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Title: Tales from the Back Green

Author: Bill Paterson

Narrator: Bill Paterson

Format: Abridged

Length: 2 hrs and 27 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-26-08

Publisher: Hodder Headline Limited

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 4 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Celebrities

Publisher's Summary:

The much loved Scots actor Bill Paterson was brought up in those halcyon days of post-war Britain when a child could still play happily - and safely - in his own back green and the streets beyond. Now, in Tales from the Back Green, he evokes his boyhood and youth in Glasgow's East End during the 1950s, which was full of intriguing characters and extraordinary events.

Always eager to push the boundaries of what they were allowed to do, Bill and his mates construct a giant dust "atomic" bomb, try to hold their own World Cup tournament, and play endlessly on wasteland that's now unrecognizable compared with the exciting jungle of his childhood.

Tales from the Back Green is a brilliant realisation of a time and a place, read by the author.

Members Reviews:

If you already know Mr. Paterson, go ahead...

This book of reminiscences was simply not compelling enough. While mildly amusing and scattered with droll details about Glasgow's urban underbelly, this is a book that would be of most interest to Bill's old chums and family. Listening to it was kinda like trying to feign interest in a thick photo album of people you don't know and don't care about, though they are standing in a somewhat appealing landscape. He might have been better served to spend more time on portraits of his neighbors, rather than his own boyish exploits. The people were too sketchily drawn, but still the most engaging bits in his tales.

Usually I am a total patsy for a Scottish accent (or Irish brogue, or even, saints preserve us, an English accent), but his Caledonian cadences were just not enough to bring life to his mundane tales.

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Title: The Ditchdigger's Daughters

Subtitle: A Black Family's Astonishing Success Story

Author: Yvonne S. Thornton, Jo Coudert

Narrator: Fran L. Washington

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 20 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-11-08

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 62 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

Donald decided to do the grandest thing he could think of: force them to make a success of their lives. Along with their mother, Tass, he cajoled and inspired the girls to succeed while working two full-time jobs to keep them properly fed and clothed. All six became successful, independent, accomplished women: two of his six daughters became doctors, one became a dentist, one a lawyer, one a nurse, and one a court stenographer.

The Ditchdigger's Daughters is the inspirational story of a family with a strong role model who set family values above all else. Donald's persuasive common sense, folk wisdom, and right-on insights gave them the skills they would need to overcome obstacles in their paths to success.

Critic Reviews:

"[A] tribute to an extraordinary father who transcended racial prejudice to raise appreciative daughters to be independent women." (Publishers Weekly)

"Fran Washington warms the heart with colorful storytelling. Her character transitions are flawless....Her portrayal of Donald, the devoted father, is especially vivid, charming the listener with his old-fashioned adages and insights. (AudioFile)

Members Reviews:

Inspirational!

This story was great. Such an inspiring tale of man who made a way for his children out of nothing more then sheer determination!

Wonderful

If you could sum up The Ditchdigger's Daughters in three words, what would they be?

This book made me laugh and cry! The author didn't portray her family and life through rose colored glasses. There were good and bad times but perseverance prevails. The parents showed their girls by example to never give up and family is important. I've recommended this book to many friends and patients.

What did you like best about this story?

Never giving up, finding a way to achieve your goals.

What about Fran L. Washingtons performance did you like?

Excellant

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

Both. As a mother and a daughter I felt both sides of their trials.

straight forward

why this black father raised his daughters the way he did in the 1950s and on. I googled the Thornton sister after I read this book and listened to their music. It was very good. This black father reminds me alot of the book Tiger Mom. You will not be disappointed. I had a little problem getting use to the narrator's style, but after a bit her narration became easier to listen to.

Wonderful story of achievement

Not the best reader, but the story of the Thornton family was very inspiring.

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Title: Up Till Now

Author: William Shatner

Narrator: William Shatner

Format: Abridged

Length: 6 hrs and 8 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-20-08

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Publishers Ltd.

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 7 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Celebrities

Publisher's Summary:

In Up Till Now he tells us about his remarkable life, from training as a Shakespearan actor under Sir Tyrone Guthrie to his time on Broadway, his movie career, and, of course, his successful tv series.

He has worked with an extraordinary range of actors, among them Spencer Tracy, Burt Lancaster, Marlene Dietrich, Judy Garland, Walter Matthau, Sandra Bullock, Ben Stiller, and Robert DeNiro. He also writes, with glee, about some of his less successful ventures, including Incubus, the only feature ever made entirely in Esperanto.

As funny, charming, and self-deprecating as the man himself, this book will delight his many fans of all ages.

Critic Reviews:

"It is now Bill Shatner's universe - we just live in it." (New York Daily News)

Members Reviews:

Brilliantly done

Very good. He doesn't devote the book to Star Trek, which is something I was worried about. He gives each of his characters a good, in-depth, look in. He has some amazing behind-the-scenes stories with hilarious outcomes. He illuminates some of the more hyped up events of his life. The death of his wife, etc. I thoroughly enjoyed this. He delivered it the only way you would have expected him to. Very well written, brilliantly narrated. Definitely a must buy for anyone who ever saw him in anything. Well done, Shatman!

An Enterprising actor

A superb listen; the narration is simply fantastic, one of the best narrated autobiographies I have listened to. This is William Shatner narrating not James T Kirk or Denny Crane. This is not just a book for Star Trek fans; you get a real sense of a jobbing actor who loves to act (he rarely turns work down), loves to earn money and loves life.

I would happily have listened to far more than the 6 hours it lasted and for sheer enjoyment I would urge you to buy this.

Great Fun

I confess that I do not normally read showbiz autobiographies, never mind buy them, but I have recently become a fan of 'Boston Legal', in which William Shatner has a leading role, and having read Paul's favourable review above, I thought I would give this book a whirl.

Well I was not disappointed - quite the opposite. It was laugh-out-loud funny at times, interesting, serious and quite sad in parts. To me, william Shatner has a warm sense of humour, doesn't take himself too seriously, is quite able to send himself up, and he doesn't claim to be perfect or right on every occasion - indeed, he comes across as a very likeable individual who has led an interesting and varied life. And his narration is quite superb: it makes the book for me.

One other point to note: this is an abridged version. Now I am not normally a fan of abridged versions, but in this case I think it works well. Indeed, I think my interest might have been tested if the book had been much longer. The abridged length is just right.

Overall, warmly recommended - this book is a lot of fun.

Very entertaining

I wouldn't normally be attracted to a celebrity's autobiography, but having heard William Shatner reading the first chapter of this book on Audible podcast number 7 I was impressed by his engaging and entertaining way with words and self-deprecating sense of humour. His portrayal of Captain Kirk of the Star Ship Enterprise in the first Star Trek series about 40 years ago is the only part of his life I knew about of prior to hearing his story.

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Title: The Soloist

Subtitle: A Lost Dream, an Unlikely Friendship, and the Redemptive Power of Music

Author: Steve Lopez

Narrator: William Hughes

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 45 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-17-08

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 612 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

Over time, the two men form a bond and Lopez imagines that he might be able to change Ayers' life. The Soloist is a beautifully told story of devotion in the face of seemingly unbeatable challenges.

Critic Reviews:

"With self-effacing humor, fast-paced yet elegant prose and unsparing honesty, Lopez tells an inspiring story of heartbreak and hope." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Fantastic Audiobook

This is one of the best audio books I've listened to in a while. Excellent writing, wonderful narration, and a terrific story.

The author provides a good perspective on how mental health affects lives and how one person can make a difference in someone's life.

It will tug at your soul, stretch your heart and bring tears to your eyes.

Hope, Illusion, Schizophrenia

It is seldom that I choose nonfiction books, and when I do I am often disappointed. Not this time. I haven't seen the movie . . . doubt if I will . . . they usually come no where near the book. I am one of those people who have really been angered by the laws which put the mentally ill out on the streets many years ago, when "in their best interest" the mental institutions were eventually all closed down, along with all the other institutional placements for the severely handicapped. You see, I am the mother of a severely mentally retarded, severely autistic adult, who only through the grace of God, lots of work on our part (mine and my husband's), and constantly advocating for her, is now in an appropriate group home close to us, where she is safe. Mental illness is very different. But I'm not entirely sure that we've done these precious people any service by closing all the facilities which once housed them. There are so many ethical questions, so many questions of safety, not only of the mentally ill themselves, but that of the family members who spend years trying their best to care for their loved ones, many of which end up injured and sometimes killed by the person they are trying to take care of. One of the saddest stories happened here in Alabama when a teenage boy killed both his parents, and severely injured his siblings, several years ago. This family could not get any help from authorities or physicians, because the boy "had not actually harmed them" YET. The Soloist is a hauntingly beautiful, deeply moving story of a gifted musician who is unable to make health, cleanliness or other basic choices in life. Therefore he is "free". But everyone around him, everyone who loves him is TRAPPED in a vicious cycle of needing to help him, of continuing to hope, and of fighting the illusion that he CAN be helped. Nathaniel Ayers life has VALUE. God created Nathaniel. God created our sweet daughter. What we learned, over many, many years, is that God also created these special people to be adults, in whatever shape or form that is. And that God releases us, as their parents, as their caretakers, to also take care of ourselves. I fear that our society and our nation have not done well by those who truly need help the most, and cannot help themselves, while continuing to subsidize those who are ABLE BODIED. And the answers are not simple.

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Title: Driving Miss Smith

Author: Warren Lakin

Narrator: Warren Lakin, Kate Rutter

Format: Abridged

Length: 2 hrs and 4 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-20-07

Publisher: Hodder Headline Limited

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Celebrities

Publisher's Summary:

Warren was Linda's lover, companion, and chauffeur from their first meeting, driving her to her tour, radio, and TV gigs, and later to hospital appointments as her cancer took hold: here he reads the moving and often hilarious story of a life lived with wit, humour, and grace under pressure.

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Title: It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time

Author: Michael Grade

Narrator: Michael Grade

Format: Abridged

Length: 2 hrs and 48 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-30-07

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Publishers Ltd.

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Celebrities

Publisher's Summary:

The shrink was not the first and far from the last to pronounce on Michael Grade, so here in It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time, Michael tells his own version of the story so far. With all the wit and openness for which he is renowned, he tells what it was like to grow up in the bosom of a family that ate, drank, and slept show business.

From his very first job on the sports desk of the Mirror, to which he famously arrived chauffeured but utterly unqualified, Michael has landed challenging jobs and learned from great mentors. His career in television, first at LWT, then the BBC, and then at Channel 4, has been surrounded by controversy. His views on those years are no less so. Michael's tales of his TV years are the ultimate insider's guide to a brilliant industry at a time of change.

It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time captures the humour and excitement of Michael Grade's life and times.

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Title: Wogan's Twelve

Author: Terry Wogan

Narrator: Terry Wogan

Format: Abridged

Length: 3 hrs and 17 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-30-07

Publisher: Orion Publishing Group Limited

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Celebrities

Publisher's Summary:

Wogan's Twelve puts you in the passenger seat with Sir Terry as he journeys through another helter-skelter year. With diary entries and photographs of the months and seasons, this is a wonderfully witty, off-the-wall account of his experiences, from the fans and celebrities he meets to the places he visits, from the highlights of his radio show to the lunacies of our modern world.

Perceptive and insightful, and with Sir Terry's distinctive warm and wise narrative, this book is a must-have for his millions of fans.

Members Reviews:

wonderful read

brilliant enjoyed every second of it. Just great to hear the big mans voice again

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Title: Basil Brush

Author: As told to Andrew Crofts by Basil Brush

Narrator: Basil Brush

Format: Abridged

Length: 2 hrs and 12 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-23-07

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Publishers Ltd.

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Celebrities

Publisher's Summary:

As a new era for Basil's television career dawns, he reflects on his ultra-successful early partnerships with Mr Rodney, Mr Derek, Mr Roy, Mr Howard, and Mr Billy. Basil's high-profile celebrity life was the perfect disguise for his double life as a secret agent, and for the first time, Basil speaks openly about the time he risked all for the sake of his country.

He also describes his glittering Hollywood career, his sell-out Las Vegas showcase, and his award-winning stint on Broadway in Elephant Man: The Musical. And he talks frankly about his friendships, from Joan Collins to Frank Sinatra, from the British royal family to Madonna.

A tribute to Basil's sly wit and his unparalleled storytelling ability, this book is sure to appeal to his many fans, from those who have followed his lifelong celebrity career to those who are celebrating his exciting return to the small screen.

Members Reviews:

Great for the Old School Variety Fan

For someone like myself who like old school variety this is a fantastic audiobook shame it was so short - Boom Boom :)

Boom Boom

Not the longest book but it brought back a lot of memories of those classic Saturday nights in front of the

television

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Title: Running the Table

Subtitle: The Legend of Kid Delicious, the Last Great American Pool Hustler

Author: L. Jon Wertheim

Narrator: Butch Engle

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 48 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-26-07

Publisher: Books on Tape

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 68 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Celebrities

Publisher's Summary:

In most sports the pinnacle is Wheaties-box notoriety. But in the world of pool, notoriety is the last thing a hustler desires. Such is the dilemma that faces one Danny Basavich, an affable, generously proportioned Jewish kid from Jersey, who flounders through high school until he discovers the one thing he excels at - the felt - and hits the road.

Running the Table spins the outrageous tale of Kid Delicious and his studly, if less talented, set-up man, Bristol Bob. Never was there a more entertaining or mismatched pair of sidekicks, as together they go underground into the flavorfully seamy world of pool to learn the art of the hustle and experience the highs and lows of life on the road. Their four-year odyssey takes them from Podunk pool halls to slick urban billiard rooms across America, as they manage one night to take down as much as $30,000 - only to lose so much the next night that they lack gas money to get home.

With every stop, the action gets hotter, the calls get closer, and Delicious' prowess with a cue stick becomes known more and more widely. Ultimately, Delicious sheds his cover once and for all and becomes professional pool's biggest sensation since Minnesota Fats.

In a book sure to appeal to fans of Bringing Down the House and Positively Fifth Street, Wertheim evokes a subculture full of nefarious but lovable characters and illuminates America's fascination with games and gambling. He also paints a lasting portrait of an insanely talented and magnetic hustler, who is literally larger than life.

Critic Reviews:

"Wertheim's eloquent and vivid prose...perfectly captures the squalid, sepia-toned environs of America's billiard halls." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

If you loved The Hustler...

If you loved The Hustler, well, you'll still like this one. It was a good read! Entertaining. Enjoyable to read about the fringe of society making money on the sly while people like you and me are working normal jobs and living in suburbia.

I love to shot pool so when I saw this title I had to pick it up. If you've read "Hustler Days" which is almost a precursor to the life and times of Kid Delicious, you'll already have an insight into how these folks live and how the hustle from pool hall to pool hall, city to city, never really holding a normal job and always on a quest for the next big game and the next shot at easy money.

I'll never be able to shoot pool like these guys though will always try. And will never know what it's like to lay money on the rail, playing a game for "C" note. But after reading this book I can get close to understanding what makes these guys tick and what gives them the drive to stay up all night in a smoke filled pool hall, without knowing where or when their next payday will be. I you're a fan of pool like me this is worth the time to check out.

Very Good

This book held my interest from start to end. You need not love or even know billiards to enjoy this book. The main character is the kind of person you cant help but pull for. I highly recommend this book.

A rare glimpse into the life of a road hustler.

An easy listen for anyone interested in the life of a pool hustler on the road.

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Title: Keep Smiling

Author: Charlotte Church

Narrator: Charlotte Church

Format: Abridged

Length: 3 hrs and 4 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-19-07

Publisher: Orion Publishing Group Limited

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Celebrities

Publisher's Summary:

Charlotte Church burst onto the music scene when she was only 12 years old. She went straight to the top of the charts with Voice of an Angel and sang for the Pope, the US president, and royalty across the world. She has released five classical albums, received numerous accolades, and garnered more column inches than Jordan and Victoria Beckham put together. And yet we are still continually fascinated by this Welsh star.

Candid to the last, in this autobiography Charlotte reveals herself as never before. She talks of her life, career, family, loves, and impending motherhood with surprising intimacy and, being true to her outspoken reputation, complete honesty.

Keeping her feet firmly on the ground, Charlotte Church is a genuine superstar of our times. A style icon and international diva, she is also a true family person who always makes sure she has supper with her nan every Tuesday night.

This unique audiobook offers insight into the managing of true talent and the demands of modern celebrity.

Members Reviews:

HONEST, STRAIGHTFORWARD AUTOBIOGRAPHY [4Â stars]

Quite honestly - after all the negative press about Charlotte Church - I was a little resistant about getting her autobiography. I was afraid it would only confirm her "fallen angel" image or - even worse - that she would try to sugar-coat her own life and/or put the blame on others for her mistakes. Thankfully, this autobiography does neither.

"Keep Smiling" is written in an honest, straightforward - albeit irreverent at times - manner, as if she is speaking directly to you on her living room sofa instead of "at" you. She talks about her childhood, family, friends, singing and acting careers, places she's been - and even her wardrobe - in a frank (and ofttimes funny) way, as if she is inviting you along on her journey. Bascially, she tell it like it is. It is a refreshing change from some of the other autobiographies I have read.

It is also chock full of pictures from her life and career.

Even though she does have a bit of a "potty" mouth, it is still an interesting read and one I would recommend.

Keep Smiling

Charlotte's such a sweetheart and SO down to earth and you feel like you're getting the honesty and closeness from her that a friend would when you read this book. Keep in mind, this was written back in 2005 (?) and so it really captures her life in that time. She's still madly inlove with Gavin, etc, so it's not a recent telling of her current life, but it's still a lovely read.

Loved it!

This audio of Charlotte Church's autobiography was just PERFECT! It felt like she was talking to me personally, like she was telling ME her story! She's had such an amazing, full life! Even if you're not a fan of Charlotte, but enjoy autobiographies, I recommend this! My first audiobook, but definitely not my last! I hope she writes another book in the future.

Keep Smiling

Finally I got this book!!!! I'm not suprised at how good this book is. Well, this book talks about her life, career, family and impending motherhood..:) It is so nice to read an autobiography written by someone who actually has an interesting story to tell. I was surprised of her for being true to her outspoken reputation. It's a completely honest book that gives the impression of being told to you, rather than something you're reading.