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Grid Down Reality Bites: Volume 1 Part 1  By  cover art

Grid Down Reality Bites: Volume 1 Part 1

By: Bruce Hemming,Sara Freeman
Narrated by: Elizabeth Phillips
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Publisher's summary

Two young men, Mark and Eric, struggle desperately trying to make it to their retreat in Northern California. Their truck is dead from an EMP. They have to walk 200 miles. Will they make it passed the gangs and the utter confusion of a powerless society?

George and his son Junior, are set up in a retreat in Northern Wisconsin. Everything is going along great until disaster strikes. One mistake leaves his 18-year-old son to survive alone.

When the power goes out from the EMP, Preston tries to convince his girlfriend to leave the big city and head to the farmstead where his friends are. Will they escape the complete chaos of the city in time, or wait until it's too late?

From one harrowing adventure to the next, this audiobook will keep you on the edge of your seat, cheering the characters on as they face the impossible odds against them.

©2011-2014 Bruce Buckshot Hemming (P)2014 Bruce Buckshot Hemming

What listeners say about Grid Down Reality Bites: Volume 1 Part 1

Average customer ratings
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  • 3.5 out of 5 stars
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Performance
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Story
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    76
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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

I CANT STAND the narrator.

What disappointed you about Grid Down Reality Bites: Volume 1 Part 1?

Seems like a good book but I cant get passed the narrators whiney voice.

Would you ever listen to anything by Bruce Hemming and Sara Freeman again?

Yes, if different narrator.

Would you be willing to try another one of Elizabeth Phillips’s performances?

NO!

What character would you cut from Grid Down Reality Bites: Volume 1 Part 1?

none

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

The narrator made this book unlistenable.

Would you try another book from Bruce Hemming and Sara Freeman and/or Elizabeth Phillips?

Not sure. I would certainly listen to a sample of the audio and wait until there are more reviews to decide if I would buy any.

What was most disappointing about Bruce Hemming and Sara Freeman ’s story?

I am not really sure. The story may have been okay, but I just couldn't get into the book because the narrator was completely the wrong fit for the book.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

First time I've ever given a bad review. The narrator made me feel like I was listening to a very simplistic children's book. Very little vocal change between characters. It was almost like I was listening to someone read a book and they could pronounce the words they were saying but had no understanding what they mean. Even though the narrator was speaking clearly and annunciation was correct I kept wondering if English was her second language. When she tried laughing for one of the characters I couldn't take it anymore.

What character would you cut from Grid Down Reality Bites: Volume 1 Part 1?

Not sure, I couldn't finish the book.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Book- Not so great Narrator

Would you listen to Grid Down Reality Bites: Volume 1 Part 1 again? Why?

I loved the kindle versions of this series so was looking forward to the audible so I could listen while on long trips and at work. The narrator was a big disappointment. She miss-pronounces a lot of words and cant say "hay bales" correctly all thru the book. I hope they can make corrections and update to make it better.

What other book might you compare Grid Down Reality Bites: Volume 1 Part 1 to and why?

I love all the info this book has on prepping and surviving. I have read a lot of these type of books and found lots more useful info in this series. I have tried some of them and they really Do work.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

After reading the books, I was so impressed I wrote to the author to suggest release in Audible. Was expecting a male voice. Was let down over the voice they did make it with. Not a good choice in my opinion.

Any additional comments?

Very good series. Don't let the narrator turn you off. If you cant stand her get the kindle version.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Narration painful

What would have made Grid Down Reality Bites: Volume 1 Part 1 better?

Get a narrator capable of sounding like different peoplr

What could Bruce Hemming and Sara Freeman have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Story has potential

What didn’t you like about Elizabeth Phillips’s performance?

Develop a better voices

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Grid Down Reality Bites: Volume 1 Part 1?

Only able to get through first 30 minutes or so of book

Any additional comments?

Very disappointed

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Third grade reader

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

tossed out the plot, the story, and the characters

Has Grid Down Reality Bites: Volume 1 Part 1 turned you off from other books in this genre?

Not the genre, but for sure the series

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Elizabeth Phillips?

my dog spot.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Nope, not a single thing.

Any additional comments?

Don't bother with this one, I couldn’t even bring myself even to finish. Story is predictable, characters are wooden, and the reader is really really bad. If I hear "she said... " one more time, I am going to pop.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

PC Kitsch

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Few if any redeeming qualities to plot.

Has Grid Down Reality Bites: Volume 1 Part 1 turned you off from other books in this genre?

No, hasn't spoiled my liking for others of the same genre. There are tons of others I've listened to that I have much enjoyed. Some I've read and didn't think all that much of...When I got one of those on audiobook I found the book much more enjoyable. I would have hated to have tried to read this one

Any additional comments?

Save your money ! I deleted this book after torturing myself with it off and on for 3 hours.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Interesting story but poorly written and read

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The story is interesting but it's written as if by a young high school student. Part of it may be the reader but it sounds more like a "See Jane run" level of writing at times. Improper word usage is driving me crazy. Words such as knifes and lifes being used repeatedly and the use of the term "EMP bomb". Some of the same material is covered over and over, often times within a few minutes. There seems to be an incredible lack of imagination when it comes to names and such too.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The story overall is interesting and some of the descriptions are pretty accurate compared to what I believe will happen. The narrator makes it hard to listen to though.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

She has a pleasant voice but reads like she's talking to a pre-school class. She doesn't tell the story or even read it as we would. I've nearly stopped listening to it several times.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Yes

Any additional comments?

I don't want to sound mean but it was really hard to listen to.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

SEXIST!

Worst characters ever... I can't believe the author was able to have something so obviously sexist published without anyone raising a red flag. Also, beyond unbelievable. Two days in and people are already getting violent over water. Highly doubtful... A month in? Two? Definitely. Two days!?! Let's take it down a notch. Not worth anyone's time.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Awful narrator

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

No, the story was mediocre and the narration was painful to listen to.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Nothing.

How could the performance have been better?

A different narrator for sure. It felt like sitting through first grade story hour with all the "he said...." and "then the leader asked...." with huge pauses. Awful.

Was Grid Down Reality Bites: Volume 1 Part 1 worth the listening time?

No

Any additional comments?

I will not be bothering with the rest of the series. What a waste of a credit.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Do not waste your money

What disappointed you about Grid Down Reality Bites: Volume 1 Part 1?

First the description " Two young men, Mark and Eric, struggle desperately trying to make it to their retreat in Northern California, and George and his son Junior are not in the story. Shame on the authors for nor correcting the description. The narrator is bad but the story is flat.

How could the performance have been better?

Although the story line didn't match the description It was ok. I bought part 2 hoping the same characters and story would continue. It did not continue.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

flat out struggled to get through it.

Any additional comments?

I wish I had never purchased this story.

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1 person found this helpful