Audience Vol. 1, No. 2

Compiled by World Audience
World Audience, Inc. (2006)
ISBN 0978808681
Reviewed by Stephanie Rollins for Reader Views (12/06)


The monkey smoking a cigarette on the cover of “Audience” was eye-catching.  I expected a great read.  Short stories and poems are great for those who can only catch a few minutes here and there. 

I was quite disappointed overall.  Though the stories were short, most of them still seemed long.  They just drug on and on. 

“The Jesus Tapes” was a decent read.  I really enjoyed “The Fall” by Magdalena Ball.  “The Fall” detailed the struggles a minister has with the temptation of women and alcohol.  It also showed how his family was neglected in the name of his religious duties.  It also showed how much work it is to be a minister’s wife. “She never questioned.  Never doubted.”   He falls to temptation, and his church is troubled, disgraced, and confused.  This is so relevant given the fall of the conservative minister, Ted Haggard.

“Just Jizzing” is so hilarious.  It shows how simple men really are.  I read it twice just for a good laugh. 

“Mouse Trap” gave me a different look at rodents.  I still will kill each one I come across, though.  “Sugar Jen” reminded me of my favorite Waffle House waitress.  “Sugar Jen rallied on a couch near a pail, hot water bloomed around her tight toes.”  I will be sure to start tipping her more.

“The Tragedy of Abraham Lincoln” is a play that shows the death of Abraham Lincoln in a different light.  It is very long, but thought-provoking; after all, do we believe what we believe, only because we were told to do so?

The format and idea behind “Audience” is great.  I like the “keep it simple” paradigm.  I think it fails to meet the entertainment needs of mainstream America.  For wacky, out-of-the-box free-thinkers, this makes for great bathroom reading.  For the rest of us squares, just stick to reading the newspaper while on the toilet.

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