Zermatt Audiobook, by Frank Schaeffer Play Audiobook Sample

Zermatt Audiobook

Zermatt Audiobook, by Frank Schaeffer Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Lloyd James Publisher: Blackstone Publishing Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 5.50 hours at 1.5x Speed 4.13 hours at 2.0x Speed Series: The Calvin Becker Trilogy Release Date: June 2005 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9781481562812

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

33

Longest Chapter Length:

32:04 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

03:46 minutes

Average Chapter Length:

15:07 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

5

Other Audiobooks Written by Frank Schaeffer: > View All...

Publisher Description

In this sequel to his acclaimed novel Portofino, Frank Schaeffer's memorable young narrator, Calvin Becker, returns in a story that is a coming-of-age gem.

It is 1966, and Calvin is fourteen, torn between his naturally volcanic sexual curiosity and a fundamentalist family so strict that he has never seen a movie, watched television, or danced—and has to hide his five copies of Mad magazine in the attic. Ralph and Elsa Becker, Reformed Presbyterian missionaries from Kansas, are stationed in Switzerland and on a modest ski vacation with their three children: tyrannical eighteen-year-old Janet, angelic Rachael, and the irrepressible Calvin.But at the Hotel Riffelberg, a supposed safe haven from the sinners listening to jazz far below in Zermatt, Calvin nevertheless falls into the hands of Eva, a young waitress who, while bringing him breakfast each morning, begins Calvin's initiation. Even so, it is only after his mother catches him in the act (or so she thinks) that Calvin's real education begins. The resulting family meltdown builds to a climax destined to push Calvin's childhood into the past.

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"Laugh out loud funny in parts, too tragic for words in others... I have no idea how Frank Schaeffer turned out sane, because his family was anything but. If you grew up in a Fundamentalist household, you'll recognize an awful lot in this story."

— Bobby (4 out of 5 stars)

Quotes

  • “Not since Huck Finn has American literature been graced with a character as irresistible as Calvin Dort Becker.”

    — Andre Dubus III, New York Times bestselling author
  • “In a painfully believable performance, Lloyd James suffers Calvin’s adolescent misery…James’ performance combines pathos with comedy, making the ingenuous, if not-so-innocent, Calvin a character to remember.”

    — AudioFile
  • “Comedy and tragedy blend flawlessly in this extraordinary novel…This is coming-of-age literature for all ages. Narrator James is pure perfection…Highly recommended.”

    — Library Journal

Zermatt Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 2.84615384615385 out of 52.84615384615385 out of 52.84615384615385 out of 52.84615384615385 out of 52.84615384615385 out of 5 (2.85)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 2
3 Stars: 7
2 Stars: 4
1 Stars: 0
Narration: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Sex, sin and salvation all contribute to the pubescent awakening of our young narrator, Calvin Becker, on the ski slopes of Zermatt. A sometimes fun, sometimes sad look at this vacationing fundamentalist missionary family, last seen in 'Portofino', the first of this rather entertaining trilogy. "

    — Doris, 8/23/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " The sequel to Portofino, it had a weak ending and seemed to go now where after the middle of the book. Still, as someone who was raised in a fundamentalist family, the language is a too familiar. I empathized with Calvin, all the lying and pretending, just to lead a normal life. "

    — Kathleen, 6/29/2012
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " Where Portofino was funny, Zermatt was just plain scary. A real cautionary tale about the mental illness inherent in fundamentalist religious practices. "

    — Anne, 3/25/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I didn't find the sequel as fun and entertaining as Portofino "

    — Keri, 3/20/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " The last in the Calvin Becker trilogy - really a funny series. Great characters and a hilarious commentary on born-again Christians. "

    — Chris, 9/15/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " This was okay. It was fun to revisit Calvin and his family, but it is not the masterpiece that Portofino is. "

    — Karyn, 8/29/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I like this one the least of the Portofino trilogy. See my review for Portofino. "

    — Elizabeth, 7/22/2011
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " Where Portofino was funny, Zermatt was just plain scary. A real cautionary tale about the mental illness inherent in fundamentalist religious practices. "

    — Anne, 4/6/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " The last in the Calvin Becker trilogy - really a funny series. Great characters and a hilarious commentary on born-again Christians. "

    — Chris, 12/8/2009
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " This was okay. It was fun to revisit Calvin and his family, but it is not the masterpiece that Portofino is. "

    — Karyn, 3/1/2009
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " The sequel to Portofino, it had a weak ending and seemed to go now where after the middle of the book. Still, as someone who was raised in a fundamentalist family, the language is a too familiar. I empathized with Calvin, all the lying and pretending, just to lead a normal life. "

    — Kathleen, 1/24/2009
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I didn't find the sequel as fun and entertaining as Portofino "

    — Keri, 4/15/2008
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I like this one the least of the Portofino trilogy. See my review for Portofino. "

    — Elizabeth, 10/11/2007

About Frank Schaeffer

Frank Sshaeffer is the author of two other novels, Saving Grandma and Portofino. In addition, he and his son, John, have coauthored the New York Times best-seller Keeping Faith: A Father-Son Story about Love and the United States Marine Corps.

About Lloyd James

Lloyd James (a.k.a. Sean Pratt) has been narrating since 1996 and has recorded over six hundred audiobooks. He is a seven-time winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award and has twice been a finalist for the prestigious Audie Award. His critically acclaimed performances include Elvis in the Morning by William F. Buckley Jr. and Searching for Bobby Fischer by Fred Waitzkin, among others.