Penguins Stopped Play: Eleven Village Cricketers Take On the World

What a wonderful introduction to the world of audio books. I loved it. For several days I wandered around in a daze, my lunch times filled with laughter and the tv remaining silent.

I don't know what possessed me to take this book. I'm not sporting, and certainly not a cricket fan. But now I want to start my own cricket team.

The book is gently funny, wickedly funny, side-splittingly funny, poking fun at well-known names, unknown names and entire nationalities. The author is relentless in his refreshingly candid - and did I mention funny? - exploration of human weaknesses and tendencies. In fact, maybe that's what made the book so special for me. Its about real people, doing real things - and as they say, truth can be stranger than fiction.

The narrator transported me to another England (as well as of course onto every continent) and I loved every minute of my travels with Captain Scott's XI. Its a highly personal experience, being read to, and its impossible to spend that amount of time with that voice - and those characters - and not have them become part of the extended family.

In fact, on reaching the end (sitting in my car one lunch break, with ten minutes to go before I was due back at my desk and tears in my eyes), I simply started back at the beginning again. I couldn't just relegate that familiar voice and those people I had spent so long with to the depths of time!

I have recommended this book to almost everyone who will keep still long enough to listen to my ravings - and that includes your good self. All it took was ten minutes and I was hooked.

Give it a go - and have a listen for yourself.

This was the first audiobook i've ever listened to and what a way to start. Harry Thompsons book is one of pure genius. Laugh out load moments are plentyfull with the narration just perfect.

I have really enjoyed this book. Truly relaxing and light hearted, perfect for a commute.

A real adventure, who would have thought that touring the world, bring all corners the wonderful game of cricket could be so hard.
If I had run into so many problems I would have given up, but not this team of Sunday no-hopers, they press on with their travels, and thank goodness for that, as they stumble from one problem to another the humour keeps comming.
A well described journey, equally well read.
From begining to end, a real hoot.

Firstly let me say that I am a big cricket fan and so, the subject matter of this book immediately struck a cord with me. Having said that, I?m convinced that the wonderful writing, great characters and extreme humor will make this book a joy for non-cricket lovers as well. Extremely silly, very sad in some parts and beautifully read, this is a top top audio book.

If you like Cricket then this would be a good read, then again if you don't its still worth a go.

Absolutely brilliant with a teary end up there with Field Of Dreams.

The story was brought to life very well. I got strange looks when bursting out with laughter in odd situations. Highly recommended.

This is probably one of the best reads/listens I have had in a very long time. I was initially concerned that it would be a a cricket geeks read but it was nothing of the sort. Funny, descriptive, brilliant travelogue, it had it all. It was very well written and a pleasure to listen to throughout. I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone as it has something in it for all.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a well crafted journey through the ups and downs of an enthusiastic cricket fanatic whose love for the game always shines through. Well worth a listen