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THE GIRL WHO SMILED BEADS

A STORY OF WAR AND WHAT COMES AFTER

This true of story of survival is told in a tender and aching style by narrator Robin Miles. She captures the wonder, pain, and confusion of two sisters, Clemantine and Claire Wanmariya, who survived the Rwandan genocide to become refugees in America. Miles moves us through the horrific anecdotes as remembered by the younger of the sisters. As Miles recounts these, her honest, bracing tone captures the disillusionment of childhood tragedy and the magnitude of loss. We are swept back and forth from the past to the present--the violence in Kigali jangles with the scene of the sisters being welcomed on the "Oprah" show. Miles shows her artistry as a performer by handling these contrasts with precision. Listen to this with a box of tissues nearby--you'll need them.

Pub Date: April 24, 2018

Duration: 9 hrs

DD ISBN: 9780525526292

Publisher: Random House Audio

Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026

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    THE WORLD IS MY HOME

    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

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      REVOLUTION FROM WITHIN

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      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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