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Seriously an amazing and enjoyable story

Reviewed: 07-01-15

What did you love best about The Great Leader and the Fighter Pilot?

The narrative kept moving, switching scenes seamlessy, and kept you wanting to know what happened next. It was full of fun insights and small quirks that other histories would overlook.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Obviously the fighter pilot himself. He's got moxie.

Which character – as performed by Mark Bramhall – was your favorite?

THANKFULLY Mark Bramhall had the good sense not to Perform Characters in various voices, etc. he just told the story like I was reading the book, without the goofy kids-play accents and whatnot.

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

Not really, but thats not to say it wasn't great. It's greatness was spread so equally that no particular moment was just SO amazing. Other than the climax, but thats sort of by definition what you would expect.

Any additional comments?

This is a fun story for just about anyone, and not too long. It's going to be especially great if you like history, or have any fascination with the utter bizarreness that is North Korea. Surprisingly, it had a lot of Korean War info in general regarding the state of affairs as the war went on, between US, Korean, Chinese, and USSR forces. Kind of was expecting, for some reason, it not go into to much actual military or political history outside of this guys story, but was pleasantly surprised!

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The whole book is a humblebrag.

Reviewed: 07-01-15

What did you like best about How to Catch a Russian Spy? What did you like least?

You know when your friend studies abroad in Spain for 1 semester and then they come back really adamant about pronouncing Barcelona as "Barthelona" ? That's just a tiny fraction of this guy. You can hardly get to the story without him dropping random Master's degree's that his family has, random references to graduate student beloved writers, and name drops of esoteric post-modern authors. Sure, I understood because this was, moronically, the type of stuff I chose to study in college. But Man, this guy is SO over the top. It's like a guy struggling to bench press as much as he can to show you that he can. The story is totally 2nd to you understanding how cool and hip and urbane he is. He's so well read and dreamy.... and what are we even talking about? Russian Spies?

He waxes poetic for entire chapters about how cool he was in high school and college, making you sit around and relive his glory days with him, like he's Al Bundy from "Married with Children" talking about his four touchdowns that one game back at Polk High.

What I liked best? I guess the few moments of 'fly on the wall' insight where a) it didn't feel like he wasn't embellishing, which was rare, and b) he wasn't flexing his 'I just got out of grad school, look at all these random esoteric names I can drop' muscles. But those moments were fleeting.

What was most disappointing about Naveed Jamali and Ellis Henican ’s story?

How insecure this guy must feel on a regular basis.

What three words best describe Kirby Heyborne’s performance?

Just Too Much

Do you think How to Catch a Russian Spy needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Definitely not - the writer just needs to gain some confidence and focus on telling a gripping story. We're here for the russian spy stuff, not how cool it was that time you got sent to the principals office in school (I wish I was joking)

Any additional comments?

The narrator - He actually wasn't bad , but the accents were terrible and ill-advised in general. Really doesn't help add to the 'non-fiction' vice when he's doing goofy voices for every character.

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21 people found this helpful

Just get it

Reviewed: 05-12-14

Would you listen to In a Sunburned Country again? Why?

No, that's ridiculous, who listens to a book twice? It's like 12 hours. I have limited time in life, so no.

What did you like best about this story?

Bill Bryson and the way he sees the world. He can just keep talking, it's like traveling with Rick Steves of PBS, he's just so inoffensive and funny.

Which scene was your favorite?

That's sort of a weird question for this book. You obviously didn't read it if you're asking me what "scene " I liked.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely. If bill Bryson had a radio station I would pay to subscribe

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What a tragedy

Reviewed: 05-12-14

Would you try another book from Giles Milton and/or Napoleon Ryan?

Giles Milton, yes... The narrator no. Literally an awesome read, horrible listen.

What did you like best about this story?

The writing. Anytime a history is written as a suspenseful novel, it's a win

Would you be willing to try another one of Napoleon Ryan’s performances?

Absolutely not. Nothing against this guy, but for him to narratate nonfiction is ridiculous. He sounds like he's doing a murder mystery at a mansion. I had to try really hard to take the book seriously, which thank heavens it was well writte so I could.

Did Russian Roulette inspire you to do anything?

Um..... Like be a spy or something? No. But I got another book when it was over.

Any additional comments?

If I were the author I would wonder if there is a petition to have audible re record the book with someone else that doesn't sound like Sherlock Holmes

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2 people found this helpful

Everything is great. But somehow it is not.

Reviewed: 04-02-14

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

More dramatic - less textbook style of writing. It's just a little boring, reads literally like a Volume 2 textbook (with lots of references to volume 1, that you probably read in the last class and are just expected to understand). And it's not because it is a detailed history - grab Dorris Kearns Goodwin and you'll see just as detailed a history, but one you can't put down.

What did you like best about this story?

The level of detail and how well researched it was. It's also a specific era in history that gets little coverage.

What aspect of Ken Kliban’s performance would you have changed?

The way he pronounces things like "Gorbachev." This is definitely a -1 entire star. It sounds ridiculous, but listen and you'll see why this tends to drive you crazy.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Oh TONS! I still recommend you grab it if you love this type of history. It's weird. Its like a song where the lyrics are perfect, the riff is great, and everything just doesn't come together with a magic touch for some reason.

Any additional comments?

Amazing Author, Well researched details, Not bad reading performance. Not sure where it went wrong, but the execution was just not great.

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1 person found this helpful

Too short, such a tease

Reviewed: 03-23-14

Would you consider the audio edition of America Again to be better than the print version?

Absolutely. TV vs audible is comparable (yeah, that good, though this is really short and there is only one) - but print? This is audible, how do you think I feel about this?

What was one of the most memorable moments of America Again?

Well the whole thing lasted 3 hours, so I mostly spent it being sad it was about to end.

Which character – as performed by the narrators – was your favorite?

I have yet to review a book that this question even works with

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I mean... yes, not wanted - I did. It's painfully short.

Any additional comments?

Get it if you enjoy life and / or laughter

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