October 1, 2015 - November 2, 2015
Cynthia from McDonald, PA
Jamie from Rockford, IL
Janice from Monmouth, OR
Cynthia
Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Narrator Name: Jonathan Davis
Rating the Audio Performance
This was a stunning book, even better in audio format. The names of the characters, streets, towns, etc. are Spanish, so having a narrator pronouncing these correctly, with a lovely accent, added to the ambiance of the story. Davis was a supreme narrator. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This book is wonderfully imaginative, suspenseful, and engaging from the first paragraph. The characters are wonderfully developed and the storyline is captivating.
Susan
Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
Narrator Name: Lynn Chen
Rating the Audio Performance
Loved the English, Chinese and American accents. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Enjoyed the storyline.
Cherry
The Wonder of All Things by Jason Mott
Narrator Name: Julia Whelan
Rating the Audio Performance
I found myself talking back to Ava's dad, yelling, well maybe not yelling, but certainly talking back to both him and the 'preacher' as if I could change the storyline. I thoroughly enjoyed the narration, which brought each character to life. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Ava and Wash, both thirteen, are the center of this story of love, sacrifice and miracles. I was with them every step of their journey; however, Ava's dad infuriated me. I couldn't understand his inability to protect his daughter or allow his family be manipulated by a charlatan preacher. I laughed, groaned with frustration, and cried...what more could I ask.
Francisca E B
Serena by Ron Rash
Narrator Name: Phil Gigante
Rating the Audio Performance
Phil Gigante does a wonderful job performing the audiobook. His pacing is good, and he gives each character a unique voice. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
In 1929, George Pemberton brings his new wife, Serena, back from Boston to North Carolina, where they plan to make their fortune in timber. Lady MacBeth has nothing on Serena. I can’t remember when I loved reading a book about a character I disliked so much. Serena is fascinating. I liked how Rash incorporated the history of the era, giving the novel a strong sense of time and place.
Sandy
The End of the Affair by Graham Greene
Narrator Name: Colin Firth
Rating the Audio Performance
I had never read anything by Graham Greene, but was intrigued by the idea of Colin Firth as a narrator. His performance was incredible. The story is told from two points of view. As the events unravel, the author explores the concept of human frailty and divine redemption. After listening to the novel, I learned more about Greene's life and work. This is the best audiobook I have purchased. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Graham Greene was a novelist who was rooted in Catholic theology. This novel explores the idea of conscience, sin, and redemption. However, it is told in a way that presents the ideas in a fully human sequence of events and the characters' response to them. Totally engaging story which leaves the listener with much room for thought.
Suzanne
The Martian by Andy Weir
Narrator Name: R.C. Bray
Rating the Audio Performance
The narrator was excellent. He personified Mark Watney (the main character). He also did a wonderful job of differentiating between all the many characters. He also did a pretty good job on the accents. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Amazing story. I was so invested in the main character, it was nerve-wracking at times. Loved it!
Janice
Dead Wake by Erik Larson
Narrator Name: Scott Brick
Rating the Audio Performance
I enjoy Brick's voice; it's mellow easy to listen to. He reads lots of audiobooks so his voice is familiar and like that of an old friend. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Larson retells the story of the Lusitania. He's good at providing personalized stories of the passengers and crew members.
Peggy Niles
Blueprints by Barbara Delinsky
Narrator Name: Amy Rubinate
Rating the Audio Performance
Nicely done -- always enjoy Barbara Delinsky's books and the performer did well. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Typical Delinsky book -- very enjoyable.
Linda
John Glenn: A Memoir by John Glenn
Narrator Name: John Glenn
Rating the Audio Performance
Senator Glenn did an okay job of reading this abridgment of his memoir. His speech was a little stilted, letting me know that he was reading, but not bad for a nonprofessional who I suspect is really a quiet family man. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I was disappointed to discover that this was an abridged version of his memoir. I'm sure it covers the highlights of Senator Glenn's life from growing up in small town Ohio to entering the armed forces, marrying his schoolmate, becoming a test pilot, an astronaut, a senator and returning to space, but I'm left feeling "tell me something I don't know."
Linda
Foxcatcher: The True Story of My Brother's Murder, John du Pont's Madness, and the Quest for Olympic Gold by Mark Schultz
Narrator Name: Stephen Mendel
Rating the Audio Performance
Good listening. No complaints. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
More in depth than the movie (no surprise). Really covers the Schultz brothers' childhood and progression in wrestling.
Linda
A Lucky Life Interrupted: A Memoir of Hope by Tom Brokaw
Narrator Name: Mark Bramhall
Rating the Audio Performance
I was disappointed that Mr. Brokaw didn't read this one himself as he had several others of his books. Bramhall did a very good job though. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
A very personal story of Brokaw's cancer diagnosis. He reflects on his morality and his gifted life and how his privilege allows him the best care. Interesting, but not quite up to Brokaw's usual standards. Maybe he is still too close to ground zero.
Peg
Mindless Eating by Brian Wansink
Narrator Name: Brian Wansink
Rating the Audio Performance
Facts made interesting by a lighthearted narration. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Nonfiction discussion of things you think you know about healthier eating that really have to do with mindless cues. Very informative and not preachy. Lots to learn here.
Vikki
The Condition by Jennifer Haigh
Narrator Name: Jennifer Van Dyck
Rating the Audio Performance
Excellent. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
A dysfunctional New England family that falls apart after a summer at their Cape Cod summer home.
Ricki
Claudette Colvin: Twice Towards Justice by Phillip Hoose
Narrator Name: Channie Waites
Rating the Audio Performance
Waites does a great job of sounding like a teenager when relating Covlin's firsthand accounts, but then switches to a more adult voice for the non-fiction narration. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This reminded me of the type of biographies that I actually enjoyed reading when I was a preteen (and would use as sources for high school papers). Very cool to read about a little-known civil rights activist.
sandy
The Best of Friends by Susan Mallery
Narrator Name: Renee Raudman
Rating the Audio Performance
She managed to get most of the voices separated enough that it was easy to figure out which character was talking -- a definite plus when there are lots of people involved! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I enjoyed this story -- don't know how I'd missed it! -- and laughed and cried along with the characters. This is a story about how the 'rich and nasty' treat those who are not, and how the meek eventually win! I really hated the main older female, felt sorry for the BFF, and cheered for the non-wealthy but very real heroine -- and her very wealthy man who decided that true love trumps everything!
Patricia
D is for Deadbeat by Sue Grafton
Narrator Name: Mary Peiffer
Rating the Audio Performance
This is the fourth book I've listened to with Mary Peiffer. With each book I like her more! Her voice has a very pleasing tone to it - very smooth. And she's good with character voices, but she doesn't overdo it, which, to me, is important. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This book was a good installment in the series. I guess my only complaint is it felt pretty short. I think it was only 6 hours and change. I'm used to listening to books that range from 9-14 hours. Felt like there could have been additional storyline mixed in. But the story that was there was good. I liked the mystery and didn't put together who the killer was until it was revealed, which is always good.
Michael
The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters
Narrator Name: Juliet Stevenson
Rating the Audio Performance
Juliet Stevenson did a bang-up job bringing these characters to life. She had several characters and they were very easy to tell apart (based on her performance). Huge thumbs up for Juliet! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Meh. This book took forever to get "good" (and I use that term loosely). It was 17 CDs, and by the end of the 7th CD I still would not have known what to say if someone asked me what the book was about. The story did get a little more engrossing (no spoilers) but not much, and the end was somewhat familiar (a little too similar to the subplot in a very famous musical) and then it ended rather abruptly. But I was ready for it to be over long before it was. I can't recommend this one.
Linda
Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani
Narrator Name: Adriana Trigiani
Rating the Audio Performance
Something about the voice rang false with me. I cannot put it in words, but I was uncomfortable with the voice through the entire book. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Basically it's the story of the 35-year-young town spinster who prepares to leave town. She's looking for something she has not, so far, found in Big Stone Gap. Then, things she thought she knew about herself and her family turn out to be stories told to keep all calm and cool. Slowly, Ave Maria (Ave, like in church, not Ava as in Gardner) realizes what she really has.
Ginnhy
The Fifth Woman by Henning Mankell
Narrator Name: Dick Hill
Rating the Audio Performance
Love his accent and inflections. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Complicated engrossing plot. Keeps you guessing to the end.
Deborah
Every Fifteen Minutes by Lisa Scottoline
Narrator Name: George Newbern
Rating the Audio Performance
The narration was extremely well done. Great voice modulation and characterization. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This book is based on a sociopath and the impacts of that sociopath on the chief of a psychiatric ward in a major hospital. His life begins to unravel, starting with a divorce and the domino effects with issues on the job. There is a twist at the end that you don't see coming. Such a good book and I highly recommend a listen.
Sandra
Still Alice by Lisa Genova
Narrator Name: Lisa Genova
Rating the Audio Performance
I don't usually like the author as narrator because they are not professional readers but Genova made me really feel Alice's fears and confusion. It was a difficult experience, something I would never hope for in real life. But isn't that why we read? To vicariously experience the reality of other people? I think so, and therefore STILL ALICE was an extremely successful book. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
The writing was prosaic rather than "beautiful." You can tell that Genova did not graduate from the Iowa Writers' Workshop, but the style is not simplistic or ungrammatical. Genova's knowledge of Alzheimer's really came across and the plot was engaging.
Sandra
Ripper by Isabel Allende
Narrator Name: Edoardo Ballerini
Rating the Audio Performance
Ballerini did a good job in differentiating the various characters, although there was one part when the narration moved from the killer's meditations to the other characters interacting that was a little unclear. In the paper copy this difference is noted by italics, but Ballerini did nothing to indicate this difference. Also, toward the end, one of the characters, who is from New Zealand, all of a sudden had a New Zealand accent that I had not noticed before. This was a little jarring. But overall, it was not difficult to follow the action in the audiobook. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I enjoyed the book and "who-done-it" took time to figure out. I enjoy a lot of background about characters and history of the setting, but if you don't avoid this book. A detective and a navy SEAL are involved in solving the crimes, but it is far from a hard-boiled thriller. Some people said they didn't like the magical realism, but I didn't feel there really was magical realism. Some characters were into spirituality and claimed to have visions, but the reader can chose whether or not to believe them because those visions are not critical to the storyline. Overall a good read.
Sandra
God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
Narrator Name: Diana Quick
Rating the Audio Performance
Although the narrator's tone and the background music were good at invoking the feeling of India, I could not understand the storyline so eventually I had to stop listening and start reading the paper book to be able to finish. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Good job in invoking the sense and smells of rural India. Also good at depicting the caste system and its implications in the modern world. Also integrated some of India's recent history without being pedantic.
Kim
The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd
Narrator Name: Sue Monk Kidd, Jenna Lamia and Adepero Oduye
Rating the Audio Performance
Totally enjoyed having two distinct voices during this audiobook. Both narrators pulled you into the character's life and kept you wanting to hear more of the story. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Once I began the book, I didn't want to stop listening. The author's references and additional information at the end of the book were just as interesting as the book itself. Highly recommend this book!
Debbie
The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny
Narrator Name: Robert Bathurst
Rating the Audio Performance
This is the first time that Robert Bathurst was the voice of Armand Gamache. I have always linked the voice of Gamache with Ralph Coshan who had been reading Louise Penny's novels since 2005 with the first in the series STILL LIFE. Sadly, Mr. Coshan died in 2014. It took about two chapters before I became use to the voice of Robert Bathurst, but at the end I enjoyed it as I had the other 10 books in the series. I also realized that Mr. Bathurst plays a role in one of my favorite TV series, Downton Abby. Before the story began, Louise Penny made a tribute to Mr. Coshan, which I found very touching. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I had already read THE NATURE OF THE BEAST before listening to the audio version. I am a huge fan of Louise Penny's Armand Gamache series. This one was not disappointing. What I like about the series is that it is more than a mystery. She provides a psychological background to all the characters in her books and each plays an important role in the story. I highly recommend reading the series but start from the beginning with STILL LIFE.
Francisca E B
The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert
Narrator Name: Juliet Stevenson
Rating the Audio Performance
The audiobook was wonderfully performed by Juliet Stevenson. Her pacing, her skill with voices, and her passion for the subject really came through. She brought Alma to life for me. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
The novel spans decades, from the birth of Henry Whitaker in 1760 to his daughter Alma’s old age in 1883. I struggle with expressing how this novel moved me – and frustrated me. Alma’s life is both tediously boring and exceptionally adventurous. I found her fascinating and was entirely engrossed in her story. But for all her scientific vision, Alma seems completely blind to human relationships. While I have a few quibbles with the work, I still give it 5 stars.
Dianne
Yes Please by Amy Poehler
Narrator Name: Amy Poehler
Rating the Audio Performance
Amy Poehler did an outstanding job reading her book. She has great comedic presence. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Enjoyable memoir.
Mary Ann
HHhH by Laurent Binet
Narrator Name: John Lee
Rating the Audio Performance
John Lee does a good job reading this unique novel. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Laurent Binet tells the story of the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich, the butcher of Prague. The novel is written like a non-fiction book with the author as a character.
Wendy
Being Mortal by Atul Gawande
Narrator Name: Robert Petkoff
Rating the Audio Performance
The narrator did a good job of making some difficult listening engaging and interesting. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Gawande is a surgeon who has often had to counsel people dealing with fatal diseases. Unusually for a physician (in my experience anyway) he feels there comes a time when further interventions are not helpful for a patient. He gives examples from his own patients and also talks about his father facing death. Elsewhere in the book he talks about elderly people who are unable to live on their own and the options available to most of them. It behooves all of us to think about these issues before they happen to us, and Gawande's book is a good place to start.
Linda
Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee
Narrator Name: Reese Witherspoon
Rating the Audio Performance
Witherspoon does a good job, especially for the parts where she sang. I don't know how she can say the "N" word as many times as she does. I don't think that I could. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Adult Jean Louise (not the 8-year-old Scout) comes home from her job in NYC for a visit and discovers that the men in her family may not be who she thought they were.
Emily
Doll Bones by Holly Black
Narrator Name: Nick Podehl
Rating the Audio Performance
The audio performance was great. I like how Nick Podehl varied the voices. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
A great book for middle-grade readers during the month of October. It is a well-written ghost story with characters that the reader will care about.
Judith
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
Narrator Name: Kate Burton
Rating the Audio Performance
The narrator made the characters come alive with their different voices. Her Brooklyn accents (yes, there were many, given the different immigrant groups) were right-on. I enjoyed hearing the book so much more than I would have just reading the dialogue myself. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This book was special to me because I come from a family who immigrated from Germany and settled in the Brooklyn in that time period. The insights into daily life on the streets and homes of the borough helped put me into the shoes of my ancestors and understand more about their pressures and aspirations. I loved the parts about the milkman and his horse. This and other incidents showed the humorous and lighter sides of a life that was poverty-stricken, but not altogether bleak. Though the ending was somewhat of a letdown, the whole story held my interest and I found myself really caring about the characters and involved in their hopes and disappointments. I had seen the movie years ago, but the audiobook was definitely better.
Chris
The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George
Narrator Name: Steve West, Emma Bering, Cassandra Campbell
Rating the Audio Performance
Beautiful, inviting, perfect tone. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
It was a wonderful story about love and loss and finding yourself.
Shari
Circling the Sun by Paula McLain
Narrator Name: Katharine McEwan
Rating the Audio Performance
Katharine McEwan lured me in to listen attentively as she read CIRCLING THE SUN. This was more of a biography than a dialog story. However, the way she read the book hooked me so much so that I did not want to stop listening. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I was hesitant to listen to this book. I find that authors whose previous books received praise can never reach that level of accomplishment with future books. I am happy to say I was wrong. I could not put the book down. I listened to it in my car, while cooking, cleaning, anything that I did not require my total attention so I could find out what happened to Beryl Markham. She was definitely ahead of her time. It is shame how women were treated in the early 1920s and 1930s. She was someone I could definitely admire. I never heard of Beryl Markham before and now I am going to pick up a copy of her book, WEST WITH THE NIGHT, to find out more about Beryl and her love of Africa.
Marion
The Taming of the Queen by Philippa Gregory
Narrator Name: Bianca Amato
Rating the Audio Performance
Bianca Amato is a wonderful narrator. Her diction is crisp, her timing is perfectly paced, and one is never uncertain as to which character is speaking. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This was a long audio book (15 CDs), but never boring or verbose. Kateryn Parr (sixth wife of Henry VIII) must have been an extremely clever woman to avoid his penchant for cruelty, to cope with his aberrations and illnesses, and to maintain her independence of thought in those repressive times.
Amy
Brooklyn by Colm Toibin
Narrator Name: Kirsten Potter
Rating the Audio Performance
She has a lovely voice. Just found out Saoirse Ronan is playing the lead role in the movie...and I can hear her in the words on the digital page. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Lovely coming-of-age in a new country story, when Brooklyn was a big small town.
Crystal
The Scam: A Fox and O'Hare Novel by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg
Narrator Name: Scott Brick
Rating the Audio Performance
As usual, Scott Brick does a terrific job. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
The adventures of FBI Special Agent Kate O'Hare and con man Nicolas Fox continue to entertain. They scam bad guys to aid in their capture or at least they muck up the criminals operations enough to put them out of business. In the process, Nick gets to live the high life and avoid arrest from the FBI.
Marty O'Connor
A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
Narrator Name: Joe Barrett
Rating the Audio Performance
The narrator was terrific at mimicking Owen's voice. It was not difficult to determine when each character was speaking due to the narrator's talent of changing pitch, tone, cadence of his voice to reflect each character. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This was a very engaging story. It was difficult to stop listening when I reached work or home and had to get back to reality.
Michele
Yes Please by Amy Poehler
Narrator Name: Amy Poehler
Rating the Audio Performance
It was like listening to stand-up by Amy Poehler. She was excellent. Her guests were also good. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I was very surprised on how insightful Amy is. She shared some personal experiences and reactions that people can relate to. Great book for a long car drive.
Richard N B
Nature Girl by Carl Hiaasen
Narrator Name: Lee Adams
Rating the Audio Performance
I’m not too keen on audiobooks, but my wife chose this for us to listen to while on a long driving vacation. Lee Adams does a fine job reading the audio version; really held my attention. We particularly liked the way she voiced Piejack and Gillian, but she gives every character a unique voice. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Hiaasen takes readers to the Ten Thousand Islands of Southwestern Florida to follow a possibly bipolar woman taking revenge on a telemarketer by leading him and his mistress on an “ecotour.” She’s being followed by her lecherously obsessed former boss, who is being followed by her ex-husband and her son. They encounter a half-Seminole and a college coed who wants to be held hostage. This is typical Hiaasen: zany antics, colorful phrases, quirky characters, and women who always outsmart the men. It’s all great fun, and a fast, enjoyable read.
Renee'
Explosive Eighteen: A Stepanie Plum Novel by Janet Evanovich
Narrator Name: Lorelei King
Rating the Audio Performance
I love the way the narrator made it real and how she changed her voice to match each character for a life in Jersey. She keep me laughing, and I picture me running out into the danger with them. It was like a movie in my mind. It was hard to be in a car listening to this story because of how good she played each character. Enjoyed it. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Stephanie went to Hawaii for a vacation with her lover and it went bad. On her way back home her seatmate never came back to his seat due to fact he was killed. Somehow Stephanie is always in the wrong place and she is always caught up in the middle. With the help of her friends and family she always gets deeper in trouble, and it is so funny when she and her partner Lula get stuck. They head to a doughnut shop or chicken wing fast food place to calm down.
Patricia
Tripwire by Lee Child
Narrator Name: Dick Hill
Rating the Audio Performance
This narrator is by far my least favorite! If the next book in the series is read by him, I won't be listening. Time and again, I wanted to stop listening. But I'm enjoying the series so I didn't want to leave one unfinished. The main way he acts out the characters is by loud sighs, gasps and swallowing noisily. When you're listening to the book on headphones, it doesn't take long for that to get completely disgusting. And it's not necessary! It's good to distinguish between characters but you're not here to act it out, you're here to read. The villain is hard to understand because he holds half his mouth closed! And he's awful with women's voices. He makes them sound childlike and whiny. That's not feminine, that's just annoying. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
It's hard for me to distinguish if I didn't fully enjoy the book because of the awful narration or if I just wasn't that into it. I definitely think I would have liked it more, otherwise. It had a pretty good storyline, although I guessed the big 'reveal' long before it was exposed.
Sue
Being Mortal by Atul Gawande
Narrator Name: Robert Petkoff
Rating the Audio Performance
I felt like the author was talking to me. The voice, inflection, tone - it was perfect for the topic and the story. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
A sensitive, compassionate telling of the history of nursing homes, assisted living, and hospice care. Also addresses the needs of patients and families at the time of serious medical crises, death/dying, and the way doctors and traditional medicine help and/or hinder the process.
Sue
Bad Luck and Trouble by Lee Child
Narrator Name: Dick Hill
Rating the Audio Performance
Couldn't stand his voice - it seemed extremely false and phony, and didn't discriminate well between the characters. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
A good thriller - twists and turns in every chapter. I'd always heard about Mitch Rapp but hadn't experienced him. Now I know why people rave about him!
Vikki
The Marriage of Opposites by Alice Hoffman
Narrator Name: Gloria Reuben, Tina Benko, Santino Fontana
Rating the Audio Performance
Great performances. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Historical fiction about Camille Pisarro's family. Family saga over several generations set in St. Thomas and Paris in the 1800s. Lots of secrets and lying about parentage. Very descriptive. I liked Rachel at first, but then she just seemed like a hypocrite as she got older. Didn't care for the fairy tales and superstitions mixed in throughout the book, but I guess it was like that back on the island at that time.
Diana
Never Turn Your Back on an Angus Cow: My Life as a Country Vet by Dr. Jan Pol with David Fisher
Narrator Name: Tom Perkins
Rating the Audio Performance
I listened to the audiobook and it was really well done. I really enjoyed the narrator they picked. I think he fit Dr. Pol's writing very well. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Like most people I first heard about Dr. Pol on his National Geographic Wild show, and I loved it from the first viewing. So as soon as I saw he was releasing a book, I put it on request at the library. This book gives some more background on his life and why he became a vet.
Jamie
In the Unlikely Event by Judy Blume
Narrator Name: Kathleen McInerney
Rating the Audio Performance
Kathleen did an amazing job with this story. She used different voices without sounding fake or uncomfortable. There was emotion in her voice, and she was easy to listen to. I'm glad I listened to this book. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It took a little while to get into, and there were a lot of characters to keep track of, but by the end I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next. I will definitely recommend this to others.
Nancy
Saving Grace by Jane Green
Narrator Name: Jane Green
Rating the Audio Performance
I found the audiobook dull. I did like that the reader had an accent. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
The storyline was too predicable.
Ricki
While the World Watched by Carolyn Maull McKinstry
Narrator Name: Felicia Bullock
Rating the Audio Performance
I am not sure what McKinstry sounds like, but I believed that Bullock was her. It was so easy to get lost in her voice as history came alive. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Compelling look at the life of a girl growing up in Birmingham during the Civil Rights Movement. Full of insight, this book really takes today's readers back in time.
Suzanne
Graveyard Shift by Stephen King
Narrator Name: John Glover
Rating the Audio Performance
I think of John Glover as Lionel Luther from Smallville, and his performance didn't always work for me. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I am not big on horror. I listened to the book for one of my book clubs. Some of the stories I liked, some I didn't. I was creeped out by some of them. A lot of them ended quite abruptly and it was up to you to decide what happened, even though it was pretty easy to figure out.
Donna
A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny
Narrator Name: Ralph Cosham
Rating the Audio Performance
Ralph Cosham is the voice on Louise Penny's books. He just recently passed away and will surely be missed. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
A TRICK OF THE LIGHT is one of the wonderful books by this author about Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and the little town of Three Pines.
Patricia
E is for Evidence by Sue Grafton
Narrator Name: Mary Peiffer
Rating the Audio Performance
Once again, a great performance by Mary Peiffer. I really like her. Her voice has a very pleasing tone to it. And this is the fifth book I've listened to her narrating and I haven't started to get tired of her yet! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Another great installment of the alphabet series. I'm really loving these books! I guess my only complaint would be I wish they were longer. I really like the stories so I hate how quickly they go by. I can sometimes listen to almost an entire book in one day.
Jeanette Mateer
The Complaints by Ian Rankin
Narrator Name: Peter Forbes
Rating the Audio Performance
Very smooth, sounded very Scottish. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I am now listening to the second book in this series as I find the plots cleverly laid out and the characters people I wouldn't mind knowing. There is underlying humor and good detective work. Reminds me of the Irish series by Tana French, although Rankin's are definitely police procedural.
Melanie S.
Best Boy by Eli Gottlieb
Narrator Name: Bronson Pinchot
Rating the Audio Performance
Bronson Pinchot ( yes, "Serge" from Beverly Hills Cop!) was a fabulous narrator and through his rendering gave the character of Todd Aaron sensitivity and dignity. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
An interesting character study of an adult male, Todd Aaron, who lives in a residential facility due to a developmental disability, presumably autism. His interactions with the other residents, staff members, and his brother gave a glimpse into the complexities of an adult in this situation. The plot was a bit lackluster, but this was more of a character-driven novel than one of action.
Lori
The Precious One by Marisa de los Santos
Narrator Name: Arielle DeLisle and Abby Craden
Rating the Audio Performance
I enjoyed the audio performance; they did a great job making it easy to distinguish which character was speaking. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
As with the author's other books, I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It was an interesting look at two families with the same father, and to see how differently the children were raised and what resulted. The main characters were well-developed, the book was well-written and there was even good suspense included. I would recommend the book to all.
Lori
This Is Your life, Harriet Chance! by Jonathan Evison
Narrator Name: Susan Boyce
Rating the Audio Performance
The reader gave a perky performance, which kept my attention. Despite the book jumping around in time, it was not confusing to listen to it. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Although I liked the premise of the book, I was a little disappointed by the constant time-shifting as well as the appearance of the ghost of Harriet's husband. I prefer my books to be more realistic. I would have liked the book to stay in the contemporary time period; I didn't think it added to the book to go back to Harriet's birth and childhood. I would have been happy to just have the book focus on the adventures of Harriet cruising by herself.
Vikki
The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan
Narrator Name: Rebecca Gibel
Rating the Audio Performance
Excellent. Hardy's accent was amazing. Made me laugh too. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Things can get really ugly very quickly out on a lifeboat in the open sea. Really enjoyed the story. Well written.
Cherry
Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter
Narrator Name: Kathleen Early
Rating the Audio Performance
I'm always happy when I see a book narrated by Kathleen Early as her experience as an actor comes through with every word. With no voice changes, we are able to differentiate between characters with ease, yet the emotions of the characters are obvious as she reads. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Riveting from the first page -- I found myself sitting in the car after a 12+ hour day listening to PRETTY GIRLS. The first chapters we learned about Claire and Lydia separately. From that point forward the plotting is solid with each character enduring countless obstacles while learning truths that shattered their family. Karin Slaughter's mind can twist a plot and character in a few words, yet keep us on the edge of our seats waiting for the next 'shoe to drop'. I found myself thinking of these characters when I wasn't listening and at other times talking back to them telling them what they should be doing. Great book!
Mary
Inside the O'Briens by Lisa Genova
Narrator Name: Skipp Sudduth
Rating the Audio Performance
Spot on - the narrator captures the voices and emotions of the characters. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Great story of how an inherited disease can affect all members of a family, both those who have inherited the disease and those who have not inherited the disease. Many ethical questions to consider, told in a realistic manner. This book would also be a great selection for book clubs because of the many discussion points.
Michelle
Circling The Sun by Paula McLain
Narrator Name: Katharine McEwan
Rating the Audio Performance
The audio for this book was very well produced. The narrator did an excellent job and was pleasant to listen to. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This book was not as good as I had hoped it would be. Probably because a few months ago I listened to WEST WITH THE NIGHT by Beryl Markham. Beryl Markham is a fascinating woman who wrote a gorgeous memoir of her own. It was clear in her memoir that she left out certain portions of her life. A little research on Wikipedia revealed that the gaps involved in her, shall we say, indiscretions. While I was curious enough to Google her, I was completely satisfied with what she chose to include, which was her deep love of Africa and her passion about animals and flying, all in a book that was stunningly written. I am afraid that for me this book suffered in comparison to Beryl's own memoir.
Francisca E B
Children of God by Mary Doria Russell
Narrator Name: Anna Fields
Rating the Audio Performance
Anna fields does a marvelous job performing the audio version. She has good pacing and her ease with pronouncing all those different names and foreign phrases is admirable. Her gift for voices and dialect makes it very easy to differentiate the many characters (mostly male) in the novel. Makes me wonder if Russell had the potential for audio in mind when she created the multi-cultural cast of characters. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
In this sequel to THE SPARROW, Emilio Sandoz returns to Rakhat to face the consequences of that initial human contact. Once again, Russell gives us a morality play wrapped in science fiction. It’s a fascinating story, deeply spiritual (as the title suggests), but which lacks the impact of her first book.
Linda
Frank: A Life in Politics from the Great Society to Same-Sex Marriage by Barney Frank
Narrator Name: Barney Frank
Rating the Audio Performance
Barney Frank has always sounded as if he has a mouth full when he talks. This narration is no different, but that does not reduce the impact of what Frank has to say. In fact, I really appreciated hearing this book told by the author. I did have to change from my usual speed-it-up rate to normal, but that way I savored the successes and sympathized the failures. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I'm a political junkie. I had not realized how long Barney Frank was in Congress. This book tells of the breadth and longevity of Frank's career and does not shirk the short comings nor the strengths. Good reflection on Frank's part.
Cynthia
Homefront by Kristin Hannah
Narrator Name: Maggi-Meg Reed
Rating the Audio Performance
One of the best that I have ever heard. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
My favorite book!
Michelle
The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton
Narrator Name: Davina Porter
Rating the Audio Performance
Narrator uses different voices for each character. Very entertaining and easy to follow. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Very intriguing. A dramatic and detailed story with complex characters and an almost mystery feel.
Beverlee
Finders Keepers by Stephen King
Narrator Name: Will Patton
Rating the Audio Performance
Loved his ability to build the suspense with his tone and pace of his voice. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Kept me guessing with each chapter.
Beverlee
The Mountain Story by Lori Lansens
Narrator Name: Corey Brill
Rating the Audio Performance
Great voice - very approachable and represented all voices well. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Gripping topic! Her characters were complex - I hated them and loved them - depending on the chapter of the book!
Diane
Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee
Narrator Name: Reese Witherspoon
Rating the Audio Performance
Crisp, professional. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Interesting, lived up to reviews.
Thomas
Takedown Twenty by Janet Evanovich
Narrator Name: Lorelei King
Rating the Audio Performance
It was a funny and I enjoyed book.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Excellent.
Nicole
Watership Down by Richard Adams
Narrator Name: Ralph Cosham
Rating the Audio Performance
I'd never been able to get into this book but have friends who raved about it. I have a 45 minute commute and this was 13 discs. Perfect! It was lovely; the narrator really gave each of the rabbits a personality. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I loved the story and the message that goodness and kindness really do matter. The introduction was great too.
Michelle
Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith
Narrator Name: Robert Glenister
Rating the Audio Performance
Mr. Glenister's performance brings all the characters to life, adding yet another dimension to this rather suspenseful mystery. Robin's deeper role in the detective agency both broadens the scope of the characters and allows the reader to enjoy an increasingly involving character. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This is yet another fetching story, both well written and with very interesting characters. The mystery, as usual, is mind scratching and will have the reader strung along to the very end of the book. I didn't want to stop listening despite what else was happening around me.
Bobbie
All the Stars in The Heavens by Adrianna Trigiani
Narrator Name: Blair Brown
Rating the Audio Performance
Love this author, love the narrator. It was a sweeping story of the Golden Years of Hollywood and I am old enough to truly appreciate the history and the story that Adriana wove. The narrator's voice was perfect for this book. Blair Brown is a pro at developing her voice to match the characters. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Again, I loved this book. I am a huge Adriana Trigiani fan and anxiously awaited this one. For me, the only thing that would have made this better is if Adriana had read the book herself. She is a wonderful narrator as well as storyteller. Can't recommend this book highly enough.
Crystal
Betrayers: A Nameless Detective Novel by Bill Pronzini
Narrator Name: Nick Sullivan
Rating the Audio Performance
Sullivan is a fantastic reader. When I see his name on an audiobook, I know it's going to be good. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Several stories are going on all at once. The three detectives, Bill (Nameless), Tamara and Jake each have cases to work on.
mary
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
Narrator Name: Susan Lyons, Anna Bentink, Steven Crossley, Alex Tregear, Andrew Wincott, and Owen Lindsay
Rating the Audio Performance
The two women and three men who read the dialogue were very clear and distinct. Their British accents were easy to understand. The chapters that each of the readers presented aided the reader in visualizing each character's part in the action as it occurred. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
The way the author presented her characters was a factor that kept the reader wanting to know what would happen as the book progressed. The principal characters, Louisa and Will, as well as the minor characters, Will's mother, his sister, Louisa's sister, and her parents were treated with respect. It was a love story. It contained moral issues that will make for a good discussion for my book group. I want to read more of Moyes' books.
Pegge
After You by Jojo Moyes
Narrator Name: Anna Acton
Rating the Audio Performance
Excellent, clear reading with an understanding of the character--you really feel as though you are listening to Louisa Clarke tell her story. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
The is the sequel to ME BEFORE YOU---I won't spoil either book for you, but the main character has become a favorite--- a kind and funny woman with a quirky family.
Linda
The Devil's Highway: A True Story by Luis Alberto Urrea
Narrator Name: Luis Alberto Urrea
Rating the Audio Performance
No one could have done this narration better than the author. He easily moves between English and a native-sounding Spanish pronunciation. His inflections were spot-on. I could listen to him all day. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
The book at times was gruesome, but a truthful rendition of a tragedy that befell a group of men attempting to walk a very deadly section between Mexico and the U.S. The 2001 discovery of the men's bodies was shared with the author by members of the Border Patrol.
Sally
I Am Pilgram by Terry Hayes
Narrator Name: Christopher Ragland
Rating the Audio Performance
Christopher Ragland was never in the way of the story; he pulled off all the voices with subtle and distinguishable differences. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Good on so many levels -- descriptions of cities all over the world, intricate characters, and outcomes that are not surprising and not expected. So perfect.
Melanie S.
An Invisible Thread: True Story of an 11-year-old Panhandler, a Busy Sales Executive, and an Unlikely Meeting with Destiny by Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski
Narrator Name: Pam Ward
Rating the Audio Performance
Pam Ward's reading of this book conveyed the necessary emotion to convey this heartfelt story. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
3.5 stars. This is a true story about a woman who befriends an 11-year-old panhandler. Due to her support and mentoring over the years, this boy makes better choices in his life than he would have made otherwise. This was selected for our next book group selection. While I appreciate the difference that this woman clearly made in this young man's life, I felt as if I had read this story before in other books. An okay read.
Melanie S.
Thirteen Ways of Looking by Colum McCann
Narrator Name: Colum McCann
Rating the Audio Performance
What a treat to hear Colum McCann read his own work, just as he intended it to be heard. He is a master of words; his reading was as if he was reciting poetry. Truly a phenomenal listening experience. I would totally recommend listening to this book. A treat for your ears and your heart. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Original and creative, these four short stories (the longest is actually more of a novella)
were emotionally wrenching and beautifully rendered. Colum McCann paints with words, and these canvases, though disturbing at times, were stunning in their impact. The epilogue gave much insight into how and why he created these stories at this particular time in his life. I am a huge fan of Colum McCann and recommend all his books, both his older works and this new masterpiece of short stories.
Brenda
The Hundred-Foot Journey by Richard C. Morais
Narrator Name: Neil Shah
Rating the Audio Performance
The performance was the only thing that kept me from giving up on the story. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I listened to this book because it has been on my list for over a year. The book did entertain me while I was doing some paperwork the past two weekends. Because of the many French words, I was glad I had decided to listen instead of read this book. I have not seen the movie based on this book because I wanted to give the book a try first. I did enjoy the variety of characters. The story did not flow smoothly.There were many starts, jerks, and double-backs. I will say the book was okay the first time, but I don't want to read it again.
Karen
An Irish Doctor in Love and at Sea by Patrick Taylor
Narrator Name: John Keating
Rating the Audio Performance
The narrator's performance brought the book to life. His voice made it seem the author was telling the story directly to the reader. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This is the story of a young Irish doctor who starts practicing in a small Irish village. His practice is interrupted because he is called to serve in Word War II. He is stationed on a naval vessel and experiences the horrors of war as he goes about the task of tending to injured sailors. He fends off temptations and remains true to his sweetheart who becomes a casualty of the war. He returns to the village to practice, but life isn't always smooth. He has to deal with the challenges of diseases as well as government paperwork and traditions that interfere with the education of girls and the employment of women.
Karen
In the Unlikely Event by Judy Blume
Narrator Name: Kathleen McInerney
Rating the Audio Performance
The narrator's performance made this an enjoyable book to listen to. Her voice draws the
listener into the story and keeps their attention until the end. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
In the early 1950s there are three plane crashes in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Fifteen-year-old Miri Ammerman describes the crashes and how they impacted the lives of her family and friends. The residents of Elizabeth try to understand the cause of the disasters -- were they really accidents or were they caused by sinister forces like Communists or aliens. Coping with the disasters changed the lives of many of Miri's family members and friends. Stopping future crashes was a challenge that required government assistance, which was finally granted.
Linda
The Escape by David Baldacci
Narrator Name: Ron McLarty and Orlagh Cassidy
Rating the Audio Performance
Very well done, with both male and female parts covered. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
You cannot go wrong with a David Baldacci mystery, and this one was no exception.
Nissa
The Orpheus Clock by Simon Goodman
Narrator Name: Derek Perkins
Rating the Audio Performance
Good performance. The narrator is British so it was a little hard to understand at times as I'm American, but overall it was fine. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
More of a telling of the history of European art than the story of the family of the missing clock during WWII. I would have liked more detail about the family.
Patricia
Spartan Gold by Clive Cussler and Grant Blackwood
Narrator Name: Scott Brick
Rating the Audio Performance
This was my first time listening to Scott Brick and I really liked him. I liked the fact that he didn't try too hard to make the female voices sound 'female'. I think that's where a lot of male narrators go wrong. But he did distinguish between characters. And he has a nice quality to his voice. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This was my first time reading anything by Clive Cussler and now I'm hooked! This was like the perfect mix between Indiana Jones and The Da Vinci Code. I can't wait to read more.
Prudence
Frog Music by Emma Donoghue
Narrator Name: Khristine Hvam
Rating the Audio Performance
Khristine does a good job with accents, and does well differentiating between characters. I would lose focus on occasion. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Gritty. Felt like I needed a bath afterwards, but a fascinating look into life after the gold rush in San Francisco.
Vikki
Among the Ten Thousand Things by Julia Pierpont
Narrator Name: Hillary Huber
Rating the Audio Performance
Hillary did a great job with the different characters. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Started off good, but dragged so much that I was bored. There was really nothing much that captured my attention, except for the very first chapters. It was all downhill from there.
Melanie S.
The Painted Drum by Louise Erdrich
Narrator Name: Anna Fields
Rating the Audio Performance
Anna Fields did a fabulous job as a sole narrator commanding male and female voices that felt totally natural and not forced. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
3.5 stars. Someone in one of my book groups raved about this book, so I took the audio out of the library to "read" it on my commute. Maybe something got lost in the audio version versus the written version, but I just didn't feel connected to the characters. The story of the drum and its origins was interesting, but most of the characters who came in contact with the drum were a bit dull and the story never grabbed me.
Tessa B C
Mary Poppins Comes Back by P. L. Travers
Narrator Name: Sophie Thompson
Rating the Audio Performance
Like most classic children’s literature, this book just begs to be read aloud. Sophie Thompson does a fine job narrating. She has great pacing, and a gift for voices that really helps to bring these characters to life. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I read these books when I was about nine or ten years old. I reread the first book several years ago and was struck with how mean and unpleasant Mary Poppins was. I had no such reaction this time, although Mary Poppins is certainly a stern taskmaster at times, not to mention vain. But I just loved the adventures she and the children had!
Wendy
Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll
Narrator Name: Madeleine Maybe
Rating the Audio Performance
Good enough. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Doesn't live up to the hype.
Phyllis
A Fine Romance by Candice Bergen
Narrator Name: Candice Bergen
Rating the Audio Performance
The author very ably reads her biography and takes us along for the ride of her career, which details her life in television, film, and Broadway. Loved her description of her Murphy Brown days, as well as her marriage to Louis Malle and daughter Chloe. She has had an interesting life and celebrates her luck in the three venues and difficulties of commuting between NYC, France, and LA. Highly recommended! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Since A FINE ROMANCE was read by the author, I have already given my comments.
Mary
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Narrator Name: Sissy Spacek
Rating the Audio Performance
Ms. Spacek's narration draws you into the story. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Classic story of a southern town during the Depression.
sue
Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling
Narrator Name: Mindy Kaling
Rating the Audio Performance
Love it. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
So entertaining.
Elizabeth
The House of Memories by Monica McInerney
Narrator Name: Catherine Milte
Rating the Audio Performance
I am not sure if it is the narrator ability to change accents, but I am loved the voice. It is part British, part Australian, part Irish. She does an incredible job. Such a wonderful reader. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I have been engrossed in the story from the first moment. The story weaves around a family with sadness, loss, grief, love and a bit of mystery. You will enjoy every moment you spend listening to Ella and Uncle Lucas Fox. This is such a touching story -- I don't want to give too much away. Take a moment and lose yourself in Ella's story.
Elizabeth
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
Narrator Name: Edward Herrmann
Rating the Audio Performance
Sadly this voice is gone from the world. Edward Hermann was not only a beloved actor, but has one of the most incredible reading voices. I was never bored and his inflection is amazing. I feel sad just thinking I will never hear his voice again. What a loss to the literary audio world. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
A book for all time. Get lost in Louie Zamperini's story of WII. His amazing life will inspire and uplift you. You will be thankful you spent the hours with Louie. It is more than a war story but a story of the brave men who fought and survived a horrible war. Don't watch the movie -- the audiobook is 100 times better.
Karen
Candy Corn Mystery by Leslie Meier
Narrator Name: Lisa Larson
Rating the Audio Performance
The narrator was very good. The book was fun to listen to, and she made the characters come alive. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
A good mystery for Halloween. The Giant Pumpkin Festival has all sorts of activities: pumpkin carving, a pumpkin regatta, costume contest, pumpkin catapult, biggest pumpkin contest, and a candy corn quantity guessing contest. The festival is plagued with problems. Someone destroys displays and hacks pumpkins to pieces, a dead body turns up at the pumpkin catapult and even more issues come to light when the death is investigated.
Barbara
Flesh and Blood by Patricia Cornwell
Narrator Name: Lorelei King
Rating the Audio Performance
Excellent way she move between man and woman, old and young, rough and soft. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Left me on tenterhooks! Didn't know what was going to happen until the end, and then still didn't forsee the end. That's the mark of great storyteller.
Ricki
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes II by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Narrator Name: David Timson
Rating the Audio Performance
I think the performance was actually good, but the audio quality was too soft to be enjoyable. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
The four stories contained in this audiobook were interesting ones, but the poor audio quality made it hard to follow.
Ricki
The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline by Nancy Springer
Narrator Name: Katherine Kellgren
Rating the Audio Performance
Very fun performance by Kellgren that wholly made me believe we were back in Victorian England. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Very fun mystery in the style of Sherlock Holmes (but with more action) that will appeal to both younger readers and adults alike.
Lisa
The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
Narrator Name: Mary Beth Hurt
Rating the Audio Performance
Perfectly read, emphasis when needed, change of voice for characters. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
A classic. Read it in high school, listening to it now in my 50s. Makes me appreciate the story and plot development all the more.
Judy
Orhan's Inheritance by Aline Ohanesian
Narrator Name: Assaf Cohen
Rating the Audio Performance
The narrator's accent helped make the story more real as it was told by a Turk. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I learned about the Armenian genocide of 1915 in a cleverly woven story that jumped from the early days of WWI to 1990.
Janet
The Truth According to Us by Annie Barrows
Narrator Name: Ann Marie Lee, Tara Sands, and Julia Whelan
Rating the Audio Performance
My husband and I enjoyed this audio book very much. The many narrators helped to
distinguish the characters. It was well read with good expression and local dialects. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
We enjoyed THE TRUTH ACCORDING TO US. It contains 15 discs and is a sweeping novel set
In Macedonia, West Virginia during the summer of 1938. It features the Romeyn family and the
story is told in the many voices of the family, both present and past.
Julie
Speaking in Bones by Kathy Reichs
Narrator Name: Katherine Borowitz
Rating the Audio Performance
I enjoyed the narrator, easy to listen to. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Great storyline, great ending!
Anne
Deep Down Dark: The Untold Stories of 33 Men Buried in a Chilean Mine, and the Miracle That Set Them Free by Hector Tobar
Narrator Name: Henry Leyva
Rating the Audio Performance
Read with a Spanish accent for authenticity. Very well done! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I really enjoyed this book. If you follow the news you got most of the story, but this goes more into the personal relationships. You pretty much need a scorecard to keep all 33 men straight, but it is interesting how each of their personalities can shine even from deep underground. I found it especially interesting to see what is happening in their lives since the mine collapse.
Anne
The Storm of the Century: Tragedy, Heroism, Survival, and the Epic True Story of America's Deadliest Natural Disaster by Al Roker
Narrator Name: Byron Wagner
Rating the Audio Performance
Very well read. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This is an interesting perspective on the Galveston hurricane of 1900. It was done before by Eric Larson but Roker takes it in a slightly different direction with more attention to the effects of the weather patterns and the African American community. I am grateful to Al Roker for explaining to me why I get sinus headaches when the barometer is falling.
Mary
The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith
Narrator Name: Robert Glenister
Rating the Audio Performance
Some of the voices/accents were a little distracting, but overall I liked the performance. I certainly stayed engaged from start to finish! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This is the second book in the series, and I think it's improved on the first, though I also enjoyed that one. I'm hoping the third is even better. I thought the denouement was a bit confused and maybe even rushed, but overall it was a satisfying mystery thriller.
Brian
Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff
Narrator Name: Will Damron and Julia Whelan
Rating the Audio Performance
I don't always enjoy books with multiple readers, but both narrators were spot-on in this production. The tandem worked flawlessly, a great accomplishment considering the unique way the author told her story. Despite a limited number of major characters, Ms. Groff developed a substantial number of characters over the time span of the novel, and the use of male and female voices complemented each other seamlessly. Great pitch and tone flavored the listening experience. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Ms. Groff has written one of the best novels I've read/listened to in some time. Her choice of relating the story from both perspectives worked very well, and she maintained the emotion within the novel's time frame not dropping the ball in changing characters. Her ability to foreshadow , develop much more story and then resurrect that seed is uncanny. In retrospect, I realize how much drama and tenseness the author developed. Much hype; worth every bit. 
