The author imagines the Alcott family in this audiobook. Louisa May Alcott captivated generations of girls with her stories of the March sisters, who were based on her family. Louisa's youngest sister, May, resented being the model for Amy, the pampered, vain sister, and this created friction between the siblings, at least in this novel. The early chapters of the story are slow paced as they focus on May's resentment. The story picks up momentum when May begins to study art abroad and gains confidence and modest acclaim. Campbell's narration becomes more animated as May matures and finds respect as an excellent still life painter. The art scene of the period, with its painters, models, and students, is fascinating, and Campbell's enthusiasm is contagious.
Pub Date: 2017
Duration: 10 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780062699619
Publisher: Harper 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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