What do you think?
Rate this book
Weeds
Sometimes sowing the seeds of change means getting your hands dirty.
Climate activist Shirley Watts has dedicated her entire life to protecting the planet for future generations. But constantly fighting for Mother Earth has taken its toll over time, leaving her in a precarious relationship with her adult daughter, Lela.
When Shirley’s latest climate stunt lands her in serious legal jeopardy, Lela reluctantly lets Shirley stay with her and her boyfriend while awaiting her upcoming trial. As the strain on their relationship reaches fever pitch, Lela must dig deep to determine if she has the emotional fortitude to let her mother back into her life, and whether or not she can trust her with a life-changing secret.
Rooted in the power of acceptance and forgiveness, Weeds (written by Amanda Wilkin) is a heartfelt family drama about finding the strength to stand up for what you believe in, and the courage to see it through.
Playwright Amanda Wilkin was awarded a commission through the Audible Emerging Playwrights Fund, an initiative dedicated to developing innovative original plays driven by language and voice. As an Audible-commissioned playwright, she received funding and creative support to develop Weeds.
Sound Design by Max Perryment
Directed by Matt Harrison
Available in Dolby Atmos on Audible.
Climate activist Shirley Watts has dedicated her entire life to protecting the planet for future generations. But constantly fighting for Mother Earth has taken its toll over time, leaving her in a precarious relationship with her adult daughter, Lela.
When Shirley’s latest climate stunt lands her in serious legal jeopardy, Lela reluctantly lets Shirley stay with her and her boyfriend while awaiting her upcoming trial. As the strain on their relationship reaches fever pitch, Lela must dig deep to determine if she has the emotional fortitude to let her mother back into her life, and whether or not she can trust her with a life-changing secret.
Rooted in the power of acceptance and forgiveness, Weeds (written by Amanda Wilkin) is a heartfelt family drama about finding the strength to stand up for what you believe in, and the courage to see it through.
Playwright Amanda Wilkin was awarded a commission through the Audible Emerging Playwrights Fund, an initiative dedicated to developing innovative original plays driven by language and voice. As an Audible-commissioned playwright, she received funding and creative support to develop Weeds.
Sound Design by Max Perryment
Directed by Matt Harrison
Available in Dolby Atmos on Audible.
Audiobook
Published March 21, 2024
6 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
December 20, 2024
The audio quality of this was just so poorly. Sounded like someone was sitting on the speakers. I also don’t know how I feel about audios like this vs actual narration. Although on the short side, the plot was just lacking. The characters did seem genuine, considering. Their conversations were interesting but they did flow. Just a little too awkward for me.
Not a favorite. I’d say skip!
Not a favorite. I’d say skip!
December 4, 2025
Captivating familial drama
Before I write my review, I would like to say kudos to Audible for this initiative they give out to up-and-coming playwrights. Originally, I was only looking for a short listen to add to my reading challenge (it is December, after all! Gotta start wrapping up the numbers, if you know what I mean?). So, when I found this one and then read about the funding the playwright received, I jumped right in and listened.
This one is about Lela, who is essentially estranged from her mother, an environmental activist. She got into trouble while participating in a protest, so the state suggested that while she awaits her trial, she come to live with her for a while. She reluctantly took her in, and that's when the drama ensued.
The narration was great. The emotions were so intense that it felt like a radio drama coming to life, because that's how expressive the performers were. The climax gave me a sort of WTF feeling, but after listening to the ending, it made me realize that while we cannot change people, regardless of who they are in our lives, as parents and as children, the only thing we can do for our incorrigible loved ones is to give them unconditional love and give out forgiveness at a ready.
I was supposed to listen to this in one setting since it is less than 3 hours long. However, for some reason, the audio quality differs when listening to it on a computer desktop (via the web-based version of Audible). I listened to the last half through my app on iPad, so the experience became a smooth sailing one. Which reminds me that the next time I listen to a production like this one, I will listen to it using the app so that I will not encounter a similar experience again while listening to the first half of this production.
Before I write my review, I would like to say kudos to Audible for this initiative they give out to up-and-coming playwrights. Originally, I was only looking for a short listen to add to my reading challenge (it is December, after all! Gotta start wrapping up the numbers, if you know what I mean?). So, when I found this one and then read about the funding the playwright received, I jumped right in and listened.
This one is about Lela, who is essentially estranged from her mother, an environmental activist. She got into trouble while participating in a protest, so the state suggested that while she awaits her trial, she come to live with her for a while. She reluctantly took her in, and that's when the drama ensued.
The narration was great. The emotions were so intense that it felt like a radio drama coming to life, because that's how expressive the performers were. The climax gave me a sort of WTF feeling, but after listening to the ending, it made me realize that while we cannot change people, regardless of who they are in our lives, as parents and as children, the only thing we can do for our incorrigible loved ones is to give them unconditional love and give out forgiveness at a ready.
I was supposed to listen to this in one setting since it is less than 3 hours long. However, for some reason, the audio quality differs when listening to it on a computer desktop (via the web-based version of Audible). I listened to the last half through my app on iPad, so the experience became a smooth sailing one. Which reminds me that the next time I listen to a production like this one, I will listen to it using the app so that I will not encounter a similar experience again while listening to the first half of this production.
May 27, 2024
Weeds (2024) by Amanda Wilkin is an Audible Original play I listened to after listening to Swing State. Both deal with grief/anger about climate change in quite different ways. Swing State, set in swing state Wisconsin, focuses on a grieving widow who tends to 50 acres of prairie she plans to will to the Prairie Restoration Society even as her life seems to be falling apart.
Weeds is about Shirley, who is a climate activist who has, in the process, neglected her daughter Lela and become estranged for many years until Shirley needs help, facing trial. Lela and her conservative boyfriend aren’t really concerned about climate change; they are annoyed by the inconvenience of protests, and then there is Lela’s resentment. Of course when Shirley stays with them they all have it out, and come together in certain ways. Standing for what you believe in about the planet, even as many are in denial, is a theme, but so is parenting, family, hope. Even the boyfriend comes around to admire Shirley, finally. It is not clear how the trial will come out, at the end, but in a way that is beside the point. They will work to get together again as a family.
It made me think of how, from my perspective, the most anguished/activist about the state of the natural world are the young, the Greta Thunbergs, and my boomer generation, the Shirleys, but that may be an oversimplification. Plays about climate activism and hope even in the bleakest times.
Weeds is about Shirley, who is a climate activist who has, in the process, neglected her daughter Lela and become estranged for many years until Shirley needs help, facing trial. Lela and her conservative boyfriend aren’t really concerned about climate change; they are annoyed by the inconvenience of protests, and then there is Lela’s resentment. Of course when Shirley stays with them they all have it out, and come together in certain ways. Standing for what you believe in about the planet, even as many are in denial, is a theme, but so is parenting, family, hope. Even the boyfriend comes around to admire Shirley, finally. It is not clear how the trial will come out, at the end, but in a way that is beside the point. They will work to get together again as a family.
It made me think of how, from my perspective, the most anguished/activist about the state of the natural world are the young, the Greta Thunbergs, and my boomer generation, the Shirleys, but that may be an oversimplification. Plays about climate activism and hope even in the bleakest times.
May 20, 2024
An interesting experiment/depiction of the rocky relationship between a mother and daughter when the possibility of closure is looming so close.
This one is an Audible Original, full cast, play. My main complaint here, while I did enjoy it for a short listen, I was not a fan of the audio quality. It was recorded in a way that sounded like the listener is a voyeur listening in through a recording device hidden somewhere in the rooms with the characters. I kept thinking, throughout the story, that this choice would come into play at some point. That we would learn that the authorities had indeed bugged the home of our main character. But no, this was just a style choice, and I was not a fan of that choice.
This one is an Audible Original, full cast, play. My main complaint here, while I did enjoy it for a short listen, I was not a fan of the audio quality. It was recorded in a way that sounded like the listener is a voyeur listening in through a recording device hidden somewhere in the rooms with the characters. I kept thinking, throughout the story, that this choice would come into play at some point. That we would learn that the authorities had indeed bugged the home of our main character. But no, this was just a style choice, and I was not a fan of that choice.
April 12, 2024
#Weeds by #AmandaWilkin
...
This is a brilliant little 4 man play, exploring motherhood, daughterhood, and the impact of extreme activism. The @audible version is a full cast which makes the recording feel dynamic, and adds to the intensity of the story. Wilkin weaves a masterful story of the adult child parenting their parent, and captures the anxiety of activists when the needle doesn't move in their lifetime. The use of climate change and the outsider partner make it feel all to real. Well worth the listen.
...
This is a brilliant little 4 man play, exploring motherhood, daughterhood, and the impact of extreme activism. The @audible version is a full cast which makes the recording feel dynamic, and adds to the intensity of the story. Wilkin weaves a masterful story of the adult child parenting their parent, and captures the anxiety of activists when the needle doesn't move in their lifetime. The use of climate change and the outsider partner make it feel all to real. Well worth the listen.
May 10, 2024
It's more of an audio-play/drama than an audiobook. It has voice acting with special effects/background noises.
I thought it was well-produced and enjoyed listening to it. It's about activism & climate change/the environment, the daughter parenting the mother, the mother valuing her beliefs & activism more than her family & the effects of this on her daughter, and the adult daughter beginning her own family.
Once I started listening, I only stopped when I had to stop. I couldn't wait to restart listening to it again.
I thought it was well-produced and enjoyed listening to it. It's about activism & climate change/the environment, the daughter parenting the mother, the mother valuing her beliefs & activism more than her family & the effects of this on her daughter, and the adult daughter beginning her own family.
Once I started listening, I only stopped when I had to stop. I couldn't wait to restart listening to it again.
November 11, 2024
A very short story (about 1 1/2 hours) I listened to on Audible. The voice actors were good. In the beginning, the characters felt a little formulaic, but in the second half more complexity appeared and I was pulled into the story. It was an interesting topic to consider how the children of climate activist protesters are influenced by the activities of their parents. I could imagine an author using the core of this to inspire a longer, more in-depth book. Given the short format, I would recommend it to others. It is perfect for a mid-length drive…..
June 30, 2024
⭐️
The despair of seeing the world being destroyed and those who make the world's decisions being so calm.
It's hard to be an activist aware of the issue and be between jail (for the demonstrations you participate in) and having a child (who you know is more trouble than good to bring into the world).
These free audiobooks from Audible are sometimes good, sometimes quite bad. The good thing is that they are generally not very long.
The despair of seeing the world being destroyed and those who make the world's decisions being so calm.
It's hard to be an activist aware of the issue and be between jail (for the demonstrations you participate in) and having a child (who you know is more trouble than good to bring into the world).
These free audiobooks from Audible are sometimes good, sometimes quite bad. The good thing is that they are generally not very long.
October 30, 2024
This is a play about a mother and daughter who don’t get along and haven’t seen each other in a while. Mom has been in prison and comes to live with her daughter and boyfriend. It’s family drama acted out which makes it better than just having it narrated.
I listened once and then fell asleep so listened again and got the gist.
I listened once and then fell asleep so listened again and got the gist.
February 25, 2026
I did not enjoy this book, which I listened to on Audible. The performing of it was very good, but the story itself was riddled with foul language - mainly the f-bomb in frequent use. An estranged mother shows up in need at her expectant daughter's door and tries to win her way back into her life. The woman has a history of unlawful behaviour and deception.
April 14, 2024
Brilliant, really relatable and timely play. Performed brilliantly on the new audible version and giving plenty of food for thought on questions of motherhood, climate change and free will. Compelling material, told engagingly and suited well to an audio telling.
April 23, 2024
I enjoyed listening to this book on audible, it was intriguing and kept me engaged. That being said, I do not think the story was that good. It was predictable and a little flat in it's tone of storytelling.
~xo,
Rach
~xo,
Rach
April 15, 2024
I understood the message and thought this was cute. I relate to the crazy family drama
April 17, 2024
Eh, it was fine but nothing memorable as a “read” (did in audible). Good way to kill some time though.
April 22, 2024
The story was pretty good but the audible audio was SUPER choppy and a lot of dialogue was cut out, which was annoying and also hard to follow without the supporting information. 3 stars.
May 8, 2024
Another short story that made me think. I like that.
May 11, 2024
Sowing change means getting your hands dirty or does it?
June 4, 2024
Audiobook
July 28, 2024
It was ok kinda boring to listen to on audio defintielt wasnt my type of read so i gave it a teo for effort but its not a must read or listen it ws boring ……
February 5, 2025
Story was ok, heavy handed. audio quality is really poor in the first half of the book, in some parts hard to make out at all
June 3, 2025
Short story - listen on audio - under 4 hours
August 20, 2025
Duet narrated. Not for me. The story was lackluster.
March 14, 2026
The audio background and the shrill voices yelling were too much. Very distracting when trying to listen to the audiobook.
December 30, 2024
Short story/play and all the background noise was very annoying. I’d also lose track of who was speaking from time to time. Probably should have stuck with it being a play instead of an audiobook.
October 29, 2024
This was a moving, quick listen centered around hurts between a mother and daughter. I enjoyed it and will read more of the author's pieces.
April 17, 2024
For whatever reason the audible version of this book is a re-enactment, not a regular audio book. The sounds were annoying and it took away from the story.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews