Leasurely paced second world war drama

What did you like best about Mission To Paris? What did you like least?

Best: interesting setting, and some original characters.

Worst: the slow, and occasionally slightly dull, narration was sometimes out of sync with the more dramatic parts of the novel.

What didn’t you like about Daniel Gerroll’s performance?

Too slow, as if deliberately trying to drag it out. The dialogue would have been improved in many areas with a faster and more expressive delivery.

Any additional comments?

Decent story, but some of the characters could have been fleshed out a bit more.

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1 person found this helpful

Great performance, solid story.

Furst is not a one trick pony. Yes his work is set in late pre-war/early occupation continental Europe. Other than that, his protagonist changes. A communist party laborer, an Italian Journalist, an American actor filming in Europe. Each moves through their experience in a different manner and speed. This is what makes Furst a great espionage writer.

Ian Fleming or Brad Thor will give you an action packed thrill ride. Furst lets life unravel as it actually DOES.

His writing is period, realistic and intellectual. Actual espionage is quiet, cautious, and a lot of going unnoticed while paying attention.

Enjoy the slow, detailed unraveling of the story.

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Performance ruins possibly good book

Would you try another book written by Alan Furst or narrated by Daniel Gerroll?

I would try Alan Furst again (largely because my husband recommends him so highly) but I would never listen to anything by Daniel Gerroll again. He has ruined this book for me. He adopts a laconic style that on the whole makes him sound bored as soon as he begins. The worst thing about him is that his stress patterns are all over the place which actually makes it difficult to follow the meaning at times and I find myself more focused on mentally correcting his stress and intonation all the way through rather than concentrating on the story so I keep losing the thread! The only reason I have stuck with it so far is that my husband tells me Alan Furst is so good. He must be so disappointed with this reading. If I had written it I would be devastated by this performance. Thankfully only forty minutes left to listen to!

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

I haven't actually got to the end yet. I will steel myself to get through the next half an hour!

Who might you have cast as narrator instead of Daniel Gerroll?

Sean Barrett or Dan Stevens, neither of whom ever disappoint or possibly Saul Reichlin. In fact I have discovered really enjoyable authors that I had never read or even heard of by going to these actors' collections and choosing one of those.to listen to.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Mission To Paris?

It's difficult really to remember any particular scene as it all merges into one dreary whole

Any additional comments?

Buy the book and read it instead of wasting a credit on listening to this version of it

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Disappointing

Would you try another book written by Alan Furst or narrated by Daniel Gerroll?

No, once is enough.

What will your next listen be?

Something with more pace and a narrator who has read the book beforehand.

What didn’t you like about Daniel Gerroll’s performance?

It sounded as if he had not read or understood the book. Or maybe the book did not bring the best out in him.

What character would you cut from Mission To Paris?

I would have liked more characters added. Real people from the period.

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disappointed, slow story

I enjoy a lot of fiction set around the WW2 period. But this book was slow going, although the second half was better than the first. An actor goes to Germany and is persuaded to take part in a film festival. later he tries to help a companion get out of Hungary. The characters seemed stereotyped and stsle. The style of writing was very telling which was reflected in a straightforward no nonsense reading. Even the tender moments sounded like the narrator was reading the news forecast. I was hoping for so much more.

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