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October 1, 2019 - November 1, 2019

This contest period's winners were Lana M. from Wright, KS and Karen P. from Maple Glen, PA, who each received an audiobook copy of Jojo Moyes's THE GIVER OF STARS, read by Julia Whelan, and Elizabeth Strout's OLIVE, AGAIN, read by Kimberly Farr.

Ellen
Tell Me More by Kelly Corrigan
Narrator Name: Kelly Corrigan

Rating the Audio Performance
5
Hearing this very personal series of essays in the author's voice was spot-on. Elements of essays were clearly still emotionally raw and that could be heard in her voice.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
5
Corrigan's essays capture a dozen words and phrases that she considers vital to successful communication with those we hold dear. Using personal stories, she illustrates how each was chosen. Some are simple, others more nuanced. In just under 5 hours I felt I had made a new friend who is really willing to tell things like they are. I am recommending it far and wide and still think about specific elements as I consider how to respond to trying cirucumstances.

Tessa
The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory
Narrator Name: Jill Tanner

Rating the Audio Performance
5
Jill Tanner does a fine job performing the audiobook. She sets a good pace and really brings Katherine to life. I get the sense of how young they all were at the outset. (Katherine and Arthur were married only five months when he died, leaving her a widow at age seventeen.) And Tanner gives the young Henry a boyish immaturity that really contrasts with Katherine’s steady and superior though process.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
3
Book Six in her Plantagenet and Tudor series focuses on Catalina, Infanta of Spain, daughter of Queen Isabela and King Ferdinand, and known in English history as Katherine of Aragon, first wife of Henry VIII. This was one fierce lady; intelligent, mentally and emotionally strong, an astute observer and able to plot and plan with the best of them. I was caught up in the novel at the beginning, but I found that the story seemed to bog down in details.

Lana
My Dog Tulip by J. R. Ackerley
Narrator Name: Ralph Cosham

Rating the Audio Performance
3
The narrator did an adequate job. I think he probably conveyed the author’s manner of speaking appropriately.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
2
I read that an animated movie of this book was made which is hard for me to believe since the entire book was about the bodily functions of dogs. I listened to the audio version and have to say that four hours of graphic descriptions of dog bowel movements, urination, and sexual activity was almost more than my senses could handle. The author’s interest in his dog’s sex life seemed to border on obsession. I grew up on a farm where we had all kinds of livestock, poultry, dogs, cats, etc. and was exposed to sex and reproduction early on and up close. I then worked in healthcare for over 40 years. My being put off by this memoir does not come from being squeamish or prudish.

Linda
Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney
Narrator Name: Stephanie Racine

Rating the Audio Performance
4
Ms. Racine did a very good job with the material in the book. She managed to convey the fear very well, and the places where she sang were quite haunting and creepy, which I’m sure was the intention.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
2
I bought this based on the excellent reviews. Almost returned it to Audible. There was very little character development, and so many twists. Seemed like the author wanted to insert every kind of twist from every thriller. I didn’t care for the format - time frame jumping from “now” present time when our protagonist is in a coma, “then” mostly the previous week, “before”, our protagonist’s childhood, and then a little at the end which I think was “after”. The ending left me saying, "what?”. It just didn’t make any sense. Obviously, I’m in the minority here - most every review I read was positive.

Jill
Taft by Ann Pachett
Narrator Name: J. D. Jackson

Rating the Audio Performance
4
Very well read. Nice inflection for different persons. Brought you into the story without realizing you were being read to.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
3
Pretty good story, they kept going back to the past and without announcing chapter changes, so you had to pay attention to which characters were speaking and which time frame you were in.

Lori
Uncommon Type by Tom Hanks
Narrator Name: Tom Hanks

Rating the Audio Performance
5
It was wonderful to hear Tom Hanks read this book. Although I've listened to countless audiobooks, this is the first I can remember feeling I'm not sure I would have liked it as a written book or read by someone else. It was perfection being read by the author.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
4
I'm not usually a big short story fan, but I enjoyed this one. In the past, I found other short story audiobooks weren't conducive to fully appreciating them because I mostly listen in my car, sometimes for brief spurts. UNCOMMON TYPE had good story lengths and I was able to keep track of the plots, even when I didn't get to listen in long stretches.

Mel
Mrs. Kimble by Jennifer Haigh
Narrator Name: Margaret Plimpton

Rating the Audio Performance
5
Captured the three different wives perspective very well as well as the children.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
5
Great case study of spouses married to a sociopath and the affects of abandonment and divorce. If you haven't read this author I highly recommend all of her books. I am a fan of books about dysfunctional people.

Lindy
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Narrator Name: Polly Stone

Rating the Audio Performance
5
Masterful performance! The French and German accents throughout added such nice texture, as well as the variety of characters (age, temperament, etc.). I listened to the book at 1.25x speed, which was perfect for me.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
5
Story is incredible. I had to be sure to really listen at the beginning of each chapter to know who the narrator was talking about, as the storyline alternates between characters and eras. I thoroughly enjoyed every opportunity I had to listen, and was so sad when the story finished.

Lindy
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
Narrator Name: Julia Whelan

Rating the Audio Performance
5
I loved the range and consistency of character voices. Definitely made the story come alive!
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
5
This story will stay with me a long time, and makes me think of the many difficult choices people are forced to make in circumstances not of their choosing. I also learned a lot about an area and era that I was previously unfamiliar with.

Sherri
Beach Town by Mary Kay Andrews
Narrator Name: Kathleen McInerney

Rating the Audio Performance
5
Very well done - not overly dramatic just clear and easy to follow the story.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
4
Movie scout Greer Hennessy takes on finding a small beach town for a movie shoot she's not seen the screenplay for and the relationship and movie making chaos that ensues. Fun, easy "listen." Nice driving distraction on the trips back and forth to the hospital. Relationship building and relationship conflicts are a mainstay. I liked the contrasts of characters and the fact that they weren't completely black and white. Some parts of the story were hard for me to stomach or to believe, but overall a different setting for a romance(s) than your average. Interesting insights into big city/small town differences and movie making.

Patrice
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Narrator Name: Cassandra Campbell and Bahni Turpin

Rating the Audio Performance
5
The audio performance was excellent. This is one of those books that I tried to read several times and just couldn’t get hooked. Then I got my hands on the audiobook and found myself taking the long way home just so I could listen to Cassandra Campbell and Bahni Turpin tell the fascinating story of Henrietta Lacks, her daughter, her family, and those amazing cells.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
5
Rebecca Skloot somehow takes a little known story, a true story, that is essentially about biology and cells and makes it into a best-selling nonfiction book. More than that, she holds the readers attention as though they were reading a thriller. Rebecca Skloot’s book is remarkably well-told, a vibrant science lesson, a fascinating history lesson, and the true story of a family that was taken advantage of by the prevailing laws of research at the time. Well done!

Aimee
Bad Blood by John Carreyrou
Narrator Name: Will Damron

Rating the Audio Performance
5
Excellent tone and pacing.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
5
This nonfiction book reads like fiction. It was gripping.

Tessa
The Cat Who Saw Red by Lilian Jackson Braun
Narrator Name: George Guidall

Rating the Audio Performance
4
Guidall does a satisfactory job of reading the audiobook. I was not a big fan of the quality of his voice, however. I read about a third of it in text as that was faster.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
3
This is Book Four in a delightful cozy mystery series starring newspaper reporter Jim Qwilleran and his two Siamese - Koko and Yum Yum. This is an entertaining series with a very likeable main character who is appropriately nosy, given his journalism background. His relationship with his cats is nicely portrayed without being overly saccharine.

Karen
Mrs. Everything by Jennifer Weiner
Narrator Name: Ari Graynor and Beth Malone

Rating the Audio Performance
5
Easy to listen to and understand. Two narrators for the two sisters' voices works well.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
4
Story of two sisters from the 1950s to today. Shows the challenges that women face throughout their lifetimes.

Shelley
Becoming by Michelle Obama
Narrator Name: Michelle Obama

Rating the Audio Performance
5
Excellent book and delightful to hear it read by Michelle.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
5
Wonderful book.

Evelyn
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
Narrator Name: Tom Hanks

Rating the Audio Performance
5
Tom was fabulous. He should narrate all male roles!!!
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
5
The book was also great!

John
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Narrator Name: Polly Stone

Rating the Audio Performance
5
Polly Stone captures every nuance!
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
5
This is a tale of love in the French Resistance!

Dianne
Bad Blood by John Carryrou
Narrator Name: Will Damron

Rating the Audio Performance
4
Narrator does a good job with very technical information.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
5
Recommended by Andrew Luck as a selection of his book club. Intriguing story of a start-up gone wrong. I learned so much about Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos.

Sandi
The Impossible: The Miraculous Story of a Mother's Faith and Her Child's Resurrection by Joyce Smith
Narrator Name: Elisabeth Rodgers

Rating the Audio Performance
4
Great diction - clearly understood, good empathy, good tone.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
3
A healthy 14-year-old, out with friends, falls through the ice on a lake. Two of the three boys were rescued, but John remained under water. This book describes the rescue and the medical processes that kept him alive, even after an hours death. It also delves very deep into the religious and faith aspect of John's mother, Joyce. This story is unique in the survival and recovery of John Smith. Sixteen days after the accident John walked out of the hospital, when even 16 hours after the incident he was not expected to live.

Linda
Thirteen by Steve Cavanagh
Narrator Name: Adam Sims

Rating the Audio Performance
4
Stellar performance! Not overdone, and perfect for this fast-paced story. The voice was just different enough when the POV changed from Eddie to Kane that there was no doubt who was telling the story. Loved it all.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
4
Eddie is a con man turned lawyer. He’s defending a movie star who has been framed for the murders of his wife and bodyguard. And the murderer is a serial killer who’s been killing for decades - also, probably the smartest killer ever. There were so many twists! So many murders! I grew to really love Eddie - the reformed criminal who has such a strong sense of what is the right thing to do. Some great characters in this book, Eddie, of course; Kane, the serial killer; Harry the judge. This is, I think, the third book featuring Eddie Flynn - I haven’t read the others, but they’re going on my To Read list!

Lana
My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier
Narrator Name: Jonathan Pryce

Rating the Audio Performance
5
Excellent narration. Accents and emotions were conveyed perfectly.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
4
I very much enjoyed listening to this Gothic romance, even though I had previously seen the older movie starring Olivia De Havilland and Richard Burton. Probably considered quaint today, it is still a good book.

Cindy
Becoming by Michelle Obama
Narrator Name: Michelle Obama

Rating the Audio Performance
5
Excellent to hear in her own voice.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
5
Loved getting the back story to her journey!

Richard N B
Two Little Girls in Blue by Mary Higgins Clark
Narrator Name: Jan Maxwell

Rating the Audio Performance
4
Jan Maxwell does a fine job narrating the audiobook, though I did read the last half in text version. When she voiced Angie/Mona, Maxwell’s performance really brought out the character’s psychopathology.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
3
This is a fast-paced thriller with a building sense of suspense. The reader is always in on the crime, knowing the identity of the kidnappers and even the “secretive” Pied Piper long before the characters catch on. But the changing points of view, keeps the novel moving forward and helps maintain that sense of suspense.

Cheryl
Do You Realize by Kevin A. Kuhn
Narrator Name: Grant Pennington

Rating the Audio Performance
4
Kevin A Kuhn nails time travel in this sci-fi adventure of alternate parallels in one man's past. George is dealing with seemingly familiar days. He and his family are distracted with work, school, sports, and accidents that keep happening. George is stuck in a rut when he meets a man named Shiloh on a commuter train. Shiloh has some important questions to ask George. George is given an Apple watch to beta test. He finds out he can travel back in time to answer some questions, and get some perspective on his life. This book is an A+. An AMAZING read. It keeps you on the edge of your seat, always wondering what will happen next.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
4
The content moves quickly. Lots of action and suspense.

Richard N B
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers
Narrator Name: Dion Graham

Rating the Audio Performance
4
Dion Graham does a reasonably good job reading the audiobook. Not his fault that the F bomb is used so often or that the writer gives us a manic narrative. (Not helped by my decision to listen at double speed to get through the 13 hours faster.)
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
1
A huge disappointment. I’d read another book by Eggers and enjoyed it. It’s clear that Eggers is intelligent. Obviously, the circumstances that resulted in his guardianship of his baby brother were tragic, and every older sibling’s nightmare. But I found Eggers self-absorbed, immature, irresponsible and totally lacking in any insight. The most entertaining part was the preface, copyright and acknowledgements.

Carol
The Storyteller's Secret by Sejal Badoni
Narrator Name: Siiri Scott

Rating the Audio Performance
5
Excellent accents and vocabulary by the narrator. I felt like I was right there in the middle of what was happening.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
5
Historical fiction about India at the time of British rule and difficulties for women and untouchables that lived at that time. Although much has changed, there still is lots of poverty in India. I liked learning more about their culture and traditions.

Tessa
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
Narrator Name: Rebecca Lowman

Rating the Audio Performance
3
Rebecca Lowman does a credible job of reading the audiobook. It was sometimes confusing trying to figure out who was speaking, because she doesn’t use distinctive voices for Wren, Cath and Reagan, but I didn’t really have much difficulty.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
3
Oh, the teenage angst of young adulthood! Been there, done that…don’t want to relive it. There were times when I thought Rowell had thrown too many wrenches into the mix. There’s enough to deal with just having the twins trying to find their own separate identities. Do we really need all the complications? Still, Rowell kept the story moving forward, and gave us a heroine to root for.

Elaine
Becoming by Michelle Obama
Narrator Name: Michelle Obama

Rating the Audio Performance
5
It felt like listening to a talk by the First Lady. It was very comfortable and clearly read. I completely enjoyed it.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
5
The book goes though Michelle Obama’s life - all about growing up in Chicago. The people were clearly described so you felt like you knew them. Again, it just felt like you were sitting around the table listening to her talk about her life.

Lori
Chances Are... by Richard Russo
Narrator Name: Fred Sanders

Rating the Audio Performance
5
Even though the story was told from several of the characters' perspectives, it was easy to follow the story and keep track of the characters. The reader was a good choice for representing middle-aged men.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
5
As always, Richard Russo wrote a thoroughly entertaining book. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and their backgrounds, and I enjoyed the mystery that evolved in the story. It was a departure from most of his other books, but I liked it very much.

Lori
Upheaval by Jared Diamond
Narrator Name: Henry Strozier

Rating the Audio Performance
5
I thought the reader was a good choice for this nonfiction book. His voice kept my attention.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
4
I enjoyed listening to this book. I found parts of it repetitive, but it didn't detract too much. Towards the end, I thought some of the work was a little off-topic. Perhaps he was already thinking about his next book. I appreciated learning more about other cultures in this book.

Lori
Uncommon Type by Tom Hanks
Narrator Name: Tom Hanks

Rating the Audio Performance
5
I'm sure I wouldn't have enjoyed this audio performance as much if anyone else had done it. I'm not even sure I would have liked the book itself if I read it rather than listened to it. I think this is the first time I've felt this way about a book.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
4
I'm not usually a short story fan, but I found these very appealing. Hearing them read by the author really enhanced the experience.

Pat
The New Girl by Daniel Silva
Narrator Name: George Guidall

Rating the Audio Performance
5
Narrator supplies excitement and suspense to all the characters in the story.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
5
Had to put it down to sleep and eat, but wow, it was so compelling.

Mary Lou
The Institute by Stephen King
Narrator Name: Santino Fontana

Rating the Audio Performance
5
Very well done across age groups ranging from nine years old to late middle-age and beyond. Also captured male and female personas as well.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
4
I love Stephen King. I feel like we have grown old together, as I have read almost all his work over the years, beginning with SALEM'S LOT. This latest is vintage King, and felt like visiting with an old friend. He got a little wordy and windy at times, but hey, we are both senior citizens and should be able to get away with it. The book has a larger message in these days of the younger generations bringing their elders to task for failing to responsibly handle the planet and the ongoing societal issues. I found this one to be a great companion for my walks, and I became very attached to the protagonist, Luke. Recommended.

Mary Lou
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
Narrator Name: Tom Hanks

Rating the Audio Performance
5
Hanks was wonderful - his interpretation of this novel made it an over-the-top experience. He sensitively performed this beautiful book. Hopefully, I am not spoiled for other, more mundane performers by this beautifully rendered audiobook.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
5
I loved this book! Family drama and relationships were the theme. Entitled male protagonist POV, which did not alienate me as the reader, only made him more real. I can't say enough good things about this book. I will probably read it again - in book form this time, because now that the plot outcome is out of the way for me, I want to go back and explore the interpersonal aspects of the story. Rich and gorgeous writing throughout.

Jill
The Nanny by Gilly Macmillan
Narrator Name: Clare Corbett, Patience Tomlinson, and Ben Eliot

Rating the Audio Performance
5
Audio performance was very well done. It engaged me right from the start. You will not be disappointed. All three narrators did an outstanding job of bringing the characters to life.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
4
Because of the narration of this book, I throughly enjoyed it. It’s an eerie tale with a Gothic/mystery feel. It does bounce back and forth from past to present. Definitely not your Mary Poppins type of Nanny.

Sara
Conviction by Denise Mina
Narrator Name: Cathleen McCarron

Rating the Audio Performance
5
The narrator, Cathleen McCarron, is a voice coach and actress. She has narrated several other books as well, including the delicious and hilarious ELEANOR OLIPHANT IS COMPLETELY FINE. In Mina's book, her English accent is gritty and desperate - perfect for narrating this tale.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
5
CONVICTION is a story within a story within a story. Mina is a genius as she weaves a true crime podcast (first story) with the debacle the main character's life becomes when her husband leaves her for her best friend and takes her two daughters (second story). But it's Anna's tragic backstory, and her true identity, that is the biggest surprise.

Laura
The Farm by Joanne Ramos
Narrator Name: Fran de Leon

Rating the Audio Performance
3
Narration was okay. On the plus side, the characters were distinct. On the negative side, I didn't actually care for the voices.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
3
The book was pretty good. I found some bits a little far-fetched, especially in this day and age.

Elise
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
Narrator Name: Nicholas Guy Smith

Rating the Audio Performance
5
The narrator really brought the Count to life! Loved it.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
5
Slow to start, but you end up completely enthralled with the Count's life as a prisoner of the hotel and the life he succeeds in making there. Delicious!

Sandi
Miracle Creek by Angie Kim
Narrator Name: Jennifer Lim

Rating the Audio Performance
4
Popular narrator who has narrated a number of current books. Good tone and inflection. Being a Broadway actress she has vocal acuity and good projection. Read this book with an accent for the main characters. Easy to distinguish between characters. Good narrator.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
3
The story of a Miracle Submarine - aka a hyperbaric chamber - used for autism, infertility and a few other medical conditions. During one "dive" two people are killed due to a fire. In trying to solve how the fire started a number of people are looked at. There are protesters involved trying to shut the process down. There is a mother who for the first time did not accompany her son during the dive. There is the wife, of the only adult male in the chamber, who believes her husband is cheating on her. There are the owners of the operation who would stand to make a fortune in insurance money. One of these is put on trial - but is it the right person? Will the real person come to light? And if they do, will they admit to their wrongdoing?

Lana
The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
Narrator Name: Richard Armitage

Rating the Audio Performance
5
Richard Armitage's narration was beautiful. It conveyed the writer's evocation of evil and good perfectly.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
4
Although some have classified this book as a romance, I felt it was not only that but a well-written historical fiction based on fact. Through grit, an iron will to live, and incredible luck, the main character, Lale, managed to overcome his captors and retain his humanity. I was looking for a fairly short audiobook to listen to while driving when I selected THE TATTOOIST OF AUSCHWITZ. I am very glad that I did.

Hannah
Commonwealth by Ann Patchett
Narrator Name: Hope Davis

Rating the Audio Performance
5
Hope Davis is a wonderful narrator. I could listen to her smooth, well-controlled voice for days!
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
4
This was my first Ann Patchett book and I liked it more than I thought I would. I’d call this literary fiction for sure, and I loved how domestic it was. Following the lives of these two intersecting families over 50+ years was so absorbing. I enjoyed getting to know the six “kids” over the course of the novel, and I thought the writing was lovely to listen to without being overly flowery.

Carolyn
After the Flood by Kassandra Montag
Narrator Name: Hillary Huber

Rating the Audio Performance
4
Entertaining.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
4
A unique story and challenge for the main character.

Tessa
Delicious! by Ruth Reichl
Narrator Name: Julia Whelan

Rating the Audio Performance
4
The audiobook is narrated by the wonderful Julia Whelan. She is a very talented voice artist and I particularly loved the voices she used for Sal and Lulu. I found her Sammy a bit much, but that is really a small quibble.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
4
I’ve read several of Reichl’s memoirs and really enjoyed them. Now she’s taken a turn at writing a novel. This is part romance, part coming-of-age, part mystery. I enjoyed the story and was caught up in the intrigue. Reichl really shines when she is writing about food. I can practically taste the cheeses, smell the spices, and feel the warmth of steam rising from a simmering pot. All-in-all, I found it enjoyable and entertaining. A great beach read.

Cindy
Becoming by Michelle Obama
Narrator Name: Michelle Obama

Rating the Audio Performance
5
Michelle Obama is an amazing storyteller. She tells her story with honesty and wit. It is all that much better hearing it in her own voice. It is an interesting story of her life. She writes eloquently and keeps it entertaining. Beautifully done!
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
5
Michelle Obama is an amazing storyteller. She tells her story with honesty and wit. It is all that much better hearing it in her own voice. It is an interesting story of her life. She writes eloquently and keeps it entertaining. Beautifully done!

Gail
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Narrator Name: Cassandra Campbell

Rating the Audio Performance
5
I could hear the voices of the swamp and picture Kya and her family and all the characters as she told the story. Outstanding!
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
5
I loved this book. The latest thing seems to be jumping between two timelines rather than telling the story chronologically, but it really worked here. A murder mystery, a love story and much more. Reminded me of the stories of Gene Stratton Porter in many ways as well.

Lori
Who Are You, Calvin Bledsoe? by Brock Clarke
Narrator Name: Peter Berkrot

Rating the Audio Performance
4
The reader had a sarcastic-sounding voice that seemed to fit with the main character. It was an easy book to listen to - very easy to keep track of the characters, etc.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
3
Although the book was entertaining, it was too far-fetched for me. I couldn't relate to most of the characters and didn't find them very likeable.

Sherri
The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom
Narrator Name: Dan Stevens

Rating the Audio Performance
5
Did a great job with all the characters without being over-the-top - subtle changes in tone and inflection.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
5
Fable-like telling of the "inventor" of time and his invention's impact on his and other's lives. I listened to this driving back and forth to the hospital and it is one of the most thought-provoking books I have "read" in a long time. Practically every other sentence made me want to stop and think about it. Would be a great book club book or maybe just read together with one friend and talk about it.

Tamara
Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky
Narrator Name: Christine Lakin

Rating the Audio Performance
5
IMAGINARY FRIEND'S audiobook version is narrated by Christine Lakin and I was absolutely blown away by her range of vocal ability. She would go from a little boy voice to an old man voice, to that of a diabolical entity effortlessly. I was completely swept away by not only the book itself but by her amazing narration. 5 big stars to Christine Lakin!
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
5
IMAGINARY FRIEND is written by the author of THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER, the screenwriter of the movie version of that book, and also screenwriter of Beauty and the Beast and WONDER. IMAGINARY FRIEND is completely different from all of his other endeavors. This book is more Stephen King-like in nature, with characters ranging from children to elderly to “of another world”. I compare it to a mix of King’s THE STAND, NEEDFUL THINGS, IT, and also the movie “Insidious” and some Netflix “Stranger Things”. It’s a long audiobook coming in at 24.5 hrs, but worth it, even if just for the amazing narration alone. The story is epic!

Ji
Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout
Narrator Name: Kimberly Farr

Rating the Audio Performance
5
I was so looking forward to this book. And it was worth the wait. The narrator captured Olive and the rest of her clan with perfection.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
5
The author weaved the stories of the neighbors in with Olive's life beautifully. It continued her story, introduced us to new characters and ended appropriately. I hope HBO produces this into another mini-series.

Kristen
Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane
Narrator Name: Molly Pope

Rating the Audio Performance
4
Good transitions between American and Irish accents.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
5
Loved the long sweep of the story.

Donna
A Single Thread by Tracy Chevalier
Narrator Name: Fenella Woolgar

Rating the Audio Performance
5
Excellent performance, I could listen to Woolgar all day. Her voice transports you to another world. She is excellent at creating different voices for all the characters - not once did I stop and say who's speaking now. Gorgeous British accents and perfect in every way.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
4
This book took me to another place and time during a period when I needed an escape, but couldn't go anywhere. It's gorgeously-written historical fiction set in post-WW I Britain. If you're an Anglophile and enjoy needlepoint, I think you'd love this book. It's a beautifully done set piece, so if you crave action this book is not for you. The narrative arc is soothing, well developed and especially suited to the time and setting.

Francisca
Carnegie's Maid by Marie Benedict
Narrator Name: Alana Kerr Collins

Rating the Audio Performance
4
The narrator did a fine job on this audiobook. She sets a good pace and I had no difficulty keeping the many characters straight.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
3
Irish immigrant Clara Kelly comes to America in hopes of finding employment so that she can send money home to her impoverished family. She winds up as a lady’s maid in the Carnegie family’s Pittsburgh mansion. I was intrigued by the story and quickly caught up in the tale of this intelligent, resourceful, determined and diligent young lady. I did think it was somewhat repetitious, but still enjoyed this historical fiction that takes a few facts and weaves a compelling story to help explain them.

Karen
The Monk of Mokha by Dave Eggers
Narrator Name: Dion Graham

Rating the Audio Performance
5
Dion Graham has a great voice for reading this book. His tone and tempo reflect the events as they happen and the emotions of Mokhtar as he goes through the stages of his life. His reading makes the book exciting to listen to and keeps the listener engaged in the action.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
5
Mokhtar moves from one job to another and tries attending college, but nothing holds his interest. His interest is finally piqued when he sees a statue of a Yemeni man that had been put up by Hill Brother's Coffee Company. He learns that coffee sales had originated in Yemen. It had lost the market over the years. Mokhtar spends a lot of time researching coffee in Yemen. He visits coffee plantations and observes the practices so he can improve coffee sales. Despite the chaos of civil war he manages to buy berries and prepare them for shipment to the U.S. The coffee from Yemen is quite popular so he is able to pay the farmers a better price, and the women who work in the sorting plant a better wage.

Tessa
The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules by Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg
Narrator Name: Patience Tomlinson

Rating the Audio Performance
4
Patience Tomlinson does a fine job narrating the audiobook. She sets a good pace and manages to give the characters sufficiently unique voices so that I didn’t get confused about who was speaking.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
3
Martha Andersson is 79 years old and lives in a retirement home whose new management is cutting corners. Martha and her friends – the League of Pensioners – aren’t going to take this lying down. These characters are a hoot! As outlandish and ridiculous as many of their schemes are, I found it great fun to watch them unfold. This is the first in a series. Wonder what the League of Pensioners will be up to next?

Linda
Mistress of the Ritz by Melanie Benjamin
Narrator Name: Barbara Rosenblat

Rating the Audio Performance
5
I can’t say enough good things about Ms. Rosenblat’s performance. This is a book that I think I would have enjoyed reading, but the narration really brought it to life. More like performance than narration. It worked so well. The voices of Blanche and Lily were absolutely perfect.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
4
4.5 stars. Historical fiction with a strong basis in fact, and it was beautifully written. I have read many novels about World War II, and this one covered it from a completely different viewpoint than any others I’ve read/listened to. Blanch, an impetuous American, marries Claude, the rather staid manager/director of the Ritz Paris. Their marriage is troubled, and when the Nazis occupy Paris, the difficulties mount. They hide secrets from each other (though we find later that they share a secret that they hide from everyone else. I loved this book - I listened in the car, and found myself driving around the block a couple of times so I could keep listening.

Tessa
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Narrator Name: Cassandra Campbell

Rating the Audio Performance
4
Cassandra Campbell does a fine job of narrating the audiobook. She really brought the characters to life. I particularly like how she voiced Jumpin’ and Tate.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
3
2.5 stars. I wanted to like this. I found it intriguing and interesting. I loved Owens’ descriptions of the marsh and the marvels of the natural world. I was invested in Kya’s story from the beginning, and her loneliness was practically tangible. I marveled at her resilience and intelligence. However, as the novel progressed things got a little too unbelievable and soap-opera-ish for me. After all the drama of the murder and trial, the ending seeming rather anti-climactic.

Margaret
What Rose Forgot by Nevada Barr
Narrator Name: Kate Burton

Rating the Audio Performance
5
Seamless. Feels natural and completely believable.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
4
Some large gaps in logic for me. Would have given 5 stars otherwise. Plot moves fast-paced. Nice to read this author outside of her Anna Pigeon series, although I love most of hers.

Richard N B
A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon
Narrator Name: Davina Porter

Rating the Audio Performance
5
Well, my wife's been going on and one about Davina Porter as a narrator; she says," Porter can do no wrong as far as I’m concerned." I have to admit that she does bring the story to life. This is a great listen for a long driving vacation.
Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
3
Book Six in a time-travel series my wife has gotten me hooked on. This one is heavy on the history of the years leading up to the American colonies declaring independence from Britain, which I really enjoyed. I think I’ll give the series a rest for a year or so. Don’t want to get too far ahead of the TV series.