Better in print?

I think this book might be better in print -- as an audio book it comes off more as just a listing of events with X number of victims and Y location, repeat. I've read a ton of WWII books and I've read (listened) to all the available post-WWII books on Audible, this is not one of my favorites. I have a pretty high tolerance for facts and figures in audio format and even with that this book came off as dry with the exception of a few chapters. If you're a very tough listener and very interested in this period of time give it a listen -- also check out other reviewers and see what they think and don't just rely on this opinion alone.

35 people found this helpful

I don't cry but this book made me

Eastern Poland was my home until collage years, as kids we find unused ammunition quite often, once whole 9 yards of anti aircraft bullets. What took place there during my parents generation is so horrible, so unimaginable and yet somehow real. I see this book as mirror reflection of humanity, it was not meteor or volcano but people like us living couple hundred kilometers away first east then west who came and destroy pretty much everybody and everything. Can we even comprehend today what really took place then? One quick story, after socialism collapsed in '89 on of our neighbor was finally recognized for being in resistance after war, he was one one of those partisans, he get some medals and government pension. He absolutely deserve it, it was also a common knowledge he shot and kill a 14 years old boy who came with polish army and stationed with them helping around horses, reason? he was Russian, lost every member of his family and just followed whoever did not deny him piece of bread.

One shortcoming of this book is just that, too short. Author scratch surface but he did not take sides or have hidden agenda. I honestly cry couple times and choke in almost every paragraph. I only hope future politician reads it now and learns about human nature a thing or two and as result we all will have peaceful future. Personal Thank you Mr Keith Lowe.

14 people found this helpful

Another Top Shelf Reference

I have never adequately studied the immediate ww2 era and this helped greatly. To the same purpose 'Iron Curtain' is another work I recommend.

4 people found this helpful

relativity

What did you love best about Savage Continent?

i have never read a history book that has managed so successfully to keep pulling the rug from under me. Evert time i thought i understood and sympathized with a country/a cause i would be shown things from another perspective. This is how history should be taught.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Savage Continent?

you won't forget this book in a hurry

What about John Lee’s performance did you like?

its fine - a little over enunciated for my liking

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

the whole book is moving, appalling ( i needed breaks) and even handed as far as i can tell. it is a fearsome examination of cycles of revenge that genuinely teaches something profound, rather than revel in apocalyptic pornagraphic imagery.

Any additional comments?

a profound study that opened my eyes to, among other things, the cold war.

4 people found this helpful

Powerful story, painful narration

What made the experience of listening to Savage Continent the most enjoyable?

The story is thorough, well researched and comprehensive. The sheer amount of new information was well worth the listen.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

The narration was painful. Every accent sounded like a caricature of Count Dracula. There was so much accent switching that after a while, what was meant to be helpful in distinguishing the locations/nationalities being discussed turned into moments of dread for me. Overall, I would say that audiobook producers should look very closely at the necessity for performing accents - rarely have I found them to be helpful or desired.

9 people found this helpful

Narration Distracts from an Excellent Story

This is an excellent story marred by narration that is painful for me to listen to at times.

The story covers a chapter in European history that I haven't seen addressed on its own before. The beginning of the story is a rehash of some of the worst atrocities that occurred during WWII, followed by an examination of life after the war.

The narrator has an accent (Scottish, to my hear) that is fine, and he speaks clearly most of the time. However, he frequently tries to also assume the accent of the character that is being quoted, as if that character spoke English: English with a "German" accent, English with a "French" accent, English with a "Russian" accent, etc. He never quite pulls it off satisfactorily and the result is almost painful to listen to. It distracts me to the point that instead of listening the story, I find myself trying to figure out if he's supposed to be a Russian or a Serb or whatever. A narrator like George Guidall could have made it work, but unfortunately John Lee doesn't.

I plan to buy the book and read it since the subject matter is fascinating to me, but this was a difficult listen.

13 people found this helpful

Good book, well researched and compellingly told

Where does Savage Continent rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Worth reading / hearing. Narrator uses accents a LOT, to indicate quotes from various nationals. But his skill is such that all Eastern European accents sound like amateur Dracula impersonator, but the other accents were more helpful.

1 person found this helpful

good listen

What made the experience of listening to Savage Continent the most enjoyable?

Something new to add to post war Europe.

What other book might you compare Savage Continent to and why?

nothing yet

Would you listen to another book narrated by John Lee?

Possibly, the changing of accents frequently gets to be a bit much.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The reality of the damage to Europe was staggering. I had no idea of post war Europe before this book.

1 person found this helpful

Just the facts and figures

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

This is a book for readers interested in a recitation of the number of buildings destroyed in a given locality in Europe, the number of people displaced, and general acknowledgements that the war really disrupted people's lives. While the book sprinkles in quotes from people saying that the destruction was terrible, they weren't given enough context to care about them at all.

Would you ever listen to anything by Keith Lowe again?

No. I prefer books that tell a story through the eyes of its participants.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of John Lee?

I have listened to the Ken Follett books narrated by John Lee and enjoyed his narration but this book was a terrible fit for him. The book is simply boring and having a very dramatic narrator like Mr. Lee is absolutely jarring.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment and frustration.

Any additional comments?

No.

2 people found this helpful

Part of the war we always forget

Where does Savage Continent rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Instructrive about how a large war end. Most of us that did not participate to the event remember only the glorious parade.

3 people found this helpful