Jim

Red Flag: Read By Author

Revisado: 04-23-24

Author Matt Singer evidently fancies himself an actor so the listener has to suffer through his incessant and unnecessary histrionics. In school we were taught to read with expression but Singer, who sounds like he's about fourteen years old, ruins what could be an informative and even enjoyable listen. "Hello Roger" becomes Hello Roger!" "Good morning, Gene" becomes "Good morning, Gene!" He reads every quote with far too much enthusiasm and it's terribly annoying. Why don't authors and/or publishers hire a pro? I consider 'Read by Author' a warning not a perk. Alas. So many of us are interested in Siskel and Ebert's story but I fear Matt Singer would prefer that we be interested in him. His reading is sophomoric and painful. Two thumbs way down for his exasperating performance.

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Read By Author...Yuk!

Revisado: 03-07-24

'Read by author' is a red flag I should have respected but didn't. Now I'm suffering through his dreary delivery and even occasional bad grammar, and that's inexcusable. "Him and Phil...." really? Waste of a credit. Never again with Shipnuck. Should have known better. Buyer beware. Alas.

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Fascinating Story - Totally Wrong Narrator

Revisado: 01-04-24

This is the behind the scenes look at the making of the documentary "Hail, Hail Rock and Roll," a fascinating profile of Chuck Berry. Sad to say the narrator was so colossally wrong. Sounded like a fifty year old man delivering a book report to his feet. He was dry and dull.

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Robert Petkoff IS Travis McGee

Revisado: 06-12-23

Robert Petkoff is peerless in his reading. His McGee is strong, his Meyer is perfect and he can portray females with distinction. I'm amazed at such brilliance. I noticed a criticism of his reading elsewhere in these reviews and wonder which world that person is living in. Honestly don't know how the narration could be better. Am betting John D. would be happy.

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Angels and Astrology, No Thanks

Revisado: 05-13-23

Loggins' autobiography was unrewarding for me and I feel as if I've wasted a credit. The guy's a stellar musical talent but perhaps an example of how talent and intellect can be mutually exclusive.

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I Said, He Said etc, etc.

Revisado: 04-20-23

Why did Mike Lupica continue Parker's ridiculous style of dialog exchanges. Who is that for? And who enjoys it? Is it supposed to be cute? It's maddening and so unnecessary. Books are to be enjoyed, not endured. Oh yeah, in addition, Lupica's writing is terribly flabby as he describes darn near everything. Vonnegut said he didn't provide food or transportation for his characters because any reader is perfectly willing to believe a character ate, slept, drove to work etc. But Lupica describes the unnecessary and mundane. We don't need to know that Sunny checked her rearview mirror, hit her left-turn blinker and changed lanes. Really? The guy must love to hear himself type. Waste of a credit.

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Where's the PDF?

Revisado: 02-02-23

The author keeps referring to the illustrations but we're not provided any as there's no accompanying PDF. Moreover, in the brief hour and forty five minutes, we have to sit through seemingly endless acknowledgements, thank-yous and credits. Once is more than enough. Of course I skip them but they consume way too much of a book that's already short. I suppose I'll have to buy the hard copy to see the illustrations.

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PDF screwup

Revisado: 01-21-23

The PDF is referred to several times in the text for instructional examples but the accompanying PDF here is nothing but glamor shots of Tiger, 27 in all. Who needs that? Not one is an instructional example. Caveat emptor. You're gonna be disappointed.

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Horrible Narrator

Revisado: 11-03-22

This is like hearing a high school sophomore read her book report. Anyone interested in old Hollywood will enjoy the content but "read by author" once again ruins a good listen. Why do producers allow it? It has to cost sales when there are so many talented actors who would have been appropriate and enjoyable; Robert Wagner for instance. One would think that TCM would have a handle on such things. But then having the author read this was probably the most inexpensive way to go. Alas. A good listen spoiled.

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Mumble City

Revisado: 08-10-22

"Read by author" is almost always a red flag and it applies here in spades. Brillstein mumbled his way through his career arc, one that offered many interesting stories and vignettes. Had he hired a pro, or had those who produced this book hired one, the experience would have been much better for all involved. Assuming Bernie is no longer with us, so why in the world didn't those in charge do the right thing? Alas. Good have been a rewarding experience.

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