Narrators Lisa Stathoplos and Casey Turner share a similarity of style that underscores the theme of this audiobook. Dr. Gale, an anthropologist, sets out to prove that there is commonality between modern humans and Neanderthals, and her story is interwoven with the developing story of the bones she is uncovering at a dig. Narrator Lisa Stathoplos's portrayal of Dr. Gale has an undercurrent of frustration and impatience related to the modern-day challenges of securing support for her work. But when the story deals with her work at the dig and her efforts to understand the story of the bones that have been discovered, the narration is measured and focused. Casey Turner presents a subplot, the story of a prehistoric character named Girl, whose entire life centers on basic survival, in a controlled tone that draws the listener in with the daily threats of Paleolithic life.
Pub Date: April 25, 2017
Duration: 9 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781478964605
Publisher: Hachette 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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