Sophie

Disappointed

Reviewed: 04-02-20

I really wanted this book to live up to the hype. Primary issue, narration was poorly done, if you speed it to 1.25 it is less painful. Audible deleted this review after correcting the problem. This demonstrates that Audible doesn’t perform any quality control. Publishers have editors, Audible should doing a better job of checking audiobooks.

Many of these anecdotes have been published in other books, newspapers and podcasts. I had hoped there would be a new approach, for example instead of doing this in , perhaps grouping of similar instances of Trump’s verbal abuse, ignorance and inappropriate remarks could have been collected in separate chapters, there discussion and analysis might generate a thesis. A glaring omission was his visit to the CIA the first week of his presidency. As I recall from watching this episode, it became clear that there was a huge gap in his personal understanding of his intelligence and what was demonstrated. This might have been analyzed in-depth, What was his education? Has anyone done any deep research on his schooling.
I had expected a journalistic approach, not a narrative.

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How to beat Trump

Reviewed: 01-21-20

I reread Rick’s first book, chuckling to myself. This book is different, well done, but not the humorous, well told tale of the tragic-comedy that Trump and the deplorables have visited on the world. It is great book re planning to beat Trump.

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7 people found this helpful

Poorly written both in content and style

Reviewed: 01-18-19

This is a very basic US centred book, which appears to try and relate foreign places to insular American’s. I tried to listen, but was continually stunned by statements like, “by studying maps/geography you will lean geographical terms like Normandy.” Normandy is an area f France. A geographic term it is not. Some geographic terms, escarpment, valley, mountain, latitude and longitude.

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Rehash: No new material on subject, painful listening

Reviewed: 10-08-18

I tend to find authors who narrate their own books do themselves a huge disservice. In this case the only benefit is that a professional narrator wouldn't have accept part of the blame for a poor audiobook. I've been reading all the books on the Trump travesty, so I'm well aquatinted with current knowledge. There is nothing new here. On top of that, it's poorly written, badly organized and has managed to make a complex real life political-spy thriller boring.

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12 people found this helpful

Brilliant expose

Reviewed: 08-29-18

Well written, excellent narration. I hope there will be a sequel as developments continue . I listened to this twice ass the detail is so rich. So much money, I wonder what will happen to it all.

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Flat narration a perfect fit

Reviewed: 03-11-18

Considering the topic of this book it's amazing that the author has managed to make it everything but absorbing, engaging, engrossing, gripping, interesting, or intriguing. Instead it's a cliche filled, flat and sketchy history of WW2 codebreaking.
Thank you audible for your generous return policy.

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Execrable Narration

Reviewed: 02-24-18

I love Tom Clancy, own this in print and DVD. Sadly, the narrator Charles, performance is execrable. A computer generated voice would be preferable. Don't know why the version narrated by another performer has been deleted. Good thing I can return this for a full refund.

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Tedious

Reviewed: 11-29-17

After 90 minutes I had to give up. I love many of Loretta Chase's books, but this one is sadly lacking in pace, plot and dialogue. I can cope with the usual romance tropes, ie recent chastity of male protagonist, hidden beauty in almost on the shelf bookish virgin. Multiple contradictions or a lack of proof reading added to the lack of good writing, left me unable to force myself to the all too predictable end. Lord of Scoundrels will be reread to help me forget this unfortunate production.

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7 people found this helpful

Lacks substance and scholarship

Reviewed: 09-07-17

Lacks depth, multiple errors of fact. Far too many details of battles without corresponding discussion on his opponents' reaction and retaliation.

I was disappointed that there was only mention of Napoleon's correspondence when it was related to his wives, mistresses or minor issues re government matters. No excerpts of letters that he wrote to his marshals. Very few of his to other heads of state.

There is a chapter that is titled The Peninsular War, but aside from a brief mention of his intrigues that unseated the Spanish royal family, it is glossed over in a few pages. Considering the Peninsular war lead directly to his downfall, this is an inexcusable omission.

There is a lack of scholarship that is disappointing considering the subject and the vast amount of primary sources that would have made this book worth the many hours/pages.

The inclusion of his sexual performance, or lack thereof, may have been considered worthy, but reiterations dropped randomly thru the text are of questionable utility.

The epilogue is a series of dates when family, marshals, and enemies died, cause of death and in some case what their role was in government after Waterloo. More filler when what is missing is a discussion of how his death was received internationally or perhaps how his life achievements altered France, military strategy, tactics and the world.

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What happened?

Reviewed: 12-11-16

Any additional comments?

I love LR King's Mary Russell books, but just like Pirate King, this is another one that just doesn't fit. The early years of Mrs Hudson drag on forever but vaguely. Poor setting descriptions, dialogue unhelpful. Lots of "filler". The London years pre Sherlock are so unbelievable that it was a struggle for me to finish. Hope the next book will get back in track.

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12 people found this helpful