Suzanne Toren's voice is resonant and robust, perfect for the portrayal of Deborah Kanafani, a survivor if there ever was one. Troubled by her parents' divorce and her charming father's arrogance, she is swept off her feet by Palestinian Marwan Kanafani, chief advisor to Yassir Arafat. She courageously admits marital unhappiness, pursues divorce, and then fights for custody of her children by moving to the West Bank. Kanafani brings us portrayals of other strong women, such as Arafat's wife, Suha, and Queen Dina of Jordan, who help Kanafani fight for her children and aid Middle-Eastern women who struggle for independence and safety. Toren's perfectly pronounced light-Middle-Eastern accents take us to faraway lands, make politics personal, and help us see Kanafani's Lebanese background and Palestinian experience.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2008
Duration: 8 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
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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