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Simon

Windsor, United Kingdom | Member Since 2002

26
HELPFUL VOTES
  • 14 reviews
  • 60 ratings
  • 247 titles in library
  • 10 purchased in 2013
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  • Hunting Eichmann: Chasing Down the World's Most Notorious Nazi

    • UNABRIDGED (12 hrs and 36 mins)
    • By Neal Bascomb
    • Narrated By Paul Hecht
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (606)
    Performance
    (335)
    Story
    (325)

    Best-selling author Neal Bascomb has garnered critical acclaim for such riveting nonfiction as Higher and Red Mutiny. Based on extensive interviews and previously classified details, Hunting Eichmann is a compelling account of the relentless hunt for the nefarious Adolf Eichmann.

    Scott says: "A Fascinating Story of Eichmann's Capture"
    "Fascinating, but long winded telling of the story"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    Enthralling documentary on one of the, many, monsters from the Third Reich. A monster by his actions but a mouse as a man.
    One criticism and its a big one is the story is very long winded and repetitive. It could have ben recounted in half the time and still be as powerful. Perhaps more time couldve been spent on this trial?

    If you have interest in the topic I would recommend. Excellent narration helped me through this.


    2 of 3 people found this review helpful
  • Strata

    • UNABRIDGED (6 hrs and 30 mins)
    • By Terry Pratchett
    • Narrated By Stephen Briggs
    Overall
    (20)
    Performance
    (11)
    Story
    (11)

    The Company builds planets. Kin Arad is a high-ranking official of the Company. After 21 decades of living, and with the help of memory surgery, she is at the top of her profession. Discovering two of her employees have placed a fossilised plesiosaur in the wrong stratum, not to mention the fact it is holding a placard that reads "End Nuclear Testing Now", doesn't dismay the woman who built a mountain range in the shape of her initials during her own high-spirited youth.

    Josephine says: "how does this man think of these things?"
    "A miss step for Terry"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

    Yes as I'm a big Pratchett fan. No as it was, by far, the worst novel he has penned.

    The characters where very thin, not 'believable'. I must admit I didn't really follow the plot. (and on this one occasion Terry lost the plot).

    There where several occasions that sentences just didn't make sense.

    Stephen does a good, though not as great a job as usual

    This is only for die hard fans!


    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  • Child 44

    • UNABRIDGED (12 hrs and 24 mins)
    • By Tom Rob Smith
    • Narrated By Dennis Boutsikaris
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (1581)
    Performance
    (484)
    Story
    (480)

    It is a society that is, officially, a paradise. Superior to the decadent West, Stalin's Soviet Union is a haven for its citizens, providing for all of their needs: education, health care, security. In exchange, all that is required is their hard work, and their loyalty and faith to the Soviet State. But now a murderer is on the loose.

    Melvin says: "Terror from all sides."
    "Superb - A rare gem of an audiobook."
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    Great pacing, excellent characters, involved though not too complex of a plot with a few nice twists. Narration was excellent – I have no idea of the accuracy of the Russian pronunciation however it sounded very authentic. I do not know how historically accurate a view of Stalinist Soviet Union it is – however I know enough that it is certainly believable. Kept me guessing right up to the last minutes.

    Be warned it is an adult book with some very disturbing imagery – especially if you are a parent. There is also coarse, though relevant language throughout. Also remember it is a thriller so there may be some occasions where you need to let relax your believability criteria!

    As an extensive audiobook listener this is one of the best I have heard.

    1 of 2 people found this review helpful
  • Imperium: A Novel of Ancient Rome

    • UNABRIDGED (12 hrs and 39 mins)
    • By Robert Harris
    • Narrated By Simon Jones
    Overall
    (990)
    Performance
    (353)
    Story
    (358)

    When Tiro, the confidential secretary (and slave) of a Roman senator, opens the door to a terrified stranger on a cold November morning, he sets in motion a chain of events that will eventually propel his master into one of the most suspenseful courtroom dramas in history.

    Karen says: "Great Naration, Great Book"
    "Not his best - too legal/political"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    Im definitely a Robert Harris fan. His mix of historical thrillers are excellent. I am no historian and as such am unaware how accurate or otherwise his portrayal of events are.
    This is one of his poorer attempts - of course very similar to the next in the series - Conspsirita. The main reason is the emphasis on not just one, but multiple court room 'dramas'. There is little drama as such but a lot of political intrigue. Fine if you like that. You need to pay attention to the multitude of different characters that come, and go. However narration is perfect and you will become attached to the main 'master and servant'.
    I would give 3.5 stars if I could. Great narration and good enough to finish, but not 'page turning'.


    3 of 3 people found this review helpful
  • The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon

    • UNABRIDGED (10 hrs and 6 mins)
    • By David Grann
    • Narrated By Mark Deakins
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (675)
    Performance
    (180)
    Story
    (183)

    A sensational disappearance that made headlines around the world. A quest for truth that leads to death, madness or disappearance for those who seek to solve it. The Lost City of Z is a blockbuster adventure narrative about what lies beneath the impenetrable jungle canopy of the Amazon. After stumbling upon a hidden trove of diaries, acclaimed New Yorker writer David Grann set out to find out what happened to the British explorer Percy Fawcett and his quest for the Lost City of Z.

    jennifer says: "A Worthy Read for Armchair Explorers"
    "Promising content that doesn't deliver"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    As a voracious audible listener Im very familiar with publishers marketing of a title. However in this example its misleading. In effect you will listen to the biography, admittedly of a very interesting character, but its not what is advertised.

    As another reviewer stated..how many times can you say the same thing in different ways? The answer in this case ad infinitum! The story is disjointed and feels in all honesty like a rewriting of someone's memoirs.

    However three stars as the narration and production are excellent.

    4 of 5 people found this review helpful
  • Daemon

    • UNABRIDGED (15 hrs and 57 mins)
    • By Daniel Suarez
    • Narrated By Jeff Gurner
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (5307)
    Performance
    (2417)
    Story
    (2431)

    Thousands of autonomous computer programs, or daemons, make our networked world possible, running constantly in the background of our lives, trafficking e-mail, transferring money, and monitoring power grids. For the most part, daemons are benign, but the same can't always be said for the people who design them.

    Erica says: "Possibly The Best Techno-thriller Ever"
    "Phenominal"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    Excellent. Very rarely do I give a 5 star review. However this book deserves it. Great plotline, great pacing, wonderful narration.

    Various comments I read mention the ending. Not every ending has to have a nice ribbon tied around it.. You are left to ponder. What a great thing for a book to do. Maybe there will be a sequel, maybe not. Your mind can wander through the possible scenarios.

    Its relatively techy so if you are a luddite avoid, but its very up to date and real technology. People comment on the far fetched or unbelievable plot.. Its a story not a news report! Do all movies you watch have to be believable? If everybook had to be 'believable' not very much would happen.

    If you like a good hi-tech thriller, with believable characters and occasional accidental heroes this is the one. Worth a risk.

    3 of 4 people found this review helpful
  • The Partner

    • UNABRIDGED (11 hrs and 31 mins)
    • By John Grisham
    • Narrated By Frank Muller
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (675)
    Performance
    (204)
    Story
    (204)

    From a short distance away, Patrick watched his own burial. Then he fled. Six weeks later, a fortune was stolen from his ex-law firm's offshore account.

    Reg says: "Movie material"
    "Wrong Book?"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    Wow, I must have downloaded a different book from everyone else. This wasnt a thriller, it was more like a documentary. Telling a story of events. No cliffhangers, no plot turns, little character development. Tedious.

    The narrator - no idea what his breathy voice was portraying. Every sentence ended in an expiration, sounded like he was out of breath most of the time.

    Sorry, I have an awful lot of audiobooks. This was tedious verging on pointless.

    2 of 7 people found this review helpful
  • The Brass Verdict: A Novel

    • UNABRIDGED (11 hrs and 54 mins)
    • By Michael Connelly
    • Narrated By Peter Giles
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (3415)
    Performance
    (1066)
    Story
    (1059)

    Things are finally looking up for defense attorney Mickey Haller. After two years of wrong turns, Haller is back in the courtroom. When Hollywood lawyer Jerry Vincent is murdered, Haller inherits his biggest case yet: the defense of Walter Elliott, a prominent studio executive accused of murdering his wife and her lover. But as Haller prepares for the case that could launch him into the big time, he learns that Vincent's killer may be coming for him next.

    Jeff says: "Five Star Book; Three Star Narration"
    "Clich?d with grating narration but satisfying."
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    A fairly typical courtroom drama..Bit of forensics, conflict between police and defense, a summary of who did what and when in the last 10 minutes. Standard stuff.

    Some interesting plot twists - some obvious and thus annoying, some not so.

    Narration.. you get used to it, however it sounds like a pastiche of any crime novel narration. gravelly "sexy" voice. Listen to the sample first to see if you can deal with the voice.

    So, 3 stars only.

    1 of 1 people found this review helpful
  • Nation

    • UNABRIDGED (9 hrs and 36 mins)
    • By Terry Pratchett
    • Narrated By Stephen Briggs
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (555)
    Performance
    (216)
    Story
    (216)

    Thirteen-year-old Mau is the only one left after a giant wave sweeps his island village away. But when much is taken, something is returned, and somewhere in the jungle, Daphne - a girl from the other side of the globe - is the sole survivor of a ship destroyed by the same wave.

    James says: "Transcends categories"
    "Enchanting"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    Having listened to every Terry Pratchett novel on Audible this is one of my favourites. Whimsical with a dose of moral medicine as usual, this is certainly an adult listen.. actually I would imagine a small child being disturbed by some of the content and imagery.

    I would have given it 5, however the story becomes muddy and loses its thread around two thirds of the way in. However it recovers towards the end, with thank goodness a British kind of ending rather than American. You'll understand what I mean...

    One wish is that Nigel Planar was still reading.. no one can ever replace him!

    1 of 3 people found this review helpful
  • The Night Ferry

    • UNABRIDGED (12 hrs and 10 mins)
    • By Michael Robotham
    • Narrated By Clare Corbett
    Overall
    (75)
    Performance
    (16)
    Story
    (17)

    Police detective Ali Barba receives an urgent letter from her estranged friend Cate. Startled by the letter's alarming tone and eager to atone for egregious past actions, Ali meets Cate at their high-school class reunion. The obviously pregnant Cate begs Ali to stop those who are trying to take her baby. But the plot takes a bizarre twist when a careening car kills Cate - and Ali discovers the truth about Cate's pregnancy.

    L. Neumar says: "An ok read"
    "Yep its just ok."
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    Im glad to hear this picks up after the 1st half. I only got half way through so will revisit! (Great review majulatr by the way .. sums up the book nicely)

    Very disappointing compared with Lost which I would highly recommend. Great story, great pacing, great narration.

    Skip this one, but pick up his other two.

    1 of 1 people found this review helpful

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