January 2, 2018 - February 1, 2018
Donna from Massapequa Park, NY
Julie from Aurora, IN
Sandi
On Turpentine Lane by Elinor Lipman
Narrator Name: Mia Barron
Rating the Audio Performance
The narrator of the audio, Mia Barron, did a great job. She has a smooth voice and was easy to listen to. Her character definition was really good and you had no problem figuring out exactly who was speaking. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
The story was only fair. It was about a woman buying her first home - a place where earlier a murder had occurred. She was involved with a real crud who only thought of himself, and when she dumped him she took up with her office mate. She had a dysfunctional family that also entered the picture.
Very light, basically humorless romantic comedy with a very small bit of a mystery thrown in. Not really to my liking.
Diana
Books can be deceiving by Jenn McKinlay
Narrator Name: Allison Ryan
Rating the Audio Performance
Very good performance! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Nice, fun book!
Francisca E B
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Narrator Name: Noah Galvin
Rating the Audio Performance
Noah Galvin does a superb job of performing the audiobook. I totally believed he was a teenaged Charlie. He is in turns excited, apprehensive, despondent, eager, cautious, frightened, and hopeful. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This is a coming-of-age novel featuring 15-year-old Charlie, who tells the story via letters he writes to an unnamed friend. I like YA fiction like this. Charlie is very real. He is a great observer of teenage and family life. As he describes events and how he reacts to them, he gives the reader a pretty accurate view of high school dynamics. This is Chbosky’s debut novel. I hope he writes another novel; I would definitely read it.
Nancy
The Patron Saint of Liars by Ann Patchett
Narrator Name: Julia Gibson
Rating the Audio Performance
Julia Gibson was great narrating this book. She was able to keep me completely engrossed in the storyline, never having to think which character she was portraying. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Loved this story. I had read it years ago but decided to listen this time as I quilted. I enjoyed the storyline as much this time as the first. I even purchased the movie from Amazon when I finished the book but as always, the book was so much better than the movie. If I had seen the movie first, I probably would not have picked up the book. That's why I continue to read books.
Mel
The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
Narrator Name: Saskia Maarleveld
Rating the Audio Performance
The narrator was very convincing. One of the main characters had a stutter and she captured that quite well. Very realistic. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Awesome!
Donna
The Dry by Jane Harper
Narrator Name: Stephen Shanahan
Rating the Audio Performance
I got used to his voice, but really cringed when he tried to do women's voices. It just didn't sound right. Not my favorite narrator. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
The book was overly descriptive and dragged in spots but once halfway through I had to find out what really happened. Not sure I would have stuck with the book if I was reading it.
Donna
Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney
Narrator Name: Stephanie Racine
Rating the Audio Performance
Completely captivating, Racine's voice pulls you into the story and it never lets go. I will listen to anything she narrates in the future; just a brilliant performance. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
The best dark, twisted, psychological suspense I've ever had the pleasure of listening to. I want to discuss the ending with everyone, but the book has not yet come out. Don't miss this one.
Patti
The Creation of Eve by Lynn Cullen
Narrator Name: Virginia Leishman
Rating the Audio Performance
Very interesting, good narration and kept my interest. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
A story of the first women painter of the Renaissance. Drama of history and intrigue. An indiscretion ends the artist's relationship with King Felipe II. A little long, but very enjoyable.
Tessa B C
Jane Steele by Lindsay Faye
Narrator Name: Susie Riddell
Rating the Audio Performance
Susie Riddell is a talented voice artist and she does a marvelous job of voicing the audiobook. She has good pacing, and I just love her Jane Steele character. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
3.5 stars. Lindsay Faye’s re-telling of JANE EYRE, is an imaginative romp. Readers of the classic will recognize many plot elements, but Faye has let her imagination run wild. The story is still set in the same era as Bronte’s classic novel, but this Jane is a serial killer. If that makes you gasp is horror…well give the book a chance. It’s great fun to read
Barbara
Missing, Presumed by Susie Steiner
Narrator Name: Juanita McMahon
Rating the Audio Performance
Loved listening to her voice. She did the individual voices in a way that was fairly easy to follow. A couple of times she had some that sounded the same and were difficult to tell apart. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I really like this book. It is the first audiobook I've listened to of a fiction novel so I had to get used to following along with the story. I would occasionally get lost and have to rewind to make sure I had the person correct. It could have been me being a newbie, it could have been some of the voices sounding similar, it could have been because I was paying attention to traffic. But, I enjoyed it and hope to download more from my wonderful public library to listen to on the drive to work. Sure beats listening to the news any more.
Julie
Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny
Narrator Name: Ralph Cosham
Rating the Audio Performance
I have only listened to this series because Cosham narrates them so perfectly. His voice lingers in your head long after the audiobook is over. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I try to space these books out as I enjoy them so much. However, I went right from the previous book to this one as I wanted to see what happened next with one of the main characters. This book did continue that storyline a lot, which I think is a bit unusual for one of her books. Anyway, I really liked this one, too.
Jill
The Last Child by John Hart
Narrator Name: Scott Sowers
Rating the Audio Performance
Scott does a wonderful reading of this book. He draws you in right from the start. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I’ve never read a book by John Hart and I really enjoyed THE LAST CHILD. This is a powerful read of courage, loss and hope. Johnny Merrimon’s sister vanishes and he is certain she is still alive. Determined to find her, Johnny sets out to search for her. Then another girl is missing and Johnny is even more determined to find Alyssa. One of best thrillers I’ve read in a while.
Linda
Must Love More Kilts by Angela Quarles
Narrator Name: Mary Jane Wells
Rating the Audio Performance
Mary Jane Wells never fails to deliver an addictive, polished performance! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I love this series and this installment is no exception. Hot, hunky Highlanders in a well-written and well-plotted storyline with plenty of humor and heat.
Dottie
Forest Dark by Nicole Krauss
Narrator Name: Gabra Zackman
Rating the Audio Performance
The narration was very good with various accents consistent and understandable. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Possibly because I listened to this book, rather than reading, it I found this book too philosophical, confusing and inconclusive. It is a story of two different people at different times in their lives, who live in NYC and both end up going to Israel (although it does not seem that they ever meet), to "find" something. The older man is looking for a way to honor his deceased parents and the woman is looking for inspiration in her writing. The writing was interesting, however, the stories were ambiguous.
Ricki
March by Geraldine Brooks
Narrator Name: Robert Easton
Rating the Audio Performance
Easton has a wonderful voice for narrative and he tried his best to keep it interesting. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I had the hardest time paying attention to this one. Also, a lot of Mr. March's character did not really make sense with what I read in LITTLE WOMEN, but the afterwards does help explain the author's choices.
Wendy
Endurance by Scott Kelly
Narrator Name: Scott Kelly
Rating the Audio Performance
He's a terrible narrator, unfortunately. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Very interesting story.
Michelle
The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce
Narrator Name: Steven Hartley
Rating the Audio Performance
Fabulous narration. It brought to life the author's exquisite description of the music. So beautifully done. I can't imagine anyone else doing it so well. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Book was beautifully written, describing how the main character (Frank) feels about the music and how it affects the listener. Also, the historical facts that describe the artist are wonderful as well. I wish I could like all subjects as much.
Tara
A Stranger in the House by Shari Lapena
Narrator Name: Tavia Gilbert
Rating the Audio Performance
Tavia Gilbert's audiobook narration of A STRANGER IN THE HOUSE by Shari Lapena was perfect! I thought her performance was outstanding, all around! She was easy to listen to, making my overall experience very enjoyable. I felt everything was right on - tone, inflection, volume, and pace. The way she would change from speaking to almost whisper-like, really kept me on the edge of my seat. Her narration played a big part in why I rated this audiobook 5 stars. I definitely plan to check out more of her work! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I was so excited when I found out Shari Lapena had a new book coming out because I loved THE COUPLE NEXT DOOR, I pre-ordered A Stranger in the House...and waited...and waited! Finally, release day came...woo hoo! As I listened, I kept feeling like I had it all figured out. I wasn't sure if there was really an underlying mystery, at all. I stayed fully engaged in the well-written storyline, though, because new discoveries, twists, and turns continued to pop up at every corner. Needless to say, I WAS WRONG about everything, and the underlying mystery of it all came at me full force! The ending was awesome, causing me to move my rating from good to absolutely AMAZING! I'm still sitting in disbelief! I'm confident you will LOVE this audiobook.
Meggan
The Rooster Bar by John Grisham
Narrator Name: Ari Fliakos
Rating the Audio Performance
Fliakos did a good job of adding accents, based on the characters' locales. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
At times, I felt overwhelmed by the detailed descriptions of financial transactions. If I had been reading the book, I probably would have skimmed through these parts more quickly. The plot concept and storyline were intriguing, totally believable, and thus frightening. My book club has selected this for a summer read, and I am looking forward to a lively discussion.
Shirley
Camino Island by John Grisham
Narrator Name: January LaVoy
Rating the Audio Performance
The narrator provided an interesting story without adding voices or (Southern) accents and brought the conclusion to a surprising end. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I liked the book, the crime and the characters. However, I feel it was a little contrived and I was surprised at the ending.
Ramona
Born with Teeth by Kate Mulgrew
Narrator Name: Kate Mulgrew
Rating the Audio Performance
Hatchette Audio has done a fantastic job. Kate Mulgrew's narration reaches out and grabs you. Her voice, delightful to listen to, is articulate, clear, filled with her humor, indignation, sadness, confusion and happiness, as she speaks about her unusual and very busy life. She is able to express all those feelings so naturally, that the story takes you back, making you feel like you are there. I could listen to her voice all day! I like that music is played in different areas, making you feel as if "you" were in a movie with Kate. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
BORN WITH TEETH was a great surprise for me. A fan of Capt. Kathryn Janeway, Kate's memoir gives us insight into the real person, and how much it mirrors her character. Kitten, as her father called her, was the second child in a large Irish-Catholic family. She speaks with humor, candor, and sometimes disgust, at the life she has been brought into. Kate begins her story with her birth, therefore, the title! I became angry as she spoke of her parents unconcern for their growing family. She loved her parents, but seemed to have little reason to do so. Kate has a passion, that is evident in her expressions of her life. There is humor, adventure, determination and courage as she aspires to be more. An inspiring story for all who struggle.
Jane
Running Scared by Elizabeth Lowell
Narrator Name: Carrington MacDuffie
Rating the Audio Performance
The main character Risa, is a female. The narrator is also a female. As a result, her narrative gives the reader a better connection to Risa. Had it been a male narrator, much of the emotional connection between me, a female listener, and the book with a male narrator would not, in my opinion, produce the same kind of emotional connector to Risa's character. Additionally, the narrator didn't mispronounce words - I do hate when narrators don't do background research on foreign words in an English language book. Some narrators don't pronounce English words properly; and this never came up in MacDuffie's performance. She captured the essence of Risa; not every narrator is able to do this. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Vegas, Extremely. Rich. Casino Owner. Loves Gold. Irish Gold. And it gets weird, really weird. Risa works for Rarities Unlimited as second in command. Her specialty is assessing the authenticity of these rare pieces. Her boss, Shane is determined to obtain, by any means necessary, a rare piece that is said to bring with it, a curse. Risa and her foster sister were VERY close when they were young "foster sisters.'" The tight relationship come into play here when Risa's foster sister kills a man for his gold collection. She approaches Risa and chaos reigns.
Carolyn
True Evil by Greg Iles
Narrator Name: Dick Hill
Rating the Audio Performance
I have listened to several books narrated by Dick Hill and he is very good. In this case, being from the south myself, I found his southern accent a little bit lacking. That said, I did enjoy the narration. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I am a long-time fan of Greg Iles and have read his Penn Cage books. TRUE EVIL is one of his early works in which Penn and his father Tom are introduced but are not the main characters. The storyline is fast, suspenseful, and very enjoyable.
linda
Glass Houses by Louise Penny
Narrator Name: Robert Bathurst
Rating the Audio Performance
Bathurst did an outstanding job narrating this book. When the original narrator of the Inspector Gamache series died after Book 10 I thought I would not love the series as much. Bathurst takes you deep into the characters and I will follow his work as he narrated for other authors. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I have read or listened to all 13 Three Pines Mysteries and follow Louise Penny's works. She is a marvelous writer from Canada. In this particular book, I didn't think Penny could continue the interest as the Inspector has "retired" and is now living in Three Pines. I was very pleased when I found myself totally caught up in the newest mystery, and following the introduction of "the cobrador", a debt collector, I was totally hooked.
Francisca E B
Something Rotten by Jasper Fforde
Narrator Name: Emily Gray
Rating the Audio Performance
Emily Gray does a marvelous job performing the audio version. She has great pacing and is a skilled voice artist, able to differentiate the many characters. I love the way she voices Stig and St. Zvlkx in this installment. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Book Four in the Thursday Next fantasy/sci-fi “literary detective” series. What I most enjoy about this series is Fforde’s vivid imagination and all the literary references. The plots are completely unrealistic, but that’s part of the fun.
Laura
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann
Narrator Name: Anne Marie Lee, Will Patton, and Danny Campbell
Rating the Audio Performance
It was fine. Not bad but not fabulous. I appreciated that there were three different narrators for the three different parts. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Very interesting. I sure learned a lot. I knew nothing of the Osage and their oil millions.
Debbie
One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories by B.J. Novak
Narrator Name: B.J. Novak, Jenna Fischer, Jason Schwartzman, Katy Perry, Lena Dunham and Mindy Kaling
Rating the Audio Performance
The voices of several "The Office" actors narrate this relaxed, fun, sometimes serious audiobook. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
The stories are like nothing else. Each story has playful humor, insight and challenges the reader to think outside the box. For fans of the work of B.J. Novak. I hope he has more books to write.
Karen
The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey
Narrator Name: Soneela Nankani
Rating the Audio Performance
This is my first time hearing Soneela but I really enjoyed her narration. She had nice differences between the characters so it was easy to know who was speaking, and also conveyed emotions well. An easy-to-listen-to voice made this book pleasurable to listen to. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
A great historical mystery set in India featuring Perveen Mistry, an unusual young woman in that she is Bombay's first female solicitor (educated at Oxford). She works with her father at his law firm and although she cannot argue cases, she can do the other work. This book centers around her work with the three widows of a wealthy mill owner. They live in seclusion and it is soon apparent that the agent supposedly working on their behalf is actually working for his own gain. He is murdered and she is soon drawn into the widows' lives as she works to ensure the real murderer is captured and that the widows get their rightful inheritance. This book also looks at her past marriage which was so terrible she got a separation. Really good book.
Lisa
I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez
Narrator Name: Kyla Garcia
Rating the Audio Performance
This is a coming-of-age story of a teenager dealing with several issues including the death of her sister. Ms. Garcia does a great job as a narrator portraying a whiny, stubborn almost arrogant teenager. Her narration gives you a true feel of being in a Mexican home with strict parents and how a teenager, especially a girl, would react in certain situations and have mood changes with a snap of a finger. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I didn't enjoy this book as much as I hoped I would. The synopsis is a bit misleading, letting readers think that there is some juicy information to find out about a teenager's sister who is killed in an accident. This was really just a small portion of the book. This book was more about a teenage girl dealing with issues of her culture, her parent's expectations to be more like her sisters, school, boys, etc. Unfortunately, the protagonist was so arrogant, whiny, and unlikable that it ruined the story for me. You get a better understanding of why she is the way she is, but we don't learn until the last portion of the book. The writing style was fine and you do learn a little more of Mexican culture but the story wasn't that enjoyable.
Valerie
Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan
Narrator Name: Norbert Leo Butz, Heather Lind and Vincent Piazza
Rating the Audio Performance
The narrators were right on the money. With their beautiful flow it made it easy listening, like a lullaby. Not a lullaby to put you to sleep but an easy flow to sweeten one's imagination. Great job. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Jennifer bakes for us this beautiful layer cake that nobody can resist and will devour in a few sittings. Loved the historical descriptions of New York and the people who inhabited it, the sounds, the smells, all vivid in Jennifers writing. Like a seven layer cake, it's hard to have just one slice.
Linda
Becoming Nicole by Amy Ellis Nutt
Narrator Name: Amy Ellis Nutt
Rating the Audio Performance
Loved it. Clear and concise, a steady reading that fit the book. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I loved how she was able to weave the family's story along with the science of how someone happens to be transgender.
Ellen
Camino Island by John Grisham
Narrator Name: January LaVoy
Rating the Audio Performance
The narrator successfully moved the story along. Her vocal changes to indicate different characters, both male and female, was very successful. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I didn't find the storyline very compelling after the initial theft. The characters, particularly the D.C. consultants, didn't seem very believable. Some audiobooks have you listening after you should have done something else. This one did not. Had we not been on a long road trip I likely would have abandoned it.
Judith
The Cavendon Luck by Barbara Taylor Bradford
Narrator Name: Anna Bentinck
Rating the Audio Performance
This reader helped make the book come alive for me. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I rated this book B+. It followed WWII and even had some espionage. All in all a very enjoyable book.
Lory
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Narrator Name: Laura Dresbaek and Bahni Turpin
Rating the Audio Performance
This was a great "listen". The narrators draw you and tell the story so, so well. Definitely one of the best audiobooks I've experienced. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Thomas described a world and perspective not often shared, and she did it with eloquence, tact, and grace. Star, the main character of the book, struggles with living between two cultures, the realism of race and prejudice in this country, undergoing a very traumatic experience, and coming of age. Thomas includes humor, current topics, history, concern, and deep-rooted emotion so seamlessly that, even though this was a "heavy" book due to the primary topic it addresses, it also has a certain lightheartedness and many, many discussion starters for teens and adults alike. Who would have thought that Tupac's words could be so sincerely "quotable" and deep? She also did an excellent job in depicting all of the different characters.
Richard N B
The Agony and the Ecstasy by Irving Stone
Narrator Name: Arthur Morey
Rating the Audio Performance
Arthur Morey does a fine job narrating the audio version. At 34 hours in length, it’s a significant commitment, but worth it (and you don’t have to carry that huge tome around.) Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Stone’s epic historical novel tells the life story of Michelangelo. Additionally, the novel includes much of the politics of the times, from the Medicis in Florence to the various Popes in Rome; it’s a fascinating history of the era. This was a re-read for me, but my rating reflects my original reaction (circa 1965).
Linda
Uncommon Type: Some Stories by Tom Hanks
Narrator Name: Tom Hanks
Rating the Audio Performance
Tom Hanks never disappoints and his narration of UNCOMMON TYPE is no exception. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Sadly, the stories did not resonate with me. I don’t understand the hype around this book of stories. I didn’t get the purpose of the stories. The best part of the audiobook was that Tom Hanks was the reader.
Teresa
C is for Corpse by Sue Grafton
Narrator Name: Judy Kaye
Rating the Audio Performance
This is the third audio read by Judy Kaye that I have listed to recently. What a joy - she brings Kinsey Millhone to life in a slightly snarky sarcastic way that I love. The way she voices the additional characters is spot-on - sometimes comedic, sometimes serious and heartbreaking. I plan on continuing to listen to Grafton's novels read by Judy Kaye to the end, Y IS FOR YESTERDAY. I think it's amazing that Grafton and Kaye had such a long-lasting working relationship. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
When the author Sue Grafton died recently, I wanted to revisit her alphabet series, which I had read years ago. The main character is a thirty-something PI in Santa Teresa CA. She drives a VW, lives in a studio apartment that was once a garage, and eats peanut butter and pickle sandwiches. She is such a serious and quirky soul. Each book covers a case that Kinsey has taken on, and she often gets emotionally involved with her client's situation. It was sad knowing that the series was nearing the end - the most recent is Y IS FOR YESTERDAY. On her death, her family announced there will be no "Z IS FOR..." book - so I have no choice but to reread them again and again.
Lois
Merry and Bright by Debbie Macomber
Narrator Name: Em Eldridge
Rating the Audio Performance
Easy to listen to. Narrator kept listener involved. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
A perfect Christmas selection. Interesting characters, especial Jayson and Patrick. Very entertaining.
Cathie
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling
Narrator Name: Jim Dale
Rating the Audio Performance
I cannot believe one person can bring so many characters to life!! Awesome! I'm reliving the books through audio for the first time. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Perfection!
Barbara
Family Tree by Susan Wiggs
Narrator Name: Christina Traister
Rating the Audio Performance
Perfect voices for the different characters drew me into the story. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Loved getting into the complicated family saga. Tested my range of empathy for the different characters. Guessed correctly at the ending but found it to be exactly what I wanted.
Mamie
Kiss Carlo by Adriana Trigiani
Narrator Name: Edoardo Ballerini
Rating the Audio Performance
Mr. Ballerini is wonderful in conveying the personality of each character, giving each female and male character the perfect voice. His Italian is perfect, whether speaking the language itself or using a character's dialect. Am purchasing a physical copy of this book! Bravo! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
It has been a very long time since I have enjoyed a book as much as KISS CARLO. The novel revolves around the Italian American Palazzini family from South Philadelphia shortly after WWII. The themes of family loyalty, love, and friendship are so well woven into the book. Ms. Trigiani's phrasing, perfectly timed comic relief, and the depth given to her characters are simply wonderful. Am purchasing a hardcover so I can cherish the story and re-read passages from time to time. It is a favorite for years to come.
MAUREEN
Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan
Narrator Name: Will Damron
Rating the Audio Performance
Wonderful story with fabulous narration. You always knew who was talking. He does both Italian and German words correctly. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
A wonderful story that is based on truth. There is little printed about the Italians and their sacrifices in WWII. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and also learned a lot of history.
Susan
Darktown by Thomas Mullen
Narrator Name: Andre Holland
Rating the Audio Performance
Great deep voice. Excellent annunciation and engaging. Good pace and tone. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Great story, rich detail to develop a story with twists.
Phyllis
The Secret Place by Tana French
Narrator Name: Stephen Hogan and Lara Hutchinson
Rating the Audio Performance
Very well presented and clear diction with Irish brogue. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I was not acquainted with this author, but clever use of forward and back timeline to solve the murder of Chris Harper at St. Kilda's girls school. Learned a lot about attending an all-girls school, the loyalty and friendships, and cliques formed. I had trouble with the ending and had to go online to help figure it out, and it makes perfect sense because of the forward/ back timeline.
Nora
The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult
Narrator Name: Mozhan Marno, Jennifer Ikeda, Edoardo Ballerini, Suzanne Toren and Fred Berman
Rating the Audio Performance
They were very good at making you feel you were really engaged in their story. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I thought the plot was fascinating but difficult to listen to sometimes because of the awful brutality. However, I feel she did an excellent job of making it believable. The story is very moving.
Lana
Circling the Sun by Paula McLain
Narrator Name: Katharine McEwan
Rating the Audio Performance
Stellar performance. I truly appreciated that the narrator was British. I felt that between the writing and the narration, I could actually see Kenya in the early 20th century. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Outstanding. I had listened to WEST WITH THE NIGHT many years ago and enjoyed it. I was afraid I might be disappointed in a fictional account of Beryl's life, but was not. I loved the flow of the writing, the descriptions of the land and people and animals, and felt Beryl's love for them no matter what was thrown at her.
Dottie
The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Philipp Sendker
Narrator Name: Cassandra Campbell
Rating the Audio Performance
Wonderful. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
A beautiful poetic love story. The descriptions were so vivid, emotions so intense and story uplifting and captivating. Tin Win and Mi Mi are two young Burmese who each with their own impairments who learn to love and rely on the other. Both are eternal optimists, gentle and loving. Tin Win has to leave his small village yet the two remain connected in unspoken ways. Years later Tin Win's daughter returns to the village to find out why he left his family in New York. The story slowly unfolds in a mesmerizing way. It also speaks to perceptions, values and what is important in life.
Tessa B C
The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende
Narrator Name: Joanna Gleason
Rating the Audio Performance
Joanna Gleason has good pacing but does nothing to try to differentiate the voices of the characters. Everyone sounded the same – man or woman, old or young. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This is a sweeping love story that spans decades. Told in alternating time frames, and with alternating points of view, the story unfolds as Irina and Seth discover tidbits of information about Alma’s past. The title alone is a pretty clear indication of what is to come in the novel, and yet I was interested to learn the details.
Michael
Kiss the Girls by James Patterson
Narrator Name: Robert Guillaume and Chris Noth
Rating the Audio Performance
The characters were really brought to life. Very well narrated. It enhanced the listening experience. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I really enjoyed this book. The plot was unpredictable, which I appreciated, and it was very exciting. Great thriller.
Sherri
The To-Do List by Mike Gayle
Narrator Name: Dave John
Rating the Audio Performance
Very good. It took me awhile to get into the English accent, but narration fit the dry humor and normal bloke main character of the text. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Laugh-out-loud funny - it's either that or cry - as I have found myself in many of the situations of the main character/author. I tried to find more of his books at my library but was unsuccessful. Mike Gayle sets out to prove he can become a "real adult" by completing a 1277 item to-do list between his 36th and 37th birthday. Quite an adventure. Now it's on to my own list!
Lory
Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
Narrator Name: Ari Fliakos, Audra MacDonald, and Cassandra Campbell
Rating the Audio Performance
This book had various narrators. I loved Ruth's and Turk's performance...Kennedy's irked me. It was a bit too robotic and strained and when her chapter voice imitated Ruth's; it just threw me off. It was eerie how similar Ruth's voice sounded like Oprah Winfrey. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This book was amazing. It raised so many emotions within me and was very well done. The way Picoult presented this story was inventive and interesting. Her characters were intriguing and allowed her to present the varying views and experiences of race and society in the United States. Definitely a winner.
Melanie
Best Day Ever by Kaira Rouda
Narrator Name: Graham Halstead and Amy McFadden
Rating the Audio Performance
Graham Halstead conveyed the appropriate creepiness of the sociopathic narrator. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
3.5 stars. Although many reviews I've read of this book have given it high praise, I found it predictable and not much of a thriller. The ending was so mediocre with no surprise twist or clever ending. Not sure what all the hype is about this one. Yet, it was engaging - I just kept waiting for a clever twist which never came.
Melanie
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
Narrator Name: Kelvin Harrison, Jr., Rutina Wesley and Chris Chalk
Rating the Audio Performance
Outstanding and engaging audio performances by all of the voice artists. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Stunningly beautiful prose with an equally beautiful story with a supernatural component. Brilliant. Definitely worthy of the National Book Award for fiction.
Susan
Left Neglected by Lisa Genova
Narrator Name: Sarah Paulson
Rating the Audio Performance
So good. Was worried the audio version might lesson the amazing story because that had definitely happened before. Well, I can happily say it was fantastic. Really enjoyed it. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Soooo loved this book. I’ve personally had a very close family member who had/has a traumatic brain injury so ghosts novel really hit home for me. I love everything by Lisa Genova and wasn’t disappointed with this one.
peggy
On Turpentine Lane by Elinor Lipman
Narrator Name: Mia Barron
Rating the Audio Performance
Love this reader. She did a excellent job with the many characters, male and female, and different ages. Will look for other books she's read. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I really enjoyed this book and am still thinking about the characters. Will look for more by Lipman.
Judith
Manhattan Mayhem by Mystery Writers of America, edited by Mary Higgins Clark
Narrator Name: January Lavoy, Peter Berkrot and Dick Hill
Rating the Audio Performance
I could hear and understand each narrator - male or female. I have trouble hearing and sometimes it isn't clear enough. Also although it doesn't tell the name of each story individually, it is easy to use because each CD starts with a new story. So there is no hunting around for a specific author. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Short stories by many famous authors on crime in and about Manhattan and New York. Including Thomas H. Cook, Jeffrey Deaver, Mary Higgins Clark, Lee Child, etc.
Sue
Sleeping Beauties by Stephen King and Owen King
Narrator Name: Marin Ireland
Rating the Audio Performance
Kudos to narrator for clearly enunciating so many characters of both sexes and varied backgrounds. Good differentiation between each. The only suggestion is that the accents of the "country people " could receive less emphasis. They sounded more like "hicks" than the soft intonations of those with a rural accent. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Stephen and Owen King wrote an imaginative thriller. There was sufficient humor to take the edge off the violence. The premise alone is humorous. But, the consequences of the actions of the characters could be shocking. The three components of the story was at times repetitive. The length of this book may indicate that the print format is more easily understood because of the ability to refer to characters introduced early in the story. However, the interview with Stephen and Owen at the end was interesting. Cool that they have worked together in several ways over many years.
Tessa B C
Tigers in Red Weather by Liza Klaussmann
Narrator Name: Katherine Kellgren
Rating the Audio Performance
1 star. Katherine Kellgren’s performance on the audio does nothing to help the novel. She has a tendency to be overly dramatic when voicing the characters. I wound up reading the text for more than half the novel. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This is Klaussmann’s debut and I see a nugget of a good novel here. But the execution falters. The dialogue is tortured. And the fractured timeline and changes in point of view do little to help the story arc.
Carol R.
Grant by Ron Chernow
Narrator Name: Mark Bramhall
Rating the Audio Performance
Well-read and kept my interest through the many discs. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Brilliant and lengthy description of the life of the general and President of the U.S. His bouts with depression were quite crippling and his relationship with his wife quite loving and supportive.
Mary
Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink by Elvis Costello
Narrator Name: Elvis Costello
Rating the Audio Performance
The author was a great choice for reading his own story. I found his voice droned on a little at times though. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Loved hearing about his early musical influences. He seems to have an amazing memory and often recalls past events in great detail.
Prudence
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman
Narrator Name: Joan Walker
Rating the Audio Performance
Ms. Walker kept me interested and was great at portraying a wide variety of characters with a wide variety of personalities. Very enjoyable. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Charming, quirky, colorful characters who steal your heart and are never boring. The author does a wonderful job exploring the line between fantasy and reality. Our perceptions are often not reality. It depicts the world through a child, a particularly precocious child, but a child all the same. 
