Chart Throb (Abridged) Audiobook

" Definitely made me realise how stupid people are who really believe the hype about reality shows, also very funny - great characters, lol in places! "

" Hilarious piss-take on the whole X Factor/Idol reality talent shows - everything is staged for popular entertainment! I have never been able to watch those shows in the same way since reading this! Singers,blingers,clingers & mingers - they're in every show and Ben Elton points that out in his very comical way! Satire at it's best - I loved it! "

" I downloaded this book to my Kindle on the recommendation of my sister and her husband, who are huge Ben Elton fans. I must say that I really appreciated the sarcastic humor that Elton lays on like peanut butter. It's a lot of fun. I am a little disturbed when I think that American Idol and other competition shows like that are really run similarly to the way Chart Throb, the fictional talent competition that the story surrounds. I mean, really? Wow, if that's true, I'm never watching AI or SYTYCD again. Anyway, I guess I was in the mood for something more literary, but I do recommend this book based on the sarcastic humor. It's very entertaining. "

" An entertaining look at "entertainment television" and "reality" shows! Enjoyed the twist at the end! "

" A blackly comic look at the manipulative world of TV talent shows. Ben Elton does a good job of flattering the reader that he or she shares his insider knowledge of TV production, while maintaining a sense of outrage at how audiences and contestants are used and abused. Although the plot is fairly thin, with a twist that feels extremely artificial, the characters are engaging enough to make you want to find out what happens next - a bit like TV talent shows! "

" Read this and The X factor will never be the same again "

" An amusing parody from Ben Elton but it does have quite a bizarre ending!! "

" Highly amusing take on the X-factor generation and how fake these reality shows really are - a friend of a frien once mad Boot Camp on X-Factor and this was how it was to the letter. 3 fictional judges who are so obvioulsy based on 3 people. Fizzed out a bit at the end. "

" Sharp easy reader with bundles of Elton wit. Read it as a result of friends reactions to the X Factor (I'm not a fan of the show!) and enjoyed the cynical comedy in this book. "

" One of the many easy reading writer that I'll suggest if you want some sarcasm and cynical statements. Not the vest but very 'real'. "

" As an X Factor viewer, this frequently made me chuckle, and also start to think about what goes into the making of such programmes. I can't decide if the ending was lazy and trite or a clever pastiche of the endless follow-up programmes that tidy all the loose ends away... You decide! "

" This was another supremely sarcastic but spot-on black comedy, this time about the Pop Idol type shows. His humour can be vicious but his characters get their just desserts... "

" All too true, watching the x-factor has become far more interesting now!! "

" A fantastic look at what goes on behind the scenes of shows like X-Factor and Pop Idol. It's all rigged! As if you didn't know. "

" This book made me laugh so much. It did help that I was watching the X factor at the time & could relate to all the characters. "

" A rollicking good read. A piss-take of reality TV talent shows. Larger than live characters. Funny stuff! "

" A savage attack on reality TV. A must read if you hate reality tv. "

" Essentially a behind-the-scenes at X-Factor story. It's an interesting premise - that these programmes are largely fictional and manipulative. And it's quite persuasive - I'll certainly look at X Factor et al in a different light now. "

" You will never look at reality shows the same again. "

" One of the funniest books I have ever read. A great holiday read. Its light, entertaining has a brilliant plot and makes some very clever observations of the absurdities of our society - brilliant. "

" A funny joke but one that's dragged out WAY too long. "

" Ben Elton does it again - I adore the way he looks at the world and quietly pokes fun at it while still giving you a plain old interesting and engaging story. Not too political, not too preachy but just right. "

" This book was pretty good - the satyrical comedy amused me, and at the time I bought and read this it was very topical. "

" Ugh. Just so, so uninspired. Page after page of the same joke ("TV talent shows are manipulated by the producers LOLZ") with no character development or actual, y'know, *story*! "

" Very real protrayal of a behind the scenes view of a singing reality show. "

" One of the funniest books I have ever read. A great holiday read. Its light, entertaining has a brilliant plot and makes some very clever observations of the absurdities of our society - brilliant. "

" Well, what a load of rot and drivel and although I like to think that I am liberal - hearing the swearing via the audio book was just too awful. Hated it and certianly not recommended. "

" this is what you have to read when you are in Bali and all of the books are in Dutch except for Eat, Pray, Love which I already read...and didn't like! "

" Not a bad read. Kept me busy for a while :) "