June 1, 2017 - July 5, 2017
Debra from Hubbard, OH
Faith from Montvale, NJ
Barbara
Radium Girls by Kate Moore
Narrator Name: Angela Brazil
Rating the Audio Performance
Perfect, personal connection to the story! Author's voice pulled me in to the period time and feelings of the "Girls". Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Important historical information of the abuse to women particularly, and to all in the name of making more money and maintaining "power" by big companies.
Francisca E B
Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
Narrator Name: Jon Krakauer
Rating the Audio Performance
Krakauer narrates the audio version himself. He does an admirable job. It cannot have been easy for him to relive the events. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
The subtitle says it all: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster. This is Krakauer’s first-person account of the Everest expedition in May 1996 that resulted in the death of six climbers, and severe injuries to several others. I’ve read two of Krakauer’s other books and enjoy his writing. He has a gift for putting the reader in the situation, and I think he works hard to present a balanced story. The result is a book that is compelling and interesting, even when the reader knows the outcome.
shannon
The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck
Narrator Name: Cassandra Campbell
Rating the Audio Performance
Good but not great. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
The story is compelling and doesn't let you loose. These are strong women survivors! But, I need one character to care about and I didn't like/care about any of these women.
Nicolette
Working Stiff by Judy Melinek, M.D. and T.J. Mitchell
Narrator Name: Tanya Eby
Rating the Audio Performance
I've heard worse narrators, but I just didn't find anything interesting in Ms. Eby's tone or inflections. Just ran a bit flat for me. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This book is stories about a coroner. I found the perspective intriguing, especially when she was talking about her experience with 9/11.
Gerry
Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain
Narrator Name: Alison Elliott
Rating the Audio Performance
Excellent reader, very pleasant voice to listen to. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
4-1/2 stars for a completely engrossing fictionalized story focused on the eugenics program sponsored by the state of North Carolina from 1929 through 1977. Over and over, I am astounded at the terrible things that have been done in this country by those in power, whether government officials or simply powerful individuals or groups, to citizens considered less valuable for any number of reasons.
Shirley
A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Backman
Narrator Name: George Newbern
Rating the Audio Performance
Excellent performance. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Awesome story of a man whose life fell apart after his wife's death and how he overcame his depression.
Kelly
Turbo Twenty-Three by Janet Evanovich
Narrator Name: Loralei King
Rating the Audio Performance
Love having the same narrator throughout the series. Very good distinction between characters. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Typical Stephanie plum storyline with all the usual characters.
KC
Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson
Narrator Name: Neil deGrasse Tyson
Rating the Audio Performance
I enjoyed his performance although there were some times that I had to really pay attention as to not daydream. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Listening to Neil deGrasse Tyson's latest jaunt through space and how he covers astrophysics has lead me to realize how incredibly small we all are.
Beverlee Abell
Into the Water by Paula Hawkins
Narrator Name: Laura Aikman, Rachel Bavidge, Sophie Aldred, Daniel Weyman, and Imogen Church,
Rating the Audio Performance
Having multiple narrators is not important to me - I am usually okay with one - but for this book having multiple people helped to keep the story straight! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I found the beginning to be a little "messy" but really loved the middle to end of the book - very powerful!
Diane
The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon
Narrator Name: Cassandra Campbell and Kathe Mazur
Rating the Audio Performance
Familiar to me from the Scarlet series, I appreciate her versatility in reading in a more mature manner for an adult audience. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Interesting plot that keeps you guessing, but at the same time depth of thought.
Linda
My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier
Narrator Name: Jonathan Pryce
Rating the Audio Performance
The narration by Jonathan Pryce was not pryceless, but perfect. (Sorry!) His narration allowed the proper amount of mystery and confidence. I hope I find more books narrated by him.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
A gothic romance by the Queen, duMaurier. Is Rachel more than what she portrays? Why does she seem to be toying with Philip's emotions when so recently widowed? Who is telling the truth and who is hiding it? Classic.
Linda
The Traitor's Wife by Allison Pataki
Narrator Name: Madeleine Maby
Rating the Audio Performance
Amateurish, uninspired. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
The story should have been intriguing. Instead, I found overwritten dialogue and stereotypical characters, a manipulative wife who uses her wiles to get what she wants. Benedict Arnold didn't have a chance against her.
Tessa B C
Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear
Narrator Name: Rita Barrington
Rating the Audio Performance
Rita Barrington does a very good job voicing the audio version of this book. Her pacing is good and her skill as a voice artist breathes life into Winspear’s characters. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
2.5 stars. This is the first in a series featuring a former housemaid and Army nurse. The book begins in 1929, and Maisie Dobbs has opened her own private investigation agency. I like Maisie and the supporting characters, but this first book spent way too much time in the past, and not nearly enough time on the actual mystery. Still, although I was disappointed in this book, I’d be willing to try another because of the characters, setting and period.
Ricki
Anne Frank Remembered by Miep Gies and Allison Leslie Gold
Narrator Name: Barbara Rosenblat
Rating the Audio Performance
I believed that Rosenblat's voice and Miep's voice are one and the same. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Miep's story really fleshes out the events before, during, and after what is covered in Anne Frank's diary.
Linda
The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd
Narrator Name: Jenna Lamia and Adepero Oduye
Rating the Audio Performance
Amazing performances from both narrators. They brought the characters to life. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
It is a dual storyline of a privileged southern woman, though not physically enslaved, mentally enslaved by the limitations of the time and her inability to speak, for herself and Handful, a young woman physically enslaved but mentally free. The story is about these brave women, their relationship, their thoughts and dreams, and how they defied the parameters dictated to them.
Shirley
Since We Fell by Dennis Lehane
Narrator Name: Julia Whelan
Rating the Audio Performance
Very good performance. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Interesting boook but seems like almost two stories. Had to go back to listen again as I got lost for a while.
Suzanne
The Nix by Nathan Hill
Narrator Name: Ari Fliakos
Rating the Audio Performance
He was absolutely brilliant. The plot is complicated involving many (6-8) primary characters. The author has cleverly woven the story through three time periods. On top of this, is the book is a caustic, funny, devilish point perfect satire of the times, events, passions and foibles of the characters. The narrator was flawless in depicting the essence of each character. With subtle changes in voices the listener knew what character was speaking. He was spot-on with inflection to illustrate mood, personality, fatigue, confusion, innocence. The syntax and rhythm of the cheating college student, the drugged out gamer, the narcissistic agent was incredible. This book MUST be heard. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Oh dear. didn't see this and can't rewrite above. The story is basically about a son and mother. The mother left when son was 11 and with wonderfully delightful political satire the son must find his mother and eventually learn Sheri's story. The time eras are the present when the son is a lackluster college professor and once a promising author who must give up his nonexistent book advance. Another time frame is when the mother left 2004-ish and the 1968 democratic convention with the humor and satiric take on these events from protesting - Occupy Wall
Street, cops, judges, lawyers, branding agents, doctors (no one is safe) - are delightful.
Cathey
Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
Narrator Name: Juliet Stevenson
Rating the Audio Performance
Audio performance was superb. Ms. Stevenson's reading helped me continue when I might have quit - gave clarity where I struggled. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
"Storyline" is a bit of a stretch. Think of reading to someone every thought, every movement, every minuscule segment of your life for an entire day - EVERYTHING! I know its on the 1,000 books to read before you die and every other "wonderful" list, but I really struggled and I'm sure I missed many nuances. I'm glad I can say I read it, but only because I'm an English major and probably should have had it somewhere in college. I'm going back to Dickens, Eudora Welty, Norman Mclean, Wilkie Collins, Carlos Ruiz Zafon...anyone who will give me some kind of movement written about in a lyrical way.
Sandi
Burntown by Jennifer McMahon
Narrator Name: Abby Craden
Rating the Audio Performance
Did well on voice recognition and emphasis. She probably did much better than I really heard. Not liking this novel put me off quite a bit, so concentrating on the narrator's voice was a bit difficult. I did not, however, notice anything that I really disliked about her narration, so would definitely give her another chance. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This book was not what I expected. I think it's most redeeming aspect was the way that McMahon tied it all up at the end. There were parts of this book that I struggled to get through. It felt like a wild goose chase from time to time, thinking there was nothing that could possibly happen that could redeem the story. Not quite magical realism, not quite a mystery, not really teenage angst, more fantasy than anything. This book fell short of my expectations. Thinking she knew who she was, the protagonist became involved with a senator's son, a drug dealer and a lunch lady. Chased from her home in an abandoned car, Necco - the name she took while on the run - began to understand that things were not as black and white as she thought.
sandy
Fates and Traitors by Jennifer Chiaverini
Narrator Name: Christina Moore
Rating the Audio Performance
Sometimes a bit difficult to figure out exactly which character was talking, especially when there was more than one in a scene. But generally she was right on. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
We all know the basic story of John Wilkes Booth and his assasination of President Lincoln. What we didn't know what his family's story, or Mary Surrat's family, or any of the other people who loved and abetted and tolerated him. Yes, it's fiction, but the history is there and the author has again done a fantastic job of enlarging that history to make Booth seem so very real -- you almost feel sorry for him. He is much like some people today who believe that they are the only ones who matter and believe that they alone can save the rest of society.
Sherrie
At the Water's Edge by Sara Gruen
Narrator Name: Justine Eyre
Rating the Audio Performance
The narrator did a good job with the accents of the characters and differing their voices. But I found her inflection tiring and over dramatic for most of the book. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I did not like the book at all. I felt like the characters were shallow and the story lacking. Too much drama and not much substance. I expected more. Very disappointed.
Denine
Landfall by Ellen Urbani
Narrator Name: Lisa Renee Pitts
Rating the Audio Performance
I enjoyed the reader's voice. She made it interesting to listen to this story. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I loved how this story unfolded and what seemed like a coincidence was no coincidence. Also, the retelling of the horrors of Hurricane Katrina is a good reminder to us all that real people suffered. Though these people were fictional in the book, some people suffered some of the same terrible things. Rose and Rosebud will stay with me for a long time.
Barbara
First Comes Love by Emily Giffin
Narrator Name: Emily Foster and Catherine Taber
Rating the Audio Performance
Loved hearing the two sisters with different voices! It helped with distinguishing Meredith from Josie and, by the end of the audiobook, you were good friends with each. There was lots of inflection and spot-on timing. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
My sister and I are much like Josie and Meredith, so maybe I liked this more than someone without a sibling but it still a very interesting read. The story has a lot of twists and I was always wondering just where Gabe fit into the puzzle!
Francisca E B
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
Narrator Name: George Newbern
Rating the Audio Performance
George Newbern does a wonderful job narrating the audiobook. He brings these very different characters to life, giving each a unique voice. If I didn’t have to return it to the library, I’d start listening all over again. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
What a joy this book is! Backman peoples the novel with an assortment of quirky characters who form a community, and despite himself, Ove joins with them. I laughed aloud so often, and I felt for Ove’s loneliness as a child, as a young man, and as a mature man. I also rejoiced at his triumphs, and marveled at his strength of character. I worried about him and cheered him on. I absolutely fell in love with Ove.
Kristen
The Assistants by Camille Perri
Narrator Name: Jorjeana Marie
Rating the Audio Performance
For the most part I enjoyed the narration. Here and there the accents could get a little overdone. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Perfect reading for a summer book club discussion.
katherine
Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough
Narrator Name: Anna Bentinck, Josie Dunn, Bea Holland, and Huw Parmenter
Rating the Audio Performance
The narrators were great. They kept me interested. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I was interested in the story since I had heard so much hype about the book. It was an interesting storyline and I wanted to find out what was the surprise ending everyone was talking about. Sadly I was disappointed in the ending. It made no sense.
Julie
Call the Midwife by Jennifer Worth
Narrator Name: Nicola Barber
Rating the Audio Performance
Barber does a suitably empathetic performance of this sensitive work. She voices both posh and cockney accents with equal aplomb. I know I enjoyed the audio more than I would have the print copy. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I am a fan of the TV series, so I enjoyed getting the whole backstory from the real book. Some parts ran a little long, but all in all, an enjoyable read.
Carol
Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan
Narrator Name: Will Damron
Rating the Audio Performance
Mr. Damron make this book come alive! Through his voice, he expressed all of the horror of the story yet also managed the tender scenes wonderfully. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
If I hadn't known that this was a true story, I wouldn't have believed it. That any young man would have to endure so many atrocities and risk his life so many times seemed unbelievable. It was a fascinating story and taught me so much about Italy during the Second World War. Excellent, excellent book!
Linda
Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie
Narrator Name: Jim Dale
Rating the Audio Performance
Perfect voice for reading Peter Pan. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
What can I tell you about Peter Pan that you don't already know? It's almost exactly what Mary Martin (or Sandy Duncan or Cathy Rigby or Allison Williams) told us.
Deborah
Anything Is Possible by Elizabeth Strought
Narrator Name: Kimberly Farr
Rating the Audio Performance
Kimberly did a fantastic job with all the numerous characters. I almost felt as though I were watching a play. I anticipated every new character she brought to life. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I loved MY NAME IS LUCY BARTON. I had expected this to be more of a prequel to it, however, she took various characters in that novel and brought them to light via an almost short story theme with the gamut of human emotions, sadness, greed, loneliness etc. Amazingly well done. At first I didn't enjoy the ending and felt a bit disappointed, but after contemplation it was an excellent ending.
Diana
Welcome to Night Vale by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor
Narrator Name: Cecil Baldwin, Dylan Marron, Therese Plummer, Retta, and Dan Bittner
Rating the Audio Performance
The picked a great narrator for the book. His voice acting went really well with the material. It synced well with the podcasts. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
If you're a fan of the podcast I think listening to the audiobook is the way to go with this addition to the Welcome to Night Vale 'verse. I love the podcast and thought the book was great. I will say that I don't believe this is a good introduction to Welcome to Night Vale, and if I hadn't listened to the podcasts prior to listening to this book I would have been a bit lost.
Debra
Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Narrator Name: Julia Whelan
Rating the Audio Performance
First book I've listened to performed by Julia Whelan, and have found it well done. Julia seems to make a real connection with the characters, which makes the audiobook so enjoyable. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
The author has "both" Hannahs facing some "tough stuff", such as making choice decisions, believing in fate, accepting responsibility. Loved Hannah's connection to cinnamon rolls, as I am similarly obsessed! One of those books you don't want to end because you have grown fond of character(s).
Linda
Theft by Finding: Diaries (1977-2002) by David Sedaris
Narrator Name: David Sedaris
Rating the Audio Performance
Who is better to read David Sedaris but David Sedaris? No one. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
From diaries that he's kept most of his life. The minutae and the maximus.
Gerry
Beartown by Fredrik Backman
Narrator Name: Marin Ireland
Rating the Audio Performance
Excellent. Very easy voice to listen to. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Superb! I just finished this novel and am tempted to start right from the beginning and read it all again, it was that good. In a novel very different from his debut A MAN CALLED OVE, Backman brings to life a small hockey town somewhere in northern Scandinavia, in a compelling story that is a meditation on family and team loyalties, the courage to go against the expectations of culture, and the lengths to which individuals will go to protect their own and make their dreams come true.
Tessa B C
The Jesus Cow by Michael Perry
Narrator Name: Michael Perry
Rating the Audio Performance
Perry read the audio version himself. He has a great delivery. I can’t imagine anyone else doing a better job. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
When a calf is born on Christmas Eve with the distinct face of Jesus on his side, bachelor farmer Harley Jackson knows he’s in for a struggle. Michael Perry is known for his nonfiction essays on life in small-town Wisconsin; this is his first novel. Perry has a gift for describing people and situations; he makes the ridiculous totally believable. I am reminded of Carl Hiaasen, but with more heart. There are a few scenarios that really stretch credulity here, but on the whole I enjoyed the novel -- we all need a little light entertainment now and again.
Diane
Hag-Seed by Margaret Atwood
Narrator Name: R. H. Thompson
Rating the Audio Performance
Good reader, easy to listen to. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Engrossing!
Linda
Al Franken, Giant of the Senate by Al Franklin
Narrator Name: Al Franken
Rating the Audio Performance
Typical Franken. Enhanced the story. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Loved hearing about young Franken, his rise in the world of comedy, his run for the Senate, and the his experience of being a Senator. Not many in the Senate would be able to write a book so entertaining and demonstrating the humor that is characteristically Franken.
Carol
The Cub's Way by Tom Verducci
Narrator Name: Tom Verducci
Rating the Audio Performance
Very pleasing voice and as the author, really puts a little extra in the telling. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Being a Cub fan, I was fascinated by the choices that were made to form the World Series team baseball players. We live in eastern TN and we attend a lot of the Smokies games (the AA Cubs affiliate). We felt like we watched most of those young players "grow up". I feel that the choices made not only for their abilities but by their character played a big part of making their team a very special one.
Lori
The Nix by Nathan Hill
Narrator Name: Ari Fliakos
Rating the Audio Performance
The audio performance was good. It was generally easy to distinguish the characters. I particularly liked the part with the female student. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I didn't find any of the characters likeable, and I found it difficult to relate to most of them. I stuck with it through something like 17 CDs, and I have to say that I regret doing so. Perhaps I would have liked it more if the book had been edited down to just a few of the plot lines, but, despite the length of the book, the parts I was most interested in didn't get wrapped up as well as they could have.
Eve
Before the Frost by Henning Mankell
Narrator Name: Cassandra Campbell
Rating the Audio Performance
Good narration, mixed different accents for Swedish and Norwegian but easy to understand. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Interesting plot introducing new character (Det Wallendar's daughter) and left open for perhaps a new series. Missing persons and serial killer story takes place in Sweden.
Faith
Turbo Twenty-Three by Janet Evanovich
Narrator Name: Lorelei King
Rating the Audio Performance
I have listened to many books in this series and Lorelei King always amazes me with how well she changes her voice to suit the many characters. She is so talented and really brings the characters to life as I listen to these books. I actually stopped reading this series around book #4 and only listen to them now because I enjoy the voice performance so much. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I was a bit disappointed with this one. I have read all the books in the Stephanie Plum series and loved them all. My favorite character is Grandma Mazur, but she is not a huge part of this story and I was more than disappointed there wasn't a lot of Stephanie's bumbling and accidental captures as in the other books. This book fell short of what had been delivered in the previous books.
Linda
Letterman: The Last Giant of Late Night by Jason Zinoman
Narrator Name: Michael Goldstrom
Rating the Audio Performance
Excellent job. Well done. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Behind the curtains of both David Letterman and his TV shows. A lot I didn't know.
Richard N B
Death Masks by Jim Butcher
Narrator Name: James Marsters
Rating the Audio Performance
James Marsters does a great job voicing the audio. His pacing is suitable to the action-packed plot, but not so fast as to lose the listener. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I like this series mostly because I really like Harry -- his puns and his self-deprecating humor. I like that he’s a decent guy who inflicts violence on the bad guys, and generally behaves like a gentleman. However, as I continue the series I find the plots more and more formulaic, although this installment has a few plot twists and some characters that lend additional interest.
Diane
Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough
Narrator Name: Bea Holland, Huw Parmenter, Josie Dunn, Anna Bentinck
Rating the Audio Performance
One of the first books I've listened to that has more than one narrator. It helps to follow along since it goes back and forth from character to character. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Storyline is great, it's one of those fun chick thrillers that everyone likes to read lately.
Joan
The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather
Narrator Name: Pam Ward
Rating the Audio Performance
Ms. Ward definitely did justice to Willa Cather's characters. She brought to life both the story and the time period. I will sometimes listen to a book at a higher playback speed, but in this instance I did not because I wanted to catch every word and nuance of this beautiful narration. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Willa Cather is one of my favorite authors. One of my goals for this year was to finish any of her novels I may have missed. THE SONG OF THE LARK was a beautiful story. Ms. Cather is always able to bring a time and place to life through her characters and her descriptions.
Linda
Nevertheless: A Memoir by Alec Baldwin
Narrator Name: Alec Baldwin
Rating the Audio Performance
The reading was good. The audio-quality was not. I could not always hear what Baldwin was saying (I listened in the car) and at times it was unavoidably obvious that the quality changed - might have been a different reading session. I have never had this experience with an audiobook before. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Baldwin recounts his life, his opinions and his behaviors, even acknowledging that he may have been quick to anger.
Mary Pat
The Color of Secrets by Lindsay Ashford
Narrator Name: Heather Wilds
Rating the Audio Performance
The narrator did a nice job of telling the story and enabled the reader to distinguish between different characters. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
A good story and good character development. I found myself talking to the characters when they did foolish things.
Sherri
The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena
Narrator Name: Kirsten Potter
Rating the Audio Performance
Very good inflection and voice change without being overdone. Suspenseful as required. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Kept me listening. Who can you trust? The story is about the kidnapping of a baby and the unraveling of secret lives in the process trying to bring her back to her family. This is a book that will make you paranoid/cynical. No real good guys. Makes you appreciate the life you have. Moral of the story - don't keep secrets and don't be greedy/selfish. Lots of twists and turns but with pretty good clues along the way.
Phyllis
The Stars Are Fire by Anita Shreve
Narrator Name: Suzanne Elise Freeman
Rating the Audio Performance
Very good story, narrated very well. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Once again, Anita Shreve comes through with a page-turning "chick lit" in time for summer! I started the novel in hardcover, but had to turn it in when it came due at the library and then got the audiobook to finish this heartwarming story and so glad I listened to the end. Grace Holland and her two children will live long after you finish. Highly recommended!
Julie
Girl Waits With Gun by Amy Stewart
Narrator Name: Christina Moore
Rating the Audio Performance
I had read reviews that Moore did a fantastic job narrating this audio and I have to agree. She had just the right tone for each of the sisters, as well as the other characters, whether male or female. I am so glad I listened to the book. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I think this book is based on a real life person, though I am not sure about the events covered in the book. Regardless, it was very entertaining and gives a wonderful sense of the times (1914 New Jersey/New York area). I will keep reading this series.
Linda
Razor Girl by Carl Hiaasen
Narrator Name: John Rubinstein
Rating the Audio Performance
Wow! Rubinstein can read to me anytime he wants. Great performance. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Typical Hiaasen: looney situations in Florida revolving around an environmental issue. This one seemed a little bluer than I care for.
Linda
They're Playing Our Song by Carole Bayer Sager
Narrator Name: Carole Bayer Sager
Rating the Audio Performance
I think her narrating voice. Must be similar to how she describes her singing voice - adequate and quiet. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
A memoir of the lyricist who has worked with some of the most famous composers of pop music including Marvin Hamlisch, Burt Bacharach and Bob Dylan. A lot of name-dropping.
Tessa B C
Days of Awe by Lauren Fox
Narrator Name: Luci Christian
Rating the Audio Performance
Luci Christian does a fine job performing the audiobook. She has good pacing and really brought Isabel to life. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This is the kind of character-driven novel I really enjoy. As Isabel reflects on past events and her relationships with best friend, daughter, mother, and ex-husband, the reader comes to know her. I felt her confusion, pain, loss, loneliness, but also her joy and hope for the future.
Susie
Malice at the Palace by Rhys Bowen
Narrator Name: Katherine Kellgren
Rating the Audio Performance
Love Kellgren's narration of this series - she has so many fun voices. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I enjoyed this one and I look forward to listening to the next one.
Betsy
George by Alex Gino
Narrator Name: Jamie Clayton
Rating the Audio Performance
Narrator reads a child's voice, without infantilizing or adultizing the voice. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
A complex subject -- transgender child -- told in a fairly simple way (this may offend some people either due to subject-matter or because it doesn't go far enough to explore the real problems and issues faced by transgender people), and only the first steps of transgender self-realization. I found, though, that it made me very sympathetic to George, who wants to be Melissa.
Beverlee
The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck
Narrator Name: Cassandra Campbell
Rating the Audio Performance
Felt that the characters were not differentiated enough in their voices. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
It was a little too much on the surface for me. The characters had rich, secretive lives and I wanted to know more about how and why. It was a fascinating story and I enjoyed it, but I wanted more.
Kai
The Blue Moon by David Neth
Narrator Name: Nathan Weiland
Rating the Audio Performance
The narrator, Nathan Weiland, does a wonderful emotional job of narrating the story in which the Harpers are questioning each other after being out of sync with each other. Great way of bringing the story with a final showdown against evil. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This is the fifth book in the Under the Moon series. With so many years apart from magic, the Harper family was able to live a normal life. It took the death of Sofia to separate the Harpers. It took a rumor that Sofia is alive to bring them all back with one final hope of being a family again. There is mistrust and question if joining the Fire Wizards and Pentab was a wise decision. If there are any hope for the Harper family to be whole again they are going to need to trust each other. Readers/listeners are going to question of which is the lesser evil: the Fire Wizards or Pentab and if there will be a family reunion with everyone in the Harper family surviving this one last confrontation with their enemies. So many questions.
Judy
The Bees by Laline Paull
Narrator Name: Orlagh Cassidy
Rating the Audio Performance
Cassidy never disappoints. Perfect for this material. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Fascinating and heartwarming. Bee society in all its complexity. Flora's adventures and emotions are scientifically accurate, yet, oddly human. A charming and illuminating read. Have already recommended it to many of my friends.
Tessa B C
One Plus One by Jojo Moyes
Narrator Name: Nicola Stanton, Elizabeth Bower, Steven France and Ben Elliot
Rating the Audio Performance
The audio was voiced by four performers: Nicola Stanton, Elizabeth Bower, Steven France and Ben Elliot. I don’t know who voiced which character, but they each did a marvelous job of bringing them to life. I particularly liked the way the women interpreted Jess and Tanzie. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Four different characters tell the story: Jess, Ed, Tanzie (Jess’s daughter) and Nicky (Marty’s son and Jess’s stepson). This resulted in a slow start, while all the characters were introduced and the central conflict developed. The book jacket promises “an irresistible love story.” I don’t know about “irresistible” but it’s an enjoyable contemporary novel.
Lori
Say No More by Hank Phillippi Ryan
Narrator Name: Xe Sands
Rating the Audio Performance
It was easy to tell which character was which during the audio production. Because the story bounced around between subplots, I think perhaps it wasn't the best choice for an audiobook. I wonder if I would have enjoyed the book more if I had read the book. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I enjoyed the ethical issues raised in the book, but I didn't enjoy the book as much as I had expected. I heard the author speak about the book and it sounded very exciting, but perhaps the format detracted from the story for me.
Dorothy
The Forbidden Garden by Ellen Herrick
Narrator Name: Fiona Hardingham
Rating the Audio Performance
Overall she was an okay reader, her British accent fit the British characters in the story; but had an issue with the accent for the main character who was from the northeastern part of the U.S. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Had read a review comparing the storyline and book to a Kate Morton book. NOT EVEN CLOSE. I did eventually get past the accent thing, and an American knowing all of the slang for items in England. But, there were still parts of the storyline that I could not buy into.
Dorothy
Rise of the Rocket Girls by Nathalia Holt
Narrator Name: Erin Bennett
Rating the Audio Performance
From the first pages the narrator had me listening to the story attentively. She was able to get all pronunciations of names and technical terms down, so that the story just flowed quickly. When the book was over, I was sad to not hear more about these ladies. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
From the first the author captivated me with the story of the women who were the first computers, before there were machines to do the job of the calculations to get the U.S. to the moon and other space exploration missions. Math that for me is such a foreign language, it should be classified that way at school. Loved the book!
Karen
Testimony by Scott Turow
Narrator Name: Wayne Pyle
Rating the Audio Performance
Wayne Pyle has a great voice for reading this book. He voices each character believably. The tempo of his reading engages the listener, makes the story exciting and keeps the listener listening. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Bill ten Boom, a former prosecutor, in need of a change in lifestyle takes a position with the International Criminal Court in the Hague. Ten years after the Bosnian War has ended a witness, Ferko Rincic, comes forward with the claim that 400 Roma were forced out of their refugee camp, driven away a short distance, forced into a cave, and then were buried alive by a grenade-generated landslide. Boom's job is to investigate the claim and determine if someone can be prosecuted. He gathers information from various sources including Major General Merriwell, Major Atilla Doby and Roma people. The investigation is full of misdirection including romantic encounters, his kidnapping and near death, and discoveries about his family.
Jacqueline
Silver Silence: A Psy-Changeling Trinity Novel by Nalini Singh
Narrator Name: Angela Dawe
Rating the Audio Performance
Angela Dawe is great; she brings out the characters very well. She is each character whether they are male or female. Great job! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This is a great book to complement the Psy-Changeling series. I love the way Singh brings two totally different people together, and from the first page it is action and romance the entire way through. I love this author! 
