FIRST THEY IGNORE YOU

Narrator Dane Petersen captures the occasional pleasurable moments and more frequent sadness of Russell Horvath's life as depicted in this novel. Horvath is a budding L.A. screenwriter with an embarrassing secret, he uses food--particularly fast food--to calm himself when he's stressed or insecure. Petersen's Horvath is considerate and self-deprecating when his often sharp-tongued girlfriend, Jass, puts him on a kale diet. Listeners will accompany Horvath as he nervously promotes his screenplay, is "saved" by a dog, and meets some hilariously eccentric Latina sisters. Most moving and sometimes funny are the inner voices that both chastise and encourage him. This well-rendered story informs listeners about the challenges of addiction and competing in cutthroat Hollywood. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2019]