Every previous biography of Louisa May Alcott, author of LITTLE WOMEN, credits her father, Bronson Alcott, as her muse. However, Eve LaPlante, a descendant of the Alcotts, tells a different story. Using diaries, letters, and family papers, she argues that Abigail May Alcott, Louisa's mother, was the real inspiration and driving force in Louisa's life. Narrator Karen White adopts the tempo and tone of a history professor as she recounts in minute detail the world of this unique family--from the Revolutionary War to the time before the Civil War. The work proves a challenge to narrate as liberal quoting of source material and too much attention to detail, such as monetary conversions, interfere with smooth, cogent storytelling.
Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2012
Duration: 14 hrs, 30 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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