If you saw 'Wanted' (2008) don't bother

I expected this to be very funny based on an article I read which recommended it. While somewhat dry it was ultimately underwhelming. 1/2 bland intern, 1/2 super-assassin, and more than a little bit whiney John fails to inspire a genuine connection with the reader. This reads like an action movie script. If you're looking to kill a few hours, and can't get to the nearest cinema, go for it. If you're looking for any real depth skip it.

25 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

Reads like a movie script

After reading The Intern's Handbook, I realized that I've read many books told from the assassin's point of view: the Dexter series, Tim Dorsey's Serge series, the Butcher Boy series by Thomas Perry. I was hoping to add this to that list of favorites, but it falls short. The book is more action scenes than story. How many times can someone be hit, kicked, shot and stabbed and then return to the office the next morning? As a movie, it will probably be a box office hit, as a book it doesn't quite make it.

20 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

Not bad

I liked it. Kept me listening. First person narrative from an elite hit man. The author stretches believability in more than a few places and probably could have wrapped it up sooner, but all and all I think it’s worth a listen.

15 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

started with great expectations, but a huge bust

What would have made The Intern's Handbook better?

to outrageous to even be a decent and amusing story,

What do you think your next listen will be?

the Bible.....it would be more fun and interesting

What three words best describe Pete Simonelli’s voice?

the reader was good, just the material bad news

11 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

Clever premise -- a little grisly at times

I picked this up for the premise -- love the concept. The execution (pun intended) was a little intense for this reader. Nonetheless, I recommend this book -- good narration and story moves along quickly. Good ending -- didn't see it coming.

9 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

Excellent

If you could sum up The Intern's Handbook in three words, what would they be?

Unique, disturbing, exciting

Who was your favorite character and why?

John, the emotionally robbed child turned killer.

Which character – as performed by Pete Simonelli – was your favorite?

I think Alice b/c Simonelli actually managed to make a female's voice feminine as opposed to a shrill or deep voice.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Towards the end of the book and the conclusion as well.

Any additional comments?

The Intern's Handbook is unlike any of the other 1,000 books I have read and listened to over the year. Just the conclusion alone is well worth one's investment in time and credit. The bumpy ride one takes towards the end of the book is fasten-your-seat belt exciting. Highly recommended.

9 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

Off key and edgy - I liked it!

This is an interesting story, told from an interesting perspective, a narrative of the main character.

5 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

Action with an attitude!

What made the experience of listening to The Intern's Handbook the most enjoyable?

The hero John is a trained assassin. He was selected at a young age and hand groomed by his boss. He is tasked with killing really bad actors who have somehow gotten cross wise with powerful people. John's targets are usually very wealthy and surrounded by security. But John is very good at what he does, maybe the best. Always a treat to witness someone performing difficult tasks with superior skills and an attitude to match.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Intern's Handbook?

If you are a movie buff, you will love his constant references to movie moments and how they apply to his current situation.

Any additional comments?

Be prepared for the many twists that force you to ask yourself "what's going on here?"

3 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

Non-Stop Action

“The Intern’s Handbook” is part (fake) memoire part thriller and a lot of fun. The characters are seriously flawed individuals but if you can get past that the non-stop action and unique storyline makes for a fun ride with a set of twists that I didn’t see coming.

Mr. Simonelli is a bit flat in his delivery. Also I think this could be a great audio book if they made the transcripts read as actual dialog rather than transcripts. It would have helped bring the story to life a bit better.

2 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

Not bad but not all that original

Orphans are trained from childhood to be assassins, what a fresh concept. The main character, a veteran killer, pines for normal childhood he never had, resents his father figure that trained him to be an assassin and makes a fatal but very predictable mistake of falling for someone he knows he shouldn't.

John Largo, the main character, is no Dexter - lurking in a plain view invisible monster that accepted himself for what he is. John is more of a Pinocchio - he just wants to be a real boy.

Shane Kuhn has been a screenwriter, and it shows. He may be using this book as his "pitch" to movie-makers. The Intern's Handbook could be a TV movie - not quite good enough for the big screen, even considering Hollywood's love for remakes and unoriginal and predictable plots.

As for narration, as much as I enjoy deep and raspy Simonelli's voice and his talent for book narration, it was a weird casting choice in my opinion - the protagonist is hardly 25, according to the book and every time he mentions it (on quite a few occasions) would really throw me off.

2 les gens ont trouvé cela utile