Loved it

The author is warm and engaging throughout - it feels like hearing stories from a good friend. (And his voice is lovely!) Often funny, sometimes sad, sometimes thought-provoking but always with a certain endearing charm. Just a delight to listen to and a great storyteller.

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Engaging memoir

I listened to the audiobook edition of this autobiography. When I realised that it was narrated by the author, I was a little nervous. Narrating an audiobook is more than just reading aloud and often authors don't quite cut it as voice actors. Well, I was impressed. Not only could Robert write an engaging memoir, he could articulate well via audio too. He spoke clearly and gave his story an authentic Aussie feel.

I read a lot of fiction, so I saw Robert as a character in his own story. I found him to be likable and relatable. I might not have been born with a tumor on my face, but I also faced schoolyard bullies, grew up in Australia, loved reading as a kid, felt nervous as a teenager talking to the opposite sex and fell in love. Robert was able to share his life story with a dose of self-depreciating humour and bring out my Aussie instinct to barrack for the underdog.

I found hearing about the ins and out of living with a physical disability very interesting. I spent the last few years working with people who have a disability, though most of them had intellectual disabilities and weren't able to share their feelings and experiences as eloquently as Robert.

I often find it difficult to review an autobiography, to be able to separate my opinion of the person from my opinion of their writing style. In this case, I was impressed with both. I received this audiobook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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3 people found this helpful

Not an ugly story

I really loved listening to this book, written and read by Robert Hoge. As a person with chronic illness/disability I really like hearing the stories of other people with illnesses and disabilities. Being an Australian of a close age to the author there are also aspects of the story that resonate. I was really hooked into the book from the get go. The very ordinary, but not ordinary tales of growing up, through childhood and then teen years were great. highlighting things that were equally challenging due to disability yet achievements for anyone was great. A really great listen.

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