In WWII, the now legendary Thunderbird Division moved from Sicily through Italy to France and beyond, fighting at such well-known sites as Anzio, "the Bulge" (France, Luxembourg, and Belgium), and the high, bloody mountains leading to Bavaria. Their efforts ultimately led to the liberation of Europe. This book focuses on Colonel Felix Sparks as he rose in rank while the unspeakable horrors of infantry war raged around him. His was the first regiment to reach Dachau and learn its secrets, with repercussions that are debated to this day. Narrator Fred Sanders manages to insert a sense of urgency into the narrative--which is not easy in a book that is largely devoid of dialogue. He makes only occasional attempts at a foreign accent but somehow makes the ghastly events seem up close, horrible, and real.
Pub Date: Oct. 30, 2012
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780449012642
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
James Michener tells the real stories behind the man and his books. The recording is read with skill and consistency although the reader does little to enhance the robust, larger-than-life incidents related in the book. Due to the first-person narrative format, there is no opportunity for the narrator to change his voice. This makes some chapters monotonous as they go on and on in the typical Michener style. The listener may also become confused because the stories are not told chronologically. This is not a great choice for the audio format, but Michener fans may stick with it to the end.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 22 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In a quest for a sense of inner contentment and self-worth, Gloria Steinem brings the reader on a journey of investigation and discovery. Steinem reads the text herself in a straightforward and friendly, but not intimate, presentation which is so easy to listen to it invites repetition--thus ensuring the painless relearning of the lessons of the book. It's difficult to tell from the reading that this audiobook is abridged; each section can stand alone. Nonetheless, the listener wished the book were unabridged. Steinem left me wanting to learn more.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: Dove Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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