Rodney Hrvatin

One of the best autobiographies around

Reviewed: 21-12-2019

This is a magnificent memoir from start to finish. Elton's life told through the voice of Taron Egerton (with a cameo at the start and end from the man himself) is captivating. If anyone deserves to tell their own story, it is Elton John. With much self-deprecating humour and alarming honesty and self-reflection, this memoir will please the most ardent of his fans. There are many wonderful anecdotes that cover practically every emotion. Some are hilarious, some are deeply moving and some are very, very sad. But through it all shines the vulnerability and resilience of Elton John. One of the absolute pearls in the memoir genre.

The Boss Warts And All

Reviewed: 22-09-2019

Hearing Bruce narrate his life is almost poetic- like he's reading you the lyrics to songs he hasn't quite got the tunes for. From his childhood memories, to his early days as an angry young man, to the current day where he is seen as an icon of American culture, Bruce tells us the good, the bad and the ugly. There's not a lot of detailed musical thought here- deep song analysis- but so much of the context around the writing of his biggest (and not-so biggest) numbers. He talks candidly about the E-Street band and his beloved wife, Patti. He also freely talks about his own failings as a person with much candor and honesty. This is a stunning document of an amazing life.

Essential listening for fans of classic rock

Reviewed: 24-08-2019

A fantastic journey through a troubled and difficult life that resulted in the soundtrack to a generation. Whilst Fogerty is not the strongest of narrators, it is heartfelt and honest and his wife brings a certain humanity to her sections of the book. It's a valuable lesson about life and being careful what you sign and also about the company you keep. Enjoyable to the last syllable.

Confusing story not helped by bad narration

Reviewed: 28-05-2019

"Ghost Light" is a challenging story on-screen suffering from massive edits that reduced the story from four episodes to three. Platt has kept the unedited story for his novelisation and in theory this should make the story more comprehensible to the listener. Sadly, this is not the case thanks to a lacklustre reading by Ian Hogg whose croaky voice distracts way too much. His readings of the characters (excluding his own- Josiah- which he played on-screen) are not really distinguishable from each other except females are placed, naturally, higher in the voice than the males. This is a shame as Platt's novel deserves a much better performance than this.

One of the very best music biographies out there!

Reviewed: 25-02-2019

If you are a fan of classic rock and want a glimpse at the many complex interactions and personalities that helped create that soundtrack from the mid-70's to the mid-90's (and beyond) then Steve is your guide. He tells many excellent tales of his time as a session musician as well as the driving force behind Toto. He narrates the book with charm and honesty and it never feels like he is reading from the page- rather it's like a chat with old friends. There are cameos from colleagues, siblings and children throughout that keep the narration flowing and interesting. Put it on and you will not regret the decision.

Brilliant and funny memoir

Reviewed: 04-11-2017

Millican has a wonderful way of telling a story with good humour and sincerity. This is the kind of memoir you listen to when you need a laugh and that general warm fuzzy good feeling. Even if you aren’t familiar with her comedy you will find much to enjoy here.

Brilliant

Reviewed: 04-08-2017

Kate Winslet brings this wonderful book to life. The characters are vibrant and alive and the book moves along at a cracking pace. Great for a long car ride with kids.

Wonderful performance

Reviewed: 29-07-2017

This is well worth the time. The many characters of this story are brought to life by the narrator with much humour and personality.
The story is long and involved but hearing the various characters brings the whole thing to life.

Highly recommended.

An epic story but not quite so epic performance

Reviewed: 09-03-2017

What made the experience of listening to Les Misérables the most enjoyable?

This was an entertaining performance that showed great depth. It is an epic novel but listening to it in small chunks does help keep the interest up through the longeurs of the story.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Valjean and Javert are particularly well presented.

What about Bill Homewood’s performance did you like?

His French is impeccable but his raspy singing voice grates on the nerves after a while. It is also very obvious where he started every take as it always starts softly and then gets louder.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

"You've seen the musical and seen the film, now hear the book!"

Any additional comments?

If you make it through this audiobook you should feel mighty chuffed. 67 hours is a very long time but you'll really feel like the experience has been worth it. Do give this one a go if you have a spare credit.

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