March 2, 2020 - April 1, 2020
This contest period's winner was Gerry B. from Mount Laurel, NJ, who received an audiobook copy of MY DARK VANESSA by Kate Elizabeth Russell, read by Grace Gummer, and THE NIGHT WATCHMAN written and read by Louise Erdrich.
Francisca
Little Town on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Narrator Name: Cherry Jones
Rating the Audio Performance
Cherry Jones does a fine job narrating the audiobook. I particularly like it when she sings the hymns or folk songs. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Book Seven in the popular classic Little House series has Laura growing into a young lady. I love this series for the way the pioneer spirit is portrayed and the strong family relationships. THIS book, however, has a scene that is very uncomfortable for modern readers. I know this is historically accurate to the period, but I just cringed reading about it. If you are going to read it with your children, be ready for a serious conversation about what is and is not appropriate.
Kasey
Emily, Gone by Bette Lee Crosby
Narrator Name: Donna Postel
Rating the Audio Performance
I loved how Donna narrated this book. She was able to change her voice to each character so well. I look forward to listening to more books that she has narrated! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This was an excellent book! It was heart-wrenching and heart-warming! The story kept you on the edge of your seat. I definitely recommend this book!
Kate
Qualityland by Marc-Uwe Kling
Narrator Name: Patricia Rodriguez
Rating the Audio Performance
It was SO fun to listen to this one. I felt like it was a full cast, but she's just really good at characters and changing up her voices! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Such a great concept for a plot we've all probably thought about in real life: "Is Amazon taking over?" Don't get me wrong - I love Amazon but the story was fresh and fun and makes you wonder if it could actually BE our future!
Lori
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Narrator Name: Donna Tartt
Rating the Audio Performance
I am really enjoying the audio and different characters. There is a lot of Greek as well as French and Italian. So I would have not have enjoyed this as much if I had tried to read this myself because I would have been stumbling over the words. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This is a really long book and would not be for everyone but I have been hooked on the story throughout. The characters are all rich college students who do very bad things and don't really feel guilty about what they have done. But I still see them as human. This is my second Donna Tartt book and I love her!
Brenda
What Red Was by Rosie Price
Narrator Name: Fiona Hardingham
Rating the Audio Performance
Great narration. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Story of a platonic relationship between two young university students from very different backgrounds. Max is rich and Kate is poor. Intense themes including sexual assault and trauma.
Lois
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Narrator Name: Zach Appleman
Rating the Audio Performance
Zach Appleman did an exceptional job in narrating this book. His expressions and nuances of each character fit each one perfectly I thought. I would enjoy listening to another book narrated by him. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This story has two main characters with very unique and interesting lives. This is a WWII story about how the Nazis took over Paris in 1934. Seven-year-old Maire-Laure, blind from a genetic disease from a very young age, lives with her father who works as a locksmith for the Museum of Natural History. He builds a model of the town that they live in which helps Marie-Laure to understand and feel her surroundings as they walk to and from different places in the city. The second storyline is about Werner, an orphan, who has an uncanny ability from a young age to make and repair radios. Even though this was a long story for me, I felt it was interesting because it was my first WWII novel. I always like to learn about new places and times.
Betty
Kiss the Girls and Make Them Cry by Mary Higgins Clark
Narrator Name: January LaVoy
Rating the Audio Performance
Enjoyed the readers voice. She’s easy to listen to. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
A typical MHC read. I’ve been reading her for over 50 years. Always a good read.
shannon
A Divided Loyalty by Charles Todd
Narrator Name: Simon Prebble
Rating the Audio Performance
The narrator makes these books come alive! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
As many of these books as Todd writes, he always manages a unique twist or character and they do not get old!!!
Sherri
One Day in December by Josie Silver
Narrator Name: Eleanor Tomlinson and Charlie Anson
Rating the Audio Performance
Very well done, but I thought the female voice was a bit soft and the male voice a bit loud. Liked it being done in two voices as it fit the book's style. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Unique romantic/comedy following Laurie's visual encounter she has with a man waiting at a bus stop in December 2008. She falls in love and resolves to find him. The story follows the ups and downs of the their relationship over a number of year looking for the "happy ever after" ending. I enjoyed the ups and downs and unexpected turns as well as several "want to think more about that" quotes. The writing style and narrative style were unique, even if you thought you could predict the happily ever after ending.
Tessa
Divining Women by Kaye Gibbons
Narrator Name: Kaye Gibbons
Rating the Audio Performance
Kaye Gibbons narrates the book herself. I was not a fan of her delivery, which seemed somewhat dull. She made no effort to distinguish the various characters and sometimes it was difficult to follow a conversation. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I like the way Gibbons writes her characters. There are some very unpleasant goings on, and much of it makes me in turns uncomfortable, despairing, and angry. Set in 1918, this is at a time when women had few rights on their own, and yet Mary refused to be cowed by her uncle. And her strength empowered Maureen to fight for the freedom and respect she was due. Brava, ladies!
Shelby
Nothing To See Here by Kevin Wilson
Narrator Name: Marin Ireland
Rating the Audio Performance
Marin Ireland's performance is pitch-perfect and makes the characters jump off the page. When I finished listening I immediately placed her other narrations onto my wish list.10 stars! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This was my fiction book of the year! The story is basically unbelievable but the strength and brilliance of Mr. Wilson's superb storytelling and masterly writing convinced me that it was entirely credible. Looking forward to his next book. 10 stars!
Aimee
Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe by Heather Webber
Narrator Name: Stephanie Willis, Bethany Lind, Nicholas Techosky
Rating the Audio Performance
I love the narrators. They all give wonderful charisma to their characters, which injects so much into the story. Honestly, after listening to the book, I'm not sure if I would like the printed version as much, because the narration (I'm thinking of you, Faylene!) is so great. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I love the storyline and characters, and know deep down, this will be one of my favorite reads of the year.
Nadine
Winter Street by Elin Hilderbrand
Narrator Name: Erin Bennett
Rating the Audio Performance
Award–winning narrator and a stage actress. Good narration for all the characters in the book. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
As Christmas approaches, Kelley is looking forward to getting the family together for some quality time at the inn. But he walks in on Mitzi kissing Santa Claus (or the guy who's playing Santa at the inn's annual party. The delightfully dysfunctional Quinn family survives a love triangle, an unplanned pregnancy, a federal crime, a small house fire, many shots of whiskey, and endless rounds of Christmas caroling, in this heart-warming novel about coming home for the holidays.
Melanie
Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano
Narrator Name: Cassandra Campbell
Rating the Audio Performance
Ms. Campbell is my favorite narrator. She is always able to capture the essence of each character. Easy transition between each one. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Very sad story loosely based on a real event, told with compassion.
Evelyn
Long Bright River by Liz Moore
Narrator Name: Allyson Ryan
Rating the Audio Performance
Wonderful audiobook. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Loved the story.
Francisca
Bittersweet by Colleen McCullough
Narrator Name: Cat Gould
Rating the Audio Performance
Cat Gould does a fine job of narrating the audiobook. She sets a good pace and has clear diction and enough skill as a voice artist to differentiate the many characters. I was listening during a long road trip and it made the miles fly by! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
A mini-series soap opera of a novel, following four sisters (two sets of twins) in early 20th century Australia. McCullough does a great job of crafting this sweeping novel. I was engaged and interested in the story and in exploring life in Australia at this time frame. However, I did get frustrated by the way that Grace and Kitty behaved, and felt that a few of the many story threads were abandoned and then quickly resolved just to wrap up.
John
Doctor Sleep by Stephen King
Narrator Name: Will Patton
Rating the Audio Performance
Will Patton is quite an actor, capturing every nuance! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This is the touching story of a local hospice worker haunted by his eerie past!
Anna Servati
Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman
Narrator Name: Joan Walker
Rating the Audio Performance
The narrator was very good. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
When I first started reading this book, I wasn't sure how I would feel about it because I thought it would be depressing. At times funny and other times sad, I ended up loving this story. Britt-Marie was so genuine and to me loveable but so misunderstood most of the time. Her husband was a total jerk who took advantage of her. I loved how she found her way on her own and grew while she learned things that she was sheltered from before. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it.
Pat
Chances Are... by Richard Russo
Narrator Name: Fred Sanders
Rating the Audio Performance
Sanders narration draws you in to the story of three college friends back in the day of college and then at a reunion forty years later. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Russo brings three college friends together after forty years in the same Chilmark cottage and they learn what happened to the whereabouts of someone who disappeared from there during weekend so long ago.
Richard N B
Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey
Narrator Name: John Bolen
Rating the Audio Performance
The digital audio available through my library’s Overdrive system was read by John Bolen. I was not a great fan of his delivery, which seemed overly dramatic to me. I might have enjoyed this better had I read the text. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I hardly know what to write about this classic of the Western genre. It’s full of adventure, violence, strong men and women, tenderness, brutality and an abiding sense of justice. And, of course, there is the landscape, which Grey paints so vividly it is practically a character. The storyline and dialogue are a bit melodramatic but Grey’s story still captured this reader’s imagination. I was reminded of the many western movies I watched with my dad in the ‘50s and ‘60s. They were exciting and the good guys always won. Glad I finally read it.
Nina
The Only Plane in the Sky by Garrett M. Graff
Narrator Name: 45 person cast
Rating the Audio Performance
The audiobook performance is what drew me to listen to this one. The listener gets the opportunity to listen to real-life footage and first-hand accounts of what took place that fateful day. As a listener, I was able to immerse myself into each and every story, as if it just happened yesterday. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This audiobook was so well done. I'd highly recommend it to anyone that is looking for a factual and beautifully crafted oral history of a very tragic and unforgettable event that affected so many lives. I didn't read the physical book, but based on the content, I would lean towards the audiobook so you can hear the actual voices of both the survivors and victims. This one was very emotional, and I think the author did a fantastic job at honoring those who were lost by sharing their stories in a respectful fashion.
Jsn
The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson
Narrator Name: John Lee
Rating the Audio Performance
Perfect pacing, neither overacted or monotone. Well done. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Erik Larson is a master at telling history in a way that makes it come alive. Through his book these people become real, people you feel you know intimately. Churchill, and the key players during this important time in history, are highlighted. Compelling addition to WWII history!
Jill
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
Narrator Name: Nicole Lewis
Rating the Audio Performance
The voices were excellent, her voice embodied the character, had all of the right inflections and gave the character a true mental picture making her come to life. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Something that could totally happen, it tugged at my heartstrings for all of the characters.
Gerry
XO by Jeffery Deaver
Narrator Name: Marin Ireland
Rating the Audio Performance
An engaging narrator made this so-so book more enjoyable. I'd be happy to find more books narrated by Ireland. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I once enjoyed Deaver's mysteries, but hadn't read anything by him in years. Needing a book for the "X" category in two challenges, I found this one and decided it was worth a try. Have to say, it was only okay. With far too many red herrings and convoluted layers of intrigue, it was hard to say clearly at the end just who was guilty of what. The main character, Kathryn Dance, was not as interesting as Lincoln Rhyme (who makes a cameo appearance in this book, along with Amelia Sachs).
Gerry
Long Bright River by Liz Moore
Narrator Name: Allyson Ryan
Rating the Audio Performance
Very well done. The book was excellent, and made even better by Ryan's narration. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
4-1/2 stars for a gripping mystery set in present day Philadelphia. Mickey and Casey are sisters, raised by their reluctant grandmother after their mother's death from an overdose. Their paths diverged sharply in their late teens. Mickey graduated from high school and hoped to attend college; when that proved impossible, she eventually joined the police force, patrolling in Kensington, an impoverished, drug-plagued neighborhood in the northern part of the city. Casey is often seen there, soliciting on the streets to earn the cash she needs to feed her addiction. The sisters have been estranged for some five years, but when Casey disappears at the same time a murderer is stalking young women in the area, Mickey sets out to find her.
Gerry
Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson
Narrator Name: Marin Ireland
Rating the Audio Performance
This is the second book I've heard by this narrator, and she does a wonderful job. Her slightly sarcastic tone when speaking as Lillian was pitch-perfect! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Unquestionably odd, but also oddly engaging. Children who spontaneously combust when they get upset and a young woman who’s tasked with caring for them. As it turns out, it doesn’t fit any of the challenge categories (it’s definitely not the “lighthearted” novel I’d anticipated), but in the end, not a bad read, and an interesting perspective on parental love and protecting children from harm.
Gerry
The Dry by Jane Harper
Narrator Name: Stephen Shanahan
Rating the Audio Performance
Love that Aussie accent! Shanahan's narration is just perfect for this engaging mystery. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
An intriguing mystery set in a small town in Australia where a drought has all but destroyed the livelihood of local farmers, ranchers, and shopkeepers. The wife and son of a local rancher have been brutally murdered in their home, and the rancher himself was found in his truck, an apparent suicide. His childhood friend, now a federal investigator, returns home for the funeral, and is drawn into the investigation of the murder, which many believe may be connected with the long-ago disappearance and drowning of a young girl who'd been friends with both boys. Although the story wrapped up with no loose ends and certainly reads well as a stand-alone, this first book in a series has me looking forward to the next installment.
Judy
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
Narrator Name: Nicole Lewis
Rating the Audio Performance
Narrator did a great job portraying the different voices. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Somehow I never “got” this book.
Whitney
In Five Years by Rebecca Serle
Narrator Name: Megan Hilty
Rating the Audio Performance
Amazing! Love her voice and the way she tells the story. Plus the story is addicting so that helps. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
The book is such an interesting romance. I am not a romance fan and am enraptured by this book which totally sucked me in.
Lana
The Education of Henry Adams by Henry Adams
Narrator Name: David Colacci
Rating the Audio Performance
Mr. Colacci is one of my favorite narrators. His presentation is always smooth and easy to listen to. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I listened to the Blackstone audiobook of this book as trying to read as many of the 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die as I can. It had many quotes worth writing down, but overall I struggled to get through it. Perhaps I might have gained more from it if I had greater knowledge of the Greek classics and ancient history.
Laura
Beneath A Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan
Narrator Name: Will Damron
Rating the Audio Performance
Wonderful narration! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Loved this audio book. 4-1/2 stars. I have read/listened to over twenty WWII books and this is one of my favorites.
Laura
The Cruelest Month by Louise Penny
Narrator Name: Ralph Cosham
Rating the Audio Performance
Mr. Cosham's narration fits inspector Gamache perfectly. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I am late to the game. I just started listening to the Inspector Gamache series a few weeks ago. They are fun, good old fashioned whodunnits. The characters a quirky and lovable, and I have laughed out loud while listening.
sue
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
Narrator Name: Jack Hawkins and Louise Brealey
Rating the Audio Performance
Very clearly spoken. Easy to listen to. Just the right emphasis and drama to keep the story moving and real. The interview with the author was an extra plus...very well done. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
One of my favorites of the year. Not only was I surprised at the end, I didn't expect a surprise at the end. The story was easy to follow (so I thought) and the people real. I listened to the book in my car and I found myself looking for places to go so I could keep listening.
Brenda
Boys in the Trees by Carly Simon
Narrator Name: Carly Simon
Rating the Audio Performance
The audio was a little annoying at times because there were musical interludes at the beginning of chapters and Carly is soft spoken so it was hard to hear her over the music.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I really enjoyed this memoir by Carly Simon. I have always loved her songs and loved the little tidbits she let out about how and why she wrote some of them. Also hearing about her childhood was interesting, and she includes many mentions of male lovers and friends. All in all, a great listen.
Tessa
Honeymoon by James Patterson and Howard Roughan
Narrator Name: Campbell Scott and Hope Davis
Rating the Audio Performance
I was glad that the producers chose two talented voice artists to read the audio version. Campbell Scott takes those chapters from John O’Hara’s point of view while Hope Davis is chilling as the cunning and twisted Nora Sinclair. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Patterson and his team can sure churn out the fast-paced suspense/thrillers! The action is quick and the target ever-moving. The writing may be simple, but the plot holds the reader’s attention. Good beach/vacation (or forced quarantine - LOL) read.
Missy
NOS4A2 by Joe Hill
Narrator Name: Kate Mulgrew
Rating the Audio Performance
Kate Mulgrew did an amazing job of bringing the entire book come to life. She kept me sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for what came next and me wanting more. Literally the only audiobook I didn’t want to end. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Welcome to an adult's nightmare of Christmasland. Absolutely loved this book and cannot wait for the screen adaptation.
Anna Servati
Beneath A Scarlet Sky by Mark T. Sullivan
Narrator Name: Will Damron
Rating the Audio Performance
The audio performance was excellent. The narrator was easy to follow and make the book even more enjoyable. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
A very emotional and amazing story about the life of Pino Lella. I learned so much about WWII and the suffering of the Italian people. It's the first book I've read about the war from the Italian viewpoint. I find it remarkable that so little is known about the bravery and life of this hero. A powerful book that I would recommend to anyone interested in the historical events and people during WWII.
Dianne
The Running Girl by Sara Blaedel
Narrator Name: Christine Lakin
Rating the Audio Performance
Average performance. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Story drags some at the beginning.
Nina
Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson
Narrator Name: Marin Ireland
Rating the Audio Performance
The audio performance of this novel was fantastic! The narrator, Marin Ireland, was easy to understand and very articulate. I loved her use of expression while narrating the children's dialogue in this story, and it made for a very entertaining listen. I also enjoyed the quick and easy pace of this book. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I don't often encounter a novel with an utterly unique and quirky storyline as I did with this one. I applaud the author for his creativity and comical perspective on complex family dynamics. Underneath the humor and spontaneity in this story is an extremely heartwarming tale of finding a place in this world where you belong. There are underlying themes of class, wealth, and privilege as well as staying true and authentic to one's self.
Jessica
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, HER Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed by Lori Gottlieb
Narrator Name: Brittany Pressley
Rating the Audio Performance
This book was so perfectly read. It could have been really dry, but she brought emotion into the reading and it was lovely. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I bought this book on a whim. I was curious about the therapist as therapist AND patient story, and it was wonderful to hear the author's inner dialogue during sessions (just what I expected to hear therapists are thinking about!!!). We've all experienced heartbreak and her story was relatable. The patients she profiled were interesting -- even if their stories were just regular life, the stuff that happens to all of us.
Linda
Big Lies in a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain
Narrator Name: Susan Bennett
Rating the Audio Performance
This was a wonderful performance. Her voice is so easy to listen to, and she does multiple voices with apparent ease. The male voices were done well, and I thought that she really brought out each character’s personality. For example, Lisa always sounded a bit on edge, (and not too likable), and Anna and Morgan were instantly likable. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Another dual timeline book, but very well done. Anna Dale, female artist goes to North Carolina in 1939-40 to paint a mural for a small town post office, having won a contest to do so. She disappears suddenly. Morgan Christopher is unexpectedly released from prison (where she’s been for a year for a crime she did not commit) to restore the mural, which, all these years later, is in a state of disrepair. We get an excellent feel for small town life, with its prejudices, in 1940, with a great cast of characters - some likable, some not so much. And in the present day, Morgan feels a connection to the artist Anna, and tries to find out all she can about her. A really good story with an unexpected cliff hanger. Will there be a sequel?
Tessa B C
Turning Angel by Greg Iles
Narrator Name: Dick Hill
Rating the Audio Performance
Dick Hill does a pretty good job performing the audiobook. He sets a good pace and I like his voice for Penn Cage. He manages a decent teenaged Mia too, which is a bit surprising given his deep voice. But I really disliked the voice he used for Drew. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Book Two in the Penn Cage series. Iles can write a compelling story with lots of suspects, many twists and turns in the plot, complicated motives and subplots, and a fast pace that keeps the reader turning pages. Penn’s background as a prosecuting attorney in Houston serves him well. Murder is always a violent crime, of course, and the sexual component herein is particularly disturbing. But I have a major problem with THIS book due to the basic underlying relationships. So the basic “thriller genre” gets 3 stars (even with the violence against women), but loses a star for the particularly distasteful – and disgraceful – underlying theme here.
Clare
Circe by Madeline Miller
Narrator Name: Perdita Weeks
Rating the Audio Performance
Perdita Weeks' voice, intonation and narration are perfect for Circe. Her delivery is measured, varied in intonation, it cradles the ear and carries the listener along through the ups and downs of Circe's life, adventures, discoveries, self-journey and revelations about the nature of humanity and that of the gods. When this narration ended, I was stunned into silence by the poetry evoked throughout but particularly in the last couple of chapters as Circe embraces the humanity within herself, the imperfections of self and others and chooses love among mortals to a life among the gods with their indifference to the lives of others and cruelties. CIRCE is a classic novel and I will re-visit this audiobook for years to come. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Circe narrates a woman's journey through the self and the world, discovering the limitations of men and gods alike. Circe is a minor character mentioned in the Odyssey briefly as having been responsible for delaying Odysseus for seven years on her island where she 'bewitched him' into staying with her in exile. Miller imagines a different life for Circe and also creates a very different Odysseus: he is not the reader the Odyssey would have us believe if he allows his men to steal from and rape Circe, hence she turns them all into pigs as punishment. Exiled by her father, Helios, the Sun king, Circe discovers her witchcraft intuitively as she explores her island and listens to the truths within herself.
Susan
The Shape of Night by Tess Gerristen
Narrator Name: Hillary Huber
Rating the Audio Performance
She did an excellent job. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
The storyline was lame.
Sandi
The Bat by Jo Nesbo
Narrator Name: John Lee
Rating the Audio Performance
Accent very hard to understand. No fluctuation between characters. Not a narrator that I would want to listen to again. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Due to the narration I felt that I lost a lot of what the book was about. I was excited to read the translation of this book - the first Harry Hole book in the series. However, it was not as riveting as I had heard and I really did not enjoy it at all. I felt it bounced around between characters and storyline to the point of being very confusing. And coupled with a narrator whose accent was too strong, the book was not enjoyable at all.
Dorothy
Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
Narrator Name: Kate Rudd
Rating the Audio Performance
I must admit that I don't often listen to audiobooks. Rudd's narration bothered me when she lowered her voice to read the male characters' voices. The imposed social distancing and lack of access to the library has caused me to become more interested in audiobooks and e-books. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This YA book is realistic. I felt sorry for Aza and her constant inner dialog interrupting her social encounters.
Francisca
Hero of the Empire by Candice Millard
Narrator Name: Simon Vance
Rating the Audio Performance
Simon Vance does a marvelous job narrating the audiobook. His pace is good and he has the skill as a voice artist to different the many male characters. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Subtitle: The Boer War, a Daring Escape and the Making of Winston Churchill. Millard writes an interesting and detailed biography of the young Winston Churchill. Serving as a war correspondent during the Boer War in South Africa, he was a young, somewhat rash man eager to make his mark in the world. It’s a fascinating story and gives a somewhat different picture of the man most of us know only from his prominence during WWII. Yet, the reader gets a sense of the man he will become.
Lynn
The World That We Knew by Alice Hoffman
Narrator Name: Judith Light
Rating the Audio Performance
At first the narrator seemed to be talking to quietly but then I got used to it and I loved her voice for this book. It was the first book I had listened to with Judith Light narrating but I would certainly listen to her again. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Since Alice Hoffman is one of my favorite authors I was looking forward to the release of her newest novel. It did not disappoint! I wasn't sure if I wanted to listen to yet another book about the Holocaust but the idea of a golem and strong women characters had me choosing it with a credit on Audible. It was so well written and of course had me cheering on the good versus the evil! Richly developed characters brought the book to life.
Richard N B
The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
Narrator Name: William Hurt
Rating the Audio Performance
I hated William Hurt’s delivery on the audio. He sounded so bored and uninterested and the pace dragged. Though there were some moments when his performance captured my attention, he even managed to make the bullfight seem boring. I should have read the text. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
One of Hemingway’s earliest novels, this was first published in 1926 and has never been out of print since that time. It is loosely based on the author’s own experiences with a circle of friends frequently known as “The Lost Generation.” In general, I am a fan of Hemingway, but this novel missed the mark for me. The ennui with which these people live their lives just doesn’t interest me very much.
Eve
A Better Man by Louise Penny
Narrator Name: Robert Bathurst
Rating the Audio Performance
The narrator of the first ten or eleven books was so wonderful that it took a couple of books to get used to Mr. Bathurst. He truly has stepped up and it is a pleasure to listen. He has a very pleasant British demeanor. He is spot-on with his depiction of all our favorite characters. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Louise Penny is a master at creating a crime story in which the murder is not the centerpiece as much the characters involved in the telling. She proves that it takes a village.
Carolyn
The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin
Narrator Name: Maggie Hoffman
Rating the Audio Performance
Very engaging and captivating. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
An interesting twist on family, life and death. And the underlying question of whether our fate is plotted out or we have control or can alter that predicted outcome.
Susan
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
Narrator Name: Tom Hanks
Rating the Audio Performance
Tom Hanks is the ultimate performer; the book wouldn't have been as good without his narration. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Kind of staid.
Ricki
The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
Narrator Name: JD Jackson
Rating the Audio Performance
Wonderful voice - perfect for this novel. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I could really see this being required reading in schools - it has that feel and message to it.
Deborah
A Window Opens by Elisabeth Egan
Narrator Name: Julia Whelan
Rating the Audio Performance
The narrator caught the main character's voice perfectly. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
A 30-something mom thrust into a millennial start up. I had to laugh at all the jargon inserted into the dialog. The author captured corporate America perfectly. A family is the heart of this story and I loved their interactions and struggles.
Jane
Still Fooling 'Em by Billy Crystal
Narrator Name: Billy Crystal
Rating the Audio Performance
Billy (may I call you that) speaks very fast but since I was walking as I listened, it was okay. Because I didn’t need to focus on plot or characters this was a perfect “get out of the house and move” book. What do people who don’t like to read do in self-quarantine? Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Funny and entertaining.
Laura
The Last Romantics by Tara Conklin
Narrator Name: Cassandra Campbell
Rating the Audio Performance
I’ve listened to a lot of books narrated by Cassandra Campbell. She is a great narrator. Good characterization and she has a lovely reader's voice. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Family drama going back and forth in time. It’s really good.
Kathy
A Nearly Normal Family by M. T. Edvardson
Narrator Name: Richard Armitage, Georgia Maguire and Emily Watson
Rating the Audio Performance
Each narrator is a character from the book telling their side of the story. It was done so well I felt I was watching a movie. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Who dun it! A murder of a liar and, in my opinion, all around creepy man. Did the teenager he was dating kill him? What secrets was she keeping? Did her parents truly not know her or did they just turn a blind eye? What would parents do to keep their child out of jail? A story of how we get wrapped up in our own lives and it takes a horror to make us evaluate what we have done and are willing to do.
Kathy
Never Have I Ever by Joshilyn Jackson
Narrator Name: Joshilyn Jackson
Rating the Audio Performance
I love when the author performs the book because you know how it was meant to be read/heard. Well done Ms. Jackson! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
So many secrets in a small suburban block. One new comer discovers them all in a matter of hours with a little help from alcohol. I couldn’t believe what our hero was doing to get the upper hand. At times I had chills running down my spine. The dialogue between the two main characters to see who would get the upper hand was fascinating. I thought I figured it out and whoa, a new twist. Yes, I truly enjoyed this book.
Kristine
Vox by Christina Dalcher
Narrator Name: Julia Whelan
Rating the Audio Performance
Julia is my favorite narrator! She made it much easier for me to step out of my comfort zone and read a sci-fi/dystopian book. I probably wouldn’t have read it had it not been her voice! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Probably 3.5.
Betsy
The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey
Narrator Name: Soneela Nankani
Rating the Audio Performance
Nankani's narration brings the sights, sounds, smells and flavors of Bombay almost to realization. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
The mystery also weaves in much about the history of India in the 1920s, the seeds of what followed.
Linda
One Day in December by Josie Silver
Narrator Name: Eleanor Tomlinson and Charlie Anson
Rating the Audio Performance
I liked the narration of both Laurie’s and Jack’s characters, especially Jack’s. Both were well done. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I was expecting romantic comedy - yes, I got romance, twisted though it was, but not so much comedy. The whole premise of love at first sight — of being hopelessly in love with someone you HAVE NOT EVER MET — was hard to swallow. And when Laurie finally meets Jack, a long time after that first shared look, circumstances are not ideal - he’s her best friend/flatmate’s boyfriend. AND, he’s pretty much a jerk most of the time. Through the whole book, you knew they would end up together eventually. The narration was what kept me going with this book; I honestly don’t think I’d have kept going had I been reading and not listening!
Dianne
Today Will Be Different by Maria Semple
Narrator Name: Kathleen Wilhoite
Rating the Audio Performance
Excellent reading style. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Just the escape I need during our stay home safety period.
Elise
Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry
Narrator Name: Susan Denaker
Rating the Audio Performance
Good inflection, although all the male characters sounded the same. Guess that's not unusual. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Good, but slow. I wish Berry had delved more into Hannah's inner thoughts instead of just a recitation of her life.
Tessa
The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende
Narrator Name: Marisol Ramirez and Thom Rivera
Rating the Audio Performance
The audiobook is narrated by Marisol Ramirez and Thom Rivera, changing narrators as the primary points of view change in the novel from male to female and back again. I thought they did a marvelous job. But this was my second “reading” so I was already familiar with the story. Because it has so many character and complex storytelling I may not have enjoyed it as much had I not read it previously. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Allende covers three generations of the Trueba family in her native Chile. The novel weaves together personal and political triumphs and tragedies into an epic story of love and history. I love Allende’s luminous writing, and the way that she seamlessly introduces elements of magical realism into her stories. Her gift for vivid description had me feeling cold drafts, luxuriating in sumptuous fabrics, hearing the cacophony of a busy marketplace or a student riot, cringing at the stench of human waste in a prison cell. She makes me believe that a woman can have bright green hair, or be clairvoyant and commune with ghosts.
Kathy
Miracle Creek by Angie Kim
Narrator Name: Jennifer Lim
Rating the Audio Performance
Enjoyed her performance - really added a lot to the story. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Excellent story - the author kept everyone in suspense as the story unfolded.
Tessa
Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige
Narrator Name: Devon Sorvari
Rating the Audio Performance
Devon Sorvari does a fine job of voicing the audiobook. She sets a good pace and has the skill needed to differentiate the many characters. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This is an imaginative retelling...or perhaps sequel...to L. Frank Baum’s THE WIZARD OF OZ books. The characters are all here, but they aren’t as they were portrayed in Baum’s classic books, or the much beloved movie. Amy Gumm was a decent heroine --- self-reliant, principled, tenacious, willing to sacrifice for the greater good. However, the “mean girl” theme was a little heavy-handed for my tastes (and my stage of life). So my final verdict is average. 
