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Attaboy

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Attaboy

By: Sam Tallent
Narrated by: Dan Bittner, Helen Laser
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About this listen

From Sam Tallent, author of the hit indie novel Running the Light, which Marc Maron calls "a beautiful rendering of a dark reality", comes a story about poverty, addiction, and bare-knuckle boxing set in the shadows of the American heartland.

Teenaged Jesse is trapped. Growing up, he had all the potential in the world, but then real life intervened. Now he's got a high school diploma, two perpetually black eyes, and a pill fix he can't shake. By day, when he's not high on pain killers, Jesse is hardening his body; it’s the only thing about his life that he can really control. By night, he’s a god in the makeshift ring under the barnyard flood lights, willing to take on any local tough the Madsen brothers put in front of him. Most of Jesse’s fights don't last more than a minute or two. But as competition in town dries up, the Madsens go looking for better fights and bigger risks - with the chance for bigger payouts. Even as Jesse’s home life is closing in on him, he must find a way to win one more fight.

It's the only chance he's got.

©2021 Sam Tallent (P)2021 Audible Originals, LLC. Thriller & Suspense
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Couldn't get into this story. Glad it was short. Listened to the end but lost track before it finished

Some might like it. I didn't

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the story line was good but I've got no idea what happened in the end??? disappointing ending.

what the heck happened???

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Wonderful story evoking what life might be like in small town opium riddled America

Beautifully written

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Sam has used rich imagery well suited to the protagonists to create an immersive short story. The ending was a little more open ended than I was hoping for though doesn’t seem out of place with the context created. Vocal performance was great!

Evocatively written gritty short story

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