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Title: Road to Valor

Subtitle: A True Story of World War II Italy, the Nazis, and the Cyclist Who Inspired a Nation

Author: Aili McConnon, Andres McConnon

Narrator: Stephen Hoye

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 15 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-12-12

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 54 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Celebrities

Publisher's Summary:

Gino Bartali is best known as an Italian cycling legend: the man who not only won the Tour de France twice, but also holds the record for the longest time span between victories. During the 10 years that separated his hard-won triumphs, his actions, both on and off the racecourse, ensured him a permanent place in Italian hearts and minds.

In Road to Valor, Aili and Andres McConnon chronicle Bartali's journey, starting in impoverished rural Tuscany where a scrawny, mischievous boy painstakingly saves his money to buy a bicycle and before long, is racking up wins throughout the country. At the age of 24, he stuns the world by winning the Tour de France and becomes an international sports icon. But Mussolini's Fascists try to hijack his victory for propaganda purposes, derailing Bartali's career, and as the Nazis occupy Italy, Bartali undertakes secret and dangerous activities to help those being targeted. He shelters a family of Jews in an apartment he financed with his cycling winnings and is able to smuggle counterfeit identity documents hidden in his bicycle past Fascist and Nazi checkpoints because the soldiers recognize him as a national hero in training.

After the grueling wartime years, Bartali fights to rebuild his career as Italy emerges from the rubble. In 1948, the stakes are raised when midway through the Tour de France, an assassination attempt in Rome sparks nationwide political protests and riots. Despite numerous setbacks and a legendary snowstorm in the Alps, the chain-smoking, Chianti-loving, 34-year-old underdog comes back and wins the most difficult endurance competition on earth. Bartali's inspiring performance helps unite his fractured homeland and restore pride and spirit to a country still reeling from war and despair.

Set in Italy and France against the turbulent backdrop of an unforgiving sport and threatening politics, Road to Valor is the breathtaking account of one man's unsung heroism and his resilience in the face of adversity. Based on nearly 10 years of research in Italy, France, and Israel, including interviews with Bartali's family, former teammates, a Holocaust survivor Bartali saved, and many others, Road to Valor is the first book ever written about Bartali in English and the only book written in any language to fully explore the scope of Bartali's wartime work. An epic tale of courage, comeback, and redemption, it is the untold story of one of the greatest athletes of the 20th century.

Critic Reviews:

"A workmanlike biography that fills in some of the gaps of this strange, troubling time." (Kirkus)

Members Reviews:

Uplifting story told with a different view point

There are many stories about WW2 and I have enjoyed a lot of them (just added Monument Men to my wish list). This story provides a different view point because the main character is Italian and you learn about the birth of the Tour De France. Maybe it was the fact that I listened to a lot of this on an exercise bike...I found the race aspects very insightful. I did get a little tired of the narrator but that happens when listening for extended periods.

Great story, well read, and it synced with my iPad

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This is a great book about a great and modest man.

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Title: Cat Daddy

Subtitle: What the World's Most Incorrigible Cat Taught Me About Life, Love, and Coming Clean

Author: Jackson Galaxy, Joel Derfner

Narrator: Jackson Galaxy

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 24 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-10-12

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 839 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

Cat behaviorist and star of Animal Planet's hit television show My Cat from Hell, Jackson Galaxy, a.k.a. Cat Daddy, isn't what you might expect for a cat expert (as the New York Times noted, with his goatee and tattoos he looks like a Hell's Angel). Yet Galaxy's ability to connect with even the most troubled felines-not to mention the stressed-out humans living in their wake-is awe-inspiring. In this book, Galaxy tells the poignant story of his 13-year relationship with a petite gray-and-white short-haired cat named Benny, and gives singular advice for living with, caring for, and loving the feline in your home. When Benny arrived in his life, Galaxy was a down-and-out rock musician with not too much more going on than a part-time job at an animal shelter and a drug problem. Benny's previous owner brought the cat to the shelter in a cardboard box to give him up. Benny had seen better days-his pelvis had just been shattered by the wheels of a car-and his owner insisted he'd been unbondable from day one. Nothing could have been further from the truth.

An inspiring account of two broken beings who fixed each other, Cat Daddy is laced throughout with Galaxy's amazing Cat Whisperer advice for understanding what cats need most from us in order to live happier, healthier lives.

Members Reviews:

10 Stars!!!

What did you love best about Cat Daddy?

Okay, I admit it: I cant get enough of Jackson Galaxy. This is one of those rare books I will listen to over again. He writes and reads this memoir straight from the heart and no other narrator could have done justice to his words. Jacksons memoir recounts his beginnings and growth as a cat behaviorist while battling his many addictions. His story is humble, straightforward, and never wallows in self-pity. Here is a man who came face to face with the bottom, over and over again, and pulled himself out of it. While he was doing so, he discovered and nurtured his calling to help troubled cats and their guardians. His cat Benny was with him all the way, not only teaching him but becoming that rare animal with whom he established a lasting bond. I can relate: I had a cat who saw me through my get my stuff together years and I, in turn, nursed him through several life-threatening illnesses. That cat will have a special place in my heart until I die. Even if youve never experienced that kind of relationship with an animal, youll appreciate this book, and even more so if you have.

Absolutely loved this book

Any additional comments?

Jackson Galaxy is of course a cat behaviorist and the star of the reality show My Cat from Hell which I really like. I LOVED this book. In fairness I dont know if I would have felt quite the same if I just read it, because Galaxy narrates his own book and his performance is truly awesome. Ill risk sounding like a cheesy movie critic by admitting that, it both made me cry and laugh aloud. It follows a small part of Jacksons life rather than the whole thing. It starts when he was an adult, living on his own, playing in a band, doing lame jobs and lots of drugs, and ending when he is making his living as a cat behaviorist but before his TV show and fame. Before the book, I had seen and enjoyed the show but I knew nothing about Jacksons background.

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Title: Learning My Lines: An Autobiography

Author: Ray Brooks

Narrator: Ray Brooks

Format: Abridged

Length: 2 hrs and 47 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-16-12

Publisher: The Copyright Group

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Celebrities

Publisher's Summary:

Ray Brooks acting career has spanned more than four decades, from his breakthrough role in the iconic 1960s film The Knack, to infamy as the murderer of Pauline Fowler in EastEnders.

Learning My Lines is the diary Ray wrote while working on EastEnders. It provides a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes at Albert Square, and also prompts Ray to dip into his past. He talks about growing up in Brighton with his bus conductress mother, working with Ken Loach on the ground-breaking BBC drama Cathy Come Home, fighting off Daleks in Dr Who, and starring as gambler Robbie Box in the hit TV show Big Deal.

His theatrical tales cover his climb to fame, including almost appearing in The Sound of Music and working on classic comedies by Alan Ayckbourn and Tom Stoppard. To a whole generation, Ray Brooks is the voice of Mr. Benn, the popular childrens animated series, and his seductive tones have also been used to persuade us to buy everything from margarine to lemonade - until Terry Wogan got in on the act!

But as the accolades build up over the years, so do the insecurities: What job will I get when this one finishes? Surely that fat, bald bloke on the screen cant be me? Can I still learn lines? Revealing the vulnerability of an actors life, Learning My Lines is a candid account, full of down-to-earth humour and captivating honesty.

Members Reviews:

Great read

What did you like most about Learning My Lines: An Autobiography?

Like ray brooks story he is a great actor loved mr benn and big deal

Which character as performed by Ray Brooks was your favourite?

All of them

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

Ray told a great story it was sad that he had a hard life he rose to it as he became a successful actor

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Title: The Voyages of the Princess Matilda

Author: Shane Spall

Narrator: Frances Barber

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 47 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-27-12

Publisher: Random House AudioBooks

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Celebrities

Publisher's Summary:

"Tim and I both understood we had done something really stupid. We had underestimated the danger involved in going out to sea. We had no radio, compass, life raft, or flares. In other words, we were a couple of idiots."

This is the story of Shane and Timothy Spall and their Dutch barge, The Princess Matilda. After a summer on the Thames they head out to sea with only a road atlas and a vast amount of ignorance - and it is absolutely terrifying!

On their travels, memories are triggered of childhood trips to the seaside, but also of more recent times.

As Tim and Shane explore the coast from the Medway to Cornwall, eventually they start to wonder: Could they make it out of England altogether? Could Matilda make it to ... Wales?!

Taking place over the course of five years, The Voyages of the Princess Matilda is a minor epic, charting a very personal, moving, and uplifting story of an everyday couple's adventure around their much-loved homeland. The Spalls' adventures have already been the subject of two BBC4 series.

Members Reviews:

The Voyages if the Princess Matilda

This book was not as I expected, having read Naroow Dog, I expected similar. This is in some way but it is not Narrow Dog. I listened to this book not realising who Timothy Spall was, until I looked him up. This is very much about people, feelings, and places. It has made me want to visit parts of England I have never been, it has also made me want to live on a boat more than ever.

I was not expecting the story of Timothys illness, and at first I was a bit put off as I bought the book thinking it was about the boat journey. However once I got used to the paragraphs of emotion I settled down to enjoy was a great story. This book made me cry and it made me smile, I was sad when the journey ended and the book finished, my escaping had to end.

This is a story of two peoples love for each other and their family and their love of a boat and this country. The journey is just part of that story

Great read

Exceptional voyage

Amazing, so touching. Two books in one. I've lost count how many times I've listened to this fabulous book.

Stick with this journey as it will be worth it

What did you like most about The Voyages of the Princess Matilda?

The narration was brilliant.

I like the juxtaposition of the physical journey on the sea and Shane Spall's personal journey with her husband's illness.

What other book might you compare The Voyages of the Princess Matilda to, and why?

This is not like the usual travelogues and funny tales of being at sea or relocating to foreign parts . It is not a lightweight book and although there are funny moments these are outweighed by the tender moments.

Which character as performed by Frances Barber was your favourite?

The voice she used for Shane when she was talking directly to Tim rather than just narrating was so tender. I think Frances Barber's narration was brilliant.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

A personal journey

Any additional comments?

It took me a while to get into this book.

I initially bought it because I am familiar with Sheppey where they run aground and so knew that coast line. This is so much more than an account of a sea journey but I really felt I could have done with a map to begin with. There were times that I felt a bit lost at sea and wondered where this story was heading.

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Title: The Father, the Son and the Ghostly Hole

Author: Rory McGrath

Narrator: Rory McGrath

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 2 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-19-12

Publisher: Whole Story Audiobooks

Ratings: 2 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Celebrities

Publisher's Summary:

This is Rory's story of being brought up a Catholic, going to Catholic school, being an altar boy; of the parents, priests, the nuns who taught him, the life and characters at his local Church. Until, that is, as a teenager in crisis, he abandons his faith and enters the god-forsaken world and the glamour of its evil ways with a spring in his step.

Members Reviews:

Lighthearted, funny, sad but always entertaining

I was dubious about this book but thought i'd give it a go. So pleased I did! The tales goes back and forth to diferent parts of Rorys life. Funny, sad, but always entertaining.

Im not Catholic so some pieces may have passed me by, it certainly didnt detract from the pleasure I got from the contents of this book. My biggest problem was trying not to burst out laughing in public places whilst listening.

Surprisingly awful!

I really enjoyed the first instalment, Bearded Tit, which had charm, a story and was a really interesting birding tale as well as the human tale. This read like his publisher pushed for volume two and Rory thought another cheque would be nice but had little heart in it compared to the earlier one. A pity!

Doesn't download to Android

Audible e-mailed this offer to me, I bought it, only to discover it's not compatible with the Android Audible App -or so the App is telling me!

Check the available formats before you purchase!

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Title: White Cap and Bails

Author: Dickie Bird

Narrator: Graham Roberts

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 25 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-12-12

Publisher: Hodder Headline Limited

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Celebrities

Publisher's Summary:

In this new anecdotal book, the unstoppable Dickie Bird takes one County Cricket Club at a time and revisits each with the aid of memorabilia, statistics, books and videos. A mass of new hilarious stories flow from Dickie as he flexes his memory: he describes the cricketers, the matches and the character of these clubs. Dickie also relives his journeys as a umpire to clubs and Test match arenas overseas and recalls the humorous times that have filled his unique career. A must have for cricket enthusiasts everywhere.

Members Reviews:

Only so much you can say....

Dickie is a great character but he has already covered every amusing cricket story in his previous books, and this one tried so hard to make something of the sweepings on the floor by arranging them in cricket-ground order. A lovely man, with lovely memories but it became boring after a while, even for cricket enthusiasts.

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Title: Lorraine: Between You and Me

Author: Lorraine Kelly

Narrator: Lorraine Kelly

Format: Abridged

Length: 1 hr and 52 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-12-12

Publisher: Headline Audiobooks

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Celebrities

Publisher's Summary:

From working-class Glasgow to the glamour of breakfast TV - this is the witty and charming autobiography of one of TV's most-loved presenters. National treasure Lorraine Kelly has been great company for years: a sunny, vivacious, and loveable presence in your home. Now it's possible to get to know her even better as, for the first time, she opens up about her eventful life and tells her story in her own words.

From her working-class childhood growing up in one of the toughest areas of Glasgow, to her early career in journalism, during which she covered heartbreaking tragedies such as Dunblane and Lockerbie, and her gradual emergence as the undisputed Queen of Morning TV, Lorraine reveals a life like no other, with characteristic warmth and charm.

Entertaining, funny, and a little bit mischievous, her anecdotes are garnered from a lifetime of meeting, greeting, and interrogating the famous and infamous. Full of gossip, glamour, and Lorraine's inimitable good sense, this is a book to settle on the sofa with.

Members Reviews:

very good

loved the book narrated by Lorraine herself .....but only two chapters ? a good read though very interesting insight to Lorraine's past up bringing

Lorraine Kelly

Great interesting in site of her TV journey , lorraine spoke a bit fast and i found it hard to hang on to every word apart from that i really enjoyed her story

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Title: The Phantom of the Open

Author: Scott Murray, Simon Farnaby

Narrator: Simon Farnaby

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 51 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-13-11

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Celebrities

Publisher's Summary:

When 46-year-old crane driver and former comedy stunt-diver Maurice Flitcroft chanced his way into the Open - having never before played a round of golf in his life - he ran up a record-worst score of 121. The sports ruling classes went nuclear and banned him. Maurice didnt take it lying down. In a hilarious game of cat-and-mouse with The Man, he entered tournaments again - and again, and again - using increasingly ludicrous pseudonyms such as Gene Pacecki, Arnold Palmtree and Count Manfred von Hoffmanstel.

In doing so, he sent the authorities into apoplexy, and won the hearts of hackers from Muirfield to Michigan, becoming arguably the most popular - but certainly the bravest - sporting underdog the world has ever known.

Members Reviews:

Love it

Maurice up their with the golfing gods. We all have the wrecking shot in our game

Lovely story of a trier

I've listened to this so many times! It's a wonderful tale of someone who tried his best despite not having all the advantages a lot of others would have enjoyed. The best story I've found on Amazon/Audible so far. Thank you :)

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Title: Trautmann's Journey

Subtitle: From Hitler Youth to FA Cup Legend

Author: Catrine Clay

Narrator: Gordon Griffin

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 42 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-15-11

Publisher: Soundings

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Celebrities

Publisher's Summary:

Bert Trautmann is famed as the goalkeeper who broke his neck in an FA Cup final and played on. But his early life is no less extraordinary: he grew up in Nazi Germany and fought for the Germans in World War Two. In 1945 he was captured and sent to a British POW camp where, for the first time, he saw a better way of life. He embraced England as his new home and before long became an England football hero. This is his extraordinary story.

Members Reviews:

Couldn't turn it off! Couldn't make it up!

I was fascinated because I am interested in WW2 history and once lived in Germany teaching with BAOR and loved it. In this book we learn about recent history through this amazing story about an ordinary life which became extraordinary through a great ability in football. The irony is that I am no football fan but was swept along by a man who played on in goal with his neck broken! I would love to have met him and said a few words in the German language which I came to like a lot. A lovely guy who suffered in his personal life. The reader draws you in and is convincing so you see it all vividly. If you are interested in footballing legends you will really love this.

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Title: All by Mouth

Author: Jeni Barnett

Narrator: Jeni Barnett

Format: Unabridged

Length: 1 hr and 39 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-27-11

Publisher: Create Digital Publishing

Ratings: 1.5 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Celebrities

Publisher's Summary:

Journalist Jeni Barnett tells of her scrumptious time at Great Food Live. "At present I am doing a daily food programme called Great Food Live, formerly Good Food Live. I was brought on board not because I knew anything about the gourmet side of things but because I was a pig and enjoyed opening my mouth and shoving things in it. I now know that such a person is called a foodie."