Paul R Gregory
- 11
- reviews
- 3
- helpful votes
- 98
- ratings
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Scattershot
- Life, Music, Elton and Me
- By: Bernie Taupin
- Narrated by: Bernie Taupin, John Lee
- Length: 15 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall3.5 out of 5 stars 85
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Performance3.5 out of 5 stars 81
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Story3.5 out of 5 stars 81
This is the memoir music fans have been waiting for. Half of one of the greatest creative partnerships in popular music, Bernie Taupin is the man who wrote the lyrics for Elton John, who conceived the ideas that spawned countless hits, and sold millions and millions of records. Together, they were a duo, a unit, an immovable object. Their extraordinary, half-century-and-counting creative relationship has been chronicled in biopics and memoirs, but Taupin, a famously private person, has kept his own account of their adventures close to his chest, until now.
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2 out of 5 stars
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Disappointing
- By D on 20-09-23
- Scattershot
- Life, Music, Elton and Me
- By: Bernie Taupin
- Narrated by: Bernie Taupin, John Lee
Lyricist, raconteur, cowboy, a life well lived
Reviewed: 28-10-23
An enjoyable collection of stories from a man whose life has been lived to the utmost. From Lincolnshire chicken farm to Hollywood, it’s been a hell of a ride….
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We March Against England
- Operation Sea Lion, 1940–41
- By: Robert Forczyk
- Narrated by: Paul Boehmer
- Length: 12 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall3.5 out of 5 stars 32
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Performance2.5 out of 5 stars 29
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Story4 out of 5 stars 28
In May 1940, Nazi Germany was master of continental Europe. The only European power still standing was Great Britain - and the all-conquering German armed forces stood poised to cross the Channel. Following the destruction of the RAF fighter forces, the sweeping of the Channel of mines, and the wearing down of the Royal Naval defenders, two German army groups were set to storm the beaches of southern England.
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3 out of 5 stars
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ooops
- By jules on 24-01-17
- We March Against England
- Operation Sea Lion, 1940–41
- By: Robert Forczyk
- Narrated by: Paul Boehmer
Interesting but flawed
Reviewed: 12-06-23
The author appears to be an Axis fanboy. The Axis represented as being all powerful and victorious in every venture, while conversely the British and Commonwealth forces are inept and unorganised. This is an oversimplification of complex events and the facts are either misrepresented or indeed ignored to suite the narrative pursued by this author.
The narration doesn’t help either with many mispronunciations and “the Second World War” phrase used far too often where World War Two would have sufficed.
Ultimately this is an unbalanced appraisal of the events and the authors closing summary isn’t remotely plausible. Perhaps this book can offer some insight to the subject, however, it should not be considered as an authoritative account on its own.
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Far and Near
- On Days Like These
- By: Neil Peart
- Narrated by: Brian Sutherland
- Length: 13 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 34
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 30
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 29
Whether navigating the backroads of Louisiana or Thuringia, exploring the snowy Quebec woods, or performing onstage at Rush concerts, Neil Peart has stories to tell. His first volume in this series, Far and Away, combined words and images to form an intimate, insightful narrative that won many fans. Now Far and Near brings together reflections from another three years of an artist's life.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Heart warming
- By P D R on 25-05-23
- Far and Near
- On Days Like These
- By: Neil Peart
- Narrated by: Brian Sutherland
Great book, simples
Reviewed: 24-11-22
Neil Peart writes vividly about his life, experiences, musicianship, road trips and friends. Throughout he always manages to convey his genuine humility. I guess the only downside is that the text makes reference to many photos which aren’t present in Audibles recording/download. It’s a minor irritation which is compensated in part by the descriptions of the sights, sounds, and senesces which are conveyed in the explanatory text.
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Colditz
- Prisoners of the Castle
- By: Ben Macintyre
- Narrated by: Ben Macintyre
- Length: 13 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 994
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 899
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Story5 out of 5 stars 897
In a forbidding Gothic castle on a hilltop in the heart of Nazi Germany, an unlikely band of British officers spent the Second World War plotting daring escapes from their Nazi captors. Or so the story of Colditz has gone, unchallenged for 70 years. But that tale contains only part of the truth. The astonishing inside story, revealed for the first time by best-selling historian Ben Macintyre, is a tale of the indomitable human spirit, but also one of class conflict, homosexuality, espionage, insanity and farce.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Outstanding
- By Stuartm on 25-09-22
- Colditz
- Prisoners of the Castle
- By: Ben Macintyre
- Narrated by: Ben Macintyre
Most enjoyable read
Reviewed: 01-10-22
Once again Ben MacIntyre delivers a great experience for the reader/listener. Informative, entertaining and above all respectful to the memories of all involved.
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1 person found this helpful
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Ghost Rider
- Travels on the Healing Road
- By: Neil Peart
- Narrated by: Brian Sutherland
- Length: 15 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 196
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 177
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 177
In less than a year, Neil Peart lost both his 19-year-old daughter, Selena, and his wife, Jackie. Faced with overwhelming sadness and isolated from the world in his home on the lake, Peart was left without direction. That lack of direction lead him on a 55,000 mile journey by motorcycle across much of North America, down through Mexico to Belize, and back again.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Inspired by a man's courage to live.
- By mr Roger I Hunt on 15-01-20
- Ghost Rider
- Travels on the Healing Road
- By: Neil Peart
- Narrated by: Brian Sutherland
Simply Sublime
Reviewed: 18-12-21
I am familiar with the body of work Neal Peart has created in his short life. But even if you’re not you cannot fail to appreciate his journey from the desperate sadness of losing a wife and child, in the most awful circumstances, to finding some form of closure and personal rebirth.
As an enthusiast of rock music the association with Peart’s band, Rush, was a draw. As a motorcycle enthusiast Peart’s descriptions of his travels are both eliminating and entertaining.
It’s an interesting book and perhaps this represents a fitting legacy to a talented musician and motorcyclist. God bless and ride free Neal Peart.
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To Rule the Waves
- How the British Navy Changed the Modern World
- By: Arthur Herman
- Narrated by: John Curless
- Length: 29 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 331
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 296
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Story5 out of 5 stars 295
To Rule the Waves tells the extraordinary story of how the British Royal Navy allowed one nation to rise to a level of power unprecedented in history. From the navy's beginnings under Henry VIII to the age of computer warfare and special ops, historian Arthur Herman tells the spellbinding tale of great battles at sea, heroic sailors, violent conflict, and personal tragedy - of the way one mighty institution forged a nation, an empire, and a new world.
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5 out of 5 stars
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I thought i'd like this and boy did i ever.
- By Anonymous User on 12-07-17
- To Rule the Waves
- How the British Navy Changed the Modern World
- By: Arthur Herman
- Narrated by: John Curless
Magnificent
Reviewed: 04-04-21
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The narration is delivered well, maintaining the pace and excitement within each paragraph.
The story itself would be fantastic and yet it’s made all the more remarkable because the events actually happened.
There’s plenty of detail which isn’t so heavy that it interrupts the flow of the story and I’ve learnt a lot, and have been inspired to learn more about the Victorian era Royal Navy.
I’ll use one word to describe this book, it’s excellent.
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Countdown to D-Day
- The German Perspective
- By: Peter Margaritis
- Narrated by: Roger Clark
- Length: 28 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 94
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 81
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 81
In December 1943, with the rising realization that the Allies are planning to invade Fortress Europe, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel is assigned the title of General Inspector for the Atlantic Wall. His mission is to assess their readiness. His superior, theater commander, crusty old Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt, who had led the Reich to victory in the early years of the war, is now fed up with the whole Nazi regime. He lives comfortably in a plush villa in a quiet Paris suburb, waiting for the inevitable Allied invasion that will bring about their final defeat.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Great book.
- By P Foster on 24-03-20
- Countdown to D-Day
- The German Perspective
- By: Peter Margaritis
- Narrated by: Roger Clark
Enlightening yet turgid
Reviewed: 17-03-21
An alternative viewpoint from the Axis side of D-Day landings. Overall I enjoyed it, it’s well written, there’s plenty of detail and some good dramatisation. However, the narration is delivered in such a ponderous manner that, after the first 10hrs, I found myself wishing that the Allies had invaded in May rather than June 1944. Fortunately, the day was saved by running the audio at x1.5 normal speed. I can thoroughly recommend the book, the narration not so much.
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Chastise
- The Dambusters
- By: Max Hastings
- Narrated by: Peter Noble, Max Hastings - introduction
- Length: 12 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 200
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 178
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Story5 out of 5 stars 178
Operation Chastise was one of the most extraordinary episodes of the Second World War, yet it has also become one of the most misunderstood. Max Hastings tells the gripping story of the Dambusters raid, from the invention of the bouncing bomb to the moonlit cockpits of young pilots flying at treetop height through lethal enemy fire. But Hastings also challenges what we think we know about the Dambusters, bringing to light the difficult truths that have often been left out of the legend.
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5 out of 5 stars
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A Story of Real People and Moral Complexity
- By huskywoo on 15-09-19
- Chastise
- The Dambusters
- By: Max Hastings
- Narrated by: Peter Noble, Max Hastings - introduction
Simply Excellent
Reviewed: 05-10-19
Max Hastings is, and has always been, my favourite military history author. This most recent addition to his vast body of work is simply excellent.
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2 people found this helpful
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Tragedy at Dieppe
- Operation Jubilee, August 19, 1942
- By: Mark Zuehlke
- Narrated by: John Wray
- Length: 13 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 79
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 74
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 74
With its trademark "you are there" style, Mark Zuehlke's 10th Canadian Battle Series volume tells the story of the 1942 Dieppe raid. Nicknamed "The Poor Man's Monte Carlo", Dieppe had no strategic importance, but with the Soviet Union thrown on the ropes by German invasion and America having just entered the war, Britain was under intense pressure to launch a major cross-Channel attack against France. Since 1939, Canadian troops had massed in Britain and trained for the inevitable day of the mass invasion of Europe that would finally occur in 1944.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Fantastic
- By Jason on 15-02-20
- Tragedy at Dieppe
- Operation Jubilee, August 19, 1942
- By: Mark Zuehlke
- Narrated by: John Wray
Very Good
Reviewed: 15-06-19
Although familiar with the history of WW2 this was my first encounter specifically with the Dieppe Raid. The book provides the listener with a well thought out narrative. It’s written in an almost thriller style, the story building and building until it reaches its ultimate conclusion with the raid itself.
Overall an informative and very interesting book which also pays tribute to the men took part in an avoidable and ultimately unnecessary attack.
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1 person found this helpful
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D-Day
- The Battle for Normandy
- By: Antony Beevor
- Narrated by: Cameron Stewart
- Length: 19 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 710
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 628
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 624
The Normandy landings that took place on D-day involved by far the largest invasion fleet ever known. The scale of the undertaking was simply awesome. What followed them was some of the most cunning and ferocious fighting of the war, at times as savage as anything seen on the Eastern Front. As casualties mounted, so, too, did the tensions between the principal commanders on both sides. Meanwhile, French civilians caught in the middle of these battlefields or under Allied bombing endured terrible suffering.
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4 out of 5 stars
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brilliant book but please drop the accents
- By Blobbo on 16-03-18
- D-Day
- The Battle for Normandy
- By: Antony Beevor
- Narrated by: Cameron Stewart
Great book spoilt by narration
Reviewed: 09-02-19
Overall this is a very good recounting of this most momentous of days. However, I found that the narrators poor German, American and Canadian accents, and the nasal British officers accents a distraction from the narrative. It is perhaps merely my pet hate and as such not one which others may share. This is my only criticism of what is otherwise an excellent audio adaptation of the book.
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