Alan Bennett: Untold Stories, Part 2: The Diaries (Abridged) Audiobook

" I like "Untold Stories" most of all; it's his poignant family memoir, as well as "A Room of My Own" (Have you read Virginai Woolf's "A Room of One's Own"?). In brief, his prose is readable and, I think, one can learn a lot of good English from him if he/she keeps reading him. "

" With his usual mixture of pathos and humour Alan Bennett returned with a follow-up to the hugely successful 'Writing Home'. This new book included more diary extracts, writings on the theatre, art, close friends and a touching memoir of his parents. Without doubt, the best book of 2005. "

" I read this book because it was on my shelf and I didn't have anything else to read (plus he lives near me and is frequently seen riding his bike around my neighborhood). I knew nothing about him prior to this and really enjoyed his dry and witty memoir--especially the descriptions of his silly aunts. "

" I wasn't interested in reading all the stories and diary entries in this long autobiography, so skimmed the middle of the book. However, the Untold Stories section, about his parents, was poignant and filled with some really great observations. I also liked the sections on Art, Architecture and Authors, and Ups and Downs. "

" I really like Alan Bennett's writings. He is one of the great observers of the human condition, and the excerpts from his diaries are particularly good. This is a mixture of memoir, anecdotes and musings, with a bit of art and film history and appreciation thrown in. An enjoyable read. "

" I thoroughly enjoyed his autobiographical and theatrical musings, though the artistic lectures were less to my taste. In retrospect, I should probably have dipped into sections rather than reading it fom cover to cover. "

" You can hear Alan Bennett's flat voice telling these stories. A mixed bag, some of which I'd read/heard elsewhere; I liked some, found others tedious - hence my rating. "

" A curious juxtaposition of self-effacing personal insights with an ever-present arrogance. A curiously complex character. "

" I love this man. The unspeakable genius of The Invention of Love by Tom Stoppard nonwithstading, I think he is my favourite playwrite.....Favourite modern playwrite. "

" Alan Bennett is one of the best writers I've ever read. He's smart and wise and funny and honest, and he makes it look easy. I love him. "

" I love Alan Bennett and every letter he's put to print. "

" As always, fantastic. The account of his mother's descent into dementia and his battle with cancer are horrible but fantastically written. "

" Bennett's life is always fascinating for me. This is a book I can dip in and out of as an occasional treat. When he writes about his family, there is so much to identity with as so much of their behaviour (e.g., not pushing themselves forward) and their experiences are so typically British. "

" The first section of the book was fine. Stories about his upbringing and his mother's battle with mental illness. Sadly the rest of the book made up by his diaries bored me me to tears. "

" I probably would've given this five stars had I been English, but many of the people mentioned and politics discussed were unfamiliar to me, which hindered my understanding a little.Alan Bennett is a genius. I've thought this before, and still think so after reading this book. "

" Listening to the audio-book because of "History boys". He is a wonderful reader. "

" I really like Alan Bennett's writings. He is one of the great observers of the human condition, and the excerpts from his diaries are particularly good. This is a mixture of memoir, anecdotes and musings, with a bit of art and film history and appreciation thrown in. An enjoyable read. "

" The first section of the book was fine. Stories about his upbringing and his mother's battle with mental illness. Sadly the rest of the book made up by his diaries bored me me to tears. "

" Alan Bennett is a wonderful writer, he can make anything interesting and he has such an observing eye, the book is a pleasure as it is a mixture of his early days in Leeds and his family who are so lovingly but unsparingly portrayed and then extracts his 2000 diaries, a pure pleasure. "

" You can hear Alan Bennett's flat voice telling these stories. A mixed bag, some of which I'd read/heard elsewhere; I liked some, found others tedious - hence my rating. "

" With his usual mixture of pathos and humour Alan Bennett returned with a follow-up to the hugely successful 'Writing Home'. This new book included more diary extracts, writings on the theatre, art, close friends and a touching memoir of his parents. Without doubt, the best book of 2005. "