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:
Duration: 4 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Audio Literature
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:
Duration: 22 hrs
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America/ Chivers
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Narrator Lynnette R. Freeman makes this audiobook sound like a full-cast production. This historical fiction, based on the real-life pianist, actress, and Civil Rights activist Hazel Scott, opens in 1943. She meets Adam Clayton Powell Jr., a married preacher and aspiring congressman, who becomes infatuated with the young Hazel. After divorcing his wife, he marries Hazel, and they embark on a complicated life as they navigate their demanding careers. Freeman captures the changes that Hazel undergoes as she learns to become independent and find her voice. Famous personalities such as Billie Holiday and James Baldwin add historical interest. Freeman especially shines narrating Holiday in a husky, gravelly tone. Freeman's narration adds emotional depth to a historical tour de force.
Pub Date: 2026
Duration: 13 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063421196
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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