. This was absolutely not the case here. As I said, I was a bit lukewarm on it until about 3/4 in. Then suddenly, every chapter was better than the last, until the book culminated in such a beautifully written, poetic sequence that I began to question if the earlier straight-forward writing style was actually intentional. I still am unsure about that theory, but by the end of the book, it felt like the author had transformed into someone else.Maybe that was the point...
If you like creature features, cosmic horror, quiet rural settings, and a small cast of characters that you know intimately, this is for you! It was quite a journey considering the short length that it is. I am very intrigued about the rest of Michael R. Goodwin's catalog now and will certainly be visiting some of his other works soon.
Early on, I was a bit lukewarm with this book, mostly due to the writing style. It was very straight-forward and matter-of-fact. While I don't enjoy purple prose, this felt almost too far in the other direction. One scene in particular had some very heavy content
That said, the story was something that I very much enjoyed. What seems like a simple premise at first goes well beyond anything that you could imagine. There was also a brief glimpse of a trope that I really enjoy
This is where I began to change my mind about the writing. The unfortunately common experience with horror is that everything is great, but the ending lets you down. This was absolutely not the case here. As I said, I was a bit lukewarm on it until about 3/4 in. Then suddenly, every chapter was better than the last, until the book culminated in such a beautifully written, poetic sequence that I began to question if the earlier straight-forward writing style was actually intentional. I still am unsure about that theory, but by the end of the book, it felt like the author had transformed into someone else.
If you like creature features, cosmic horror, quiet rural settings, and a small cast of characters that you know intimately, this is for you! It was quite a journey considering the short length that it is. I am very intrigued about the rest of Michael R. Goodwin's catalog now and will certainly be visiting some of his other works soon.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism
Deliver Me by Elle Nash
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Deliver Me is a painful slow burn centered around the results of trauma, abuse, and sexual repression perpetuated by family, friends, partners, and the church. By the time we meet our delusional protagonist, Daisy, she is already mentally broken down, and things only get worse from there.
As someone who grew up in rural Appalachia, in the land of tent revivals, this story felt painfully close to home. The characters, settings, and attitudes were all too familiar. This, no doubt, allowed the book to resonate with me even more. Unlike many of the children who grew up in these environments, Daisy did not learn how to handle or recover from the dogmatic fear and pressure that was placed upon her. Instead, she lives her entire life doing everything she can to conform and prove that she has value to those around here.
The main highlights from this book, for me, were the storytelling and the prose itself. Throughout, there are brief flashbacks to Daisy's childhood and interstitial moments where she gets lost in thought. Each of these came at the perfect time. At certain points, it felt like I was reading a poem with how delicately each word was placed. This sounds hyperbolic, but I really loved the writing completely separate from the story.
The story itself, as mentioned, is quite a slow burn but done very well. At no point did it feel slow or drawn out. Every moment built to another, and none were wasted. In fact, my main critique would be the rushed ending. Once we finally reached the moment that everything had been building to, it was over. I really wish there was a bit more room to digest at the end. Instead, I set the book down with a feeling of whiplash.
Aside from that, I had no qualms with any parts of the story. I simply wish the ending was a bit more fleshed out. If you enjoy slow burns, themes of religious deconstruction, delusion, childhood trauma, motherhood, and self-deprecation, this is the perfect book for you. An emotionally heavy read, Deliver Me felt like a masterclass in storytelling until the final few pages.
As someone who grew up in rural Appalachia, in the land of tent revivals, this story felt painfully close to home. The characters, settings, and attitudes were all too familiar. This, no doubt, allowed the book to resonate with me even more. Unlike many of the children who grew up in these environments, Daisy did not learn how to handle or recover from the dogmatic fear and pressure that was placed upon her. Instead, she lives her entire life doing everything she can to conform and prove that she has value to those around here.
The main highlights from this book, for me, were the storytelling and the prose itself. Throughout, there are brief flashbacks to Daisy's childhood and interstitial moments where she gets lost in thought. Each of these came at the perfect time. At certain points, it felt like I was reading a poem with how delicately each word was placed. This sounds hyperbolic, but I really loved the writing completely separate from the story.
The story itself, as mentioned, is quite a slow burn but done very well. At no point did it feel slow or drawn out. Every moment built to another, and none were wasted. In fact, my main critique would be the rushed ending. Once we finally reached the moment that everything had been building to, it was over. I really wish there was a bit more room to digest at the end. Instead, I set the book down with a feeling of whiplash.
Aside from that, I had no qualms with any parts of the story. I simply wish the ending was a bit more fleshed out. If you enjoy slow burns, themes of religious deconstruction, delusion, childhood trauma, motherhood, and self-deprecation, this is the perfect book for you. An emotionally heavy read, Deliver Me felt like a masterclass in storytelling until the final few pages.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Bluejay by Megan Stockton
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is possibly the most underrated book that I have ever read. If you are a lover of extreme horror, absolutely add this to your TBR.
Three friends accidentally enter themselves into a Hostel situation. Need I say more?
Something about this book really got under my skin while I was reading it. I have never felt so paranoid and nervous while reading before. It's only around 100 pages, so things got moving pretty quickly, and once they did, I was hooked. There was just the right amount of everything in here. Tension, gore, torture, violence, you name it. If you like extreme horror, I really don't think you could go wrong with this one.
There were a couple of things that I think could have been improved a bit. There was a big reveal that felt pretty predictable to me. I think a longer exposition where we got to know the protagonists a bit more would have added a lot to the reading experience as well. We barely got introduced to them before things kicked off, so I had a hard time keeping them straight at first.
Despite any shortcomings, I had so much fun reading this book that it's still a solid 5 stars for me. The first two thirds of the book, particularly, were so unpredictable and gripping in the best way.
Three friends accidentally enter themselves into a Hostel situation. Need I say more?
Something about this book really got under my skin while I was reading it. I have never felt so paranoid and nervous while reading before. It's only around 100 pages, so things got moving pretty quickly, and once they did, I was hooked. There was just the right amount of everything in here. Tension, gore, torture, violence, you name it. If you like extreme horror, I really don't think you could go wrong with this one.
There were a couple of things that I think could have been improved a bit. There was a big reveal that felt pretty predictable to me. I think a longer exposition where we got to know the protagonists a bit more would have added a lot to the reading experience as well. We barely got introduced to them before things kicked off, so I had a hard time keeping them straight at first.
Despite any shortcomings, I had so much fun reading this book that it's still a solid 5 stars for me. The first two thirds of the book, particularly, were so unpredictable and gripping in the best way.
Maeve Fly by CJ Leede
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The comparisons to American Psycho are apt and even mentioned in Maeve Fly. While there are similarities between the protagonists of each, the comparison honestly sells this book a bit short.
Maeve is aware that she views society from the outside. She isn't like other people. However, she doesn't view everyone else with apathy or disdain. This, to me, already made her more complex than Patrick Bateman. Additionally, her love for Halloween, cheesy bars, and the many colorful pleasures of Los Angeles was a very interesting juxtaposition next to the person that she hides away inside herself.
Within the first few chapters, it was apparent that this would be a crazy ride. I was a bit surprised, however, that most of the book focused on Maeve's unraveling rather than the chaos that I expected. It is moreso the story of a psychopath who accidentally begins slipping out from behind her facade.
One thing that disappointed me slightly was the lack of detail when it came to the gore. There were some twisted, violent scenes, but not much was said about them aside from plainly staying what happened with little detail or follow up. For me personally, this hurts the impact of such sequences, as I don't have time to start cringing in repulsion. For those who can't handle as much detailed gore, though, this would be better suited for you than many similar books.
Regardless, this is well worth the journey. Maeve is a fascinating character, and her story is one that you should read.
Maeve is aware that she views society from the outside. She isn't like other people. However, she doesn't view everyone else with apathy or disdain. This, to me, already made her more complex than Patrick Bateman. Additionally, her love for Halloween, cheesy bars, and the many colorful pleasures of Los Angeles was a very interesting juxtaposition next to the person that she hides away inside herself.
Within the first few chapters, it was apparent that this would be a crazy ride. I was a bit surprised, however, that most of the book focused on Maeve's unraveling rather than the chaos that I expected. It is moreso the story of a psychopath who accidentally begins slipping out from behind her facade.
One thing that disappointed me slightly was the lack of detail when it came to the gore. There were some twisted, violent scenes, but not much was said about them aside from plainly staying what happened with little detail or follow up. For me personally, this hurts the impact of such sequences, as I don't have time to start cringing in repulsion. For those who can't handle as much detailed gore, though, this would be better suited for you than many similar books.
Regardless, this is well worth the journey. Maeve is a fascinating character, and her story is one that you should read.
FantasticLand by Mike Bockoven
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The audiobook is fantastic, and I would highly recommend that version. I think I would have enjoyed it less in a regular book format due to the way the characters speak and the long informational sections that would probably feel like reading a book report. This honestly felt like it was intended to be an audiobook. It just fits the format that well.
Things that I loved:
Throughout the book we hear from around 20 people who were in the park, all with wildly different perspectives based on where they were, who they were with, etc. Mike did a great job of shining a light on lots of different angles of this event, and I loved the way that some of the stories would intertwine and even clarify events from other interviews.
The initial discussion of the storm and its effects outside of Fantasticland really made it feel immersive to me, almost like listening to a news bulletin. Early on, I would nearly forget that I was listening to fiction.
Overall, I think the author did a great job with the concept. It's hard to make such a crazy event like this seem believable, but for the most part, I think he did.
Things that I didn't like:
Many of the characters spoke in very similar ways. Not their voices but their words and speech patterns. Notably, there were two characters who were very different ages but both referenced Starship Troopers, which did not make sense to me. As different as most of these characters should have been from one another, it often felt like the same person telling each story.
Despite most of the events feeling reasonably explained and believable, there were a few key escalation moments that still felt a bit unbelievable. Depending on the level of your suspension of disbelief, however, your opinion may vary.
One thing that really irked me at several points in the book was when some plot serving unlikely/unexplainable event would happen or some key object that shouldn't have been in the park would be found and the character being interviewed would basically say "That doesn't make any sense. There's no reason for that to happen," and then we would move on as if that acknowledgement should justify the event/object's existence. This felt like a cheap way to skirt around limitations to introduce key plot elements, which bothered me.
Overall, I would definitely recommend giving the audiobook a listen if you think the concept sounds interesting. I think it's very well executed and perfectly written for audio. It's not perfect, but its strengths certainly outweigh its weaknesses.
Things that I loved:
Throughout the book we hear from around 20 people who were in the park, all with wildly different perspectives based on where they were, who they were with, etc. Mike did a great job of shining a light on lots of different angles of this event, and I loved the way that some of the stories would intertwine and even clarify events from other interviews.
The initial discussion of the storm and its effects outside of Fantasticland really made it feel immersive to me, almost like listening to a news bulletin. Early on, I would nearly forget that I was listening to fiction.
Overall, I think the author did a great job with the concept. It's hard to make such a crazy event like this seem believable, but for the most part, I think he did.
Things that I didn't like:
Many of the characters spoke in very similar ways. Not their voices but their words and speech patterns. Notably, there were two characters who were very different ages but both referenced Starship Troopers, which did not make sense to me. As different as most of these characters should have been from one another, it often felt like the same person telling each story.
Despite most of the events feeling reasonably explained and believable, there were a few key escalation moments that still felt a bit unbelievable. Depending on the level of your suspension of disbelief, however, your opinion may vary.
One thing that really irked me at several points in the book was when some plot serving unlikely/unexplainable event would happen or some key object that shouldn't have been in the park would be found and the character being interviewed would basically say "That doesn't make any sense. There's no reason for that to happen," and then we would move on as if that acknowledgement should justify the event/object's existence. This felt like a cheap way to skirt around limitations to introduce key plot elements, which bothered me.
Overall, I would definitely recommend giving the audiobook a listen if you think the concept sounds interesting. I think it's very well executed and perfectly written for audio. It's not perfect, but its strengths certainly outweigh its weaknesses.