
Narrator: James H. Kiser
Published by John Isaac Jones on 09-21-17
Genres: Fiction, Historical
Length: 18 mins
Format: Audiobook
Source: Author
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Overal Rating:

One day in June of 1951, Billy Johnson's father delayed plowing long enough to teach his son how to trap a rabbit. In the past, he had never seen his father delay plowing for any reason, especially when he was using black hired hands. Over the years that followed, he always assumed the motive for the lesson was nothing more than a father who was an avid sportsman teaching his son to trap a rabbit. After his father died, he learned differently.
This is a short story where a father teaches his son Billy how to trap and kill rabbits. Only years later Billy will understand the full meaning of it all.
I always enjoy stories about knowledge passed from old to young generations. I liked the descriptions of the farm where Billy’s family lived and worked. There is not a lot of character development due to the shortness of the story, but its meaning is quite clear.
I think, though that the story would need to be more polished. I felt there was a long built up and then the end was a bit rushed, without further details about Billy’s father.
Something I did not enjoy was the explanation about how to kill the rabbits. Basically it was either breaking their neck or beating them to death. Nowadays that we try to promote a dignified life for animals, beating an animal to death is just not something acceptable. I’m not a vegetarian, I eat meat, but whenever I can I try to source meat from animals that had a dignified life and the most painless death possible. I understand killing to eat but I just don’t understand killing in a way that makes an animal suffer.
James H. Kiser was clear but monotone. He did not inflect any emotion in the dialogs, and all voices sounded the same. It was okay though, but not something that made the story more enjoyable.
I received a copy of this book in audio format from the author in exchange for an honest review.Story (Plot) | |
Narration | |
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My name is Elena. Since I was a little child I loved science fiction and fantasy, and I can’t resist a good novel. In 2015, while wait I started to listen to audiobooks and I discovered the pleasure in being able to read while doing my daily tasks, so there’s always an audiobook playing on my phone. If you see me with my Bluetooth headphones on, please be gentle, I get easily startled.
I live with my boyfriend, which I met during my six-year stay in Belgium, four cockatiels, eight lovebirds, and a hamster in Madrid, Spain; and I like to spend my free time knitting and sewing while listening to audiobooks.