James Dommek Jr.
Author of Midnight Son
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Produced like an audio documentary (interviews, environmental sounds, etc.), this true crime investigations brings together a mythic tribe "Iñukuns" with actor-turned-fugitive felon Teddy Kyle Smith in an engaging exploration that is also homage to native storytelling. Author James Dommek Jr. is the great-grandson of Inupiaq storytellers and brings those traditions into his investigative journalism.
Alaskan True Crime and Mythology
Review of the Audible Originals audiobook edition (2019)
This podcast audiobook was an excellent audio production with the history of a 2012 true crime case being reconstructed from about 2018 (when the author James Dommek Jr. observed the case in appeals). The atmospheric music, the audio ambiance, the interviews and court recordings were all seamlessly put together to portray a sad story of an acting career gone wrong with an added haunting of a mythological Alaskan tribe brought into the story as a sort of 11th hour shock.
The portion of the audio (from about the 2 hour 27 minute mark) that I've transcribed above especially struck me though as the overall lesson of the experience. In this global culture as we all seek to better understand each other it cut through to the heart of the message.
Midnight Son was one of the free monthly Audible Originals for members in November 2019. show less
Review of the Audible Originals audiobook edition (2019)
“The experience that Mr. Smith had is a cultural and spiritual experience, that turned out very badly, but, it’s a cultural experience, not a mental illness. He is no more mentally ill than any other belief system that we have that is criticized at times as irrational as well.“ - Angela Greene, Public Defender.show more
“You never hear white people vouching for our spiritual experiences. It’s like we
don’t get to have these anymore. The missionaries took those away and told us they were evil. Instead they told us stories like a Virgin had a baby and people are walking on water… well, ok. But here is a Public Defender arguing that what we believe in is just as valid as any other religion. Whether or not she’s actually that open-minded or just calculating, I don’t know. But this is just a hint of what’s to come with the Iñukuns and the Alaskan justice system.“ – James Dommek Jr., Author & Narrator.
This podcast audiobook was an excellent audio production with the history of a 2012 true crime case being reconstructed from about 2018 (when the author James Dommek Jr. observed the case in appeals). The atmospheric music, the audio ambiance, the interviews and court recordings were all seamlessly put together to portray a sad story of an acting career gone wrong with an added haunting of a mythological Alaskan tribe brought into the story as a sort of 11th hour shock.
The portion of the audio (from about the 2 hour 27 minute mark) that I've transcribed above especially struck me though as the overall lesson of the experience. In this global culture as we all seek to better understand each other it cut through to the heart of the message.
Midnight Son was one of the free monthly Audible Originals for members in November 2019. show less
I enjoyed this selection greatly. I listened to it in one sitting because I was so engrossed in the book. It brings up points that need to be discussed. What does make up a jury of peers, is one. Mental health and alcoholism are others. It is a sad tale though interesting. I don’t always enjoy narrators who are the author. In this audio selection, I did. Perhaps be the story is a true one and the narration respected that. In my opinion it was well done. I’m happy I listened to it.
This was interesting. In Midnight Son, James Dommek, Jr., an Alaskan Native of the Inupiaq tribe, shares a true crime story weaved with the legend of a mythic tribe, the lnukuns. Teddy Kyle Smith, a Native Alaskan, is at the beginning of a promising acting career when he reported the death of his mother. Teddy’s actions that follow are unexplainable. Teddy quickly becomes a fugitive and when he is captured, he claims he encountered the Inukuns in the Alaskan wilderness.
James Dommek, Jr. show more becomes fascinated by Teddy Kyle Smith. He interviews friends, acquaintances, and Teddy’s brother for this short Audible Original. This story surprised me with its many layers. James seems interested to learn about Teddy, the crimes he was accused, and the legend of the mythic Inukuns. The story opens with the interviews James conducted with people who know Teddy and the victims of his crimes. Next, he covers the trial. James played Teddy’s testimony regarding what he saw of the Inukuns. He explained how the courts responded to the testimony. He also shared...
I have photos, videos, and additional information that I'm unable to include here. It can all be found on my blog, in the link below.
A Book And A Dog show less
James Dommek, Jr. show more becomes fascinated by Teddy Kyle Smith. He interviews friends, acquaintances, and Teddy’s brother for this short Audible Original. This story surprised me with its many layers. James seems interested to learn about Teddy, the crimes he was accused, and the legend of the mythic Inukuns. The story opens with the interviews James conducted with people who know Teddy and the victims of his crimes. Next, he covers the trial. James played Teddy’s testimony regarding what he saw of the Inukuns. He explained how the courts responded to the testimony. He also shared...
I have photos, videos, and additional information that I'm unable to include here. It can all be found on my blog, in the link below.
A Book And A Dog show less
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- Works
- 1
- Members
- 154
- Popularity
- #135,794
- Rating
- 3.4
- Reviews
- 10
- ISBNs
- 2