Audiobook Review: Four Years Trapped in My Mind Palace by Johan Twiss

Four Years Trapped in My Mind Palace
Author: Johan Twiss

Narrator: Johan Twiss
Published: December 8, 2016
Audiobook: 7 hours 29 minutes

Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: September 17-23, 2024
Jessica’s Rating: 5 stars

Audiobook Description:

I was paralyzed—trapped in my own mind. The friendship of a crazy old man was my way out.

Fourteen-year-old Aaron Greenburg is trapped in a vegetative state. He’s awake and aware of everything around him, but the doctors don’t realize it. After being placed in a care facility, he receives a new roommate–Solomon, an old eccentric jazz musician with dementia. When Aaron talks in his mind to stay sane, Solomon hears his thoughts and replies. But no one believes that Aaron and Solomon can converse, except for Solomon’s teenage granddaughter, Sarah.

When Solomon relives the past during his dementia episodes, Aaron joins him in those moments in time to experience 1920s New York City, getting into a scuffle with the mob in a Chicago nightclub, fighting in World War II, and much more as the two develop an unlikely and unique friendship.

Four Years in My Mind Palace is a humorous and heartwarming coming-of-age story, entwined with an end-of-age story, that will capture your imagination and renew your faith in the power of friendship.

Jessica’s Review:

My friend Beccie has been on me for YEARS to read this book. For Christmas in 2020 (yes, I am very embarrassed about this now!) she even bought me a signed edition by the author.  I promised I had intended to read it before now because I did buy a kindle copy years ago. Twiss now has a new edition of Four Years with a gorgeous cover, so I finally decided to read it.  Let’s just say that 2024 has not been my year to read books, so I am thankful that audiobooks exist and I used an Audible credit for this one: I can say that I have all the formats of this book covered!    

THIS BOOK: It gives you all the feelings! I was pulled in from the very beginning and just fell in love with Aaron and Solomon.  This book is magical realism with a bit of historical fiction added.  It would be appropriate for middle grade readers and up. Everyone will find something to love with this book. I loved everything about it.  We even get some history mixed in with Solomon’s life. This reader learned some things.

Twiss also narrated the audiobook. He really brought both Aaron and Solomon to life. This is a book that deserves so much more attention than it has gotten, and with a gorgeous new cover, I hope it does! This is a book that will touch you and you will look back at it fondly.

Twiss also talks about the research he did with the historical aspects of the novel.

I have a kindle version of his novella 30 Red Dresses that I hope to read sooner rather than later now! If you haven’t read Twiss yet, do pick it up and read it now versus waiting as long as I did.  My excuse is this: There are too many excellent books and never enough time!)

Here are pictures of my signed copy courtesy of Beccie:

Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK