Buddhists believe that life is made up of ten thousand joys and ten thousand sorrows; Kim has had her share of the latter. As a small child in Korea, she witnessed the murder of her mother by family members for her liaison with an American soldier. Saved by a relative from a similar fate, she was ultimately adopted by an American fundamentalist couple who made her a house slave. Then came an abusive marriage, which produced a daughter on whom she showered the same loving attention she has gotten from her own mother. It must have been difficult for Kim to read of such harrowing experiences (her husband once made her sleep in the dog's pen) without a lot of emotion, but she manages. Her firm voice mirrors the resolve with which she has tried to overcome her sorrows, to be followed by, one hopes, the promised joys.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2000
Duration: 6 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Random House Audio
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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