January 4, 2016 - February 1, 2016
Maryjo from Los Angeles, CA
Sue from Highlands Ranch, CO
Tessa from Bayside, WI
Richard N B
Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard
Narrator Name: Paul Michael
Rating the Audio Performance
Paul Michael does a superb job narrating the audio version of this book. He has great pacing and skill as a voice artist to differentiate the many male characters. I especially liked his subtle Scottish brogue for Alexander Graham Bell. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Gripping, fascinating, and informative, Millard’s novel clearly shows that she is on a par with Erik Larsen and Laura Hillenbrand when it comes to writing history with the pace of a thriller. A few short months into his presidency, James A Garfield was shot at close range by a delusional office-seeker. The bullet didn’t kill Garfield. However, his physicians did by repeatedly introducing infectious agents into the wounds.
Laura
You by Caroline Kepnes
Narrator Name: Santino Fontana
Rating the Audio Performance
Audiobooks were created for stories like Caroline Kepnes' YOU. Narrator Santino Fontana killed it ... not unlike his character... except in this case, Fontana killed it in the best possible way. The story has stayed with me more than any other audiobook I have listened to (and I have listened to quite a few). Fontana was so convincing as Joe; I thought he was just exceptional. I would highly recommend YOU, especially in audio format. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
YOU was equal parts hilarious and horrifying. I was pleasantly surprised by how clever and witty the discreet humor was. I know I probably should have been more creeped out than anything, but I laughed more than I shuddered. Maybe I should be ashamed by that? Because it was a genuinely disturbing story and there's NO denying that! The thing is, disturbing is entertaining when done right, and YOU is done as right as they come. But you should probably go into it knowing a strong stomach is needed.
Gerry
Secrets of a Charmed Life by Susan Meissner
Narrator Name: Alana Kerr
Rating the Audio Performance
The reader was excellent. Good pacing, expression, and clarity. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Loved the story and the characters, and learned a great deal about England during the blitz in the process. Really a 4.5 star book.
Maryjo
A Street Cat Named Bob and How He Saved My Life by James Bowen
Narrator Name: Kristopher Milnes
Rating the Audio Performance
The author is from England but was raised in Australia, and the reader captures his accent perfectly. You believe the author is actually telling the story. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
James is a busker in London and recovering drug addict and meets up with a street cat he names Bob. Bob helps him to get a better job, make friends with people, and helps him to cope with withdrawal. Bob teaches him responsibility and gives him something to care about. If you love animals, you will love this true story.
Maryjo
Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo
Narrator Name: Sunil Malhotra
Rating the Audio Performance
Outstanding actress; able to be convincing with appropriate accents of all the characters. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This is a non-fiction book which reads like a novel. The author is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who lived in the Mumbai slum in which the stories take place. The characters are real and have their actual names. The slum is made up of former untouchables and Muslims, and demonstrates what life is like for the poor people and the discrimination they face by the government, the law, and the medical services. Yet, they have hope that things will change and that life will get better.
Maryjo
Then Again by Diane Keaton
Narrator Name: Diane Keaton
Rating the Audio Performance
I enjoy memoirs that are read by the author. Diane is an excellent actress and brings the words to life in her narration. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Diane writes mostly about her mother's life through her mother's diary and letters. I really enjoyed her accounts of her own romances with Woody Allen, Warren Beatty, and Al Pacino. I would have liked less about her mother and more about her. She also writes about adopting her children as a single mother.
Patricia
A Deeper Darkness by J. T. Ellison
Narrator Name: Joyce Bean
Rating the Audio Performance
The audio was okay. It wasn't my favorite but certainly not the worst. Even though it wasn't my favorite, I would listen to another book narrated by her. For the most part, her narration was fine. The two things I didn't like was when she did male voices (it just came across as a woman with an awful smoker's voice) and the southern accent she used for Samantha. It sounded kind of like Holly Hunter - but even more over the top. It was distracting. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This was my first J.T. Ellison book and I enjoyed it. The storyline kept me engaged (although, with listening to it, sometimes I had a hard time keeping track of all the characters - I don't think that would be a problem if I'd been reading it). I do wish that since the main character is a medical examiner, there had more of that in the story. For 99% of the story, she's not really doing that. But I'm hoping perhaps there will be more of that in the next books. I definitely plan on reading the next in the series.
rickel
My Age of Anxiety by Scott Stossel
Narrator Name: Michael Goldstrom
Rating the Audio Performance
Excellent. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Very personal history of anxiety with comprehensive background.
Rena
The Marriage of Opposites by Alice Hoffman
Narrator Name: Gloria Reuben, Tina Benko, Santino Fontana
Rating the Audio Performance
Elegant voice to match the tone of the book, although a bit too slow at times for one narrator. Not sure why two narrators were needed for the other characters; I think one would have worked well. I have low vision, so the quality of narration is important to me. I read very few books on the printed page, relying now on digital and audio. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I love Alice Hoffman, and she brings her trademark magic realism to the island where Camille Pisarro's parents bridged the cultural gaps between the Dutch, Jewish, and African settlers. An interesting set of cultural encounters. The book is more about family secrets before Pisarro was on the scene and does not focus on the painter, except for a brief portion. Not my most favorite of Hoffman's, but I still valued listening to it.
Sandra
Stumbling On Happiness by Dan Gilbert
Narrator Name: Dan Gilbert
Rating the Audio Performance
Gilbert speaks very clearly and has the right mix of seriousness and playfulness. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
It's a non-fiction book. The subject is very interesting (why we don't accurately predict what will and will not make us happy in the future), and Gilbert's scientific evidence of the psychological traits that affect our ability to predict our future emotions is very compelling.
Mary Ann
Rogue Lawyer by John Grisham
Narrator Name: Mark Deakins
Rating the Audio Performance
I usually listen to Mr. Grisham's novels, and Mr. Deakins is a new narrator. He did a good job. I think the narrative is more exciting when listening to Mr. Grisham's books. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I really enjoy the novels of John Grisham. He usually takes a critical eye at the legal system in this country, and never spares any feelings for the people who work there.
Ricki
The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger
Narrator Name: Richard M. Davidson
Rating the Audio Performance
Davidson has a very pleasant voice to listen to, and it has a slight uniqueness that makes it interesting and lulling. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
The description of this and the previews I have seen of the movie led me to believe this was about a fishing boat - the Andrea Gail - braving, and eventually succumbing to, the Storm of the Century. It is about that, but it is about so much more. Not only do we follow what it must have been like for the crew of the Andrea Gail in their last moments, but also what it was like for others stuck on the sea during Hurricane Grace and what it was like for those rescuing them. Junger also presents a lot of scientific facts about storms, drowning, and survival.
Tessa B C
Being Mortal by Atul Gawande
Narrator Name: Robert Petkoff
Rating the Audio Performance
Robert Petkoff does a superb job reading the audiobook. His pacing is good and his clear pronunciation makes even medical terms easily understandable. There is a bonus interview with the author at the end of the audio version. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
SUBTITLE: Medicine and What Matters in the End. Just because physicians CAN do something, should they? At what cost – not to society or to our wallets, but at what cost to our humanity and dignity? Atul Gawunde, a surgeon in Boston Massachusetts, explores the ways in which medicine (and specifically American medicine and American society) helps and hinders the aged, the infirm, and the dying.
Bobbie
Along the Way: The Journey of a Father and Son by Martin Sheen, Emilio Esteves, Hope Edelmen
Narrator Name: Martin Sheen, Emilio Esteves
Rating the Audio Performance
Fabulous performance by both narrators, but why not. They are actors and this was their life! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Absolutely loved the storyline and the way it was told. Was riveted for most of the book as I had lived through much the timing of much of this book...at least through Emilio Esteves' time.
Bobbie
Secret Sisters by Jayne Ann Krentz
Narrator Name: Amanda Cobb
Rating the Audio Performance
I very much enjoyed her performance. I had no trouble listening and identifying the characters. She did the male voice as well as a women can, and I had no problems listening to her read the book. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I always enjoy my annual Jayne Ann Krentz book and for the last few years have been listening to them. I enjoy how her stories flow and can follow along easily, even if I am doing something else while listening. Good storyline and believable characters.
Bobbie
Shadow Lover by Anne Stuart
Narrator Name: Michael Pauley
Rating the Audio Performance
Not many male readers work well with a women's fiction book but oh boy, Michael Pauley does! His voice was perfect for this book and I am so glad that he was the one reading it. After listening to this book, I cannot imagine anyone else reading it. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This is an old Anne Stuart book written, I believe, in 1999 and re-released in Dec 2013. A website mentioned this as a good listening book, and I have been a fan of Anne Stuart for a long time. Great plot, which kept me guessing for about 2/3 of the way. It is a combination of suspense, romance, and family issues, all of which Ms. Stuart does so well.
Lori
Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood
Narrator Name: Stephanie Daniel
Rating the Audio Performance
The reader did a great job, particularly with the many accents of the characters. It was easy to tell who was speaking, and, having seen the TV series which is based on the book series, I could visualize the characters. It was a pleasure to listen to this book. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I enjoyed the first in the series of Phryne Fisher mysteries. It was good to see how the characters in the series became connected. This mystery allowed us to have some insight in the personalities of the people and what makes them tick. I'm sure it will make me appreciate the TV series even more.
Gerry
Echo by Pam Ryan Munoz
Narrator Name: Mark Bramhall
Rating the Audio Performance
The instrumental music that accompanied some chapter transitions was lovely; the vocalist was less satisfying, especially since the story clearly included only instrumental pieces. Omitting the vocal selections would have allowed the narration to progress without delay, as the instrumental music could easily have played in the background. The reader was very good, expressive and clear. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Very sweet story with themes of tolerance and the healing power of music. Loved the way the author brought the various stories together in the end. Recommended for middle-grade students.
Laura
The Vacationers by Emma Straub
Narrator Name: Kristen Sieh
Rating the Audio Performance
It was a good performance. Not a lot of difference in the voices of the different characters, but she did a nice job. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
The story of a family vacationing in Mallorca before the youngest goes off to college. I did not read the description very well before listening and was pleasantly surprised by the different plots for the characters.
Vikki
The Beekeeper's Ball by Susan Wiggs
Narrator Name: Christina Traister
Rating the Audio Performance
Lots of different characters and accents. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I might have been better off reading the book instead, as listening the recipe ingredients and directions on how to make the recipes at the beginning of the chapter was not interesting to me. The story went off in so many directions too. I'm not a fan of plots where there are so many family secrets.
Melanie S.
Being Mortal by Atul Gawande
Narrator Name: Robert Petkoff
Rating the Audio Performance
Mr. Petkoff was an engaging reader of this very fine book about caring for our aging loved ones with health issues. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
A 5-star book, not because it's one of the best books I've read but because it is a very important book. While reading it, I felt as if it should be a part of every medical school curriculum -- all doctors will deal with these issues with their patients at some point, yet most avoid having these conversations and don't know the right words to use. I went into reading this thinking it would be about how to handle end-of-life issues, but it was equally about caring for our aging and infirm loved ones and how with the proper support, even with limitations of ill health and terminal conditions, life can still be worth living and lived in a way giving power and choices to those who are ailing. Should spark an interesting book discussion!
Cathey
Brooklyn by Colm Tobin
Narrator Name: Kirsten Potter
Rating the Audio Performance
Beautiful audio performance. Different voicing -- you could tell the characters apart but it was not so much to be distracting. Just enough brogue! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
It was interesting enough to watch Eilis progress and grow, but the storyline seemed to just stop. I had more questions! Beautifully written, but perhaps not his best work.
Tessa B C
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King
Narrator Name: Anne Heche
Rating the Audio Performance
Anne Heche did a marvelous job of performing the audio version. She knocked it out of the park! She definitely earns 5 stars for her narration. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
At 9:00 a.m. on a sunny June morning, nine-year-old Trish is in the backseat of her mother’s car cuddling her doll. At 10:00 a.m. she’s lost in the woods. I loved Trisha McFarland! She’s resilient, intelligent, and brave. The noises and violence of nature can be frightening and shocking to anyone; it’s easy to imagine boogie men and monsters lurking in the dark. King does a masterful job playing on those fears.
Melanie S.
The Status of All Things by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke
Narrator Name: Amy McFadden
Rating the Audio Performance
I don't recall listening to any other audiobooks by this reader, but she definitely has a perfect voice for a chic lit book. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
If chic lit is your genre then I am sure this would be a good book choice. I listened to it as a filler between "heavier" books; I just needed something light for a change. I think this would appeal more to those in their 30s and 40s who are always on Facebook or to those struggling with relationship issues. For me, it was just mildly entertaining and amusing.
Barbara
The Brothers Vonnegut: Science and Fiction in the House of Magic by Ginger Strand
Narrator Name: Sean Runnette
Rating the Audio Performance
Perfect narration style for this type of book. I was always wanting to hear more. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Enjoyed the refresher on one of my favorite authors and his books and the fascinating behind-the-scenes view of what was going on in the lives of these two brothers intertwined with the events of the day. Made me want to go back and re-read all of Kurt's books.
Ricki
Fight Club by Chuck Palahnuik
Narrator Name: Jim Colby
Rating the Audio Performance
Very good performance. Despite having seen the movie, I believed that the voice of Colby was what the main character sounded like. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
The book is just as stomach-turning as the movie. It was very interesting, though, to listen to the book already knowing the twist -- instead of taking away from it, it actually gave it more depth.
Julie
The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George
Narrator Name: Steve West, Emma Bering and Cassandra Campbell
Rating the Audio Performance
A wonderful narration. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
The story of a heartbroken man who lost the love of his life 21 years ago who finally decides to live (and love) again.
Jeanette Mateer
Beach Music by Pat Conroy
Narrator Name: Jonathan Marosz
Rating the Audio Performance
Listening to this while driving, I found I heard every word and really appreciated the music of the language. When reading a book, it is so easy to skim for plot and miss the sounds of the words and passages. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I love Conroy's books and this was no exception.
Karen
The Cukoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith
Narrator Name: Robert Glenister
Rating the Audio Performance
Robert Glenister's performance of this novel made this book enjoyable and exciting to listen to.
His voice was very appropriate for the location of the story. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
A very good mystery. The main character, Cormoran Strike, is a private investigator who is barely getting by. His luck starts to change when John Bristow hires him to investigate the alleged suicide of his sister, supermodel Lula Landry. Strike, with the help of his temporary secretary, Robin, tenaciously investigates a case he originally believed to be a suicide. The investigation leads him through a string of Lula's rock star boy friends, supermodel friends, designers, other wealthy friends and relatives, aspiring stars and a rehab friend. The surprising conclusion to the investigation leads to publicity that helps to reverse Strike's fortunes as well as offer Robin the opportunity for a more interesting future.
Kimberly
The Watchman by Robert Crais
Narrator Name: James Daniels
Rating the Audio Performance
I liked the style of using a "canned" sound for when the characters were on the phone with each other, and Daniels did a great job of distinguishing male from female and other male voices without getting carried away or cheesy. This one was my first Crais audio, so now when I read these I'll have the character's voices in my head, which is good because the Elvis Cole character is even funnier than I had imagined, and the Joe Pike character is much more serious than I had imagined him. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I have loved the two other Crais books I had gotten as gifts (THE PROMISE and SUSPECT) because of their canine heroine, Maggie, so I decided to give other Crais books in my library a try. I'll stick with this author -- his plot was good, the story was fast-paced and exciting. The series makes for great vacation reads. Also, good to know that you don't have to read them in any particular order to enjoy them.
Linda
City on Fire by Garth Risk Hallberg
Narrator Name: Rebecca Lowman, Tristan Morris and Bronson Pinchot
Rating the Audio Performance
Fine job by all narrators including Bronson Pinchot. Different voices came into the story during preludes to different sections. The changing voices were more of a confusion. I had no understanding of why the voices changed. One person could have read this entire tome. All did an excellent job. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This was not an easy book to follow audibly. It might have been smarter for me to read it instead, which I may do in the future. The book takes place during the 1970s in New York City. There were mentions of people (the mayor, celebrities, etc.) and places and events that brushed cob webs off my memories. That was an exciting part of the book for me, demonstrating that the author had done his homework.
Sally
Trip Wire: A Jack Reacher Novel by Lee Child
Narrator Name: Johnathan McClain
Rating the Audio Performance
The audio performance is excellent. In my opinion he captures the spirit of Reacher. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I would probably give this book a 3-1/2 if possible. The book was interesting, despite the fact that it was quite easy to figure out what had happened. A big con for me was that the author did not provide any conclusion in regard to what happens to three of the major characters.
Rene
The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith
Narrator Name: Robert Glenister
Rating the Audio Performance
Excellent voice throughout the entire book. I could easily tell the difference in each character. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Great storyline. Held my interest the entire time. Very well developed.
Richard N B
Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier
Narrator Name: Charles Frazier
Rating the Audio Performance
Charles Frazier read the audio version himself. This was a mistake. He has NO skill at all as a voice artist, and his reading was slow, ponderous and lacked inflection. I thought I would just fall asleep to his droning as I drove to and from work. It was the quality of his writing that saved the work for me. Were I evaluating the book based on the audio it would get only 2 stars. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
A wounded soldier walks away from the hospital, determined to return to his love on Cold Mountain. Meanwhile, that young woman, raised to be a flower of Southern womanhood, is finding her way alone, with the help of a homeless waif with reserves of strength and the knowledge to survive. The novel moves back and forth between Ada/Ruby and Inman, giving different perspectives on this time during the Civil War. What I loved most about the novel was the relationships between and personal growth of the women – Ada and Ruby.
Linda
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Narrator Name: William Golding
Rating the Audio Performance
I was astonished to discover the author of this book that I originally read as a teenager was the narrator. When authors narrate their own books, the result will either be very good or very bad. This one is good. At times, I was reading along while Golding read into my ear and discovered either word changes or interesting pronunciations that I will guess were the difference between British and American English. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This was not a favorite book when I first read it in high school. After reading it 50 years later, I wonder if the story isn't wasted on the young. Considering what is happening in U.S. politics for the 2016 election, this book seemed very timely.
Nissa
The Mountain Story by Lori Lansens
Narrator Name: Corey Brill
Rating the Audio Performance
The audio for the book was very good and made the book more entertaining. I felt as though I was there in the mountains.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Written as a confessional letter from a father to his son on the eve of the latter’s departure for college, Lori Lansens’ THE MOUNTAIN STORY recounts the former’s adolescent rite of passage, a life-changing ordeal from 20-odd years ago -- five days in the freezing cold without food or water or shelter. The premise is hypnotically simple, tugging at you from the very first page. It’s very much a thrills and spills kind of read, the emotional impact pitched more than a little too high to be believable, but it’s a richer “power of love and the ties that bind” story than most.
Crystal
Murder, She Wrote: Death of a Blue Blood by Jessica Fletcher and Donald Bain
Narrator Name: Sandra Burr
Rating the Audio Performance
Sandra Burr is a brilliant narrator as usual. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Jessica meets up with her friend DCI George Sutherland of Scotland Yard for a New Year's Eve ball at an estate in the Cotswolds. The English countryside in the winter can be cold and forbidding. Of course there is at least one suspicious death.
Diane
The Farm by Tom Rob Smith
Narrator Name: James Langton and Suzanne Toren
Rating the Audio Performance
Compelling performance. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Interesting twists and turns.
Wendy
Victory of Eagles by Naomi Novik
Narrator Name: Simon Vance
Rating the Audio Performance
Simon Vance is a terrific narrator and he really makes this book come alive. The voice he does for the dragon Temeraire is just perfect. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
The Temeraire series by Novik takes the Napoleonic wars out of dull history books and sets them in an alternative time where dragons are real and fight on both sides of the war. In this, the 5th book, Napoleon has succeeded in invading Britain. Temeraire and his captain, Lawrence, are needed to roust the French forces out of England. Lawrence has a death sentence on his head though because he and Temeraire took the cure for a deadly dragon plague to France in the last book. Neither of them regret that action but the consequences are severe.
Laura
Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks
Narrator Name: Geraldine Brooks
Rating the Audio Performance
The narrator's voice is a little slow, the tone close to monotone. It takes a few chapters to get used to the voice. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
The history behind the story is very compelling. How the characters deal with the plague's presence in their village is heartbreaking. Their strengths and weakness are revealed as the year progresses. This audiobook (book) was our book club's pick for February, my choice.
Cynthia
Night Road by Kristin Hannah
Narrator Name: Kathleen McInerney
Rating the Audio Performance
Favorite book! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Kept my interest to the end.
Karen
The Beginner's Goodbye by Anne Tyler
Narrator Name: Kirby Heyborne
Rating the Audio Performance
Kirby has a very pleasant voice. It was perfectly suited for performing this book. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Aaron Woolcott, who was crippled by a virus as a young child, spends his life trying to be as normal as possible. His sister and mother are both protective of him, which he very much dislikes. After he graduates from college, he returns home to help with the family's publishing business. The business survives partly because of a series of how-to books called beginner's books. Aaron marries Dorothy Rosales, a doctor, who is 8 years older and 15 inches shorter than he is, but has a similar independent personality. After 11 years of marriage, Dorothy dies in a freak accident when a tree falls on their house and crushes her as well as parts of the house. Aaron spends the next year dealing with his grief and reflecting on their marriage.
Vikki Cabral
Circling the Sun by Paula McLain
Narrator Name: Katharine McEwan
Rating the Audio Performance
Very clear and easy to listen to. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Good story about Beryl Markham.
Aimee Hegedus
I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes
Narrator Name: Christopher Ragland
Rating the Audio Performance
Christopher had the perfect tones - whether being nostoglic about memories of Scott's father, or describing the harrowing scenes of escape and torture. At over 22 hours, this is not a short story, so it was imperative his voice was one that made you keep listening and alert to every word. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I thought this was a captivating book. This was the first book I attempted to "run" to on the treadmill, and the pace and storyline of the book kept my mind off the miles!
Cherry
Saturn Run by John Sandford and Ctein
Narrator Name: Eric Conger
Rating the Audio Performance
In the past year, I've returned to science fiction, if that's what it's still called, and now, John Sandford. I couldn't be happier. I've always enjoyed, 'what if' books and this one hits the mark. My first Eric Conger book left me wanting to listen to more of his books. His narration was 'spot on'.
. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
When - 2066. Who - A low level program watcher, or is he? What - a space ship in Saturn's orbit, decelerating. Where - that's the story. The race is on and who will reach Saturn first - the U. S. or China. It's a nonstop, twisting plot that left me breathless at times. Each character is carefully crafted, leaving nothing to the imagination as to who they are and for which they stand. But what do they do...dum de dum dum.
Rebecca
The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom
Narrator Name: Orlagh Cassidy and Bahni Turpin
Rating the Audio Performance
Accents were very authentic, very unique voices. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I loved this book. Compares favorably to THE HELP. Several plot lines were very engrossing.
sandy
The Survivor by Vince Flynn and Kyle Mills
Narrator Name: George Guidall
Rating the Audio Performance
I've listened to many books narrated by Mr. Guidall and he manages to differentiate very well between the characters. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This is the latest in the Mitch Rapp series and the first book written after Vince Flynn's too-early death. It's almost impossible to differentiate the authors' styles -- fantastic!! It was a little difficult to remember the previous storyline, but it didn't take long to get caught up.
Janice
H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald
Narrator Name: Helen Macdonald
Rating the Audio Performance
I'm usually not a fan of the author reading his/her own work but I can't imagine listening to anyone else reading this very personal story of grief. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Grief is the underlying theme of this story but along the way is a history of falconry and an in-depth look at the life of T. H. White as it relates to falconry and training of his goshawk juxtaposed with MacDonald training her own goshawk.
Lucy
I Am Forbidden by Anouk Markovits
Narrator Name: Rosalyn Landor
Rating the Audio Performance
Great performance. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
A sweeping plot across four generations, opens in Transylvania, along the Hungarian-Romanian border, just before World War II. Markovits's storytelling is informative and interesting, her plot completely gripping. I finished the book with a much deeper understanding of the Satmar sect, and, even more importantly, an understanding about the external and internal battles that people in isolated religious groups grapple with. Markovits has successfully taken actual historical events and created a novel that goes beyond, drilling right down into the human condition. I would recommend reading this book if you enjoy reading about WWll, the holocaust and Jewish literature.
Catherine Adinolfi
Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown
Narrator Name: Edward Herrmann
Rating the Audio Performance
I enjoyed his performance. I love being "read" to! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I found the book enjoyable. At times the information about rowing was a little too detailed, but I felt I learned something about a topic I had not given much thought to in the past.
Francisca E B
Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee
Narrator Name: Reese Witherspoon
Rating the Audio Performance
Reese Witherspoon does a marvelous job performing the audio version. From the beginning I felt as if Jean Louise herself was telling the story. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
What most resonated with me about this novel is how Jean Louise comes to realize that the father she adored as a child actually has some significant faults, and that his tumble off the pedestal on which she has kept him is perhaps more painful to her than to it is to Atticus. Lee puts the reader smack dab in the middle of this setting. Her prose brings the culture, the physical heat, the townspeople, the smells, sounds, tastes and sights of Maycomb to life. Still, the book has flaws – uneven storytelling, lack of full character development. It’s clear that this work needed more editing..
Lori
In the Unlikely Event by Judy Blume
Narrator Name: Kathleen McInerney
Rating the Audio Performance
I listened to the first 85% of the book and read the last 15%. I actually found that I preferred reading the book. Some of the affectations the narrator used may have made me respond negatively to some of the characters, and I think it's often difficult to do a good job speaking for a younger character. A lot of this book was from the perspective of a young teen, so that was something of an issue for me. I also found it annoying that some of the Jewish/Yiddish terms were mispronounced (in my opinion). Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I liked this book more as I read it. I had been unaware of the historical events in the book, and I found it interesting to see the life-long effects of the traumatic events. I think this also was a good coming-of-age story about friendships, young love and family dynamics, as well as portraying life as it was in the 50s. I also liked the idea of "pioneers" going to Las Vegas from the East Coast.
Kara
Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee
Narrator Name: Reese Witherspoon
Rating the Audio Performance
I enjoyed Miss Witherspoon's performance. Her southern accent beautifully enhanced the story. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
While I found the story interesting, I felt it lacked detail and a satisfying resolution.
Phyllis
Did You Ever Have a Family by Bill Clegg
Narrator Name: Bill Clegg
Rating the Audio Performance
Well read by the author. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
The novel starts with a tragic fire in which most members of a family were killed. The narrators that follow each tell his/her story, which finally leads to the person guilty for starting the fire. Recommended for character study and definitive storyline.
Diane
The Kill Order by James Dashner
Narrator Name: Mark Deakins
Rating the Audio Performance
Keeps me glued to my seat! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Fast paced, great listen!
Francisca E B
The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown
Narrator Name: Edward Herrmann
Rating the Audio Performance
The late Edward Herrmann was a marvelous narrator and does a superb job of the audio version of this book. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
In 1936, nine working-class boys from the University of Washington in Seattle took the gold medal in eight-man crew at the Berlin Olympics. This is their story, but particularly the story of the man in the #7 seat – Joe Rantz. It’s a marvelous story, inspiring and heartfelt, and Brown does a superb job telling it.
Gina
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Narrator Name: Zach Appelman
Rating the Audio Performance
The performance by Zach Appelman was very good. I enjoyed his pacing and rhythm. Even in times of urgency in the storyline he expressed the urgency without being overly dramatic. I appreciated this as being overly dramatic tales away from what I imagine as I am listening. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I really enjoyed the storyline in that it took place during World War II, but it was not a historical retelling. It was about the characters' experiences during this time in history. They were honest and true. I was pulled into their thoughts and feelings. Many times I wondered how I would react or endure if I was in that situation.
Tessa B C
2nd Chance by James Patterson and Andrew Gross
Narrator Name: Melissa Leo and Jeremy Piven
Rating the Audio Performance
Melissa Leo and Jeremy Piven do a good job of performing the audio version. I’d given them 4 stars for their skill as voice artists and pacing. But they had terrible material to work with.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
The book jacket promises "a brilliantly diabolical killer" whose "motives are unspeakable," and the team "finds a link that sends a chill through the entire nation." The hyperbole of the jacket is indicative of the quality of the writing. I didn’t feel any tension or suspense. The interaction between the women was what (barely) saved the first book for me. Not so this time.
Ricki
How Music Works by David Byrne
Narrator Name: Andrew Garman
Rating the Audio Performance
Non-fiction can sometimes be a boring listen, but Garman keeps it entertaining. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Byrne truly covers every aspect of the title in this book - from the hard science, to the social science, to the history, to the business of music. And he does it in a very down-to-earth way.
Ann
The Guest Room by Chris Bohjalian
Narrator Name: Mozhan Marno and Grace Experience
Rating the Audio Performance
I thought the audio performance was very good. The switch in characters made it realistic, i.e. the voice of the girl had an accent and was age-appropriate.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Bohjalian is one of my favorite authors. He chooses a current human interest topic and weaves a realistic story around it. Here he explored the issue of sex slaves and brought it home.
sue roegge
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling
Narrator Name: Mindy Kaling
Rating the Audio Performance
I love her writing and loved hearing her own narration. She had a quirky, amusing voice -- easy to listen to. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I love her writing. A little bit of self deprecation and a lot of humor and funny observations. My favorite kind of memoir.
Wendy
Mozart's Last Aria by Matt Rees
Narrator Name: Rula Lenska
Rating the Audio Performance
Since this book is set in Vienna in 1791 the slight accent Lenska has was perfect. She also managed to convey all the emotions that Mozart's sister felt as she investigated her brother's death. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
A murder mystery and a historical drama concerning the death of one of the world's foremost composers, this is a great book. The main character is Mozart's sister, Nannerl, a gifted pianist in her own right. She and her brother had been close as children but she stayed to look after their father and he left all his fortune to Nannerl. This caused Amadeus and Nannerl to become estranged, but when Nannerl learns of his death she immediately goes to Vienna. Mozart believed he had been poisoned and Nannerl must find who had done this. Does it have anything to do with the Masonic lodge he wished to start or did his visit to the Prussian king bring about his murder? Lots of great details about Viennese society and music.
Betsy
Ripper by Isabel Allende
Narrator Name: Edoardo Ballerini
Rating the Audio Performance
This is the first I've heard this narrator, and I am impressed by his handling of syntax, pronunciation of non-Anglo names, etc. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Much different storyline than I expected from Allende.
sue
The Bookseller by Cynthia Swanson
Narrator Name: Kathe Mazur
Rating the Audio Performance
3.5 stars. The narrator's voice was so melodic that it nearly put me to sleep. There was voice inflection which helped move the story along, but not so much inflection that I was hanging on every word. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
3.5 stars. Fun storyline, imaginative and endearing. I found it entertaining while driving to/from work but not so much that I wanted to spend extra time in car just listening to the story.
Amy
On the Move: A Life by Oliver Sacks
Narrator Name: Dan Woren
Rating the Audio Performance
I felt Mr. Woren walked into Dr. Sacks' shoes as he gave this performance. He brought out the quirky, brilliant scientist and doctor as well as the scared, damaged child. Beautifully done. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I learned so much more about Dr. Sacks from this book. It's made me want to re-read AWAKENINGS and search out more of his other books. Very well written. Sounds like he has a great assistant and editor to make fluid his myriad of thought streams.
Barbara
The Wild Girl by Kate Forsyth
Narrator Name: Kate Reading
Rating the Audio Performance
One of my favorite narrators and another excellent performance. Her voices and accents are so believable. Loved it all. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Excellent mix of history and story. Made living under such harsh conditions believable. I was drawn into the times and the incredible decisions that had to be made to survive.
Shirley
Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult
Narrator Name: Rebecca Lowman, Abigail Revasch, Kathe Mazur, and Mark Deakins
Rating the Audio Performance
The narrators gave life to the book and meaning to the story. Their inflections and pauses were a part of what made listening easy. The story was pretty good - I don't think it is my favorite Picoult book, but the information about elephants and the storyline tie-in were excellent Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I love surprises and Jodi Picoult does not disappoint. The story tied together the feelings of elephants with the thoughts and feelings of a 13-year-old girl, whose mother disappears when she is 3.
Suzanne
The Boston Girl by Anita Diamant
Narrator Name: Linda Lavin
Rating the Audio Performance
Linda Lavin did an exceptional job narrating this novel. Linda becomes Addie Baum, beginning in the 1900s as an immigrant. You felt her sorrow and happiness through the journey of her life. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
THE BOSTON GIRL is about the life journey of Addie Baum. Set in the early 1900s, Addie along with her family, immigrated to the United States in the early 1900. Addie was a strong female character that was able to persevere the highs and lows of her life. She tells her story to her granddaughter passing on important life lessons. I didn't want this book to end. It was one that you carried with you for months after you listened to it.
John
Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith
Narrator Name: Robert Glenister
Rating the Audio Performance
This is the same narrator used for all Galbraith's novels. He maintains distinctive voices throughout the audiobook, both male and female. He does a good job in portraying the various emotional states of the book's characters. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
The third mystery/thriller by Robert Galbraith (J.R.Rowling's pseudonym) opens when the investigative team of Comoran Strike and Robin Ellacott receive a package containing a woman's severed leg. The leg is a similar match to the limb Strike had amputated after a wartime incident. Business was already slack, but the firm's income significantly decreases when news of this incident gets out. It is evident that a serial killer is involved and Robin might be the next victim. Since the initial delivery appears to be connected to an event in Strike's past, they begin investigating three individuals that Strike believes would hold a grudge. Although all three novels were excellent reads, I thought this novel was the best.
Sandra
Death of a Maid by M. C. Beaton
Narrator Name: Graeme Malcolm
Rating the Audio Performance
I think Graeme Malcolm has narrated all the M.C. Beaton Hamish Macbeth series that I have listened to. He is very easy to listen to and manages to infuse his voice with a droll sense of humor. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This would have to be one of my favorites of the Hamish MacBeth series so far. Hamish's character has really developed, and while not always likable (he can be quite sullen and sulky at times). His romantic life remains a source of great amusement (he is a great vacillator!) and among all this he has a wonderful talent for solving crimes, particularly murder. He has a kind side to him, is a great lover of his animals, and cares for the elderly folk in the Highlands.
Giarnese Toni
My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
Narrator Name: Kimberly Farr
Rating the Audio Performance
Reading was just a bit slow for me. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Mother/child/adult daughter love story.
sandy haber
Tricky Twenty-Two: A Stephanie Plum Novel by Janet Evanovich
Narrator Name: Lorelei King
Rating the Audio Performance
Ms. King manages to get all the voices right. You can visualize the characters! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Another fun addition to the Stephanie Plum series. This one deals with an unhinged professor at the local college who has decided to unleash the plague on the town at the local fireworks show. Regular shenanigans happen, kidnappings and murders, and lots of Ranger and Joe!
Mark
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
Narrator Name: Oliver Wyman
Rating the Audio Performance
It is a very good audio performance, especially considering how long and difficult the story is. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This is a story about four friends in NYC spanning over several decades. It is about friendship and survival, and is heartbreaking and gut-wrenching. Not for all tastes, but the writing is strong and it's a one-of-a-kind experience.
Patt
The Guest Room by Chris Bohjalian
Narrator Name: Mozhan Marno and Grace Experience
Rating the Audio Performance
The performance was well done. I thought that the reading of the sections told by Alexandria, the Armenian character, was distracting due to the strange accent. But overall, a book well read. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I couldn't stop listening to this riveting story of a well-intentioned favor gone terribly wrong --- and how the results affected so many people.
Darlene
X by Sue Grafton
Narrator Name: Judy Kaye
Rating the Audio Performance
Judy Kaye has narrated a number of the books in this series. I love her performance! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I have read every book in Sue Grafton's Alphabet series and loved all of them! In X, private detective Kinsey Millhone takes on a case that puts her up against a sociopath and probable serial killer. In addition, since the series is set in California, there is a drought situation, so if you're interested in water conservation, this side story will interest you greatly. This is probably one of Grafton's darkest books yet. Loved it!
Gregg
Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee
Narrator Name: Reese Witherspoon
Rating the Audio Performance
This was a wonderful book to listen to. Very well read. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Very different from TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Darlene
My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
Narrator Name: Kimberly Farr
Rating the Audio Performance
I don't think I have listened to this narrator before, but she did a great job with this particular book. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
At first, this book by Elizabeth Strout seems like a simple meandering through a middle-aged woman's memory: her childhood, her marriage, moving to New York. When we meet her, Lucy Barton is lying in a hospital bed recovering from appendicitis surgery. She is alone and lonely, and I suppose the quiet leads her to think and remember. Lucy gets a surprise visit from her mother --- a mother she hasn't seen or spoken to in many years. And that is when you understand that this really is a story about mothers and daughters, and how much that relationship defines each person. It's a beautiful and quiet story, and you come away realizing how important a mother's love is, imperfect though it may be.
Marcia
When the Moon is Low by Nadia Hashimi
Narrator Name: Sneha Mathan and Neil Shah
Rating the Audio Performance
Both narrators were superb! Their storytelling brought added depth and intensity to a very dramatic story. I listened to this book while I was driving and kept getting so swept up in it that I really had to be careful to keep my attention on the road. I had never listened to these narrators before. I'm eager to listen to more of their work! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
The book tells the story of an Afghan family who had to flee Kabul after the arrest and murder of their father, Mahmood. Fareiba then begins her harrowing journey to England with her three children. Her courage and determination carry her through her difficulties, which reach a climax when Saleem, her oldest son, goes missing in a Greek marketplace. The book moves at a nonstop pace. The author tells a very touchingly human story of a family under great duress whose belief in a better future keeps them moving forward. 
