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
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 is an audio marvel.
Expertly performed by a full cast that allows individual voices to tell their unique stories, this novel lends itself well to audio. It weaves the often fraught narratives of many disparate Japanese Americans, both those born in Japan and those born in the U.S., and recreates the time before, during, and after the incarceration (1942–45), when Japanese people were imprisoned in internment camps in Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming. The title refers to two questions used to determine whether they would be unconditionally loyal, and whether they would fight for the U.S. Based in part on archival materials and a famous University of California relocation study, Yamashita’s novel mingles fact and fiction.
This is an audio marvel.Pub Date: June 30, 2026
Duration: 17 hrs, 48 mins
DD ISBN: 9781522616191
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: July 14, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
