April 2, 2018 - May 1, 2018
Diane from Dracut, MA
Megan from Buffalo, NY
Mari-Ella
Confessions of Young Nero by Margaret George
Narrator Name: Steve West, Susan Denaker and Katharine McEwan
Rating the Audio Performance
Excellent! Great reading. Easy to tell who is speaking because voices are easily identifiable - I prefer this to women doing men's voices and vice versa. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
CONFESSIONS OF A YOUNG NERO was fascinating - not only because I got a real picture of ancient Rome, but because it seems Nero was not the horror history has shown him to be. I loved this book and am looking forward to the sequel later this year.
Francisca E B
The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers
Narrator Name: Ruby Dee, Jena Malone and Victor Mack
Rating the Audio Performance
I listened to the audio which I got through my library’s Overdrive connection. It is wonderfully acted by Ruby Dee, Jena Malone and Victor Mack. However, it’s an audio of the PLAY, not of the novel. I immediately picked up the text of the novel and read it through in a day. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Twelve-year-old Frankie Adams is bored with life and longing for adventure, for a sense of belonging to something “bigger.” Carson McCullers has a way of writing her characters that draws the reader into their very souls. Frankie’s journey through this phase of adolescence is at once painfully distressing, funny and charming. I was, in turns, afraid for Frankie and amused by her.
Natalie
The Bird Box by Josh Malerman
Narrator Name: Cassandra Campbell
Rating the Audio Performance
Cassandra Campbell is one of my favorites. She has a clear, interesting voice that is always a joy to listen to. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Kept me on the edge of my seat. Loved every word.
Pauline
Dark Chaos by Ginny Dye
Narrator Name: Christine Cunningham Smith
Rating the Audio Performance
Excellent diction with strength and conviction. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This is the fourth book in a saga of a southern plantation family in South Carolina. The story talks of the owners as well as the slaves and the coming of the Civil War. Excellent storyline which gives a glimpse of how life was in the south during that traumatic time.
Laura
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
Narrator Name: Julia Whelan
Rating the Audio Performance
Julia Whelan does a fine job narrating THE GREAT ALONE. I've listened to several books narrated by her and have always enjoyed the performance. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
First book I've listened to in a long while where I was actually looking forward to driving to work. The story is of a young girl who's father comes back from Vietnam changed. So changed, that he wants to live off the grid in Alaska. The story and the people feel very real. Thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Shelby
City of Thieves by David Benioff
Narrator Name: Ron Perlman
Rating the Audio Performance
Ron Perlman's pitch-perfect narration perfectly captures the mood of this remarkable book. I usually listen at 1.25 speed but his narration and the story were so compelling I dialed back to regular speed. Perlman made the characters jump off the page and his reading made me laugh, cringe, cry, and probably every other emotion known to man. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Am not sure how I came to find this book, but this colorful story is an experience I'll never forget. It takes place in Leningrad during the siege and loosely - the two main characters are sent off on a very unusual errand. It blends history, philosophy, humor, atrocity, and joy into a mixture that made me laugh out loud and also weep. When the book ended I immediately picked up the physical copy and started reading because I missed the two main characters. Their relationship is one to treasure.
Rezina
Nights of Rain and Stars by Maeve Binchy
Narrator Name: Terry Donnelly
Rating the Audio Performance
Terry does such a great job narrating that you can HEAR the different characters coming to life. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Amazing how she was able to weave total strangers and their families together.
Jamie
The Day the World Came to Town by Jim DeFede
Narrator Name: Ray Porter
Rating the Audio Performance
The narrator did an excellent job. He was very easy to listen to. Bonus: I thought he sounded like Tom Hanks! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This book was really good. Such incredible stories that I never knew about. The only downfall to me about this book was that there were a lot of different stories going on and it was sometimes a little difficult to keep each person/story straight. Maybe reading the book instead of listening would have helped? Overall though it was not enough confusion to make me dislike the book in any way or be too distracted to follow it. I highly recommend this one.
Prudence
Call Me By Your Name by Andre Aciman
Narrator Name: Armie Hammer
Rating the Audio Performance
For those that have seen the movie, I think that Armie's voice will bring back the essence of the movie and make the story live. For those who haven't seen the movie and are unfamiliar with Armie, his voice may come across as clipped, straight-forward and no nonsense. This could turn people off who are unfamiliar with his characterization. I liked his performance. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I think the story is compelling to anyone who remembers a particularly passionate obsessive first love. I am personally glad I saw the movie as it adds to the beauty of the story. Without those visual images it could come across blunt and harsh.
Ivy
The Best of Adam Sharp by Graeme Simsion
Narrator Name: David Barker
Rating the Audio Performance
Sometimes second chances are worth the risk. The emotion and resonance which comes through will transport the listener back in time. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
The era is one of nostalgia which I found endearing.
Wherri
Redemption Road by John Hart
Narrator Name: Scott Shepherd
Rating the Audio Performance
I thought he did a very good job, especially with the character of the old lawyer. There were many characters involved, but the way it was written each one's name was mentioned usually, so most of the time I could follow, even though Shepherd did not change his inflection or voice too much (very subtle when he did.) I did have some struggles when there were conversations between the detectives where it was hard to tell when they changed. Easy voice to listen to, but occasionally I fell asleep or got distracted (maybe not his fault, but mine since I was a passenger on a long car trip.) Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
My first book by this author. Listened on a long car trip and it kept my interest. Although the title suggests redemption, there are few characters with many redeeming qualities. Interesting insights into human nature and the effects on a person's choices on themselves and others including into future generations. The mystery is intricately woven and complicated. I did have a bit of a hard time keeping up with all of the characters while listening - might be easier to follow in book form or as a movie. Looking forward to reading more by this author. The version I listened to had an author interview that I enjoyed.
Deb
The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom
Narrator Name: Orlagh Cassidey and Bahni Turpin
Rating the Audio Performance
Performances by Cassidy as Lavinia and Turpin as Belle were smooth, convincing, and emotion-filled. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Engaging story from the perspective of slaves, including young white girl Lavinia and young black girl Belle, working in the kitchen house, and compared with those slaves working in the fields, of a Southern plantation owner.
Rebecca
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
Narrator Name: Julia Whelan
Rating the Audio Performance
Julia Whelan is a good reader of this book. She changes her voice often to represent different characters. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This is an unforgettable story of a Vietnam War POW who has problems adjusting to life after the War. I related to the characters and loved the vivid descriptions of Alaska.
Kristen
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Narrator Name: Bahni Turpin
Rating the Audio Performance
Ms. Turpin does a wonderful job portraying Star and her supporting cast of characters. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Apropos and timely. This story would be great for discussion.
Tessa B C
Unless by Carol Shields
Narrator Name: Joan Allen
Rating the Audio Performance
Joan Allen is a gifted actress and is perfect for this work. She made Shields’ prose virtually sing. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
When Reta Williams, a successful author and translator, discovers that her 19-year-old daughter has left college to panhandle on a Toronto street corner, she struggles to understand how and why Norah could have come to this. Sheilds’ novel explores what it means to be a woman, a mother, a writer, a feminist.
Wendy
Every Note Played by Lisa Genova
Narrator Name: Dennis Boutsikaris and Dagmara Domińczyk
Rating the Audio Performance
At times the accent of Karena was difficult to understand. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Again, Lisa Genova has written about a medical topic that is sometimes painful to imagine. She once again shows how this terrible disease affects not only the patient but also the family members.
Aimee
Educated by Tara Westover
Narrator Name: Julia Whelan
Rating the Audio Performance
Great performance - clear diction, and good energy throughout. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Wow - what a memoir. It reminded me of THE SOUND OF GRAVEL and THE GLASS CASTLE. I sailed through this book.
Richard N B
Dune by Frank Herbert
Narrator Name: Simon Vance, Scott Brick, Orlagh Cassidy, Euan Morton and Ilyana Kadushin
Rating the Audio Performance
The audio is probably part of the reason I was lukewarm to the book. It is narrated/performed by a variety of talented voice artists. Simon Vance is the main narrator, with the characters each voiced by a different actor, including Scott Brick, Orlagh Cassidy, Euan Morton, and a full cast. That would probably have been fine, adding drama and making it easier for the listener to identify the many different characters. But the producers also added sound effects and a soundtrack of music that just irritated me no end. I particularly hated the “thrum” of a large engine that was used as background in several scenes; the first time I heard it I thought there was some problem with my car engine! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Okay…science fiction epics are just not my first choice in reading. That being said, I do recognize and appreciate what has made this such an enduring classic in the genre. Herbert has created a complex world, with warring factions, political intrigue, and a great main character in Paul Muad’Dib. I think if I had read this when I was in high school or college I would have rated it higher, but it just doesn’t appeal to my reading tastes at this stage of my life.
Sally
The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith
Narrator Name: Robert Glenister
Rating the Audio Performance
Very good performance. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Did not enjoy this book as much as THE CUCKOO'S CALLING. I like the general story of his life. I did not like this mystery.
Lori
To Die But Once by Jacqueline Winspear
Narrator Name: Orlagh Cassidy
Rating the Audio Performance
I was disappointed in the audio performance because I didn't like the voices of almost all the secondary characters. The voice of Maisy Dobbs was fine, but particularly the male characters all sounded very silly, almost cartoonish, to me. This was the first time I tried the audio version of a Maisie Dobbs novel; I think I'll go back to reading them. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
As always, this latest Maisie Dobbs book did not disappoint. Winspear brings history to life in her novels. She conveys the long-term aftermath of war in a very realistic way, yet makes it all suspenseful and interesting. I highly recommend the series.
Nadine
The Girl Who Wrote in Silk by Kelli Estes
Narrator Name: Emily Woo Zeller
Rating the Audio Performance
Narrator Emily Woo Zeller delivers a riveting performance of Estes's ambitious debut novel. Zeller portrays the two central women, Mei Lien, who lives in Seattle in 1886, at the time of the anti-Chinese purges, and Inara Erikson, who lives in present-day Seattle. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
About two women, Mei Lien, who lives in Seattle in 1886, at the time of the anti-Chinese purges, and Inara Erikson, who lives in present-day Seattle. An eccentric aunt leaves Inara the family property on Orcas Island, hoping it will be made into a bed-and-breakfast. Zeller is convincing as Inara discovers a mysterious package in the old house. The bundle contains an elaborately embroidered sleeve, which seems to tell a story. Although a series of coincidences and contrived events weakens an otherwise fascinating tale, from the first tense moments of the prologue to the stunning conclusion, Zeller's narration weaves a spell.
Elizabeth
The Flight Attendant by Chris Bohjalian
Narrator Name: Erin Spencer, Mark Deakins, and Grace Experience
Rating the Audio Performance
The three narrators of THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT did a fantastic job of creating and molding the characters they portrayed. The protagonist was a bit unlikable, but the voice of the narrator, for some reason, made me more sympathetic towards her. I suppose it was her "normalcy" in light of the predicament in which she found herself. Could have happened to any of us. The villain, on the other hand, was quite devious and notably lacking in emotion or empathy towards her victims, thanks to the chilling narration. The third narrator, who simply read FBI reports, as an interlude, clarified some of the plot twists for me. Overall, this was a chilling and tense story, made all the better by the voices of the narrators. Great listen! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This was a great story. Aren't we all fascinated by the life of the flight attendant, supposedly filled with glamor and adventure? Even though the protagonist was an alcoholic and had gotten into trouble in the past, it was easy to gain sympathy for her, and to hope that she is unable to unwrap herself from this latest pickle.
Kim
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
Narrator Name: Barbara Rosenblat
Rating the Audio Performance
Great inflections and "voices" of the various characters. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Loved listening to it and look forward to other similar works.
Patti
Mrs. Poe by Lynn Cullen
Narrator Name: Eliza Foss
Rating the Audio Performance
Wonderful definition of the three main characters. It is haunting, and the love triangle was portrayed beautifully by her audio performance. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I liked the book and was very glad that I listened to the discs instead of reading the book. It gave the storyline more depth listening to the characters interact. Ms. Foss engagment between the characters was very good.
Geri
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
Narrator Name: Nick Offerman, David Sedaris, Carrie Brownstein, George Saunders, Miranda July, and Lena Dunham
Rating the Audio Performance
The performance was fabulous. I enjoyed the varied narrators. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
The content was thought-provoking in that there are spirits living in cemetery not acknowledging that they are died. It was a special book because even after death, the person can grow and change. Although it also demonstrated that others never change as in the three bachelors. Lincoln and Willie were catalysts for the spirits to grow and change and move on.
Megan `
This is Me by Chrissy Metz
Narrator Name: Chrissy Metz
Rating the Audio Performance
Chrissy is an excellent narrator and helps you relate to her story even more. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Chrissy Metz has an inspiring story to tell, overcoming hardships, her resilience, and ultimate success. A wonderful book and a great book to listen to.
Diane
The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage by Philip Pullman
Narrator Name: Michael Sheen
Rating the Audio Performance
Perfect voice for the book, pulls you in! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Great start to a wonderful new series! Cannot wait for the next volume!
Elizabeth
City of Endless Night by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Narrator Name: Rene Auberjonois
Rating the Audio Performance
Narrator successfully vocalizes various character voices, accent and all! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Consistently kept me on the edge of my seat and wanting to continue driving so that I could continue to listen! Characters are believable. There is a killer loose in the city and Agent Pendergast is enlisted to find the culprit. Just when the reader believes they have solved the case, a new twist appears.
Deb
A Piece of the World by Christina Baker Kline
Narrator Name: Polly Stone
Rating the Audio Performance
Polly Stone easily evokes the sometimes gentleness and sometimes stubbornness of lead protagonist Christina Olson. My only criticism is her mispronouncing (several times) the word "secreted" - where she accented the second syllable (meaning to exude) instead of accenting the first syllable (meaning to hide away in secret). Picky, I know, but it was annoying. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Good storyline about Christina Olson's narrow life out in the country with her physical disability and how she became the woman who is captured in Andrew Wyeth paintings.
Tessa B C
Death at Wentwater Court by Carola Dunn
Narrator Name: Bernadette Dunn
Rating the Audio Performance
Bernadette Dunn does a fine job voicing the audiobook. She reads at a good pace, and I was never confused about which character was speaking. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I really enjoyed this cozy mystery debut. Daisy is a delightful central character and amateur sleuth. I’m a little unhappy with how the book ends –but it’s true to the time, place and social class.
Jane
After Anna by Lisa Scottoline
Narrator Name: Mozhan Marno and Jeremy Bobb
Rating the Audio Performance
What made the narration particularly good was the voice of Anna. How the female narrator was able to capture the (supposed) innocence of Anna, gave ring of truth to the lies Anna spoke about her stepdad, Noah, PARTICULARLY when her narrative was read at his trial for her murder. It wasn't until I had to know the narrator's name that I even gave her reading much thought. I just finished the book and was blown away by the teen's innocent voice. I've never entered a contest like this but I'm glad I'm doing so now. It is particularly the voice of the female narrator that gives the book its eerie, evil quality. Great narrations! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I fell in love with Ms. Scottoline's new book as soon as I found out that Maggie and Anna were kept apart all of these years by a scheming ex-husband. When he lied to Anna about why he got physical custody, I didn't feel sorry for him...(I'll let that go). My heart broke for Maggie and for Anna...and as the author wanted me to, I learned to hate Anna. I've been around Lolitas like her and knew she was up to no good when she began those unsubstantiated accusations against Noah. all he wanted to be was a good stepfather. And he will be.
Diane
The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter
Narrator Name: Kathleen Early
Rating the Audio Performance
Excellent narrator. Early always strikes the right tone, perfectly nuanced. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Although the subject matter is difficult, this psychological suspense novel strikes the perfect balance. Love, loss, and coming of age, coupled with twists and turns you don't see coming. A real page-turner!
Tessa B C
The Good Girl by Mary Kubica
Narrator Name: Lindy Nettleton, Johnny Heller, Tom Taylorson, and Andi Arndt
Rating the Audio Performance
The audiobook is narrated by four talented voice artists, though I don’t know who performed which characters. They were all very good, maintaining a great pace and making it easy to follow the back-and-forth time line and perspective. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
3.5 stars. What I most look for in this genre is a plot that keeps me interested, and keeps me guessing. Kubica delivered that. I was caught up in the intrigue, and interested in these characters and how they fit together. The changing points of view and time lines kept me off balance, much as the characters in such a scenario might feel.
D
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
Narrator Name: Julia Whelan
Rating the Audio Performance
Good job. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Very exciting to listen to.
Karen
I'll Be Your Blue Sky by Marisa de los Santos
Narrator Name: Angela Dawe and Erin Bennett
Rating the Audio Performance
Angela Dawe and Erin Bennett were both good performers. They voiced the characters so that they brought the story to life. The rhythm of their voices made the story exciting as well as entertaining for the listeners. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Edith marries the love of her life, Joseph. He takes her to their new home on the coast of Delaware and in response to her concern that it will be too dreary in the winter, he says he will be her blue sky and even paints the ceiling of their room like a blue sky. He likes the peaceful atmosphere of the area, and the neighborliness of the people. He loses his life in a neighborly act. Many years later Edith meets Clare who is on the verge of marrying Zach. Zach seems like perfect husband material, but he also frightens Clare. Edith advises her not to marry someone who scares her, and she breaks up with Zach. Edith dies and leaves her the house, and when Clare finds two journals in the house she tries to understand why.
Karen
The Woman in the Window by A. J. Finn
Narrator Name: Ann Marie Lee
Rating the Audio Performance
Ann Marie Lee's performance makes the listener want to continue listening to find out what happens next. She voices the characters so that one can almost see them as actors on a stage. She does a good job making them sound like the characters they represent. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Dr. Anna Fox lives alone in her New York City home. Her husband Ed and daughter Olivia are no longer with her, but she has conversations with them daily. She is home bound and spends her time drinking wine, watching old movies and watching her neighbors from her windows. The son of a new neighbor brings her a candle, and later a woman who says she is his mother visits her, drinks wine with her and plays chess with her. Then one evening she sees someone stab the woman. She calls 911, but the neighbors say there was no stabbing, and the lady who is the mother is not the same woman she met. It brings her sanity into question and details about her family emerge. She continues trying to understand who and why the lady was stabbed.
Shari
Her Final Breath by Robert Dugoni
Narrator Name: Emily Sutton-Smith
Rating the Audio Performance
This is Book #2 in the Tracy Crosswhite series, my husband and I listened to the book while we were traveling in the car. Emily Sutton-Smith does a great job narrating; she narrates the full Tracy Crosswhite series and we are looking forward to listening to Book #3. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
As a mystery/police crime novel this book, just like the first in the series, kept my attention. There are definite twists and turns. We were able to figure out part of the whodunnit, but we were kept guessing to the end of the story! Highly recommend listening to this book.
Pat
Educated by Tara Westover
Narrator Name: Julia Whelan
Rating the Audio Performance
Julia delivers this memoir with such compassion that you feel Tara’s self-doubt about the horrible behavior of her family. I had to keep reminding myself that this is a memoir, not fiction, which I wish it were. Julia Whelan is a very powerful voice for Tara. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
The fact that Tara had the strength to write her story is a tremendous testament to her. You kept listening to her efforts to both pursue her education and try to be connected to her family. What strength she calls on!
Peggy
If Walls Could Talk by Juliet Blackwell
Narrator Name: Xe Sands
Rating the Audio Performance
I loved listening to this audiobook, mostly because of the excellent job of Xe Sands. She is very good at doing all the characters. With many characters in the book it was never difficult determining who was speaking so that the story really flowed. I will be listening to more audiobooks by Juliet Blackwell because of Xe Sands and look forward to the continuing stories of Mel Turner, the protagonist in the books. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Loved the storyline. The first book I listened to I got from my local library. It was the fifth book in the series so I continued to look for others in the series and was able to find two. Unlike other series it didn't matter if you read the first book. The author explains who people are as the story proceeds and in a manner that (as with some books) is not annoying, just a quick recap. I hope I can find the rest of the series, preferably in audio form. If not, I will check my library for the books themselves.
Kristen
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
Narrator Name: Bahni Turpin
Rating the Audio Performance
Ms. Turpin did an excellent job with the accents and male and female characters. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Great story that kept me in suspense and made me tear up with sympathy for the characters.
Lori
The Alice Network by Katie Quinn
Narrator Name: Saskia Maarleveld
Rating the Audio Performance
Her reading is phenomenal. She changes her accents from British to American to French to German beautifully. Oh, she also speaks with a Scottish accent! Well done! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I’ve really enjoyed this story of women spies during the World War I. It’s a different story in historical fiction. One, because it’s about World War I. Two, because it’s about women. It’s a very interesting read.
Francisca E B
The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman
Narrator Name: Suzanne Toren
Rating the Audio Performance
Suzanne Toren does an excellent job performing the audiobook. She is a talented voice artist and was able to differentiate the many characters and nationalities. I particularly liked how she used her own voice for third-person narrative, but switched – effortlessly – into a “Polish” or “German” or a “Yiddish” accent as called for when voicing a quoted statement. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
When the Nazis occupied Poland during WWII, many Polish citizens helped to shelter their Jewish friends and neighbors. This is the story one of family, and the wife and mother in particular: Antonina Zabinski, the zookeeper’s wife. It’s a fascinating story, and well told. 
