Oona Chaplin, née O'Neal, had the distinction (and misfortune) of being the daughter of one difficult genius and the wife of another. One is left feeling that, in other circumstances, she might have attained some distinction on her own, and had a lot more fun. Her biography is a cautionary tale against the perils of alcohol and celebrity. This book has the non-aural quality of technical writing: directed at the mind and eye rather than the ear, not inviting interpretative treatment. The talented Donada Peters is pretty much confined to reporting what is on the page, which she does with easy competence, showing the good taste not to try to inject more drama than is in the writing. This is one of the many nonfiction books for which the audio format is only a convenience. Oral interpretation cannot add a layer of depth or richness.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 1999
Duration: 10 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Books on Tape
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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