Eirekitten

Powerful, Heartbreaking and Beautiful

Reviewed: 10-31-23

You know how it goes. You put something on your list that you’re meaning to buy. It’s just you forget or get busy and then something makes you go, “oh yeah I meant to get that!” This is exactly what happened with this book. I follow Matthew Perry on Instagram and told myself two his book is my next credit purchase on Audible.

I never did buy it.

Then last week my aunt told me this book was one of the best autobiographies she’s read. I remembered oh yeah I meant to buy that! And it went back on my next paycheck” shopping list. Then the news hit. Matthew Perry is now, as of this review, gone from this world. Released from all the pain and suffering and fear that gripped him for a lifetime. I immediately and sadly bought this audiobook because I wanted to hear his voice. I wish I could have heard the audiobook when the hope he closes his memoir with was still surging and fresh and strong. Instead, from beginning to end, his words landed differently for me than they did for my aunt. That’s unavoidable - she read it when he was alive; I heard his narration two days after he died. But no matter how they hit it’s a powerful punch. Matthew Perry shared the darkest part of himself because experience strength and hope is what he was taught to share in order to be of help to someone. For an addict and alcoholic the worst experiences become lifelines for others who are convinced they are alone in their misery. That is what this book is. A speaker share of epic proportions - and if it saves even one life then Mr. Perry’s legacy has succeeded. I used to tell my kids (we are all avid Friends fans) that I always identified with Chandler more than any other character on the show. Now I realize it was never Chandler. It was always Matthew Perry that resonated with me.

Rest in peace Matthew. I know you without ever having met you and for that I am grateful.

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Compelling Autobiography Weaving Personal and Work Experiences

Reviewed: 01-12-23

I’ve listened to Paul Holes in various podcasts since the GSK was announced caught. Paul Holes has a very particular cadence and specific pronunciations (sharp double t’s for instance) that reminds me a lot of Tina Turner’s speech patterns. That said I expected to hear this and had no problem with his way of speaking. But he is not a professional actor or trained orator so his delivery is stoic, pauses aren’t on point, inflection is too steady at times. Some have called his narration boring which is harsh in my opinion. None of this prevented me from listening to the entire book and I honestly preferred hearing him as the author speak his own words. Given time and maybe a little voice coaching he might evolve in this facet of his career which would be great because he has a deep, rich voice. But I doubt he cares enough to do that quite frankly. He makes it very clear he has more important work to worry about.

As for the story, if you you don’t want to hear about his personal life then, well, I mean it is an (((autobiography))) not a case procedural. And he is one of the most famous and celebrated CSIs in recent history (if not all time) so of course people would want to hear how his work affects his life. And the story deftly weaves in chronological order his personal life, his career, and some of the biggest cases he worked on (GSK victims, Lacy and Connor Peterson to name a few) into this fabric timeline that flows along very smoothly.

Yes there are repetitive statements about how good he is at his job (contrasting with how lousy he is in his personal relationships). Some think this is braggadocio but for me it’s more statement of fact. I’m good at my job and occasionally say so. Doesn’t mean I’m a gloating narcissistic a-hole. It just means I know that about myself. Look this is a BOOK about HIMSELF that MANY PEOPLE WANTED. Is he supposed to write the entire book full of contrition and self-flagellation and downplay his gift of solving crimes thru science? No. And everybody would blast that anyway.

On that note Paul Holes’ gift is science, not writing so he had help here obviously. Could the story writing be refined a bit more? Yes. I think so. A bit. But this isn’t horribly written. Perhaps betting editing would have helped Robin Fisher guide this into a more dynamic accounting.

I admire the work the man has done in his life. I wanted to hear about him beyond the podcasts I listen to. This book ticked all the boxes. A bit of personal, a bit of vulnerability, highlights of his cases, how it felt standing there the day it was announced GSK was caught. It’s a good story and the author does a decent job telling it in his own particular voice.

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Sandy Is An International Treasure

Reviewed: 06-29-22

I hate to admit the first time I ever learned of Sandy Toksvig was via the Great British Baking Show (I'm in America...so, please forgive me). As fantastic as that show is, I almost hate to admit that's how I was introduced to her sharp wit and intelligence because she is cosmically beyond the realm of hosting a baking show. At one point I saw her on an old episode of Time Team that airedback in the late 90s/early 2000s and I became intrigued so started searching for her on YouTube. I discovered not only is this woman insanely funny, but she is passionate, visionary, action-oriented...she wants to see change in this world so she goes out and MAKES IT HAPPEN. And you get to hear in this book all about the whys and wherefores of the schemes and antics that have sprung from her brilliant mind. I am definitely glad to have listened to her discuss her journey in life, the ups and downs that shaped her, including disheartening and at times frightening prejudice against her simply because of who she loves. She is an ardent advocate for women's rights and has dedicated her life to help empower women. I have marked this as a favorite so will be re-listening to this in the future. Get this book, you'll not be disappointed.

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Hollywood Royalty in All Her Sarcastic Glory

Reviewed: 06-29-22

I so loved Debbie Reynolds. When I was a little girl I'd watch her movies on the Sunday Family Film Festival and would sing along with her and she was just such a bright, lovely light. AND she was mom to one of my all-time favorite actresses so bonus points there! Debbie Reynolds was a tough cookie, had a big heart, was a consummate professional and lived to entertain others. She was Hollywood royalty and til the very moment of her death wore that crown divinely. Was she perfect? Nope, and she admits it. Here she talks about the more important events in her life; the heartbreak she experienced at not fulfilling her dream of a true Hollywood museum comes through in her narration. I always appreciate when an author narrates their own books and I'm so glad she was able to do that for Unsinkable. I find her voice pleasant and felt a mix of delight and comfort listening to her talk. To the naysayers who think she sounded awful or spoke with forced or odd inflections...have you seen any of her movies? She always had that pseudo-trans-Atlantic Hollywood delivery. And for Pete's sake she was, what...80??...when she narrated the book? Go narrate a book when you're 80 and let's hear how you sound, good lord. Hey if you're a fan of Debbie Reynolds, get the book, it's a good read/listen

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Narrator Is Wooden — Great for Falling Sleep

Reviewed: 01-03-22

I wanted a cozy Christmas mystery and was happy to try this one out but unfortunately the narrator takes me out of the story completely. The story itself is intriguing but readers need to keep in mind this was written in the 90's by an author who was then in her late 50's/early 60's...meaning there is some ideology and language that is archaic and offensive nowadays. But the real downfall of this audiobook is the narrator. There is not much by way of differentiating between characters, there's zero charisma between the protagonist and her husband, and the line-delivery is downright wooden most of the time. She might as well be reading a phonebook. The upside is this is perfect for falling asleep.

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Eye-Opening Career Highlights of Curtis Armstrong

Reviewed: 03-15-21

As an adult whose childhood was spent in the 70s and 80s I loved hearing about Armstrong's recollections of some of the most loved movies and tv shows of my childhood. Admittedly when I used to think of Armstrong, I only recalled "Booger" from Revenge of the Nerds...and had little memory of him in Moonlighting or Risky Business or even now-classic 80s fare Better off Dead and One Crazy Summer. Nope. He has always been "Booger." Even while binge-watching Supernatural, "hey! That's Booger as Metatron!" So finding out Curtis Armstrong is a classically trained stage actor was quite an eye-opener, but really, not a shock. Armstrong's precise articulation has always been one of his trademarks in my mind. I found this book by way of another audiobook narrated by him (Wild and Crazy Guys), and fell in love with his articulate, natural narration, and perfectly delivered funny lines. After that was finished, I looked up more books narrated by him and chose this as my next purchase. Worth every cent. He is smart, self-deprecating, witty, humble; he spills some tea without really lambasting anyone. I mean, he does call some actors and actresses out for their (some quite infamous) behavior, but somehow manages to be decent about it. As if he, we...the whole world...can just accept they were jerks, so lets get on with the story. This book prompted me to go out and watch some of his movies again, and this time I have watched them with newfound admiration. Well done Mr. Armstrong on your first writing foray. Looking forward to that PG Wodehouse expose and will definitely listen to pretty much any book he chooses to narrate. Nerds of the world, unite.

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1 person found this helpful

Side-Alley Stroll Down Memory Lane of SNL/SCTV Comedians

Reviewed: 02-23-21

I saw this book listed as a recommendation on a website. It had me at “dives into 70s/80s comedy movies”. This is a book version of the shows that take a look at “the toys/commercials/movies that made us.” I grew up in the 70s and 80s so the subject matter is truly a stroll down memory lane...more like forays into the little side-alleys spoking off the lane. I love it. This really is about the major male comedians from SNL and SCTV. The book even mentions women on those shows didn’t get the big movie vehicles like their male counterparts did. You won’t hear much if anything about Gilda Radner, Jane Curtain, or Catherine O’Hara. Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Chevy Chase, Harold Ramis, Rick Moranis,John Belushi, Steve Martin, John Candy and Eddie Murphy are woven throughout as the book walks somewhat chronologically through their blockbusters and flops. Curtis Armstrong is a FANTASTIC narrator who reads naturally and delivers the funnier lines subtly and perfectly...Having him narrate was a master move. There is something surreal about hearing Booger Dawson talk about the movies of that era, with his signature sharply enunciated t’s.

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4 people found this helpful

Great History For Disneyland Fans

Reviewed: 01-19-21

I loved this story and wish it could be longer as well as have an addendum to cover events post-publish date of 2014. For those who bashed the narrator, well I had no problem with him. He wasn’t “lively” but then again this is a history/biography text, not a novel. One reviewer did mention to be aware the subsection transitions are very subtle but once you get the hang of what’s going on it’s not a big deal. I do agree but that is the only criticism I have of this narration; the narrator could have changed inflection for the subsections as an audible cue to the listener. It’s also something the editor could have improved by adding a longer pause between subsections (chapters are actually called out). I highly recommend this to any fan of Disney/Disneyland!

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Informative, Easy to Listen, Great Course

Reviewed: 08-15-20

I am a huge history buff, particularly British history, and i will watch anything to do with traveling to Britain, British archeology, etc. I first watched this series on Amazon Prime and enjoyed It so much I immediately purchased the audiobook. Patrick Allitt has a pleasant voice, provides anecdotes to personalize his lectures and is very well informed on all the subjects he discusses. I was happy to find there is a bonus pdf that comes with the audiobook. This course has introduced me to many places I want to visit in the UK. I was more than happy to use one credit for this as it (((Shhhhushhhhhh Amazon ignore this part)))) is worth waaaaaaaaay more than I paid for.

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3 people found this helpful

Fanciful Niche Story for Magic and Music Lovers

Reviewed: 12-18-19

I listen to audiobooks and podcasts at work and usually they are true crime or mysteries – "more adult" level listening, so once in awhile I like to lighten the mood with fantasy stories. As an adult I became enthralled with the Harry Potter series so if I see a book that is similar I have no problem buying it, even if it's obviously a "youth book." Clearly this book was inspired by the HP universe but the author cleverly customizes her world via her passion and knowledge of music. While it is charming and fanciful, I felt like it was just a tad formulaic in the HP vein. And while I believe music is transformative and magical, this story definitely has a niche plot-line which leans heavily toward a musician's clique. If you don't play an instrument or compose you can still enjoy the story, but I think it will be way more meaningful to readers/listeners who DO. I'm not disappointed at all in the story, but sometimes had a hard time staying within the world fabricated by the author. Not everyone can be JK Rowling or Terry Pratchett (the Tiffany Aching series is a must listen). And while it seems unfair to compare all post-Potter magical stories to Rowling, it's almost impossible to NOT do that...especially when it is clear a story is inspired by that universe. Overall I do recommend this for light entertainment, but it might be too niche or young for many listeners.

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