Six narrators of Asian descent bring to life untold fictional stories of WWII in this debut short story collection. The narrators--Feodor Chin, Ren Hanami, Catherine Ho, Greta Jung, Akie Kotabe, and Nancy Wu--take turns reading 13 interconnected stories that mostly revolve around a Japanese family. Spanning more than 150 years, the saga covers the period between the early twentieth century and the futuristic 2035. With silvery voices and smooth pacing, Jung and Kotabe dazzle in the stories they narrate. Chin and Wu add emotional intensity to the rest. Together, the narrators' varied and multifaceted vocal ranges add diversity to the collection. Listeners will be enlightened by the audiobook's significant themes.
Pub Date: July 14, 2020
Duration: 9 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780593212622
Publisher: Random House 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
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
