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Bunn-O
With her husband stranded in a war-torn country halfway around the world, a university professor – on whom the burden of managing their small family has suddenly fallen – tries to maintain order at home. Her young daughter seems not to mind, or even really notice, the father’s absence. But as the weeks go on, mounting pressure on the narrator to balance family and work begins to take a toll.
So, when an enterprising and overeager graduate student, known only as “Schpleeven”, begs to “hack” her situation, the narrator gives in and Schpleevan connects her husband’s video calls to a plastic bunny toy.
Darkly funny and eerily prescient, Bunn-O examines technology’s unbelievable ability to connect us, as well as its extraordinary power to tear us apart.
So, when an enterprising and overeager graduate student, known only as “Schpleeven”, begs to “hack” her situation, the narrator gives in and Schpleevan connects her husband’s video calls to a plastic bunny toy.
Darkly funny and eerily prescient, Bunn-O examines technology’s unbelievable ability to connect us, as well as its extraordinary power to tear us apart.
Audiobook
Published November 19, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 26, 2024
Story 3 stars**
Audio 4.25 stars**
Narrator Emily Bauer
Audio 4.25 stars**
Narrator Emily Bauer
July 20, 2024
literally an episode of black mirror
February 2, 2021
Weird quick, little story about technology and long distance relationships.
October 11, 2023
It took me days to get through this super short audiobook when usually I can listen to a full length novel in a day or two. It was boring. The point the author was trying to make came across right away and then I didn’t care about having it drilled into my head anymore. It wasn’t done in a way that I really cared about or that was new. 2 stars.
February 25, 2021
It's getting two stars because I'm feeling generous. I think I can see the faint outline of a good core in this story; especially in 2020, exploring how technologies that ostensibly bring us together may impact a marriage (or other close relationships) seems incredibly relevant. Unfortunately, the execution is off. Bad stylistic choices really doom what could have been a compelling insight into marriage in the digital age to a story about how a married, professional woman gets beaten down by the men around her.
To start, the author should not have chosen a single point of view character written in first person for a story about marriage. I think to really get into the meat and potatoes of the theme above, we needed insight from the husband, and probably from the daughter too. And speaking of the husband, he comes off as a complete self-absorbed asshole, making me wonder if this marriage would have worked out even if he were actually around in the flesh. The result is that what we are supposed to view as a tragedy comes off flatly as an inevitability.
Also, "Schpleevin" (I have no idea if that's spelled correctly, as I listened to the audiobook) is a really, really dumb name for a supporting character. Why not just use something normal, like John? That got old real, real fast. Hearing it the first time was fine, but he kept coming back into the story, so that by the end it was death by a thousand paper cuts.
Speaking to the gender dynamics that abound everywhere in this story, I don't discount that it is difficult to be a woman in academia. From the outside looking in, an 'old boys club' culture certainly seems to permeate it. In particular, the scene with the tenured computer science professor squeezing the narrator's ass seemed totally believable. It just comes off as heavy-handed, and doesn't leave the reader with anything to ponder. The men in this world only care about themselves, while the narrator bends over backwards to be further victimized until she snaps. Of course that's terrible, but what was the point of crafting that arc (such as it is)? What lesson or question to think on was the reader supposed to take away from this? And what does it say about the dynamics of marriage, the relationship that is supposed to be animating this narrative? The fact that I can't answer these questions is the fatal flaw of this story. What a disappointment, as the author chose such fertile ground to grow nothing.
I'm choosing to believe that with more editing, the author could have gotten to where I think she wanted to go. More fleshed out characters, and ups to go with the downs, would have REALLY helped. As it stands, though, she falls short of saying anything that is memorable. Again, two stars because I'm felling generous, but really, it's probably more of a 1.5.
To start, the author should not have chosen a single point of view character written in first person for a story about marriage. I think to really get into the meat and potatoes of the theme above, we needed insight from the husband, and probably from the daughter too. And speaking of the husband, he comes off as a complete self-absorbed asshole, making me wonder if this marriage would have worked out even if he were actually around in the flesh. The result is that what we are supposed to view as a tragedy comes off flatly as an inevitability.
Also, "Schpleevin" (I have no idea if that's spelled correctly, as I listened to the audiobook) is a really, really dumb name for a supporting character. Why not just use something normal, like John? That got old real, real fast. Hearing it the first time was fine, but he kept coming back into the story, so that by the end it was death by a thousand paper cuts.
Speaking to the gender dynamics that abound everywhere in this story, I don't discount that it is difficult to be a woman in academia. From the outside looking in, an 'old boys club' culture certainly seems to permeate it. In particular, the scene with the tenured computer science professor squeezing the narrator's ass seemed totally believable. It just comes off as heavy-handed, and doesn't leave the reader with anything to ponder. The men in this world only care about themselves, while the narrator bends over backwards to be further victimized until she snaps. Of course that's terrible, but what was the point of crafting that arc (such as it is)? What lesson or question to think on was the reader supposed to take away from this? And what does it say about the dynamics of marriage, the relationship that is supposed to be animating this narrative? The fact that I can't answer these questions is the fatal flaw of this story. What a disappointment, as the author chose such fertile ground to grow nothing.
I'm choosing to believe that with more editing, the author could have gotten to where I think she wanted to go. More fleshed out characters, and ups to go with the downs, would have REALLY helped. As it stands, though, she falls short of saying anything that is memorable. Again, two stars because I'm felling generous, but really, it's probably more of a 1.5.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2020
I wish I hadn't read this...
January 5, 2021
Equal parts funny and harrowing—a prescient look into the future of our AI-influenced world, and an entertaining pastiche of academia and university life. A short read with a long shelf life.
September 2, 2023
Near Future Fractured Family
I really enjoyed this story. I felt that for the most part the technology was realistic and perfectly framed the dysfunction and breakdown of a family relationship through long distance and the facsimile of presence and engagement. The most harrowing and real element being how the protagonist's needs, emotions, and boundaries were ignored and trampled by the men in her life.
The isolation and emotion are palpable, which the outstanding performance brings to life.
I think the sudden and somewhat vague heightening of the end was somewhat out of place, not necessarily from the events that took place, but how they related to everything else and the clarity with which it was told. There is a somewhat frustrating tendency of people relating anything vaguely sci-fi/ near future technology issuee with Black Mirror, which I think can be unfair, but I do think the ending is what draws this comparison most sharply.
This short story has definitely left me with a desire to read more of this author.
I really enjoyed this story. I felt that for the most part the technology was realistic and perfectly framed the dysfunction and breakdown of a family relationship through long distance and the facsimile of presence and engagement. The most harrowing and real element being how the protagonist's needs, emotions, and boundaries were ignored and trampled by the men in her life.
The isolation and emotion are palpable, which the outstanding performance brings to life.
I think the sudden and somewhat vague heightening of the end was somewhat out of place, not necessarily from the events that took place, but how they related to everything else and the clarity with which it was told. There is a somewhat frustrating tendency of people relating anything vaguely sci-fi/ near future technology issuee with Black Mirror, which I think can be unfair, but I do think the ending is what draws this comparison most sharply.
This short story has definitely left me with a desire to read more of this author.
May 3, 2021
Another "Dark Mirror" type short story that poses the question, at what point does technology help v. hurt? Robots, self-driving cars? Can a high tech device lessen the pain of missing someone or maintain an extended long-distance marriage? Story was good but not great.
February 24, 2024
A cautionary tale about technology. A husband is away on a government job in a foreign country and can't return. His phone of put into a hard plastic bunny toy so he can watch the daughter and tell stories. It's creepy.
November 20, 2020
A quick short story that speaks to the dual nature of being constantly plugged in. Brings back memories of reading "The Lady or the Tiger" in high school.
November 25, 2020
I'd listen to a longer version of this.
January 4, 2021
Interesting concept for sure. I found myself getting frustrated with the wife though.
May 16, 2021
A super interesting concept. Makes for a great quick read.
May 31, 2021
The ending was a cop out.
May 2, 2023
It feels like a chapter of Black Mirror :)
May 20, 2023
Great until the end...
November 14, 2023
You know I think audible really struggles with their original short stories, but this one was really good
December 10, 2023
This story is literally like a Black Mirror episode.
December 13, 2023
This was a very good short story and had alot of stuff to make you think, but I also think that it ended too abruptly.
December 29, 2020
Interesting read.
March 16, 2021
Weird quick little story. Was “eh,” for me.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews