An expert narrator can anchor the most meandering of books--as Stefan Rudnicki does with this one. Carrere focuses on the apostles Paul and Luke, neither of whom knew Jesus but who were nonetheless instrumental in shaping the early Christian movement. That's the storyline of this audiobook, but it's also laden with an intricate weave of personal reflection, close dissection of biblical texts, and a good deal of backtracking and second-guessing. Rudnicki's steady pace and confident delivery provide the unifying thread for a narrative that is fascinating but too often unchecked and unedited. As Carrere strips away inconsistencies and probable elaborations, what's left intact is the voice of Jesus--a distinctive and recognizable voice that has survived through the centuries. A provocative book, expertly read, this is a historical reconstruction for believers, and even more so, for nonbelievers.
Pub Date: March 7, 2017
Duration: 16 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781441743756
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
There is a graceful style to Rachel Seiffert's writing that contrasts with the brutal story that unfolds, set in the Ukraine in 1941, after the German invasion. Remarkably, Seiffert's prose is almost uplifting, even during scenes that highlight the viciousness and evil of the Nazi invaders, including one featuring an SS death squad. Narrator Mark Deakins's superb performance complements each scene and enhances Seiffert's gripping dialogue. He narrates with patience and a low-key style that allows listeners to follow the story and absorb every nuance of the dialogue. The result is a rarity, a realistic Nazi-era novel that defies expectations by showing the horrors of the regime without depressing the audience.
Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2017
Duration: 7 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781524782924
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In this imaginative story, young Dr. Jakob Sammelsohn is distracted from his amorous adventures when he encounters famed psychologist Sigmund Freud in fin-de-siècle Vienna. Replete with innuendo, discussions of psychoanalysis, and "Freudian slips," Skibell's historical fiction provides a window on Freud's world—his obsessions, patients, admirers, destructive habits, and vanities—and his profound influence. The early Esperanto movement and Jewish spiritualism also make appearances. Jeff Woodman consistently presents the youthful and confused Sammelsohn, whose naïve voice is balanced by the haughty tones of Freud and his colleagues. Woodman excels at dramatizing the tension between Sammelsohn's penchant for scientific rationalism and his exposure to experimental mysticism. A hilarious scene ensues when we hear conversations with Sammelsohn's father, who speaks only in biblical quotes, even for the most mundane utterances.
Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2010
Duration: 22 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781615735310
Publisher: HighBridge Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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