Audio Book Review: 25 Perfect Days by Mark Tullius

I recommend this for dystopian fans, but try the text for more clarity. 
25 Perfect Days
Written by: Mark Tullius
Narrated by: Dave Thompson


Length: 7 hrs and 37 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:06-25-14
Publisher: Vincere Press, LLC
Genre: Dystopian, Sci Fi
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Will you follow The Way or be crushed by the Controllers?
A totalitarian state doesn't just happen overnight. It's a slow, dangerous slide. 25 Perfect Days chronicles the path into a hellish future of food shortages, contaminated water, sweeping incarceration, an ultra-radical religion, and the extreme measures taken to reduce the population. Through 25 interlinked stories, each written from a different character's point of view, 25 Perfect Days captures the sacrifice, courage, and love needed to survive and eventually overcome this dystopian nightmare.
©2013 Mark Tullius (P)2014 Mark Tullius

Review:
The society this story describes is not one I would want to live in. This portrays a scary dystopian world. A religious group called The Way has slowly joined with government to control all aspects of work and life. Overpopulation and contamination of resources has resulted in food shortages, limited licencing, quick and unjust incarceration and controlled population growth. Instead of being allowed freedom to have children the privilege must be paid for. Some young women are used as selective breeders. As the years pass the society becomes more dark and hopeless. Those who don’t comply, don’t survive, one way or another.

I found the story interesting but very difficult to follow on audio. There are a handful of characters whose lives are followed over 25 days through a period of 40 years. Some of the scenarios are brutal; some are appalling to 'normal' society; and a few are heart warming and heart wrenching. It was difficult for me to connect all the vignettes.

I recommend this be added to any dystopian reading list. However, for this book, I would recommend the text and not the audio. I think it would be easier to track the characters and the changes in the society with the written version, especially if you are a listener who does other things (chores, driving, etc) while listening. If you sit quietly and listen, this might work.

Audio Notes: I think the narrator, Dave Thompson, did a good job with a difficult project. It might have been better with this work to have different narrators for the different character lines.

I received this audio through Audiobook Jukebox. (2015 Audiobook Challenge.)