After moving home during a crossroads in her life, Dawn Anahid MacKeen becomes intrigued by her family's Armenian heritage. Delving into her grandfather's diaries and other historical sources, she discovers the extreme hardships faced by Armenians, including her grandfather, Stepan Miskjian, who survived relentless persecution in the Ottoman Empire during WWI. Narrators Emily Woo Zeller and Neil Shah take turns narrating the roles of granddaughter and grandfather. Reflecting the author's sense of unease, Woo Zeller adopts a gentle yet determined voice to take listeners on an emotional journey as MacKeen retraces her grandfather's journey through Turkey and the Syrian desert. Portraying Stepan with a slight accent, Neil Shah captures the lively spirit of a man who survived unthinkable conditions.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2016
Duration: 11 hrs, 15 mins
Publisher: Tantor Media
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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