People in Hell Want Ice Water
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People in Hell Want Ice Water
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Narrated by:
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Dan Bittner
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By:
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Edan Lepucki
About this listen
In "People in Hell Want Ice Water" - an eerie and suspenseful short story about connection, trust, and self-preservation - a random hookup amidst the COVID-19 pandemic brings two lonely people together when they need it most. Colin is an immunocompromised software engineer living alone in Los Angeles when he meets Martha on an early morning walk. She’s irreverent and mysterious, and although Colin knows better than to invite a stranger into his house, it’s been over 40 days since he’s been touched, and he can’t resist the temptation. This decision upends his quiet and regimented life: Martha cooks them elaborate meals and uncorks bottle after bottle of wine until they stumble to bed drunk every night. Within days she’s moved in. As their relationship evolves, doubts creep in. Colin and Martha realize just how little they know about one another, and the secrets they each keep begin to come to light.
Acclaimed author Edan Lepucki packs all the drama and intrigue of her breakout novels California and Woman No. 17 into this one-sitting listen.
Please note this Original contains adult content and language.
©2020 Edan Lepucki (P)2020 Audible Originals, LLC.Listeners also enjoyed...
What listeners say about People in Hell Want Ice Water
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Honey Pye
- 13-10-22
Utter Perfection!
I love short stories that get me to and from work to make my journey pass. This story was awesome and I was hooked from start to finish. The narrator elevated the tale and I will listen to more of his work.
I'm definitely going to investigate more books from this author!
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Sebrina Autumn Calkins
- 03-09-23
I'm Exhausted, Grossed Out, and Confused
CW: Covid, Animal Abuse (Neglect and fears of death)
I don't even know where to start with this. I nearly DNF'd early on as the protagonist's initial interaction and thoughts about the antagonist caused Lynx/ Axe Africa and Kraft Cheese to emit from my tablet. This is my biggest confusion about the story -- both main characters are awful and truly unpleasant to spend any time with (beyond human empathy for health and pandemic stuff). The protagonist has a John Green/ one of his characters energy with a really creepy and kinda pathetic vibe (I get that he's been through a lot, but the Nice Guy creep baby boy energy is palpable) and the antagonist is pretty much manic pixie dream-come-nightmare girl. It's either brilliant or awful characterisation, but I can't tell. Regardless, peering into this window into their lives left me knackered and uncomfortable, so good job? Maybe?
Stories don't always have to have a political or philosophical perspective, but writing about Covid during the height of the pandemic about people flaunting the rules and an immuno-compromised person seemingly being portrayed as hysterical for being concerned doesn't feel great. Honestly, as someone whose partner and herself are both immuno-compromised and forced to maintain a certain level of eternal lockdown, this also hits different.
I have seen other reviews complain about threads not tied off and this is something I consistently see with short stories. Sometimes I agree, but more often than not and I this case the unanswered questions and ambiguity the reader is left with are the same as the protagonist. They are the narrator and sometimes it's effective to have the reader not know more than the narrator and/ or protagonist. In this case, without really spoilering anything, there is a level of mystery, confusion, and simple lack of information about a character that makes not knowing their actions. Actions, which can be plausibly denied by mundane means.
This was an unpleasant story and I don't know if I hated it or simply didn't enjoy it, so I can't recommend it. The quality of the prose and performance were both great nonetheless.
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