Decent Book, awful reader

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

If you're a Beatles fan you will enjoy much of this book - some parts are heavy on the wider social issues, but I guess it's all related to the subject.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Can't Buy Me Love?

The most memorable part of the book is the ending - a genuine sense of sadness as when a family disintegrates.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The narrator should have been sacked on day one. Apart from his annoying timbre ( I thought that this was a contrived 'DJ' type voice - but it persists for the whole book) he simply hadn't done his homework - he clearly hadn't listened to some of the Beatles material. His musical vocabulary was limited - as evidenced by the fact that he can't pronounce several musical terms - and his enunciation of lyrics was excruciating! I almost gave up on listening several times.

If this book were a film would you go see it?

No

Any additional comments?

A half decent book completely sabotaged by the narrator. If you want a book on the Beatles don't muck about - get All These Years and have done with it!

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Those were the days!

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

Yes - I've already done that. It is a very well written analysis of the Beatles story. The author is not afraid to express his opinion and is very critical of the different characters in the story's behaviour.

Have you listened to any of Richard Aspel’s other performances? How does this one compare?

This will probably only be irritating to people from Merseyside but the narrator mispronounced many local Merseyside names! Otherwise I don't have any complaints - the narrator sounded as though he had written the book which made it easy to listen to.

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

It made me very nostalgic!It was full of interesting aspects of the Beatles story which was being played out while I was a secondary school on Merseyside. I enjoyed being able to look back across the years and evaluate those formative years.I will confess it supported my prejudices about Yoko Ono! I went off the Beatles after John took up with her. Many blame her for the break-up of the Beatles and the author seems to be of this view too.

Any additional comments?

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and didn't get bored once.I'm even thinking of buying a paper copy. The book is very well written with changes of scene at a pace that keeps you interested. For anyone who plays a musical instrument the analysis of the music will be particularly insightful. I've recommended the book on the basis of this aspect alone. I would warn people that this is not an easy reading 'popular history' that you might buy in an airport. It is a serious analysis of a significant musical phenomenon which brought many changes to society (eg regional accents became acceptable on the BBC) and to the music business.Some people might find the analysis of the songs (eg which key a song is in) tedious.

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FALLS BETWEEN TWO STOOLS

If this book wasn’t for you, who do you think might enjoy it more?

People who want to know something about The Beatles, and are starting from a position of no knowledge.

What was most disappointing about Jonathan Gould’s story?

Half the book is written like a dissertation on the sociology of the 1960's. Not very well written at that. The other is the usual rehashed tale of the Beatles. there is no insight here. His description of the music is based on Ian McDonald's ground breaking Revolution in the Head.

How could the performance have been better?

By getting a narrator who can pronounce the words...
For example his pronunciation of place names in Liverpool is pitiful, he constantly refers to Nems as N. E. M. S. the pattern of his de-livery is very strange.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Can't Buy Me Love?

I'd cut out the sociology, and I'd look for some originality.

Any additional comments?

I'd advise people not to download this.

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