December 1, 2017 - January 2, 2018
Linda from Sayville, NY
Mary from Summerfield, FL
Francisca E B
The Whole Town's Talking by Fannie Flagg
Narrator Name: Kimberly Farr
Rating the Audio Performance
Kimberly Farr really brings the various characters of Elmwood Springs alive in her performance on the audio version. I particularly loved how she voiced Katrina and Elner. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This is Flagg’s fourth book about the residents of Elmwood Springs. In this volume, she tells the history of Elmwood Springs, beginning with the 1889 founding of the settlement and up to about 2020. This isn’t great literature, but Flagg spins a darn good yarn. It’s entertaining and full of lively characters.
Joanne
The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon by Alexander McCall Smith
Narrator Name: Lisette Lecat
Rating the Audio Performance
Lecat's performance brings the book to life! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
The story, as with the other books in the series, is slow and sweet.
Dorothy
Dreaming Spies by Laurie R. King
Narrator Name: Jenny Sterlin
Rating the Audio Performance
Excellent story. Top-notch narration. An unusual Sherlock Holmes and Mary Russell book that jumps from the Far East to England. Many good twists and turns in the plot and the narrator does a variety of accents that suit the characters. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Definitely full of info on Japanese customs and art, plus politics of the early 20th century.
Nancy
In Such Good Company by Carol Burnett
Narrator Name: Carol Burnett
Rating the Audio Performance
Having Carol read the audiobook makes you think she is right there telling you the stories in person. Great job on the narration. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I enjoyed this book from start to finish!
Cindy
Merry and Bright by Debbie Macomber
Narrator Name: Em Eldridge
Rating the Audio Performance
A little fast, but clear. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Fun, easy, holiday read.
Lori
Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
Narrator Name: Samantha Bond and Allan Corduner
Rating the Audio Performance
I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook. Both readers did a great job bringing the book to life. The accents seemed very authentic and fit in well with the story. As much as I would have liked to switch to reading the book myself to find out what happened quicker, I enjoyed the audio production so much that I stuck with it. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
The book had two stories - a contemporary novel which includes a large excerpt of another novel. I liked both stories very much. They are mysteries which are quite different from each other. My only complaint is that since it takes so long to listen to an audiobook, by the time they got back to the novel within the novel, it took me a while to remember what had been happening in it. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Lori
Best Day Ever by Kaira Rouda
Narrator Name: Graham Halstead and Amy McFadden
Rating the Audio Performance
The narrators did a great job with their performances. Most of the book was narrated by Graham Halstead, and he managed to completely sound as creepy as the character he portrayed. It was perfect casting, and Amy McFadden sounded perfect for her short role with the epilogue. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I found the main character so terribly narcissistic and deluded that it was disturbing to hear his thoughts which dominated the story. The author did a great job bringing the characters to life, but her writing didn't compensate for having to endure the unpleasant story.
Susan
My Own Words by Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Narrator Name: Linda Lavin
Rating the Audio Performance
Lavin does an excellent job reading the Supreme Court Justice's words. The performance is a mixture of Lavin reading the book and excerpts from Ginsburg's various speeches and judgments. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I'm a nonfiction audiobook listener and this has been on my "to listen to" list for a while. In true biographical form, we learn of Ginsburg's personal life and rise to her Supreme Court appointment by then President Bill Clinton. There is a nice mix of personal and professional stories. Very well done.
Jill
Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
Narrator Name: Samantha Bond and Allan Corduner
Rating the Audio Performance
Wonderful job of narration by both narrators! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This story was fascinating - back and forth between the "real" world and the novel the book is about.
Julie
The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
Narrator Name: Julia Whelan
Rating the Audio Performance
I thought the narrator was good. She had good emotion and tone. She did pretty well with the different voices. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Probably closer to 3.5. Lots of twists and turns, but it dragged a bit in the middle.
Phyllis
The Identicals by Elin Hildebrand
Narrator Name: Erin Bennett
Rating the Audio Performance
Dramatic narration was excellent! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
A perfect beach read for my weeks in Mexico. I enjoyed the interaction between the twin sisters and all their predicaments on Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. The author tied everything up neatly with the ending. Highly recommended for vacation reading!
Elizabeth
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
Narrator Name: Simon Slater
Rating the Audio Performance
First-rate narration! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I thought it would be hard to keep track of characters by listening to the audiobook as I am an intermittent listener - the excellent narration kept me on track.
Laura
Beartown by Fredrik Backman
Narrator Name: Marin Ireland
Rating the Audio Performance
Marin Ireland did a fine job with narration. She has a sporty voice which fit with the story well. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Very enjoyable. As the mom of a former youth travel hockey player, I can certainly relate to the story and Backman did quite an accurate portrayal. In fact, a bit of the parental behavior hit a little too close to home. You do not have to know or like hockey to love this book.
Linda
News of the World by Paulette Jiles
Narrator Name: Grover Gardener
Rating the Audio Performance
The voice of Grover Gardener perfectly channeled a well-seasoned gentleman who takes his responsibilities seriously, but is imbued with insight into others. Gardener’s voice was soft and melodic while conveying the strength and conviction of Captain Jefferson Kidd. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Captain Kidd, who is a reader of the news for frontiersmen and women, is compelled to accept a task which will take him on a horse and buggy ride across about 400 miles of Texas. The time is post-Civil War, the Reconstructionist era, where your loyalties can cause much trouble. The Captain agrees to return a former Kiowa Indian captive to her people. It is now four years since Johanna was captured at the age of six, years after her family was murdered. Johanna had completely adapted to her captor's life and forgot her previous life and language. The unfolding story of the relationship between Johanna and the Captain is beautifully told. The story of their long ride is filled with excitement and quiet reflection.
Jean
Slow Burn by Julie Garwood
Narrator Name: Joyce Bean
Rating the Audio Performance
This is an older (2005) release I got from the library. There were many "skips" in each disk, which was a little disconcerting. The only other audiobooks were listened to last year on a road trip. I think Joyce did an okay job but not quite as good as others I have listened to. She did a passable job on Southern accents but needed a little work on the male voice. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I really like Julie Garwood's writing. I read this book years ago so it was entertaining to "hear" it. The overall story is a good romantic suspense. The story moves along well with a surprise bad-guy ending. Well written, plot moves steadily (with a few surprises), and has a satisfactory ending.
Leslie
To Be Where You Are by Jan Karon
Narrator Name: John McDonough
Rating the Audio Performance
Absolutely the best reader for this series! He sounds just like you picture Father Tim! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Wonderful book as are all of the Mitford Series. The characters come to life to the point you feel as if they are your neighbors, quirky though they are! This series (Mitford) is the most feel-good series of books I have ever read.
Louise
Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
Narrator Name: Audra McDonald
Rating the Audio Performance
Audra was perfect for the voice of Ruth. I liked her timing and the emotion of the character Ruth was beautifully portrayed. This was my first audiobook and I enjoyed hearing the story. I recently had surgery and was not able to read, so this was great for me. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Jodi Picoult’s research really shows in the details of this book. The story is about a mature women who is a well-regarded nurse in labor and delivery. She is assigned a newborn whose parent are racist white supremicists. The nurse Ruth is black and told not to touch the baby after the parents complain to the supervisor. The baby becomes ill and no one else is there to save the baby except Ruth. As Ruth’s world comes crashing down she is paired with a young white public defender who tries to avoid talking about racism in the case. Both women struggle with getting the truth of what happened while facing their own prejudices. Excellent story on several difficult issues.
Tessa B C
Columbine by David Cullen
Narrator Name: Don Leslie
Rating the Audio Performance
Don Leslie does a marvelous job performing the audio version. He was able to change inflections to give us excited teenagers, depressed boys, worried parents, puzzled law enforcement and dedicated educators. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Gripping, fascinating, and horrifying. Cullen has done extensive research and made every effort to remain an impartial journalist, ferreting out facts and revealing them without judgment. The result is perhaps even more disturbing than what I thought I knew about it.
Linda
The Tale of Halceyon Crane by Wendy Webb
Narrator Name: Cassandra Campbell
Rating the Audio Performance
The narrator was perfect for this engaging, atmospheric ghost story. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This novel was a great audiobook, and it was the right length for a long car ride. I listened to it everyday when I walked. It motivated me to get up and out and to walk further because I wanted to find out what came next. The ghost story was better than the love story, and would have been even better if the story was just a ghost story. Through an unexpected letter, Halley James finds out that she is actually Halceyon Crane who was thought to be killed along with her father in an accident years ago. Halley also discovered that her mother was a famous photographer, recently passed, who was living on a remote island in the house where she was raised. Halley returns to the island to discover her creepy past.
Karen
Artemis by Andy Weir
Narrator Name: Rosario Dawson
Rating the Audio Performance
I thought Rosario did a good job on the various characters and their emotions. The only thing was I could sometimes hear her swallow. That was a bit strange. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This was a very interesting book, but I found it hard to decide how much I liked it. The plot was great - interesting and unique. I liked that it wasn't quite as scientific as THE MARTIAN. The main character was both likeable and a bit insufferable at times. The supporting characters were good. The only thing was the language - I get that profanity fit the main character's personality, but at times it was a bit too much.
I think it's worth a listen.
Karen
Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan
Narrator Name: Norbert Leo Butz, Heather Lind and Vincent Piazza
Rating the Audio Performance
I liked that there were three narrators for the three main characters and quite enjoyed Heather Lind's performance as Anna. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Overall, it was only okay. The three storylines had scenes that were interesting and emotional, but it wandered off a few too many times. It is a slow-developing book with a rather abrupt ending. I wish I would have liked it more. It has some fascinating parts of history - women divers, merchant marines and it touches on some interesting social issues; however, it just didn't engage me enough.
Karen
Unravelling Oliver by Liz Nugent
Narrator Name: Sam O'Mahony, Roy McMillan, Kevin Hely, Tracy Keating, Stephen Hogan, Kathy O'Brien, Steven Laverty and Michele Moran
Rating the Audio Performance
The narrators had great pacing and inflections. I felt they all added to the story and did a good job, although the accents didn't seem quite right for some.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
When I first heard about UNRAVELING OLIVER, I was intrigued by the audacious first line, “I expected more of a reaction the first time I hit her.” However, it was disturbing to hear the title character then dispassionately and frankly give his first person account of what happened on the night he beat his wife into a coma. Of course you want to know why. But this book is not a typical mystery in which the “why of the action” is the most important question. It is much more of an exploration of a sociopath through the eyes and first-hand accounts of friends and family.
Disturbing but fascinating and unique.
Nancy
The Address by Fiona Davis
Narrator Name: Saskia Maarleveld and Brittany Pressley
Rating the Audio Performance
The narrators for each era were perfectly matched. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
The history of New York and the Dakota was addicting - I found several nonfiction books on The Dakota and checked out from my library to research even more. The details in the novel made the building come to life.
Lara
Montreal Stories by Mavis Gallant
Narrator Name: Margot Dionne
Rating the Audio Performance
Excellent by Margot Dionne. Pitch perfect. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Definitely on the list of my favorite Canadian short story writers and collections. Or short story writers and collections, period. I know Alice Munro seems to be the most lauded short story writer in Canada, but Mavis Gallant gets my vote for short story monarch for her style, intelligence, wit and sass.
Francisca E B
Please Look After Mom by Kyung-Sook Shin
Narrator Name: Mark Bramhall, Janet Song, Samantha Quan, and Bruce Turk
Rating the Audio Performance
The audiobook is narrated by four talented voice artists: Mark Bramhall, Janet Song, Samantha Quan, and Bruce Turk. Using four different voice artists for the audio version was a great move, however. It clearly indicated the change in character from one section to another. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This is the story of one family’s search for their mother who has gone missing one afternoon in a crowded Seoul subway station. The author tells the story from the perspective of four characters, and also uses second person voice for much of the book. Perhaps she intended to draw the reader in with this technique, or perhaps it is a common grammatical choice in Korean, but I found it difficult to connect to the characters.
Mary
Battlefield Earth by L. Ron Hubbard
Narrator Name: Josh Clark, Scott Menville and many others
Rating the Audio Performance
This 44 disc (yes, you read that right) audiobook edition of BATTLEFIELD EARTH is one of the better audiobooks I've heard. A variety of voice actors keep the action moving and make it more dynamic than single-narrator/voice actor CD sets. There's even background music! I listened in the car and even my older elementary age child was hooked on it right along with me. You'll be rooting for Johnny Goodboy Tyler and the human race from start to finish. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
An uncouth alien race, the Psychlos, have conquered Earth to use it as a mining site. Most of the human population is gone, save for a few small villages across the planet. Johnny Goodboy Tyler sets out from his village in the mountains, hoping to see if he can find a better place to live. Once he is captured by a greedy, ambitious Psychlo, Johnny must outsmart the creature if he wants to know freedom for himself and the human race again. Good character development and suspense.
Ricki
Crows & Cards by Joseph Helgerson
Narrator Name: MacLeod Andrews
Rating the Audio Performance
A little hard to get into due to the dialect. Also, just kinda odd having a dictionary read aloud. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Fun historical fiction that takes place in St. Louis. Be sure to read the dictionary at the end.
Karen
Provenance by Ann Leckie
Narrator Name: Adjoa Andoh
Rating the Audio Performance
Adjoa Andoh is a British actor and apparently also an audiobook narrator. It was the first book I've listened to with her as narrator and she was brilliant. She was easy to understand and had a lovely fluidity to her narration. There is some unique pronouns used in this book, but she made it much easier to understand them. I will be looking for other books narrated by her. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I'm not a real sci-fi fan, and have not read the trilogy associated with this stand-alone; however, I quite enjoyed it. It has a lot of plot points - sibling rivalry, politics, race, justice and most are satisfactorily explored. However, the heart of the story lies with Ingray, the main character. A young woman who makes a desperate gamble to prove herself to her mother. I very much enjoyed seeing her find her way through a number of issues - personally and politically. Although the book does feel a bit lightweight, I found Ingray to be well written. She is resourceful, compassionate, intelligent and determined yet conflicted, foolish and sometimes fearful. I thought the book was entertaining and would recommend it.
Lory
Today Will Be Different by Maria Semple
Narrator Name: Kathleen Wilhoite
Rating the Audio Performance
I felt Wilhoite did a good job maintaining interest via several intonations but didn't really like the voices she altered for the different characters. Timby's and Alonso's voices kind of creeped me out - not sure why. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
It was odd, but then again that's what I remember from my last Semple book. However, this one was less humorous and had really jagged transitions and offshoots that made me struggle to follow along. Semple did a good job of making me really dislike the protagonist, even though a prominent theme of the book was her attempt at becoming a better, kinder person. What Eleanor Flood really needed is therapy. The end was creative but ironically seemed to be the only "different" thing about the Eleanor's life that day and just didn't do it for me; a failed attempt of wrapping the book up in the final chapter.
Abbie
The Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish
Narrator Name: Tiffany Haddish
Rating the Audio Performance
Tiffany is hilarious and does a fantastic job at relating the events of her memoir. A lot of the things that have happened in her life are pretty heavy, and her sense of humor takes some of the sting out of the stories she has to tell. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I felt the memoir could've been organized a bit better. It felt pretty jumpy content-wise at times, but this is kind of understandable as she had A LOT that happened in her life, and the things she discusses in her memoir don't all fall neatly into easy categories.
Barbara
Love and Other Consolation Prizes by Jamie Ford
Narrator Name: Emily Woo Zeller
Rating the Audio Performance
The perfect voice for each character. I felt like was in each setting overhearing people standing next to me. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Growing up in the Northwest and attending the 1962 World's Fair in Seattle, then visiting the grounds again 50 years later, this was very meaningful to me.
Karen
The Orphan's Tale by Pam Jenoff
Narrator Name: Jennifer Wydra and Kyla Garcia
Rating the Audio Performance
The two narrators, one as sixteen-year-old Noa and one as the adult Astrid, have very appropriate voices for their characters. The tempo of their reading brings the characters to life and makes the listener want to hear more and find out what happens next. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
A sad but inspiring tale of two women dealing with life in Germany during World War II. Astrid ,a Jewish woman who is forced to divorce her German soldier husband, Eric, by Hitler, returns to her family home. She had been part of her family's circus, and since they are gone, she joins a rival circus. When Noa stumbles into the circus with a baby in her arms, the owner takes her in and gives Astrid the job of training her to be an aerialist. Noa, who has rescued the baby from a boxcar of babies headed for a concentration camp, has been forced to give up her baby who was fathered by a German soldier. Both women and the baby are in danger if found out by the police. They want to escape and when the opportunity arises, one does.
Tessa B C
Farewell My Lovely by Raymond Chandler
Narrator Name: Elliott Gould
Rating the Audio Performance
Elliott Gould does a fine job of voicing the audio version. He has great pacing and is a marvelous actor. I was a little concerned when I first noticed that he was the voice artist for this book; his voice is distinctive and I thought I would be picturing him throughout the book. But that was not the case at all. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I came late to Chandler’s series about P. I. Philip Marlowe, but I sure am enjoying them now! The action is non-stop, and the characters so vivid they virtually jump off the page. I’ll definitely keep reading the series.
Lori
Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See
Narrator Name: Ruthie Ann Miles, Kimiko Glenn, Alexandra Allwine, Gabra Zachman, Jeremy Bobb, Joy Osmanski, Emily Walton, and Erin Wilhemi
Rating the Audio Performance
I enjoyed the audio performance except for the Chinese child who is adopted by Americans - in her case, it was fine when she was a young child, but the voice seemed completely inappropriate when she was a 21-year-old. Otherwise, the audio performance was very atmospheric. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this book. I thought it did a great job bringing to light issues about Chinese children adopted by Americans. I also found it very interesting to learn about ethnic minorities living in the remote mountains of China as well as the tea industry. I had expected a more typical family saga, but this had a lot more to offer. I think it would be a good choice for book discussion groups.
Lana
Valiant Ambition by Nathaniel Philbrick
Narrator Name: Scott Brick
Rating the Audio Performance
One of my favorite narrators. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Outstanding; learned so much beyond the standard history book content.
Patricia
The Rooster Bar by John Grisham
Narrator Name: Ari Fliakos
Rating the Audio Performance
Excellent narration! His voice changes never kept me guessing who was who. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Yet another great Grisham! Plot was very believable and, I suppose, could be based on fact. The scheming by the characters in their will to survive unbelievable student loan debt was crazy - complicated and, at times, hard to keep up with, but all panned out at the end, or did it? Every character had their own purpose, and the fact there was family-orientated involvement made the reading more enjoyable. The legal world is so well explained by this author.
Barbara
Painted Queen by Elizabeth Peters and Joan Hess
Narrator Name: Barbara Rosenblat
Rating the Audio Performance
My favorite narrator! Her voices fit the time period and characters perfectly and make me feel like a co-traveler in the events. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Again, the author's descriptions of the time and setting make me feel like a co-traveler in the story. I have followed this author through her many books and will miss her greatly. This book, again, made me feel a part of the family.
Tessa B C
The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
Narrator Name: Scott Brick
Rating the Audio Performance
Scott Brick does a fine job performing the audiobook. He is becoming one of my favorite audio narrators. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
One snowy December evening A.J. Fikry finds that someone has left a baby between the shelves in his bookstore. This is a fable about second chances and the redemptive power of love. It’s a somewhat quiet story, as novels go, but it is full of the drama of everyday existence. I also loved all the literary references.
Karen
Five-Carat Soul by James McBride
Narrator Name: Arthur Morey, Nile Bullock, Prentice Onayemi and Dominic Hoffman
Rating the Audio Performance
Each of the narrators perfectly captures the voice and emotions of the character telling their story. Pacing, expression are wonderful and all of them tell the stories in a very compelling way. I was pleased that all of them were great, no one was weak. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This is a collection of exceptional short stories that are smart and original. Within humour, confusion, sadness there are stories that grip you and speak to current events without ever being preachy or heavy-handed. I particularly liked the stories that are about a group of teens who are involved with the Five Carat Soul Bottom Bone Band. It explores their experiences as African Americans in a poor neighborhood with joyfulness and heartbreak. I loved this book. It was moving, real and the stories kept me listening with rapt interest.
Lory
Into the Water by Paula Hawkins
Narrator Name: Laura Aikman, Rachel Bavidge, Sophie Aldred, Daniel Wayman, and Imogen Church
Rating the Audio Performance
I enjoyed how they used so many different people. It really helped in distinguishing the points of view and made the story hit home. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Hawkins masterfully wove a story that kept me guessing and intrigued throughout. This was definitely the best thriller/mystery I've read all year (squeezed it in just under the 2017 deadline!) My one complaint was that the police work was unprofessional and shoddy in more than one aspect of the investigation...but it was addressed such as that so it lessened my aversion to it. Several moments throughout the book had me yelling "no!" or "unbelievable!" - which is definitely a sign of how much I'm enjoying a read. As it was ending I started to feel despair as it seemed that Hawkins began to lose me by tying the mystery up way too easily (like who confesses without a fight?), but then - Psych! - she fooled me and then quickly reeled me back in
Linda
Those Girls by Chevy Stevens
Narrator Name: Jorjeana Marie
Rating the Audio Performance
Enjoyed the performance. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I liked this story and will read or listen to more books by this author.
Pam
Nothing to Envy by Barbara Demick
Narrator Name: Karen White
Rating the Audio Performance
Very dry. I ended up reading most of the book as a result. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
The book's content was fascinating. The author has been to North Korea several times and conducted in-depth interviews with a number of escapees from North Korea. She wove their stories together in a timeline that enabled you to see the changes in the country.
Brittany
Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
Narrator Name: Neil Gaiman
Rating the Audio Performance
Fantastic! I will be listening to Neil Gaiman read his books from now on. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Delightful re-telling of Norse myth and the best Loki stories!
Sue
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and Birth of the FBI by David Gramm
Narrator Name: Anne Marie Lee, Will Patton, and Danny Campbell
Rating the Audio Performance
Usually not a fan of more than one narrator, but this approach was very effective for this audiobook. The book has three distinct sections and the three voices clearly delineated the sections of the information. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This narrative history is very engaging. The approach presents difficult facts clearly and concisely. Prior to this book, this tragedy was unknown to this reader. Tying the investigation to the consolidation of U.S. government investigation into the FBI was interesting yet ineffective. The FBI stopped looking after solving a few murders, where there was evidence of 24. The author's investigation, nearly 100 years later, estimated that 650 murders actually occurred. The murders just switched from guns to poison, which were not reviewed.
Gerry
Beyond the Messy Truth: How We Came Apart, How We Come Together by Van Jones
Narrator Name: Prentice Onayemi
Rating the Audio Performance
Excellent narration. Felt like I was listening to the author in his own voice. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I'd never heard of Van Jones until I stumbled on this book (a Goodreads recommendation for me, I believe) but I will be checking out his TV news commentary in the future. His book is an exhortation to his liberal/progressive followers to listen to our conservative neighbors and friends, and to find common ground from which we can solve real problems, rather than continuing to ramp up the blame game, finger pointing, and outright nastiness that characterizes so much of what passes for "conversation" between the two sides.
Gerry
Shattered: Inside Hillary Clinton's Doomed Campaign by Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes
Narrator Name: Kimberly Farr
Rating the Audio Performance
Narration was clear and fully satisfactory. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Interesting and informative, SHATTERED is the "inside" story of the 2016 Clinton campaign, from the early pre-primary days to shortly after the election, written by two experienced political reporters who began the writing process in 2014 fully expecting that they were tracking the campaign of the first female president. Many factors were cited as contributing to Clinton's loss, but for me the bottom line seems to have been Clinton's inability to project a compelling reason why she "should" be president and to gain voters' confidence in her as a leader and change agent at a time when change was so clearly on the minds of Americans across the political spectrum.
Gerry
My Absolute Darling by Gabriel Tallent
Narrator Name: Alex McKenna
Rating the Audio Performance
Powerful narration. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I can't say I'd recommend this book, one of the most brutal and heart-rending I've read. But beyond the language and the violence is a compelling story of human resilience and a young girl's will to survive against horrific odds. The author's ability to portray raw emotion and the inner life of a severely abused child is impressive. I originally rated the book three stars, but bumped it up to four a few weeks later, when I realized how powerfully the novel remained in my head. Excellent writing about a very difficult subject.
Gerry
The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women by Kate Moore
Narrator Name: Angela Brazil
Rating the Audio Performance
Excellent. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Very informative, well-researched and well-written account of the young women who worked in the early part of the 20th Century in New Jersey and Illinois as dial painters, painting watch faces and other instruments with radium paint, completely unaware that the radium was gradually building up in their bodies and would eventually cause devastating damage, and in many cases, painful death from radium poisoning. The second half of the book details the many years of legal battles the women fought in an effort to gain recompense for their injuries, ultimately leading to legislation requiring occupational safety regulations and protections for workers. Sad that the Radium Dial Company and others hid the dangers from their employees for so long.
Gerry
Disco for the Departed by Colin Cotterill
Narrator Name: Clive Chafer
Rating the Audio Performance
Love his voice and accent! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
3-1/2 stars for another engaging mystery with Dr. Siri Paiboun, the reluctant national coroner of Laos. This is a fun series!
Gerry
Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House by Mark Felt and John O'Connor
Narrator Name: Michael Prichard
Rating the Audio Performance
Perfect for this topic. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Fascinating account of the collaboration between Mark Felt (aka "Deep Throat") and the Washington Post reporters who broke the story of the Watergate break-in and cover-up.
Susan
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
Narrator Name: Clare Danes
Rating the Audio Performance
Loved. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Brilliant.
Karen
Nostalgia by Dennis McFarland
Narrator Name: Sean Runnette
Rating the Audio Performance
Sean Runnette brings the story to life with his reading. The listener is pulled into the story and can imagine the scenes he reads: the baseball games, the chaos of the battles, the inhumane treatment of wounded soldiers, the kindness of Walt Whitman's visits, Summerfield's interactions with his sister and Summerfields depression. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Nostalgia was the name given to PTSD in the Civil War. Summerfield Hayes, an 18-year-old student and gifted baseball player enlists in the army even though he isn't required to. Baseball teams are organized to ward off the boredom of waiting for battle to begin. When the battles start, a shell explodes near him, killing his friend and leaving him temporarily deaf, but also feeling that he has been wounded by shrapnel and looses his voice. His commander is not sympathetic and leaves him behind to fiend for himself when his unit moves on. He is found and hospitalized, but he is thought to be faking to stay out of the war. Walt Whitman visits the wounded soldiers and is able to help Summerfield and get him home.
Richard N B
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
Narrator Name: Jay O. Sanders
Rating the Audio Performance
Jay O. Sanders does a fine job performing the audio. He brings all the characters to life, but I really liked his Yosarian. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I definitely see why this is on its way to becoming a classic. Heller’s story of one unit fighting in Italy during WWII could easily be updated to today and still ring true in many respects. It’s funny, irreverent, and disturbing. Still, satire is not my favorite genre. I appreciate it, but don’t necessarily like it.
Karen
The Good Father by Noah Hawley
Narrator Name: Bruce Turk
Rating the Audio Performance
Bruce Turk's performance was very good. He voiced the characters as the listener would imagine them. His performance as Dr. Allen went through the whole range of emotions that the doctor experienced as he dealt with the events as they were unfolding. His performance as Daniel reflected the actions and reactions of a younger person. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
It is a parent's nightmare when suddenly a child, even an adult child, does something horrible. Dr. Paul Allen's nightmare begins when his son, Daniel, kills a candidate for president at a campaign rally. Daniel's action disrupts not only the candidate's family's life, but also his own family's life. He had never been a violent person so his family had no idea he would suddenly kill someone. His father tries to analyze the problem to understand why, and Daniel tells the reader his story, which makes sense to him, of why he decided to kill the candidate. He doesn't deny the crime or in any way try to lessen the punishment. He also will not disclose the reason to anyone. His father traces his path to come to terms with Daniel's actions.
Karen
And Only to Deceive by Tasha Alexander
Narrator Name: Kate Reading
Rating the Audio Performance
Kate Reading does a great job as Emily, a young English woman who is nagged by her mother
to make a good match. Her reading reflects the emotions of Emily as she goes through her life. She also does a good job voicing the other characters and bringing them to life. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Emily is nagged by her mother to get married. She fears that Emily is too particular and will be a spinster. Emily would really like to get away from her, so she marries the next man, Phillip Ashton, who asked her. Shortly after the marriage, her husband goes on an expedition to Africa and dies. Emily is a wealthy widow who has a hard time mourning a husband she barely knew. She is surprised to learn from Phillip's friend that he was fascinated by Greece, and its art and literature. She is intrigued by his interests and sets out to learn as much as she can about Greece. Phillip was a collector of Greek art, most of which he donated to the British Museum of Art, but was he an art thief? . 
