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Title: Leonardo DiCaprio

Subtitle: The Biography

Author: Douglas Wight

Narrator: Bob Sinfield

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 38 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-13-13

Publisher: Prospero Media

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 3 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Celebrities

Publisher's Summary:

I'm the king of the world! That was the cry from Leonardo DiCaprio as he stood astride the bow in Titanic - the movie that would go on to smash all records, raking in a whopping GBP 1.1 billion worldwide.

Now, few Hollywood movers and shakers would dispute that statement as Leo has rocketed to become the highest paid actor in the world, earning an estimated GBP 50 million in 2011 alone. And his position looks sets to be secure for some time to come as the release of the new 3D version of James Cameron's epic heralds another sensational year in the life of Hollywood's hottest talent, that will also see him take on the lead role in a new adaptation of The Great Gatsby and see him cast as a villain in Quentin Tarantino's new blockbuster Django Unchained.

It's a far cry from the heart-throb's humble beginnings when he had to scrape for parts in TV commericals and soap operas before catching the eye in Baz Luhrmann's stylish Romeo and Juliet and then achieving worldwide superstardom with Titanic. Cementing his reputation with captivating performances in films like Catch Me If You Can and The Departed, DiCaprio won a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Howard Hughes in The Aviator.

A keen environmentalist and conservationist, he has given millions to good causes around the globe and has never been shy about wearing his political ideas on his sleeve. Yet, although he's spent over 15 years at the top of his profession, Leonardo remains something of an enigma. He has famously dated some of the world's most beautiful women but seems no nearer to settling down and his often daring movie choices suggest someone still striving for perfection despite his stunning successes.

Members Reviews:

Wright has done his homework

First I have to mention that the author, Douglas Wright, is British, so that some of the idioms, sentence structure and word usage may not be familiar to readers outside the UK.

I will give Wright credit, where credit it due. He has done his homework, although that homework was most likely reading and viewing previously documented DiCaprio articles and interviews. Wright wishes the reader to believe that many of DiCaprio's co-stars were interviewed for this work, (Kate Winslet, Russell Crowe, Martin Scorsese, Clare Danes) those "interviews" were most likely obtained in the same manner as those of DiCaprio. Thankfully, Wright has placed a lot of interesting material between two covers, but he also included a lot of non-interesting material.

The best portions and most interesting chapters of the book are what appear to be behind the scenes and on-set of DiCaprio's films. How specific film projects were chosen. Why one film was

chosen over another (American Psycho, Titanic, and no super-hero films). There are some entertaining stories relayed during the making of Leo's films, but again, all the conversations may have been previously documented. These make the book a worth while effort.

The least interesting and what I felt didn't really need to be investigated further, are DiCaprio's various relationships. Here Wright establishes himself as a tabloid expert, but yet again, giving credit to The Star, E!, World News or Entertainment Tonight. That simply isn't what interested me.

My biggest issue with this book is the repetition.

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Title: Hugh Laurie

Subtitle: The Biography

Author: Anthony Bunko

Narrator: Simon Whistler

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 7 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-13-13

Publisher: Prospero Media

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 4 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Celebrities

Publisher's Summary:

Hugh was born in Oxford, and his father, WGRM 'Ran' Laurie, was a doctor who won a gold medal in the coxless pairs at the 1948 Olympics. Hugh followed in his father's footsteps as a rower at Cambridge, but when he was forced to hang up his oars he joined the famous Cambridge Footlights and there began a career in comedy. It was at university that he met Stephen Fry, and the pair forged a hilarious partnership that continued through the 1980s and 1990s.

Hugh has also enjoyed great success on the big screen; starring in Sense and Sensibility, 101 Dalmatians, Monsters vs Aliens and the three Stuart Little films. But it is the character of irascible doctor Gregory House, in the US TV drama House, that has brought global fame. He has won two Golden Globes for the role and received a prestigious Emmy nomination in 2005, and continues to receive critical acclaim for his performance in the show - especially for his near-perfect American accent.

With worldwide fame and an OBE to his name, Hugh Laurie is undoubtedly one of Britain's best-loved actors.

Members Reviews:

If you like listening to the news!

How could the performance have been better?

Get a more competent narrator

Any additional comments?

I listen to A LOT of audio books and this is the first time I have left a review. Well really it's a warning. If you want to hear about Hugh Laurie's life then I would highly recommend you buy a paper book or download to kindle. THIS IS THE WORST NARRATOR EVER. I don't think I will reach the end of the book as the narrator's voice lulls me into unconsciousness. It is like listening to a newsreader but in slow motion. In fact, it is very similar to a hypnotherapy CD I use for insomnia. it really is dreadful and completely spoils what would otherwise be an enjoyable read. I don't understand why such a well known actor, whose best friend is an extremely good narrator (Stephen Fry), would be happy to allow his biography to be read by this man. My advice would be to avoid the audio version of this book and read it instead.

good book

the book was well written but the narrators voice was intensely annoying.

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Title: Dirty Dishes

Subtitle: A Restaurateur's Story of Passion, Pain, and Pasta

Author: Pino Luongo, Andrew Friedman

Narrator: Roberto Benfenati

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 11 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-26-13

Publisher: Audible Studios for Bloomsbury

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Celebrities

Publisher's Summary:

Everyone has an opinion about Pino Luongo. To Tony Bourdain, he was the notorious Pino Noir, the shadowy kingpin of a restaurant empire. To Manhattanites, he was either the savior or the scourge of the city's dining scene. To the many fans of his cookbooks, he was the herald of Tuscan cuisine.

In Dirty Dishes, Luongo emerges to tell his side of the story. And its quite a story: After an idyllic (and well-fed) childhood in Tuscany, Luongo came to New York as an actor, and, after quickly washing out, fell into the restaurant business. Within ten years, he had risen from a position as a dishwasher to build a string of the hottest restaurants in the city, including Le Madri, Coco Pazzo, Tuscan Square, and Centolire. For a decade, he was one of the undisputed kings of New York nightlife, building a reputation for brilliance, volatility, and charm - as well as a long list of hilarious and jaw-dropping "Pino stories". But after a flirtation with a corporate chain went sour, he cashiered his restaurants and returned to his first love, the kitchen.

Pino has had an incredible life, full of amazing twists and famous names- and he's a born storyteller. Along with his expert coauthor, Andrew Friedman (who helped craft Don't Try This at Home), he's created an immensely listenable inside look at the New York restaurant world, in all its Byzantine glory.

Members Reviews:

Awesome

I really didn't know this book was out until I heard that one of the Top Chef contestants had named his book this as well and that friends of Pino were trying to get the Top Chef contestant to change his book title. I finally got around to buying this book for a variety of reasons. First, I'd read about Pino in Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential years ago. He sounded like someone who a book would be a good idea for. Second, to find out if this could be the mysterious Bigfoot (and he isn't). Third, the foreword by Bourdain which was very impressive coming from him.

I was not disappointed in this book at all. I was very impressed by the writing and the story about Pino, his successes and his failure in the end by over reaching when he shouldn't have. He is what he says he is, brutally honest. He doesn't hide his frustrations or his failures which makes this a very good read.

For anyone wanting to know more about the restaurant business in general and a success story turning into semi-failure (He didn't lose it all), this is a really good book. It makes me want to spend a week or two in Pino's kitchen so I can really learn how to cook pasta. If only he did seminar's or small classes on a regular basis, I'd be there in a heartbeat!!!

Pino Luongo is a Great Entrepreneur

Pino walks through his life and shares how he came to America unable to speak English and within ten years became a successful entrepreneur. I admire him immensely. One of my favorite parts in the book is where Pino describes how he was working at an apparel store--a job that he hated immensely--and then one day, he left for lunch and never went back. I read that part several times. His writing is witty and very amusing.

Through a friend, I had the pleasure of meeting Pino in late '97. For two years my friend and I had the pleasure of dining frequently at Le Madri, Coco Pazzo, Coco Opera, Coco Marina and Tuscan Square.

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Title: Strange Sights and Sporting Scenes

Subtitle: Eccentric Oddities of 18th and 19th Century England

Author: John Timbs

Narrator: Cathy Dobson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 2 hrs and 21 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-21-13

Publisher: Red Door Audiobooks

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Celebrities

Publisher's Summary:

The much-loved chronicler and observer of all that is unusual, John Timbs describes a selection of the oddest sights and anecdotes of the 18th and 19th centuries.

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Title: The Ghost Runner

Subtitle: The Tragedy of the Man They Couldnt Stop

Author: Bill Jones

Narrator: Clive Anderson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 18 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-14-13

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 23 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Celebrities

Publisher's Summary:

The mystery man threw off his disguise and started to run. Furious stewards gave chase. The crowd roared. A legend was born.

Soon the world would know him as the ghost runner", John Tarrant, the extraordinary man whom nobody could stop. As a hapless teenage boxer in the 1950s, hed been paid 17 expenses. When he wanted to run, he was banned for life. His amateur status had been compromised...forever. Now he was fighting back, gate-crashing races all over Britain. No number on his shirt. No friends in high places. Soon he would be a record-breaker, one of the greatest long-distance runners the world had ever seen. This cross betweenOnce a RunnerandChariots of Firetells the heartbreaking story of this remarkable individual.

Critic Reviews:

An astonishing story of staggering grit and determination. (The Independent, London)

Jones has unearthed and told quite brilliantly the tragic story of a man condemned not only by authority but also by his own stubbornness. (Sunday Times, London)

A terrific story - a comic-strip hero made flesh. (Daily Mail)

Members Reviews:

Fascinating but.....

The story, the performance and the detail it is born out is fascinating, but for my liking, overdrawn. Even at an audio rate of 1.25-1.5x the narration sometimes seemed lengthy. Even so, it is a title I am grateful to have discovered and enjoyed. It is a history unlike any other and creates a lasting legacy not only for runners and sports enthusiasts, but also all who prize the enduring nature of the human soul, not only for sport, but more aptly for justice and an immortal purpose beyond our mortal coil.

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Title: A Brief History of the Private Life of Elizabeth II

Subtitle: Brief Histories

Author: Michael Paterson

Narrator: Maggie Ollrenshaw

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 34 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-28-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 17 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Celebrities

Publisher's Summary:

Elizabeth II is within a few years of becoming the longest-reigning British monarch. A personally quiet, modest and dutiful person, she is far better-informed about the lives of her subjects than they often realize. She has known every Prime Minister since Winston Churchill and every American President since Eisenhower. Yet what of the woman behind the crown?

The book seeks to take a new look at this exhaustively-documented life and show how Queen Elizabeth became the person she is. Who, and what, have been the greatest influences upon her? What are her likes and dislikes? What are her hobbies? Who are her friends? What does she feel about the demands of duty and protocol? Is she really enjoying herself when she smiles during official events? How differently does she behave when out of the public eye? Examining the places in which she grew up or has lived, the training she received and her attitudes to significant events in national life, it presents a fresh view of one of recent history's most important figures.

Members Reviews:

Wonderful from start to finish

This is an engrossing narrative on the private life of one of our time's greatest women and one who in my opinion deserves a great amount of respect. The author uses well known facts about Queen Elizabeth II to ascertain her majesty's private moments while at the same time maintaining the mysterious dignity exuded by her while in public. I found it extremely well written and well narrated. I highly recommend this book to anyone who watches this phenomenal monarch perform her tireless service to Great Britain, The Commonwealth of Nations, and the world in general.

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Title: Muhammad Ali

Subtitle: Through the Eyes of the World

Author: Mark Collings (editor)

Narrator: Cary Hite

Format: Unabridged

Length: 17 hrs and 50 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-23-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 6 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Celebrities

Publisher's Summary:

Many regard Muhammad Ali simply as 'The Greatest' heavyweight of all time. Others admire his battles against racial injustice and religious intolerance. A few just call him 'Dad'. They are all here in this book - 50 men and women of note coming together to celebrate the man Sports Illustrated crowned 'Sportsman of the Century': Angelo Dundee, Ali's trainer; Billy Crystal, actor; Sir Henry Cooper, former British and European heavyweight champion; Bert Sugar, journalist and boxing historian; Hana Ali, Muhammad Ali's daughter; Ferdie Pacheco, Ali's fight doctor; and more.

This book will be treasured by anyone who has ever been inspired by 'The Greatest'.

Editorial Reviews:

Mark Collings compiles 50 recollections of the great champion, provided by such notables as Maya Angelou, Billy Crystal, Berry Gordy, Dustin Hoffman, and more. Cary Hite gives a commendable performance, varying his voice with each reminiscence, allowing the diverse topics - whether it's the fights with Joe Frazier, racial injustice, or the Vietnam War - a worthy distinctiveness. Muhammad Ali: Through the Eyes of the World is a fascinating look at what makes Ali so special as an athlete, spokesman, and provocateur, and illustrates why so many consider him to be The Greatest.

Members Reviews:

He was Great...BUT!!!

Didn't really realize what i was into when i started listening to the book...didn't take long to realize that it was an assortment of famous people just saying the same thing over and over and over.....He's the greatest...and i agree but it would have been nice to hear about some of the fights....

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Title: Paperboy

Author: Christopher Fowler

Narrator: Gordon Griffin

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 22 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-05-13

Publisher: Random House Audiobooks

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 7 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Celebrities

Publisher's Summary:

Christopher Fowler's memoir captures life in suburban London as it has rarely been seen: through the eyes of a lonely boy who spends his days between the library and the cinema, devouring novels, comics, and cereal packets - anything that might reveal a story. Caught between an ever-sensible but exhausted mother and a DIY-obsessed father fighting his own demons, Christopher takes refuge in words. His parents try to understand their son's peculiar obsessions, but fast lose patience with him - and each other. The war of nerves escalates to include every member of the Fowler family, and something has to give, but does it mean that a boy must always give up his dreams for the tough lessons of real life? Beautifully written, this rich and astute evocation of a time and a place recalls a childhood at once entertainingly eccentric and endearingly ordinary.

Members Reviews:

enjoyd this biography

Any additional comments?

having listened to most of Christopher fowler's Bryant and may series I was looking forward to listening to this book about his early life. I wasn't disappointed.

his love of books and later films, his family all came together to make the author he has become.

Gordon griffin did his usual good job of performing this book.

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Title: Angelina Jolie: Portrait of a Superstar

Author: Rhona Mercer

Narrator: Lynsey Frost

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 36 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-25-12

Publisher: Prospero Media Ltd

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 6 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Celebrities

Publisher's Summary:

As one of the most glamorous and successful actresses in Hollywood and one half of super-couple "Brangelina", Angelina Jolie seems to have it all. But life hasn't always been so easy for the world's most seductive star.... She endured a painful, complicated childhood that left her relationship with her famous father, respected actor Jon Voight, in tatters. Even as she followed in his acting footsteps, it was always her passionate relationships with both men and women, her private fantasies, her numerous tattoos and her thoughts of suicide that garnered the most attention with the popular press and gave her a reputation as Hollywood's bad girl.

But now, raising her three adopted and three biological children with Brad Pitt, and fully dedicated to her work with refugees as goodwill ambassador for the United Nations, Angelina has turned that reputation around. The Academy Award and three-time Golden Globe-winning actress has finally found a way to balance the extreme highs and lows of fame with the stable family home she has always been searching for. This story of the trials, scandals, adventures and romances of Angelina Jolie is an insightful, inspiring must-listen for every fan.

Members Reviews:

good book

great book but what a freak. she has issues. listen for yourself. never fails to amaze me how some people so weird can go so far. but then again as I always say ,, if your ever married or with an actress you never would know if it were real or she is just acting.

Pretty Good Biography

It's a pretty well written biography. She takes us from Angelina's childhood on up to the beginning of her marriage with Brad Pitt. The book dwells more on Jolie's relationships than her film career. I actually found that to be a bit of a downer. I've always been a fan of her films, but now knowing about all the failed relationships and other problems that she's had actually makes me less of a fan. I don't hold that against the author however.

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Title: Marilyn: A Biography

Author: Norman Mailer

Narrator: Jeff Harding

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 22 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-01-12

Publisher: Whole Story Audiobooks

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Celebrities

Publisher's Summary:

This extraordinary biography of the legendary screen star Marilyn Monroe was originally published in 1973 by Norman Mailer, one of America's most important writers of the second half of the Twentieth Century. Mailer, the winner of two Pulitzer Prizes, was the first writer to explore the relationship between Monroe and Bobby Kennedy. When published, this book was the subject of Time and Life magazine cover stories, was on The New York Times Bestseller List.

Members Reviews:

Would much prefer to read the book

Found the person voicing this to be awful, very sleezy, completely ruined what otherwise seems to be a good book. Hope to get it in book form some day but reluctant to pay again

Very poor book

Would you try another book written by Norman Mailer or narrated by Jeff Harding?

Not by Norman Mailer. Jeff Harding is normally quite a good reader but even he could not make this book enjoyable

What could Norman Mailer have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

He could have told a clear story about Marylin Monroe instead of the tedious one that he wrote.

Who might you have cast as narrator instead of Jeff Harding?

Nobody. Jeff Harding is a good reader provided he has a good book to read.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Marilyn: A Biography?

Less psychological tedium and more clear description.

Any additional comments?

I have listened to only part of the book and hope that I can return and buy something better.

Just Finished First Audible Book...

If you could sum up Marilyn: A Biography in three words, what would they be?

Informative, Riveting, Unbiased.

What other book might you compare Marilyn: A Biography to, and why?

First Biography I have read as audio which brings narrative alive.

Have you listened to any of Jeff Hardings other performances? How does this one compare?

First time I have listened to a Jefff Harding narration. I found him to be very expressive throughout especially when reading quotes from various characters.

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

Whenever there was a reference to Marilyn's Childhood.

Any additional comments?

Look forward to my next audible

Dreadful

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

A different book?

What was most disappointing about Norman Mailers story?

The rampant objectification and sexism.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The voices were dreadful.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Marilyn: A Biography?

To be honest, most of it.

Any additional comments?

Don't listen to this book.

THE WORST AUDIO BOOK I'VE EVER HEARD

this book is awful, the narrator lustfuly talks about marilyn like she is his personal sex object, 4 times in the first 20 mins calling her his "sex angel" and constantly goes off on completely different subjects, so nothing in her life story is in order. I just wanted a normal book about her life, she's an icon and fascinating, not a sleazy mans waffleings. the narration is so hard to follow, he every word sounds overly thought out, almost like hes talking on a game show. i would love to return this book, but it was one of the buy 2 get one 3 deals so i know i wont be allowed.