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
A performance that puts listeners in the cockpit.
Hillary Huber dramatizes the people, places, and perils of the 1929 Women’s National Air Derby in this historical novel. Twenty of the best female pilots compete in an air race, flying their primitive aircraft from San Bernardino, California, to Cleveland. Huber brings to life these amazing aviation pioneers, including the soft, Southern voice of Amelia Earhart and the bold, assured voice of Florence “Poncho” Barnes. Huber sounds like a newscaster as she describes the natural dangers of flying, including sandstorms, faulty instruments, and poorly designed landing strips, as well as the devastating events caused by sabotage, such as bent cables, gummed-up fuel lines, and arson.
A performance that puts listeners in the cockpit.Pub Date: July 28, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798228507265
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Review Posted Online: Aug. 27, 2026
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