Anna Pasternak, grandniece of Nobel Laureate Boris Pasternak, gives a very personal account of her ancestor's talent, fame, and suffering. Those who love Russian literature and history will find this backstory to the beloved DOCTOR ZHIVAGO to be engaging and informative. Narrator Antonia Beamish's British accent and pleasant alto voice move steadily through the story of Boris Pasternak and how his affair with Olga Ivinskaya became the basis for the character of Lara in the novel. Beamish's pace allows one to take in all the information, and we are presented much detail of artistic life in Russia before the revolution and during the Soviet era. Beamish is not overly expressive, but she keeps listeners engaged.
Pub Date: Jan. 24, 2017
Duration: 11 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780062571618
Publisher: Harper 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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