Troy

Accessible military history, well worth it.

Reviewed: 10-05-22

I am only beginning to learn about this period and found this a welcome addition to my military history library. There is just the right amount of background information given to enable the listener to understand the personalities and history behind the conflict. The historical events leading up to the wars are deftly handled without becoming bogged down in a laborious recounting of every minute detail, as so often happens with non-fiction books. This is introductory military history done properly. The battles are expertly covered with well chosen first person accounts and provide a good overview of the battles themselves. I found myself wanting to learn more after every chapter. Always a good sign when the author leaves you inspired.

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Worthy entry in need of a better narrator

Reviewed: 04-18-21

The subject matter is compelling and the author is able to analyze and succinctly discuss the greater meaning of this campaign with enough tactical detail to keep the reader's interest. My enjoyment of this otherwise sorely needed entry into WWI literature was marred by the narration. The American narrator mispronounces many of the names of people and places in a manner so jarring that I found myself muttering the actual name out loud. The assumption would be erroneous that the narrator is a professional who is paid for his ability to convey the author's writing into the spoken word without distraction. There is an expectation that a professional narrator covering scientific or medical terminology should perform a modicum of research on how to pronounce necessary terminology and names prior to the recording session. The same courtesy was not shown to this author.

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Epic

Reviewed: 03-16-21

Truly epic and a great read by itself. If you like the Imperial Fists and Blood Angels; it doesn’t get better than this. One detractor from the book is the silly juvenile roid rage of some of the Chaos champions.

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Contains some valuable essays but...

Reviewed: 09-24-20

This book is a collection of essays on the Petersburg Campaign and some overlap with the Overland Campaign. All are very well written and provide a better insight into interpreting this under-represented period of the war. However, the narrator’s unnatural pauses and style of speech is hard to listen to for more than a few fitful minutes. The content is worth the suffering.

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1 person found this helpful

Well researched and entertaining but horrid pronunciations

Reviewed: 04-26-19

The subject matter of the book is compelling and addresses the earliest stages of the Western Front well. However, the narrator’s mispronunciation of the great majority of the names and places etc is quite shockingly bad and repeatedly jars the narrative away from the writing. The narrator appears to have done no research before embarking upon reading a book with a good deal of French names and phrases. This is in stark contrast with the efforts the author put into his research.

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A commitment to undertake, but well worth it!

Reviewed: 12-13-16

This book is a slow burning kettle of surprises that ultimately leaves the reader satisfied. I originally selected it in order to get to know the military situation during the War of Spanish Succession and the story of one of the great captains. The story hits the mark for those seeking military history but veers heavily into politics. At first this was off putting, but quickly becomes equally entertaining in its own right. Churchill again proves that he was a master of turning a phrase and authoring an entertaining history.

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24 people found this helpful

Keep expecting it to get better...but no

Reviewed: 06-20-15

What disappointed you about Scattered Suns?

I alternately enjoyed and suffered through the first three books. The wishful hoping for some payoff for the time invested in the series is about the only thing keeping the listener involved. Unfortunately, I was unable to make it to the end. My goldfish was drowning...

What was most disappointing about Kevin J. Anderson’s story?

The plot is painfully predictable and sophomoric.

What does David Colacci bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The narrator should not be held accountable for the material he was paid to read

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Orson Scott Card said it best (paraphrasing), "I often thought, if THAT could get published; I can do it too, maybe better."

Any additional comments?

Plant a tree, help an injured worm, spend your time more wisely than listening to this book.

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Will change your mind about the Somme

Reviewed: 09-10-13

Would you consider the audio edition of Three Armies on the Somme to be better than the print version?

I would have liked to have the spellings of the French names and places. The narrator makes a decent effort at pronunciation but falls short in a number of places. If you don't speak French then you may not notice.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The French generals are painted as real people with an analysis of their military effectiveness nicely borne out in the progress of the battle. English accounts of the Somme ignore the vital role of the French.

Which scene was your favorite?

First person accounts are nicely woven into the narrative of the battle as it unfolded

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

By the end of the book whatever conception you had of the Somme battles will be forever changed. I learned quite a bit about weaponry, tactics, and strategy; even having a strong background knowledge of WWI. This book is a must read for anyone wanting to know the intricate details of a WWI battle.

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3 people found this helpful

Artful explanation of a massive crime

Reviewed: 06-07-13

Would you listen to A World Undone again? Why?

Yes, I am currently listening to it again only one month after finishing it! I thought I had a working and adequate knowledge of the war but have found my knowledge wholly inadequate. After listening to the book I have been sparked to get my hands on more and more WWI material.

What did you like best about this story?

The descriptions of daily life for the troops was compelling and truly heart breaking. The seemingly near complete disregard for the enormous waste of life is simply evil. Politicians and generals take on a fresh coat of paint due to the masterful mini-biographies. Neither do these mini-biographies repeatedly slow the narrative as in most general histories.

What does Robin Sachs bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His voice and tempo are compelling and keep your interest.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I came away with a strong sense of the criminal blundering the politicians committed that allowed the whole war to occur in the first place. The time spent on the post-war negotiations was unexpectedly surprising and striking. I came away with a much stronger sympathy for the post-war German mentality. It is little wonder Hitler found such fertile ground for his message (Not the anti-Semite part of course).

Any additional comments?

Highly recommended for anyone looking to get a handle on the broad scope of the war and the major players.

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Well researched, but by God-no more accents!

Reviewed: 02-26-13

Is there anything you would change about this book?

If you are looking for good battle accounts and an in depth look at the actual fighting during the age of sail, this is not your book. The book is well researched but delves too deeply into how the navy functioned as an institution. First person accounts do tend to liven the story but end up becoming just plain annoying as they are all done with accents.

How could the performance have been better?

PLEASE do not have one narrator do all of the accents for each nationality. For that matter, do not do accents period. The narrator's accents are passable at first, but severely detract from the enjoyment of the book the deeper you get into it. It was a struggle to finish an otherwise good but not great book due to the narrator.

Did The War for All the Oceans inspire you to do anything?

Not to attempt a foreign accent for several weeks afterwards!

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1 person found this helpful