It’s totally normal to fall in love with an audiobook narrator’s voice, right?Right.Just ask Vera, who listens to “her” guy whenever and wherever she can: while driving, working, parenting, cooking, cleaning, showering… you name it. But now, she’s bringing him into the bedroom. And her husband is less than pleased. These Walls Can Talk is a raucous and heartfelt love letter to romance … heartfelt love letter to romance audiobooks: the authors who write them, the narrators and engineers who record them and the passionate fans who devour them.
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I absolutely loved listening to These Walls Can Talk, an Audio Play, by Erin Mallon. It is a quick listen with a powerful punch. A story about an everyday couple, two authors and narrators and a quirky technician. I just loved Vera. I resonated with her so much. As readers and listeners, we got lost in stories so I totally got where she was coming from. Because who does not love Joe Arden’s voice, right? And when Cameron finally sits down and talks to her, my heart. I cried and laughed. It was perfect. Then you have Georgia, Niffer (I loved that), Neal and Atticus. Such an amazing group of characters. I highly recommend listening to this one.
Loved it! Listened and reviewed for Sultry Sirens Book Blog.
Happy listening!
This quirky, and hilarious audio play was so much fun to listen to! I loved this unique, yet relatable, story that makes us see ourselves, and the world of audiobooks, in a whole new and entertaining way. Erin Mallon created an excellent script that weaved many facets together so seamlessly. She also assembled a stellar cast that had great chemistry and gave bold performances of hilariously eccentric characters! I started laughing from the very beginning and didn’t stop giggling or laughing until well after it was finished. Bravo!
I don’t know about you, but in these strange times we’re living in, I’m more inclined to want a laugh out loud experience than anything else. Well, These Walls Can Talk delivers just that. From the fantastic writing to the incredible performances, it has it all. This audio play is like a love letter to romance audiobook fans everywhere. It’s funny, with so many tongue in cheek references that listeners will love. I don’t think I’ve ever listened to an audio play before but when Erin Mallon releases something, I sit up and pay attention. And boy am I glad I did. This book is everything I needed right now. It’s a short listen, so easily listened to when you have a couple of hours to spare. I loved that each character is given an arc and their time to shine, and shine they do. I could totally relate to Vera and Cameron’s relationship, and I had so many laugh out loud moments with not only them but the entire play. A definite must listen. I think the cover is a fantastic representation of the story within.
Shane East is the voice of Cameron, a “serious writer” and he’s so typically British. I say that with the utmost respect for Erin’s writing. Not everyone is able to pull off the British voice, but she does it seamlessly, and of course, in true Shane fashion, he performs it perfectly. There were times when I was holding my sides because it was so funny. His interactions with both Andi and Tanya were gold.
Andi Arndt is the voice of Vera, she has a little obsession with a voice actor, hey, we’ve all been there, right? Right! Her interactions with Shane were fantastic and that first scene, in the kitchen, man, I don’t think I’ve laughed that much in a very long time. My husband came to check on me, and honestly, it just made me laugh harder because how he reacted was so Cameron-like. Andi is wonderful in everything she does and that is showcased well in this audio play.
Emma Wilder is the voice of Jennifer, a new audiobook narrator. I just love Emma’s performances, and this one is no different. Her incredulity of the content and the men around her really shone through. I loved her interactions with both Joe and Teddy. Emma is fast becoming my go-to female voice of choice. Anyone else wanting a Nifer story, no, just me? Okay then.
Joe Arden is the voice of Atticus aka the Narwhal, a popular audiobook narrator. I just can’t, I love angsty Joe but funny Joe is right up there. He was hilarious and his female voice was priceless. I want to send it to everyone wanting to get into narration with a big sign that says, what not to do. lol. There were also moments of vulnerability that were just fantastic and really showed how multifaceted Joe is as a performer. PSA: Joe Arden actually has a fantastic female voice, do not let his performance colour your decision to pick up a dually narrated book. This is just proof of his amazing, entertaining talent.
Tanya Eby is the voice of Georgia, a bestselling author whose audiobook is being recorded by Jennifer and Atticus. I loved the character, and I loved how she was performed. Tanya’s southern is on point. I knew I was going to love Tanya in this role as I’ve listened to a number of her romcom performances and she always brings the comedy in a skilled way.
Teddy Hamilton is the voice of Neil, the sound engineer working with Jennifer and Atticus. I’m so used to hearing Teddy the nice guy, that it’s so strange to hear him be something else. As a “recovering misogynist” he was able to not only showcase the character but enable him to be likeable too. He was such an arse at times, and others, so vulnerable that you just wanted to give him a hug. Which just shows his versatility.
Erin Mallon not only wrote the play that was performed in NYC earlier this year, but she also narrated/ directed the audio play. As always, she is a volcano of talent and it never ceases to amaze me. If only we could all just siphon off a tiny bit of her talent for ourselves.
The bonus content is a nice little extra. It includes bloopers, which were just as funny as the play itself. Even more so in some parts.
I loved this audiobook so much! The combination of Erin’s witty storytelling with a cast of talented narrators makes this play is a MUST listen for audiobook lovers.
We all know and love Erin Mallon for her fantastic narrations, but with These Walls Can Talk we get to see her in a whole new way, as the writer. An audio play performed by some of the biggest names in narration you will not be disappointed at the laughs or sheer insanity that takes place.
Vera is seriously obsessed with one specific narrator *wink wink*
Cameron is Vera’s husband and completely baffled at audiobooks.
Neil is the audio engineer who might feel a bit underappreciated at times.
Jennifer is new to narration but not what it means to be critiqued.
Atticus the seriously hot narrator who is lacking a bit in the personality department.
and Georgia our seriously spicy author who may or may not be slightly extra.
The narration was just *chefs kiss* seriously though with this cast of narrators would you expect anything else?
This is not supposed to be taken seriously. If you are an audiobook reader, narrator, writer or someone working in the industry then you will be entranced by everything this play has to offer.
On to book two, The Narwhal Strikes Back!!
This audio play had me cracking up. I absolutely love Erin Mallon as a narrator. If she’s narrating, it’s an instant download for me. Then I find out she writes as well? Sign. Me. Up.
As an avid audiobook listener, Erin nailed all the feelings you have while listening. Is it weird to fall in love with a narrator’s voice? I don’t think so. Is it weird to want your romantic life to be like a romance novel? I certainly don’t think so!
Shane East, Andi Arndt, Emma Wilder, Joe Arden, Teddy Hamilton and Tanya Eby were hilarious and wonderful.
I can’t get enough of Erin’s writing and this play will be forever on my repeat listen list. It is hysterical fun and my go listen when I need a good laugh. The entire cast is phenomenal and I can’t wait to listen to the next installment. I loved that the bloopers were included they were just as funny as the entire play. Definitely pick this one up you will not be sorry.
Another amazing play by Erin Mallon! Loved the story & the amazing cast of narrators. Thank you, Erin for this fun play. Hysterical narration by Teddy Hamilton, Andi Arndt, Shane East, Joe Arden, Emma Wilder & Tanya Eby.
The cast was perfect and I laughed quite a few times. The story is cute and just perfect for a quick listen.
Need a fun pick me up? Love the romance genre? If yes is your answer, you definitely need to check this out.
The description says this audible is a love letter to the authors, narrators, and the readers of the romance genre, and that description says it all. With some slightly over the top characters that poke fun at the genre in the best self deprecating ways, this play will have you smiling, laughing out loud, and wondering how much of this is based on some truth on some level.
Did you ever wonder what it’s like in the narrator box? Erin Mallon has crafted an amazing audio play to give us a comedic look at larger than life characters that are involved in the making of an audiobook. Inside jokes, big egos, funny outtakes and quirky characters all flawlessly flow together in Mallon’s mind coming out and giving us hysterical laughter. I think a romance listener will not only relate to this gem, but find themselves in a better mood after listening. It’s that good! With a stellar ensemble cast, each character is perfectly suited to the narrator. And the bloopers were just icing on the cake. Every time Andi Arndt laughed, I cracked up too! This is a short listen that when you need that pick me up, is the one you should grab.
I loved this short and sweet audiobook! I think I tried to listen to it at one point in the past, after it first came out, but when I finally started listening it was just so funny. All the bits about romance books and listening to them and how embarrassing it is if someone all of a sudden hears certain parts of the story. And then there was the audiobook narrator who was the “narwhal”. So, there are a couple of audiobook narrators that I know I’ve done my own googling and wanting to know what they looked like, such as Sebastian York, or in this case, Joe Arden, another one we don’t know for sure what he looks like. I also loved all the parts about the “inside” of the audiobook production world, that in itself was hilarious. And finally, the epilogue to this was so hilarious I was laughing so hard in my car as I drove that I hoped people around me didn’t see and think I was drunk or having a seizure or something.
loved it! Hilarious!
This audio book was a hilarious look into the world of audio books (especially romances) and the narrators who bring them alive for us. These narrators were definitely ones I am familiar with and have listened to many times. It was great to experience the humor in the world of narration.
#Audiobook #Review 5
These Walls Can Talk by Erin Mallon, Writer
Seriously, how much talent can one person inhabit in their body? Not only is Erin Mallon a talented narrator but now she is a funny AF audio playwright!
When I saw the cast listed for this audio play I knew I had to have it. What I didn’t know was just how funny it was going to be. This audio play is every audiobook lovers dream! An audiobook about narrators and romance writing. It is a comical inside look at the world of audiobook narration and production as well as playful jabs at authors, readers and narrators themselves! The whole play is full of hilarity as it examines “eye reading” snobbery (Shane East you cracked me up so much!) exaggerated unrealistic sex scenes (“it always fits!) listener’s obsession with male narrators “growly” voices ( the “Narwhal” hysterically played by Joe Arden as opposed to the unicorn that is Sebastian York) and conversely male narrator’s “cringey” female voices (no those growly voices don’t always translate well to female voices – looking at you The Narwhal). This audio play takes place alongside of a you guessed it – a romance.
This all-star narrator cast gives some of their best comical performances to date. I felt compelled to give them all a standing ovation and a bouquet of roses for Erin Mallon at the end of the play. I also yelled encore and listened to it two more times.
Do yourself a favor and spend a credit on this sidesplitting look at the world of romance narrating tailor made for the audiobook fan. AND if you have a friend who is an “eye reading” snob tell them to listen to this audio play and watch the “ear reading” conversion commence.
If you love romance audiobooks, These Walls Can Talk by Erin Mallon is one you can’t miss. Originally performed via zoom on Facebook, I missed the live show and then went away for the weekend and missed it for the short time it was up. Now I’m glad, because I hear this version was better.
WARNING: Don’t drink while listening. I spit water (luckily) all over my front windshield because I took a drink and then started laughing my face off. I had no idea what to expect from an audio play, but I didn’t expect it to be so over-the-top funny!
Written as sort of an ode to romance audiobooks, there were a lot of underlying themes that ran through this short (too short) little play. First, we have the wife who listens to audiobooks to spice up her life and her snooty husband, a scifi author who looks down his nose at her audiobook hobby. We have the nutty audio producer who is quite inappropriate in the studio but loves his job, and then there is the romance author who doesn’t believe in love. We also have the new narrator who doesn’t quite ‘get’ the romance genre yet, and last, we have “The Narwhal”, the gorgeous and sexy-voiced narrator that all the women want but nobody has ever seen.
Each of the characters were narrated by a different person and they were all phenomenal. Being that this is all about audiobooks, I can’t find any reason to read and not listen, because These Walls Can Talk was meant for audio, that’s for sure. The blooper reel at the end was just as funny as the book.
Likes:
•A short, fun read (listen).
•Completely unique, as I never listened to a play.
•A few different storylines were going on, but it was easy to follow.
•The whole cast was amazing.
•I literally laughed out loud. HARD. Hard enough to spit water everywhere.
•It was completely over-the-top and didn’t try not to be.
•It was like a love-letter to audiobooks. Well maybe more of a roast, but in a loving way.
•The bloopers. I want these in every book!
•The sneak peek at the end for Flirtasaurus by Erin Mallon. I am so excited for this! I cracked up at the preview.
Dislikes:
•Sometimes there were so many voices it was a little hard to keep track.
•I didn’t love the play format. It was fun for this one book, and I wouldn’t change it, but I wouldn’t seek out other audio plays.
The Narration:
Almost all of my favorite narrators in one little listen, and they played different characters than usual! I loved it. There was one scene with too many voices that lost me but I didn’t mind listening to it again.
The Down & Dirty:
Any romance audiobook lover needs to listen to this. It is so freaking funny, and very clear that the author knows her way behind the scenes. While Erin is one of my favorite narrators, almost all of my other favorites were here and we really got to see their silly sides. Erin has a great sense of goofy humor that is right up my alley and I can’t wait to listen to her next book, Flirtasaurus , because the preview had me literally cracking up.
Rating: 4.5 Stars, 3 Heat, 5 Narration