Real-life figures such as Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt--and Gore Vidal himself--mingle with fictional Hollywood and Washington notables in Vidal's novel of the nation's entry into WWII and the start of the Cold War. The novel is abridged well, preserving the flavor of Vidal's prose and the sweep of his story. As a narrator, Kathryn Walker provides the right notes of attitude or emotion with her voice as she ably interprets Vidal's writing. For example, she turns the opening description of a Washington party into a gem. However, her character voices are not unique enough, making the novel monotonous and difficult to follow in some spots.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2000
Duration: 6 hrs
Publisher: Random House 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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