Bernstein’s remarkable memoir of an obscure Lancashire mill town before, during, and after WWI would be a daunting task for any narrator. John Lee superbly captures the intricacies of various accents—the young Russian rabbi, the guest from Leeds, the headmaster of the fancy school, the drunk shopkeepers. The one place he falters is in his pronunciation of a few Hebrew words, but that can easily be forgiven in this masterful presentation. Writing when he was already in his 90s, Bernstein is one of the last people alive who can recall the smallest details, the gestures and innuendos, of a landscape and culture already extinct.
Pub Date: March 1, 2007
Duration: 9 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
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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