Shame about the narrator

I enjoyed this book and it is full of interesting facts and stories about what lies beneath the metropolis. The only off putting thing is it is written by a man and read by a woman and for some reason it does not quite work.

But never the less a good 'easy' listen and you can dip in and out which is good if like me you listen in bed and fall asleep and have to keep re winding!

7 people found this helpful

A bit meh

I love history of London and the Underground, but found I couldn't maintain my attention on this. While there were some interesting parts, I was hoping for something as engaging as a Bill Bryson, it's just not that good. Like others, I'm going to ask why the narrator is a woman? At first I thought maybe the author was writing as a lesbian, but later it becomes apparent that no, this woman's voice talking about being a man. Actually the narrator, is otherwise, very good. Didn't return it, but came close to it. It won't get a second listen.

2 people found this helpful

All the places you never knew were beneath your feet

From sewers and subways to ancient Roman remains and burial sites of kings this book takes you on a subterranean tour of London. Having been born and brought up in the square mile I was astounded at much of what I read. I highly recommend both the book and the narrator who has a knack of delivery the sometimes poetical descriptions of prosaic underground infrastructure in a dryly humorous style.

1 person found this helpful

Gender confusion

I would like to know why they chosen to have a book written from a man's point of view read by a woman?

It does detract from the experience.

6 people found this helpful

Interesting but wrong narrator

In agreement with previous reviews - subject matter is riveting, but why was this read by a woman when written by a man?

3 people found this helpful

Interesting in places

This was a bit of weird book written by a man and narrated by a woman just can't put my finger on it but just a bit weird.
Overall I felt this interesting had had a lot of the facts before. In places it struggled to hold my attention

Female narration

This really doesn’t work on a book where there are tales of first person stories saying “right gentlemen” and “over here men”. Several times I thought eh? then remembered it was a male author

Narration ruined

The fact that the book was written by a man and as a man then read by a woman totally ruined it, gave it a good go but returned it in the end change the narrator and I’d love to give it another go

Great apart form female narrator

Very interesting story and I wished I lived in London to investigate all the places!

But being writen by a male and read by a female does provide some odd comments and sentences - why was this done I wonder?

What a pleasant surprise

I grab this title as I was about to lose my credits and was at a loss what book I'd like

I had no real expectations but I'd just finished boris Johnsons book on London so I thought why not

I'm so glad I did, what a funny and informative book, the authors sense of humour is pitched perfectly against what could be a bit of a dry subject, and the performance was great If you have any interest in left of centre history then LISTEN TO THIS BOOK :)