In this immortal fourteenth-century collection, pilgrims to the shrine of slain St. Thomas Becket decide to beguile the journey by telling each other stories. With lusty verve and wit, Chaucer recounts them, partly in prose and partly in verse. Even when listening to the best translation from Middle English, the modern listener may not recognize many antiquated concepts and words (what ARE pardoners, reeves, summoners, etc.) without following along with a good annotated print edition--or at least a few notes. No notes come with this audio, in which David Butler essays an uncredited translation in pleasant, clear British tones. He recites with comprehension and as much expression as his limited range allows. He is, in short, somewhat dull. A smattering of sloppy edits further erodes the production.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2002
Duration: 12 hrs
Publisher: Commuters Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Guite’s performance makes his poetry accessible.
Author Guite recites his epic ballad, the first of four installments in his retelling of the Arthurian legends. Starting in the 12th century, the Celtic tales of Arthur were recast with explicitly Christian interpretations. Continuing this tradition, Guite’s Galahad is portrayed as the most perfect knight, the embodiment of virginal purity facing potential downfall from the temptation posed by beautiful women. Only with God’s help will he succeed in his quest. Guite narrates at a leisurely pace, his gravelly voice rising and falling with the passion and intensity of the story. An informative author’s note details Guite’s reasons for undertaking this project.
Guite’s performance makes his poetry accessible.Pub Date: April 20, 2026
Duration: 7 hrs, 54 mins
DD ISBN: 9798895641408
Publisher: Oasis Audio
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2026
Mean girl tactics combine with the messy feeling of truly being seen.
Carly Larson, Sarah Beth Pfeifer, Austenne Gray, and Elise Taff perform this satirical novel about Christian influencers, megachurches, and the secrets we keep to stay in our communities. Pastor Kyle and his picture-perfect wife, Cassidy, have announced a fundraising gala. A group of influencers called the Moral Mavens begin spreading the word and quickly find that their personal drama, and the hypocrisy of their church leaders, might be a bigger draw than the event itself. Each narrator’s performance perfectly balances the faux bubbly sweetness of the influencers while capturing the destructive nature of false perfection.
Mean girl tactics combine with the messy feeling of truly being seen.Pub Date: March 3, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs, 2 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668654026
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: June 2, 2026
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