In Led Zeppelin's 1970 opus "The Immigrant Song," singer Robert Plant mouths the cryptic utterance "Valhalla, I am coming," and if this book is any indication, the celebrated British band did indeed live the life of Nordic warriors. Although much of the material in this book is now the stuff of legend, Wall, a British journalist who spent some time with the band, adds new insights, such as guitarist-leader Jimmy Page's obsessive interest in the occult as well as the band's early admiration for Joni Mitchell. Simon Vance reads the work as if it's a Tolkien odyssey or Shakespearean tragedy, immensely dry and proper. This style might seem ironic, given the band's exploits, but it perfectly fits their quintessential Britishness in a way fans will surely appreciate.
Pub Date: Oct. 22, 2009
Duration: 18 hrs
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
James Michener tells the real stories behind the man and his books. The recording is read with skill and consistency although the reader does little to enhance the robust, larger-than-life incidents related in the book. Due to the first-person narrative format, there is no opportunity for the narrator to change his voice. This makes some chapters monotonous as they go on and on in the typical Michener style. The listener may also become confused because the stories are not told chronologically. This is not a great choice for the audio format, but Michener fans may stick with it to the end.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 22 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In a quest for a sense of inner contentment and self-worth, Gloria Steinem brings the reader on a journey of investigation and discovery. Steinem reads the text herself in a straightforward and friendly, but not intimate, presentation which is so easy to listen to it invites repetition--thus ensuring the painless relearning of the lessons of the book. It's difficult to tell from the reading that this audiobook is abridged; each section can stand alone. Nonetheless, the listener wished the book were unabridged. Steinem left me wanting to learn more.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: Dove Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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