The Civil War becomes an actual brother-against-brother struggle in this work, the first in a saga. Having been separated by their tyrannical father, Kevin and James Bannon find themselves on opposite sides of the same battles. In this abridgment, however, much of Coyle's meticulous detail on the private soldier's life is lost, and the narrative doesn't flow smoothly. Chadwick's voice is fine, but his performance is uneven. The narrative sections and characters are well done, yet Chadwick's accents are inconsistent. However, his reading of Pickett's Charge makes this recording worthwhile. Blackstone has an unabridged version of this work, which is preferable. However, if you can't obtain that version, this abridgment will suffice.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 1995
Duration: 5 hrs, 15 mins
Publisher: Soundelux/Mind's Eye 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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