Nancy Wu is the principal narrator of this story about Chinese-American Violet Minturn, who was forced into a courtesan's life when she was separated from her American mother (also a courtesan) as she fled politically unstable Shanghai in the early 1900s. Wu excels at pronouncing the Chinese words and allowing Violet's voice to mature as she grows from a scared girl to a capable, strong woman. Wu is less successful, however, with male dialogue and is inconsistent with some of the non-Chinese accents. Author Amy Tan reads the chapters told by Magic Gourd, Violet's mentor. Swallowing noises and a slightly flat tone detract from Tan's performance. Joyce Bean delivers Violet's mother's perspective, capturing her personality and conflicted emotions.
Pub Date: Nov. 5, 2013
Duration: 25 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781423322436
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Ayla, one of the "others," is adopted by a clan of Neanderthal cave people. She struggles to conform to their ways, but her advanced human traits overwhelm and threaten their primitive culture in this initial installment of an immensely popular series. Although the story might benefit from abridgment, Rowena Cooper easily carries out the formidable task of enlivening the mostly silent and stereotypical characters with consistent, diverse personalities and human dimension. Through skillful phrasing and inflection, she maintains the reader's interest and suspense, especially with Ayla and her plight, throughout this rambling and imaginative story.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 22 hrs
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America/ Chivers
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This lyrical, sensual novel of woman's lot in Manchu, China, is as well researched as it is well written. Authentic in tone, it's nonetheless written for Westerners by a Western expert on China. Moreover, Susan Clark performs the demanding text superbly, with only occasional signs of fatigue. For the most part she not only sustains the quaint diction and Asian atmosphere, but also, creates whole worlds with her voice. She acts the book, rather than reads it, and, in so doing, turns a pretty trifle into a stupendous beauty.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 4 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Audio Literature
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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