As inspired as this novel is by family lore, it's understandable that bestselling memoirist Jeanette Walls would want to narrate her story of derring-do during Prohibition. In it, we meet Sallie, daughter of the county's "Duke," whose extraordinary personal arc takes her from a poverty-stricken childhood in exile to living in "the big house" and running the family's moonshine business. Along the way, the challenges and excitement are as heartfelt and thrilling as a Shakespeare drama. Walls's warm voice and gentle twang sound the right note for a story that is set in rural Virginia. While the lack of vocal differentiation among characters flattens the audio experience, the author's attentive pacing and emotional engagement help keep listeners engaged with this action-packed tale.
Pub Date: March 28, 2023
Duration: 12 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781508279211
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
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 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
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